Impact of Training and Development on Marks & Spencer Employees

This report investigates the significance of training and development within Marks & Spencer, a multinational retail company. The study aims to determine the impact of training and development on employee performance. The research employs a mixed-methods approach, utilizing a survey questionnaire distributed to 15 employees. The findings reveal that the majority of respondents are aware of training and development and recognize its positive impact on employee performance. The report explores the benefits of training, including enhanced knowledge, skills, and confidence. It also examines preferred training methods, such as on-the-job training, and various development methods like job rotation. The study concludes that improved employee performance positively influences productivity, reduces employee turnover, and enhances the overall business of Marks & Spencer.

Applied Research Methods

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY.....................................................................................................2
FINDINGS......................................................................................................................................4
CONCLUSION.............................................................................................................................13
REFERENCES............................................................................................................................14
APPENDIX 1................................................................................................................................15
APPENDIX 2................................................................................................................................16

INTRODUCTION
Training is program that aids employees to learn particular skills or knowledge to
make improvement in performance. Development focuses on growth of employees and
their future performance than immediate job role (Anitha, 2014). Training and
development includes improving effectiveness of people and firms. Marks & Spencer is
a large size organisation and it deals in retail sector. It is multinational retailer and
specialises in selling home products, luxury food items and clothing. Marks & Spencer
provide training to its employees for enhance their knowledge and skills. Through this,
they can able to deal with customers in a better manner and also provide them better
experience.
Aim
“To determine significance of training and development and its impact on
employees performance.” A Study on Marks & Spencer.
Objectives:
 To examine concept of training and development
 To determine benefits of training and development on productivity of Marks &
Spencer.
 To identify impact of training and development on performance of employees.
Questions:
 What is training and development?
 What are benefits of training and development on productivity of Marks &
Spencer?
 What is impact of training and development on performance of employees?
1

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
It is theoretical and systematic analysis of methods which applied to area of
study (Das and Baruah, 2013). It is comprise with theoretical analysis of body which are
related with branch of knowledge. Under this, different layers of research onion mention
below:
Research Philosophy- It is belief about gathering, interpretation and analysis of
collected data. It is related to development of knowledge in specific area. There are
various kinds of research philosophies like interpretivism, pragmatism and positivism
(Cohen, 2017). Under this, pragmatism philosophy has been used because its focus on
determining solutions to issues and address research objectives.
Research Approaches- It is next layer of research onion and it is a plan that
includes wider assumptions to the detailed data collection methods, analysis and
interpretation. Inductive and deductive are two different kinds of research approaches.
In this, inductive research approach has been used because it is based on qualitative
method and provide detailed description about specific research area.
Strategies- It is related to how an investigator intend to carried out work. It
consists various approaches like action research, interviews, experimental research,
survey etc. Under this, researcher use survey questionnaire by selecting respondents
(Ford, 2014).
Choices- Qualitative research methods provides the theoretical description
about specific research area. In quantitative method, data and information is measured
in terms of numeric (Kooij And et. al,. 2013). The researcher used mixed methods by
consisting qualitative and quantitative research method.
Time horizons- It is a framework within which project is to be intended for
completion in a better manner (Mone and London, 2018). Under this, cross- sectional
approach for time horizon means that focus of investigation is one current situation.
Techniques and procedures- It is final layer in research onion and related to
procedures and techniques taken. In conducting this investigation, both primary and
secondary research methods are helpful in conducting investigation. The primary
research method has been used by developing questionnaire (Harrison, 2012).
Researcher use the sample size of 15 respondents by using random data sampling
2

method. This method is helpful in provide the equal chance to all respondents. The
selected respondents are employees of Marks & Spencer.
Ethical principles- It indicates that researcher should conduct the data in an
ethical way. There are some practices and ethics which an investigator has to take in to
consideration to make research accurate, valid and reliable. The data should be
collected by using the relevant sources (Noe and et. al., 2017). It is necessary that
principles related to research ethics should be confidential, and informed in order to
conducting the research activities in an effective manner.
3

FINDINGS
DATA SHEET
Q1) Are you aware about the training and development? Frequency
a) Yes 12
b) No 3
Q2) In what manner Training & Development impact on
performance of staff members in Marks & Spencer?
Frequency
a) Positive 9
b) Negative 6
Q2) Does training and development develop positive impact on
performance of employees?
Frequency
a) Yes 11
b) No 4
Q4) What are the benefits of training to employees of Marks &
Spencer?
Frequency
a) High morale 5
b) Enhancing knowledge and skills 8
c) Develop confidence 2
Q5) Which method of Training Marks & Spencer can adopt in
increasing performance level of staff members?
Frequency
a) On the job method 10
b) Off the job method 5
Q6) What are the different Development methods Marks &
Spencer can use for overall grooming of employees?
Frequency
a) Formal education programmes 2
b) Enrich Job Experience 6
4

c) Job Rotation & Challenging Job Transfers 7
Q7) Does improved performance of employees helpful in
enhance productivity of Marks & Spencer?
Frequency
a) Yes 9
b) No 6
Q8) What is the impact on Training & Development on business
of Marks & Spencer?
Frequency
a) Reduce employee turnover 6
b) Employees retain for long time 4
c) Enhance productivity 5
THEME 1: Aware about the training and development
Q1) Are you aware about the training
and development?
Frequency
a) Yes 12
b) No 3
5
12
3
a) Yes
b) No

