Managing Successful Business Project: Amazon's Talent Strategies

This report analyzes the talent management strategies employed by Amazon, focusing on their effectiveness in attracting and retaining employees. The project includes project planning, research methodologies (both primary and secondary), and a detailed examination of Amazon's approach to talent management, including a comparison with Google's practices. The report covers the formation of questionnaires, analysis of findings, and the identification of key talent management initiatives. It also assesses the value and benefits of these strategies in enhancing employee motivation and retention, addressing the business case for talent management, and presenting the findings through various methods. The report also includes a project logbook and performance review, providing insights into the project's progress and challenges.

Managing Successful Business Project
(“What talent strategies do the best companies
use to attract and retain people?”)

Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
Step 1- Project Planning...................................................................................................................4
PROJECT LOGBOOK....................................................................................................................8
PERFORMANCE REVIEW.........................................................................................................11
Step 2- Primary and Secondary Research......................................................................................13
1. Formation of questionnaire...............................................................................................13
1. Analysing findings............................................................................................................14
2. Type of talent management initiatives have by Google and Amazon..............................20
3. Value and benefits of talent management addressing well-being in terms of improving
employee motivation and retention......................................................................................22
4. Business Case...................................................................................................................23
Step 3 Present Findings..................................................................................................................23
Covered in PPT.....................................................................................................................23
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................24
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................25
APPENDICES 1............................................................................................................................26
Questionnaire........................................................................................................................26
APPENDIX 2.................................................................................................................................27
Business case presentation...................................................................................................27

Introduction
Talent management is an activity of attracting, motivating, retaining and developing
employees so that they can contribute their best in achieving goals and strategic objective of
Company. There are various tools which is required for successful talent management such as
Strategic plan, workforce planning, recognition program, executive coaching, recruiting,
retention and engagement (Sheehan, Grant and Garavan, 2018). The businesses use talent
management strategy to retain their skilled and topmost talent in Company. The Organisation
invest in talent management to increase the performance of employees. It makes easier for
Organisation to identify which candidate is giving their best and create less performance
management issues (Collings and et. al, 2018). Talent management improves the performance of
business as they help staff members to feel engaged, motivate and follow the path for achieving
goals of Company For this research the Chosen organisation is Amazon. It is an American
Company which focuses on Digital streaming, artificial intelligence, e-commerce and cloud
computing. Amazon is one of the biggest Company in US along with Facebook, Google,
Microsoft and Apple. The Company has started its online marketplace for books but later they
have expanded their business by selling video games, furniture, Clothes, jewellery, software,
electronics, apparel and food. The founder of Amazon is Jeff Bezos and company was
established in 1994.
Project aim
Main aim of this project is “To identify the talent management strategies and its implications in
attracting and retaining of employee within a workplace: A study on Amazon
Project objectives
 To explore talent management strategies used by Amazon
 To determine the use of talent management strategies in employee attraction and retention
within a workplace of Amazon
 To examine the challenges that would be faced by Amazon while using talent management
strategies at workplace
Research questions
 What are the main talent management strategies used by Amazon?
 What are the biggest use of talent management strategies in attraction and retention of
employee within a workplace of Amazon?

 What are the main challenges that would be faced by Amazon while using talent
management strategies at workplace?
Step 1- Project Planning
Project management plan is defined as a document which is formal in nature and this
document has significant information related to the activities that need to be performed, resource
required to be utilised, manpower needed and many more in the initiation of the specific project
in efficient and effective way. It assists management in identifying significant aspects during the
time of starting the project to overview the project management plan. There are various other
vital aspects which is included in this document like risk, quality, cost, time and scope. Some of
them are explained below:
Project management plan: This is an effective plan that facilitates project manager in
completing of all activities of the project in given time and in successful manner. One of the
main benefit of project management plan is it help researcher in completing of full project in
given time, cost, quality etc. Therefore, project management plan of the current project is
mentioned as below in tabular format:
Components of project management plan Description
Time This is an essential component of the project
management plan. In order to compete each
activity of the project such as primary and
secondary data collection, data analysis etc., 10
weeks will be required by manager.
Quality This project will be completed quality basis by
using quantitative research, questionnaire etc.
Communication There are various communication methods that
re used for communicating information about
the project to an organisation, respondents etc.
These methods are e-mail, oral and written
presentation etc.
Risk There are various risks of completing this
project such as time, cost etc.
Resources There are various resources that are need for

starting and completing of talent management
project. These are transportation cost, time,
communication, internet etc.
Cost For completing all activities of the project,
€400 amount will be needed by project
manager.
 Scope: In this specific project there are various tasks and activities are performed by
researcher. For this researcher has made aim and objectives related to the title that is
talent management strategies used by company to attract and retain employees in the
organisation. After that researcher has used different research methodologies to gather
information to the topic of project. These methods have assisted in analysing the gathered
data in the direction of fulfilling the objectives of research. To find accurate information
and details respondents are selected who have knowledge regarding the strategies used by
organisation to attract and retain employees.
 Major events: In this particular project researcher has to go with the various phases
which include introduction in which basic information is provided regarding the topic of
the project those talent management strategies for retaining and attracting employees for
the longer period of time. After that researcher has focused towards answering the
questions related to the research objectives from various sources books, journals, and
articles and so on. Primary research is done with the assistance of questionnaire where
close-ended questions are asked from respondents to gather opinions and view regarding
talent management strategies.
 Initiation, planning and execution: At the time of starting project the researcher needs
various things where cost, resources and type of information required to be collected is
decided. Researcher at this point make budget so that expenditure could be maintained,
communicate all the important things and divide each activity in a systematic way so that
time does not get wasted. The researcher execute plan by collecting information from
different sources such as books, journals, articles, magazines and so on. The researcher
also conduct questionnaire from the selected respondents so that required information

