Assessing Work Life Balance and Employee Loyalty at Chevron UK

This PhD proposal examines the correlation between work-life balance and employee loyalty, with a specific focus on Chevron UK. The introduction provides a comprehensive overview of work-life balance, its significance, and its impact on employee commitment. The study aims to assess this relationship, understand its importance, and identify ways to improve work-life balance for employees at Chevron. The methodology includes a descriptive research design, data collection through questionnaires and secondary sources, and an inductive approach for data analysis. The proposal outlines research questions, objectives, and a Gantt chart for project management, along with a detailed literature review supporting the study's rationale. The study's findings aim to offer insights beneficial to both Chevron and the broader energy sector, and to contribute to the academic understanding of work-life balance and its effects on employee loyalty. The proposal also includes a detailed reference list of relevant books, journals and online articles.

PHD PROPOSAL

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
Background of the study..............................................................................................................2
Scope of the study........................................................................................................................2
Literature review..........................................................................................................................2
Research aim and objectives........................................................................................................3
Research design...........................................................................................................................4
Data collection.............................................................................................................................4
Research approach.......................................................................................................................4
Data analysis................................................................................................................................4
Sampling......................................................................................................................................4
Gantt chart...................................................................................................................................4
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6

INTRODUCTION
Work life balance supports in understanding the relationship between work and overall
commitment in rest of the life of an individual. Further, this concept is associated with
prioritizing the association between the work and lifestyle of an individual. Generally, staff
members working in the organization have to keep proper work life balance where work is
associated with career and ambition and lifestyle is linked with health, leisure, family etc
(Clutterbuck, 2003). By keeping proper balance in between the two, individual can perform
better in personal along with professional life. Apart from this, there exist relationship between
work life and loyalty of staff members within the enterprise. In case, when any individual
focuses more towards work and applies larger efforts in carrying out duties assigned then it
represents loyalty towards the firm and vice versa. Apart from this, it directly depends on the
ability of an individual, as every person is not able to keep proper equilibrium between work and
life. Sometime, this may have adverse impact on the working style of individual.
The present proposal will focus on determining the relationship between work life
balance and loyalty of employees towards company where Chevron as one of the companies will
be selected. Further, the topic chosen will support in understanding how work life balance has
direct impact on the loyalty of staff members who are present within the workplace. This will
enhance significance of the entire study and it can be known what are the effective ways through
which individual can understand about the appropriate ways of keeping a balance between work
and life.
Company overview
Chevron is regarded as one of the world’s largest integrated energy company where
success of the business is being driven by its staff members and overall commitment to obtain
outcomes in right way. Business is highly indulged into innovation practices and explores to
produce and transport crude oil (About us, 2016). Management strongly focuses on improving
ability to serve customers by using advanced technology and this is one of the main reasons
behind success of firm in the market. In the year 2014, total net production of business was 2.571
million oil equivalent barrels per day and around 74% of the production was carried outside the
country like United States. At present, business is having capacity of 1.9 million barrels of oil
per day, at the end of 2014. Therefore, these are some of the key operations which are carried out
by Chevron in the market of United States.
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Background of the study
The main reason behind carrying out this study will be “To assess the relationship
between work life balance and loyalty of staff members towards company”. Further, for
conducting study, Chevron will be chosen as one of the firm which operates in energy sector. It
is well known in the market for the range of operations being carried out in the market. The
entire study will support in knowing whether there exist relationship between work life balance
and loyalty of staff members within the firm (Timm, 2008). Moreover, it can be said that when
individual is capable enough of managing work along with personal life, then loyalty towards
business increases due to presence of high satisfaction. Apart from this, significance of balancing
work and life has increased in the modern era where individual has to manage both in
appropriate manner. Moreover, it is first and foremost aim of every business that its staff
members must be loyal towards work and the overall duties assigned to them. Further, level of
loyalty increases at faster pace if individual manages work along with life such as leisure, health,
pleasure etc.
Scope of the study
The entire study being carried out will be beneficial at both corporate and academic level.
At corporate level, the findings of study will support in understanding the real relationship
between work life balance and loyalty of employees towards the organization. This study will
provide base to other companies and they can easily understand the main reason due to which
staff members are loyal towards firm and this is beneficial for management in every possible
