Higher National Diploma Research Project: Talent Management Analysis

This document presents a research proposal focusing on talent management as a strategic priority. The study aims to analyze the role of talent management in improving organizational effectiveness, using Marks & Spencer as a case study. The proposal outlines research objectives, including understanding the strategic significance of talent management, identifying HR manager roles, and assessing its impact on organizational effectiveness. It details the reasons for choosing the project, a literature review covering the strategic significance of talent management and HR roles, and the role of talent management in enhancing organizational effectiveness. The proposal also includes a timeline, research methodologies (positivism, deductive approach, quantitative research, and survey strategy), and data collection methods. Additionally, it incorporates a research ethics approval form outlining participant recruitment, consent, data storage, and ethical considerations.

Research Proposal
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ANNEXURE “A”
Research Proposal Form
Student Name
Student ID
Centre Name
Tutor
Unit No
Proposed Title “Talent management as a strategic priority”
“To analyse the role of talent management in improving effectiveness of
organisation. A case study on Marks & Spencer.”
Section One: Title, objective, responsibilities
Title or working title of the research project (in the form of a question, objective or hypothesis)
Title - “Talent management as a strategic priority”
Research Aim:
The aim of this study is “To analyse the role of talent management in improving effectiveness of
organisation. A case study on Marks & Spencer.”
Research objectives (e.g what is the question you want to answer? What do you want to learn how to
do? What do you want to find out?):
Research Objectives –
The objectives of this study are provided below:
1. To understand the strategic significance of talent management
2. To identify the roles and responsibilities of human resource manager associated with talent
management.
3. To assess the role of talent management in enhancing effectiveness of organisation.
Research Questions –
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The questions in relation to this investigation are provided below:
1. What do you understand by the strategic significance of talent management?
2. What are the roles and responsibilities of human resource manager associated with talent
management?
3. What is the role of talent management in enhancing effectiveness of organisation?
Section Two: Reasons for choosing this research project
Reasons for choosing the project (e.g. links to other subjects you are studying, personal interest,
future plans, knowledge/skills you want to improve, why the topic is important):
The main reason of selecting this project is that by the assistance of it, researcher will be able to
understand the strategic significance of talent management. It also helps in determining the roles and
responsibilities that human resource manager play in relation to talent management along with the
role of talent management in improving the performance and effectiveness of organisation. This
study is highly assistive in providing in-depth knowledge about the topic to researcher which will help
in drawing valid outcomes of study.
Section Three: Literature sources searched
Use of key literature sources to support your research question, objective or hypothesis:
Strategic significance of talent management
Talent management is one among the biggest challenges facing by companies in global market. The
demand for skilled and competent talent has increased continuously. This concept is closely linked to
human resource management concept such as workforce planning, human resource development,
strategic Human Resource management etc. Talent management is strategically significant for
organisation as it helps in improving the overall performance of company and provide it with
competitive advantage in market.
Roles and responsibilities of human resource manager associated with talent management
Talent management is crucial aspect in which human resource manager play a significant role. Hiring
right people is the foundation of talent management. Human resource manager plays significant role
in recruiting employees within the organisation by defining job descriptions, utilising applicant
tracking system in order to manage workflow of interview process as well as carefully interviewing
the applicants. Apart from this, the another role played by human resource manager is performance
management. The continued review the performance of employees and manage their performance
effectively.
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Role of talent management in enhancing effectiveness of organisation
Talent management play a significant role in improving the effectiveness of organisation by enhancing
potential of employees. Strategic talent management provides organisation with the opportunity to
attract highly skilled and talented employees which in turn contribute in enhancing the performance
of business. It keeps existing employees as well as advance them to high positions in company. This
improves motivation of employees which in turn improves the effectiveness of organisation.
https://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:699352/FULLTEXT01.pdf
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/
269039971_Talent_Management_Strategic_Priority_of_Organizations
Section Four: Activities and timescales
Activities to be carried out during the research project (e.g research,
development and analysis of ideas, writing, data collection, numerical
analysis, tutor meetings, production of final outcome, evaluation, writing the
report):
Week 1 – Selection of topic
Week 2 – Developing aim and objectives
Week 3, 4, 5 – Conducting Literature Review
Week 6, 7, – Data collection
Week 8, 9 – Data analysis and interpretation
Week 10, 11– Conclusion
Week 12, 13 – Reflection
Week 14, 15 – Recommendations
Week 13 – Submission of final project
How long this will
take:
7 days
7 days
21 days
14 days
20 days
13 days
12 days
14 days
1 day
Milestone one: _________________
Target date (set by tutor): _________________
Milestone two: _________________
Target date (set by tutor): __________________
Gantt Chart
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Section Five: Research approach and methodologies
What type of research approach and methodologies are you likely to use and why? What your areas
of research will cover:
Research philosophy - Positivism research philosophy will use investigator in the study as its
representatives and reliability is good which assist researcher in drawing effective and accurate
outcomes.
Research approach - Deductive research approach will take into consideration by a researcher in this
study as it is based on quantitative study and enable researcher to draw valid outcomes.
Research Choice - Quantitative research choice is taken into consideration for this particular study as
this is based on numerical data which ensures high accuracy and reliability in the outcomes of study.
Research strategy - Quantitative survey strategy will use by researcher as this is the widely used
strategy in research which enable researcher to gather the data easily.
Data collection method - Both the methods of data collection, i.e., primary and secondary data
collection method will use by researcher so that large amount of information can be gather and valid
outcome of research can be drawn.
