Managing a Successful Business Project: Talent Management Research

This report examines talent management strategies, focusing on Vodafone Group Plc and their impact on employee retention and organizational success. The report includes a project management plan with timelines, costs, and quality considerations. It uses both qualitative and quantitative research methods, including work breakdown structures and Gantt charts, to analyze data and evaluate the effectiveness of different talent management approaches. The study aims to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) understand and implement similar strategies to enhance their own organizational performance, addressing challenges and providing recommendations based on research findings. The report also reflects on the value of undertaking the project and its contribution to learning and performance improvement.

Managing a Successful
Business Project

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................3
P1: Devise aims and objectives for case scenario..................................................................3
P2: Produce a project management plan containing description of different aspects............4
P3 Work breakdown structure and a Gantt chart....................................................................6
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................8
P4 Small scale research by implementation qualitative and quantitative research................8
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................9
P5 Evaluation research and data using appropriate tools and techniques..............................9
P6. Appropriate recommendation as a result of data and research analysis.........................20
TASK 4..........................................................................................................................................21
P7 Reflect on the value of undertaking the project to meet stated objectives and own learning
and performance...................................................................................................................21
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................21
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................23
APPENDIXES...............................................................................................................................24
Project Logbook...................................................................................................................24
Performance review template...............................................................................................27

INTRODUCTION
In current time every organisation is necessary to put their emphasis over their
employees and well-being of the same. In order to manage the same this is significant to focus
in such manner that key areas of business can be treated in prominent manner and succession
opportunities can be inhaled (Taylor, 2018). There are various departments existed within a
business such as human resource, finance, operational departments and many more. In this way
one of the most important department of a business is human resource as they are managing and
dealing directly with employees. HR manager is having higher responsibilities to use such
talent management strategies in the business so that appropriate potential and talent can be used
within the organisation. This research report is conducted by SME’s in order to analyse the type
of talent management strategies used by Vodafone Group Plc so that SME’s can use the same
strategies and acquire organisational prominence. This research is going to help SME’s to avoid
such mistakes and acquire experiences so that they can enhance their functional standards.
TASK 1
Devise aims and objectives for case scenario
Background of the research
The current research is based on analysing such talent management strategies which are
used by large organisation in order to retain and attract talented and skilled workforce. So this
research will open such paths for SME’s in which using various robust strategies for talent
management will lead them to inhale high amount of success. Vodafone Group Plc is one of the
most valuable companies of UK and they have global market presence as well. The company is
using various practices of talent management in order to attract and retain employees and to
provide assistance to their employees as well (Latukha, 2018). Using such strategies of talent
management is helpful for Vodafone Group Plc to enhance succession opportunities in multi
dimensions and long lasting market sustainability as well.
Aim

To investigate talent management strategies used by giant business for attracting and retaining
talent. A study on Vodafone Group Plc
Objectives
 To examine various talent management strategies used by Vodafone Group Plc.
 To analyse impact of talent management strategies on overall productivity of Vodafone
Group Plc.
 To explore the implications of using prominent talent management strategies by SME’s.
 To analyse challenges that are being faced by SME’s while using similar talent
management practices to giant organisation.
Produce a project management plan containing description of different aspects
A project management plan is associated with providing such path to the project which
is helpful in gaining success over the project along with accomplishing the entire objectives in
most effective manner. A project management plan helps in tracking record of plan execution
and eradicating such barriers which are creating dodges within project execution. In the context
of this research, project management plan is elaborated as under:
Time: Time is defined as one of the most essential aspects within project management
as this helps the project to finish within provided time deadline. By deciding timelines this will
be easy for researcher to attain objectives of project (Collings, McDonnell and McMackin,
2017). Timeline is the date prescribed for finishing the project and in this manner separate time
for each activity can be given which helps the project to get finished behind any delays. The
time for this project is taken as 50 days in which all the activities are required to get finished in
this particular scale. In order to complete project on talent management strategies used by
Vodafone Group Plc, company require minimum 7.14 weeks.
Cost: Cost is another major aspect of project management plan which helps to manage
estimation regarding cost application in the project so that all the activities may get completed
with appropriate level of efficacy. The cost is defined as needed sum of money for completing
the project in most efficient manner so that objectives can be attained without facing any dodge
or failure. This is the aspect of project management plan which helps the overall project to get
finished in smooth manner. Under this project £800 is taken as required cost which could be