Interpretation: From the above discussion, it has been stated that training and
development is a wider concept and its main focus on improving the working abilities,
skills and knowledge of employees. There are 12 respondents and they said that they
have knowledge about the training and development. There are 3 respondents which do
not have the skills as well as knowledge about the training and development.
THEME 2: Manner Training & Development impact on performance of staff
members in Marks & Spencer
Q2) In what manner Training &
Development impact on performance of
staff members in Marks & Spencer?
Frequency
a) Positive 9
b) Negative 6
Interpretation: Training & Development deals with acquisition of proper understanding,
practices and techniques,it is one of most imperative of human resource management
as it can make improvement in performance level of employees as well as organisation.
From the above discussion, it has been interpret that there are 9 respondents which
said that training & development is helpful in develop positive affect on performance of
employees in Marks & Spencer. There are 6 respondents and according to them
training & development is not only way to increase performance of employees.
6
9
6
a) Positive
b) Negative

Company need to identify some other ways or methods to enhance employee's
performance such as conduct employee engagement activities etc.
THEME 3: Training and development develop positive impact on performance of
employees
Q3) Does training and development
develop positive impact on
performance of employees?
Frequency
a) Yes 11
b) No 4
Interpretation: There are 11 respondents which said that training and development is
helpful in develop the positive impact on performance level of staff members. According
to them, training and development is helpful in enhance the skills and core
competencies of employees and through this they can able to perform in a better or
effective manner. It helps in develop the positive impact on productivity of Marks &
Spencer. On the other hand, there are 4 respondents which are not agree with this
given statement.
THEME 4: Benefits of training to employees of Marks & Spencer
Q4) What are the benefits of training to Frequency
7
11
4
a) Yes
b) No

employees of Marks & Spencer?
a) High morale 5
b) Enhancing knowledge and skills 8
c) Develop confidence 2
Interpretation: Training & Development have significant affect on performance of
employees along with organisation. There are 5 respondents which said that the main
benefit of training to employees of Marks & Spencer is to enhance their morale. Training
is helpful in increasing the morale of employees and also improving their performance.
There are 8 respondents and they said that through providing training, skills and
knowledge of respondents will be enhanced and they have the proper idea to
completing tasks in an effective or significant manner. According to 2 respondents that
training and development is helpful in build confidence in employees so that they can
work in a better way.
THEME 5: Method of Training Marks & Spencer can adopt in increasing
performance level
Q5) Which method of Training Marks &
Spencer can adopt in increasing
performance level of staff members?
Frequency
a) On the job method 10
8
5
8
2
a) High morale
b) Enhancing knowledge
and skills
c) Develop confidence

b) Off the job method 5
Interpretation: There are two different methods of training which help in increasing
knowledge and skills of employees and also improving performance of employees.
There are 10 respondents and they said that On the job method is effective in
enhancing the performance of employees. This method provides necessary skills and
knowledge to better performance of job and trainer provide training within organisation.
Under this, employees learn in environment where they will require to practice skills and
knowledge obtained at the time of training. There are 5 respondents which said that in
off the job method of training, employees learn about their job away from work floor.
THEME 6: Different Development methods Marks & Spencer can use
Q6) What are the different Development
methods Marks & Spencer can use for
overall grooming of employees?
Frequency
a) Formal education programmes 2
b) Enrich Job Experience 6
c) Job Rotation & Challenging Job
Transfers
7
9
10
5
a) On the job method
b) Off the job method

Interpretation: There are 2 respondents and they said that better development method
for overall grooming of employees is to provide the formal education programmed to
employees. Through this, they gain gain knowledge about specific area. 6 respondents
are agree with enrich the job experience. According to 7 respondents that job rotation
and challenging the job transfer is helpful in development of employees. In job rotation
they can deal with the new responsibility and in job transfers employees can know
about the other job roles and perform them in an effective manner.
THEME 7: Improved performance of employees helpful in enhance productivity
Q7) Does improved performance of
employees helpful in enhance
productivity of Marks & Spencer?
Frequency
a) Yes 9
b) No 6
10
2
6
7 a) Formal education
programmes
b) Enrich Job Experience
c) Job Rotation & Challenging
Job Transfers