Sampling - Simple random probability sample method will use by investigator as this assist in reducing
biasness. The sample size selected for the study will be 30 respondents who are employees of
organisation.
REFRENECES
Talent management as a strategic priority for competitive advantage, 2013. [Online].
Available through: <
https://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:699352/FULLTEXT01.pdf>
Talent Management: Strategic Priority of Organizations, 2014. [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.researchgate.net/publication/269039971_Talent_Management_Strategic_Priorit
y_of_Organizations>
Pandita, D. and Ray, S., 2018. Talent management and employee engagement–a meta-analysis
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of their impact on talent retention. Industrial and Commercial Training.
Khoreva, V., Vaiman, V. and Van Zalk, M., 2017. Talent management practice effectiveness:
investigating employee perspective. Employee Relations.
Tafti, M.M., Mahmoudsalehi, M. and Amiri, M., 2017. Critical success factors, challenges and
obstacles in talent management. Industrial and Commercial Training.
Elegbe, J.A., 2016. Talent management in the developing world: Adopting a global
perspective. Routledge.
Muratbekova‐Touron, M., Kabalina, V. and Festing, M., 2018. The phenomenon of young
talent management in Russia—A context‐embedded analysis. Human Resource
Management, 57(2), pp.437-455.
Comments and agreement from tutor
Comments (optional):
I confirm that the project is not work which has been or will be submitted for another qualification
and is appropriate.
Agreed: ________________ (name)_______________ Date ______________
Comments and agreement form project proposal checker( IV sampling)
Comments (Optional):
I confirm that the project is appropriate.
Agreed /Disagree: (Name of the IV) Date
ANNEXURE “B”:
Research Ethics approval form
All students conducting research activity that involves human participants or the use of data
collected form human participants are required to gain ethical approval before commencing
their research. Please answer all relevant questions and note that your form may be returned if
incomplete.
For further support and guidance please see your respective Unit Tutor:
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Before completing this form, we advise that you discuss your proposed research fully with your
unit tutor. Please complete this form in good time before your research project is due to
commence.
Section 1: Basic details:
Project title:
“To analyse the role of talent management in improving effectiveness of organisation. A case study on
Marks & Spencer.”
Student name:
Student ID number:
Programme:
College Name:
Intended research start date:
15/2/2021
Intended research end date:
25/5/2021
Section 2 Project summary
Please select all research methods that you plan to use as a part of your project:
 Interviews Yes No
 Questionnaires Yes No
 Observations Yes No
 Use of personal records Yes No
 Data Analysis Yes No
 Action Research Yes No
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 Focus Groups Yes No
 Others (Please specify) :
Section 3: Participants
Please answer the following questions, giving full details where necessary.
Will your research involve human participants?
Yes
Who are the participants? Tick all that apply:
Ages 12-16: Young people aged: 17-18 Adults:
How will participants be recruited (identified an approached)?
The participants will be recruited through utilizing simple random sampling method.
Describe the processes you will use to inform participants about what you are doing:
For informing the participants, distinct communication tools will be use.
How will you obtain consent from participants? Will this be written? How will it be made
clear to participants that they may withdraw consent to participate at any time?
The consent will obtain from participants by asking them to fill the consent form which
is in the written form. Prior to the participation in research, the participants will inform
that they can take back their consent any time from research.
Studies involving questionnaires: will participants be given the option of omitting questions
that do not wish to answer?
Yes No
If no please explain why below and ensure that you cover any ethical issues arising from this
Studies involving observation: Confirm whether participants will be asked for their informed
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consent to be observed.
Yes No
Will you debrief participants at the end of their participation (i.e give them a brief
explanation of the study)?
Yes No
Will participants be given information about the findings of your study?(This could be a brief
summary of your findings in general)
Yes No
Section 4: Data Storage and Security
Confirm that all personal data will be stored and processed in compliance with the Data
Protection Act (1998)
Yes No
Who will have access to the data and personal information?
The data as well as the personal information will be accessed through researcher only
During the research:
Where will the data be stored?
The data will be stored in USB, pen drive and laptop
Will mobile devices such as USB storage and laptops be used
Yes No
If Yes, please provide further details:
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After the research:
Where will the data be stored?
The data will store in Laptop, pen drive and USB
How long will the data and records be kept for and in what format?
The data and records will be kept for 8 years in the format of soft copy
Will data be kept for use by other researchers? Yes No
Section 5: Ethical Issues
Are there any particular features of your proposed work, which may raise ethical concerns? If
so, please outline how you will deal with these:
It is important that you demonstrate your awareness of potential risks that may arise
because of your research. Please consider/address all issues that may apply. Ethical concerns
may include, but are not limited to the following:
 Informed consent.
 Potentially vulnerable participants.
 Sensitive topics
 Risk to participants and /or researchers
 Confidentiality/anonymity
 Disclosures/ limits to confidentiality
 Data storage and security, both during and after the research (including transfer,
sharing, encryption, protection).
 Reporting
 Dissemination and use of your findings.
Section 6: Declaration
I have read, understood and will abide by the institution’s Research and Ethics Policy: Yes
No
I have discussed the ethical issues relating to my research with my Unit Tutor:
Yes No
I confirm that to the best of my knowledge:
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The above information is correct, and this is a full description of the ethical issues that may
arise in the course of my research
Name: Date:
Please submit your completed form to your supervisor and also attach to the Research
Proposal when submitting to Similarity.
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