manner. Apart from this, the present study will also be beneficial at academic level where
students and other types of learners will understand about the concept of work life balance and
its relation with loyalty of employees who are working in the organization.
Literature review
As per view of Moore (2007), work life balance supports in knowing the relationship
between work of individual and commitment in the rest of life and their impact on one another.
Further, it is well known fact that management of the enterprise applies larger efforts so that staff
members may take active participation in the business affairs. Apart from this, individuals
present within the workplace may have to struggle hard to balance work life along with the
duties of caring for children, family members etc (Moore, 2007). Sometime, it is possible that
individual is not able to manage both work and personal life and due to this basic reason
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motivation level of individual declines. It may also have adverse impact on performance within
the workplace where proper work life management is not possible. According to Phillips and
Gully (2013), work life balance has direct impact on job satisfaction as successful stability
between work and non work roles are beneficial for both staff members and employers working
in the enterprise. Apart from this, effective organizational culture can encourage employees to
work for longer period of time within the company and this has positive impact on the overall
performance of business (Phillips and Gully, 2013). Further, if proper support is provided by
employers to keep balance between work lives then it enhances job satisfaction and in turn
loyalty towards company increases which is one of the main motives of business. In short, work
life balance is important in improving overall performance of the staff members at work and
home. However, Doherty (2004) argued that, companies operating in the market on wider basis
apply efforts in development of effective culture so that staff members are able to manage their
work along with personal life. If they are able to perform better in work and non work life then
loyalty towards company increases and they apply larger efforts in enhancing overall
productivity of the organization (Doherty, 2004).
Research aim and objectives
The main aim behind carrying out this study will be “To assess the relationship work life
balance and loyalty of employees towards company: A case study of Chevron, UK”. Following
will be the objectives for the study which are:
 To understand the significance of work life balance in the modern era.
 To determine the impact of effective work life balance on loyalty of employees within
Chevron UK.
 To recommend the effective ways through employees working in the company can better
manage work life.
Research questions
In order to accomplish objectives of the study following will be the research questions
which are as follows:
 How important is work life balance in the modern era?
 What is the impact of effective work life balance on loyalty of staff members within
Chevron UK?
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Research design
In order to conduct study in appropriate manner, it is necessary to adopt appropriate
research design so expected outcomes can be attained easily (Franklin, 2012). For conducting the
present study, descriptive research design will be undertaken through which description of the
topic being chosen can be provided easily. Further, it will support in knowing the relationship
between work life balance and loyalty of employees towards the company.
Data collection
In the present study, information will be collected from both sources namely primary and
secondary (Flick, 2011). For collection of primary information, questionnaire will be designed
where managers of Chevron UK will be undertaken and data will be obtained from them. On the
other hand, secondary information will be collected through books, journals and online articles.
Research approach
For attaining overall aim and objectives of the study, inductive approach will be
employed where results move from specific to general (Christopher, 2014). The entire study will
be carried out from the point view of Chevron and on the basis of results; recommendations will
be provided to entire energy sector.
Data analysis
For analyzing information, qualitative technique will be adopted where different themes
will be formed on the basis of information obtained. Further, the main reason behind not
undertaking quantitative technique will be the absence of numeric data.
Sampling
For carrying out the study in appropriate manner, sample size of 5 managers working at
Chevron will be undertaken, through which it will become easy to know the relationship between
work life balance and loyalty of employees towards Company. Apart from this, technique of
purposive sampling will be employed which will assist in obtaining data, keeping in view main
purpose behind conducting the research.
Gantt chart
Activity/Week 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Formulating research proposal
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Assessment of primary and secondary data
Developing research objectives
Determination of research approach
Drafting the research methodology
Development of the questionnaire
Collecting the primary data
Evaluation and analysis of the data
Interpretation of results
Submission to tutor and awaiting feedback
Revising the final draft
Submission
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Christopher, H., 2014. Qualitative research – mixed emotions. Qualitative Research in
Accounting & Management. 11(1). pp.51–70.
Clutterbuck, D., 2003. Managing Work-life Balance: A Guide for HR in Achieving
Organisational and Individual Change. CIPD Publishing.
Flick, U., 2011. Introducing Research Methodology: A Beginner's Guide to Doing a Research
Project. SAGE.
Franklin, M., 2012. Understanding Research: Coping with the Quantitative - Qualitative Divide.
Routledge.
Moore, F., 2007. Work‐life balance: contrasting managers and workers in an MNC. Employee
Relations. 29(4) .pp.385 – 399.
Phillips, J. and Gully, S., 2013. Organizational Behavior: Tools for Success. 2nd ed. Cengage
Learning.
Doherty, L., 2004. Work‐life balance initiatives: implications for women. Employee Relations.
26(4) .pp.433 – 452.
Tomlinson, J. and Durbin, S., 2010. Female part‐time managers: Work‐life balance, aspirations
and career mobility. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: An International Journal.
29(3) .pp.255 – 270.
Timm., 2008. Customer Service: Career Success Through Customer Loyalty. 4/E. Pearson
Education India.
Online
About us. 2016. [Online]. Accessed through < http://www.chevron.com/about/>. [Accessed on
23rd January, 2016].
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