could be gathered. The collected data is then analysed with different research
methodologies because it assists in getting valid, reliable and relevant data.
Work break down structure: Work break down structure is defined as chart which assists in
showing the relationship between the activities of project considered in completing the research
project as whole. This structure is used to divide every activity into small work. Basically it
assists in decomposing every activity into manageable tasks (Sharon and Dori, 2017). It assists in
providing clarity about the project requires to deliver.
Gantt chart: Gantt chart is defined as system which is generally used in project management; it
is the most useful method to show activities to complete in a time. Every task is represented in a
bar which clearly determines the initial date, end and duration of activities.

PROJECT LOGBOOK
Project Logbook
Name:
Project title:
Date:
Update on period of development
Points to consider: What have you completed in this period? Did you complete the
work that you had planned? Are you on track and within deadlines set? Did you
need to make any changes to your project plan?
With this project various talent management strategies used by Amazon and Google is
determined and identified by the use of various secondary sources like books, journals,
articles and reputed magazines.
Yes, I have completed the work according to the plan.
Yes, I have been on track while completing tasks with the already set deadlines.
No, I did not need to make any changes in the project plan because everything was going on
according to the already set plan.
Risks and/or issues identified
Points to consider: Did you identify risks/issues related to a lack of knowledge or
skill required to undertake the work you had planned? Did you identify any additional
risks/issues that have an impact on your project plan?

Yes, I have identified issue related to the lack of knowledge as earlier I did not know much
about the practical usage of talent management strategies so at starting I had problem in
communication and collect valid information.
Another issue I had dealt with this is managing time according to the decided time duration
and deadline which has great impact on project plan.
Problems encountered
Points to consider: What challenges did you face? How did you overcome them?
The first problem I faced was managing time which means dividing activities in a proper
time. This problem was overcome by using work break down structure and Gantt chart which
helped in dividing activities in a systematic way.
The another problem I faced was gathering data from selected participants because they were
not honest at the time of answering the questions and this problem was overcome by making
them understand this survey would be beneficial as company would get to know about the
employees expectations.
New ideas and change of project direction
Points to consider: In developing work, addressing risks/issues, has the direction of
your work changed? How does your work justify the change of direction? Is this
clear? Do you feel this change of direction has enhanced your work? How?
While developing work issues I faced issues and changed the direction of my work. The
change of direction made my work to complete in a more effective and efficient manner. Yes
the change of direction has improved my work like Gantt which has divided activity into
smaller parts which helped me in achieving small objectives.
What have you learned about yourself through your work?
Points to consider: What are the most important things that your work has revealed
to you? How might this learning apply in the future? How did you feel when you had
to deal with challenges/problems? How well do you feel you have you performed?
What can you improve?

With this work I have discovered about myself that I have confidence and can work patiently
and this work has made me aware about the working of organisation regarding attract and
retain employees in large number.
This learning would help me in future in my professional career where I would be aware
about the strategies to retain and attract talented employees. This work has increased my
confidence and now I am comfortable in communicating with anyone.
At the initial stages where I had to deal with challenges and problems I felt frustrated but
after that I behaved patiently and calmly.
I have performed good as I tried to meet the aim of the project.
I think I can improve my time management skills.
Next steps for your work
Points to consider: What aspects of your work should you prioritise? Have you
allowed sufficient time for completion?
I should prioritise the aspect which is related to gathering of data from secondary sources so
that it does not take much time.
Yes, I have allowed sufficient time for completion.
Project plan status to date
Points to consider: Do you feel you are on track to complete your work on time? If
not, how will you address this? Do you feel your work shows your achievement of the
Learning Outcomes? If not, what do you need to do?
Yes, I have completed my work on time.
Tutor Feedback

PERFORMANCE REVIEW
Performance Review
What did you aim to achieve through your work?
With this study project I had aim of “What talent strategies do the best companies use to
attract and retain people?” achieving through my work.
Did your work succeed in achieving your aims? How do you know? Specifically,
please
outline any evaluation and assessment undertaken.
Yes, I have succeeded in achieving my aims. It is achieved by gathering information
related to talent strategies used by Google and Amazon. Amazon considers on providing
learning strategy to employees whereas Google focuses on giving decision power to
employees. These both strategies assist company to attract and retain employees.
What aspects of your development process do you think worked well and why?
Evaluate
all aspects of the project (e.g. initial research, concept development,
development
Process, presentation, etc.) From a range of perspectives.
Initial research has worked well because it had proper planning, the process has also
worked where information is collected which are valid and accurate.
What problems emerged during the project and how were they tackled? Was
there
timely identification of issues and resolution during the project process?
The major problem I faced during the project was time management and this problem is
tackled by adopting Gantt chart and work break down structure. Yes it was identified at
the right time and the resolution also found at the right time.
What did you learn from undertaking the project?
I have learnt that about attaining all the pre-defined objectives and aim within time. And
I have also learnt about the different strategies of managing talent which are quite

necessary for the success of organisation.
What are the strengths and weaknesses of your process that you have
identified?
With this process I have identified the strength which tells that I am good in making
decisions as per the requirements of project and the weakness I have identified is lack of
time management skill. The weakness I had in the process of data analysis where it has
taken time.
How could your process improve for the future?
This process could be improved for the future by improving decision making so that data
analysis part can be improved in future project.