helpful in order to cover all major components. For completing current project of talent
management, Vodafone Group Plc require appropriate amount of capital i.e. £800. This cost is
needed for recurring employees, providing training and many others.
Quality: Quality within a project is regarded as the most significant tool which helps
the project to upkeep their standards and executes the project in most effective manner. For
managing higher quality in project various measures are to be taken so that the same can be
followed and ultimate quality can be maintained within project. This is the primal demand of a
project to maintain its quality so that to carry project in systematic manner as there is no chance
for compromising in quality in order to attain objectives in smooth and systematic manner.
Along with this, it is important for Vodafone Group Plc, to focus on quality because it helps
them in attracting larger base of customers that resulted increased sales and profitability.
Scope: Scope of project means the future implications of the project which could be
helpful for other researcher to get assistance (Almohtaseb and et. al ., 2020). This research is
associated with examining talent management strategies used by giant organisation so
conducting this project will lead in developing understanding in SME’s regarding the best and
useful talent management strategies. This could be helpful in understanding the long vision for
the organisation in which they can retain their employees for longer duration of time and inhale
higher amount of success. This research has wide scope for Vodafone Group Plc because this
will help them in retaining of talented and highly experienced employees for longer time. This
is only possible with the use of talent management strategies.
Communication: Communication is one of the most influential tools which are used
within research so that messages can be conveyed in significant manner so that objectives of the
project can be aligned with put efforts. When communication is appropriate then this will be
efficient for attaining objectives in significant manner (Jindal and Shaikh, 2017). In the absence
of appropriate communication higher efficiency can be attained within project so that the entire
loop holes can be examined and in which desired output can be taken out in most effective
manner. Within this research, communication is playing significant role in which supervisor,
employees and other parties. With the help of effective communication overall project can be
completed in most effective manner so that overall effectiveness can be maintained. It is
significant for Vodafone Group Plc to use effective communication strategies for retaining

employees at workplace. Communication is highly important part in employee retention. For
this, Vodafone Group Plc is used face-to-face communication that result in decreased conflict
and misunderstanding among employees.
Risk: The risk is defined as such level of uncertainties which may lead the project to
turn out as failure due to which insights of prevailing project may be tarnished. Risk is an
unplanned aspect which has direct impact over aims and objectives of the research so that when
risk is not mitigated on appropriate time then this may lead to develop giant consequences. In
this manner a backup plan is required to be created so that all the possibilities of failure can be
avoided and lead the project with developing several positive insights. There is a risk for
Vodafone Group Plc while conducting this project i.e. lack of time, lack of resources and many
more. All these are main risks that have direct impact on business performance of Vodafone
Group Plc.
Resources: Resources are defined as one of the most appropriate aspect of management
plan as this helps the project to get finished and acquire benefit side as well. Under this aspect
resource plans are required to be made so that the same can be utilised in most effective manner
and lead to get finished the project with higher efficacy as well. With the help of proper
management over resources objectives of research can be met in shorter period of time due to
which any delays and discrepancies can be avoided. There are various resources that are used
by Vodafone Group Plc for conducting this research. These are time, cost and communication.
Work breakdown structure and a Gantt chart
Work breakdown structure
The WBS is a tool or structure that may be helpful for executing some project and
attaining their objective in systematic manner. This is the most appropriate tool which is used
within project in order to gain differential insights and objectives in clear manner. In this the
whole project gets divided into smaller parts so that all the associated parties can understand the
same in effective manner (Sutrisna, Ramanayaka and Goulding, 2018). Breaking down of
activities may be helpful in developing knowledge and acquiring understanding ability within
project so that the same may be completed within given timeframe. With the help of using
WBS this can be easier for Vodafone Group Plc to developing understanding in relation to the

whole project and in this way objectives can be attained as well. For the current project WBS
chart is mentioned as under:
Gantt chart
A Gantt chart is defined as a time management tool that helps in identifying the starting
and ending dates of the project. This is a helpful tool which is associated with providing initial
and ending date of each activity so that objectives of the project can be attained and any
discrepancies can be avoided as well. For the current research Gantt chart is being shown as

under:

TASK 2
Small scale research by implementation qualitative and quantitative research
Research is defined as a systematic approach and process which are included with various steps
such as data collection, analysis of collected data, documentation of collected data and finally
taking out appropriate results out of collected data. In order to attain research objectives various
activities are to be performed so that the same can be aligned with research and major deals can
be made (Tight, 2017). For taking out prominent benefits research steps are required to be
performed in such a way that overall benefits can be gained. There are two major methods in
this research such as qualitative and quantitative which are explained as under:
 Qualitative research: Qualitative research is defined as such type of research which is
associated with gathering of data in depth manner so that multi-dimensional information
can be gained. This type of research is emphasised over gaining such ideas and opinions
in which scattered information can be collected. This type of research is wholly
depending upon taking out effective results so that experiences can be grabbed in the
direction of attaining research objectives. There are various types of aspects within
qualitative research such as open ended and observations. In the current research
Vodafone is not aligned with qualitative research as project manager is willing to take
use of quantitative research in order to attain research objectives in prominent manner.
 Quantitative research: In respect of quantitative research information is gathered and
demonstrated in numerical manner which are associated with some statistical or
mathematical calculations. Under this close ended questions are being asked in general
manner and data is being collected in numerical manner which helps the researcher to
frame correct conclusion. Under this research, project manager is using quantitative
methods in order to minimise opportunities of errors. Questionnaire is the tool which is
used by the project manager which helps to gather data in desired manner. This research
is based on the topic of talent management so with the help of quantitative research
responses of various respondents can be gathered and the same can be used for taking
out requisite conclusion.
 Data collection: Data collection is defined as the activity which is used for collecting
data in such a way that project objectives can be attained. There are two major methods

of data collection such as primary and secondary as both of these methods are helpful to
use and to gain insight over attaining research objectives (Jentoft and et. al., 2017). In
the context of primary data collection methods questionnaire and interviews can be used
by researcher. In terms of secondary research magazine, journals and publications so
that to deal with objectives in prominent manner. In this research researcher is using
both the methods of primary and secondary methods so that to provide appropriate
conclusion in most effective manner.
Under this research quantitative research is being used in order to collect data in numerical
manner in which research objectives in most appropriate manner.
 Sampling: This is defined as the process which helps in selecting such amount of
respondents in which large population can be selected. This is the method which helps
in selecting such population and to get accurate results. In other words, it can be said
that sampling is the process which is helpful in gaining research objectives in most
effective manner. There are two types of sampling methods which can be used such as
probabilistic and non-probabilistic. Under this research probabilistic sampling is used so
that to provide equal opportunities to each candidates. The sample size is taken as 30
which are employees of Vodafone Group Plc.
TASK 3
Evaluation research and data using appropriate tools and techniques.
Questionnaire
Q1. As per your opinion do Vodafone Group Plc follows talent management strategies for
attracting and retaining employees?
a) Yes
b) No
Q2. What types of talent management strategies are being followed by Vodafone Group Plc?
a) Employee performance management
b) Succession planning and identification
c) Total reward system

Q3. As per your perspective, are these strategies helping Vodafone Group Plc to attain higher
retention ratio of employees?
a) Yes
b) No
Q4. As per your perspective what is the major purpose of using talent management strategies
by Vodafone Group Plc?
a) Retaining talent
b) Attracting talent
c) Enhancing market succession
Q5. What are the major challenges seen by Vodafone Group Plc while implementing talent
management strategies?
a) Inconsistent behaviour of organisation
b) Underrated leadership
c) Disinterested employees
Q6. What are the ways that can be used by Vodafone Group Plc for reducing such
challenges?
a) Using fair recruitment policies
b) Increasing employee engagement
c) Giving proper opportunities to every employee
Q7. What are the benefits enjoyed by Vodafone Group Plc after implementing talent
management strategies?
a) Higher employee productivity
b) Greater employee engagement
c) Advantageous flow of operational activities
Q8. What are the benefits for SME’s after using similar talent management strategies of giant
organisation?
a) Greater career advancement opportunities to employees
b) Reduce attrition rate of employees
c) Helps in process of hiring skilled employees
Q9. What is the reason for which SME’s are focused in using talent management strategies?

a) High cost of operations
b) Changing attitude of employees
c) Difficulties in recruitment process
Q10. Recommendations
Frequency distribution table
Q1. As per your opinion do Vodafone Group Plc follows talent
management strategies for attracting and retaining employees?
Frequency
a) Yes 25
b) No 5
Q2. What types of talent management strategies are being followed by
Vodafone Group Plc?
Frequency
a) Employee performance management 10
b) Succession planning and identification 10
c) Total reward system 10
Q3. As per your perspective, are these strategies helping Vodafone
Group Plc to attain higher retention ratio of employees?
Frequency
a) Yes 28
b) No 2
Q4. As per your perspective what is the major purpose of using talent
management strategies by Vodafone Group Plc?
Frequency
a) Retaining talent 10
b) Attracting talent 10
c) Enhancing market succession 10
Q5. What are the major challenges seen by Vodafone Group Plc while
implementing talent management strategies?
Frequency
a) Inconsistent behaviour of organisation 12
b) Underrated leadership 10
c) Disinterested employees 8
Q6. What are the ways that can be used by Vodafone Group Plc for Frequency