Influence of Work-Life Balance on IKEA's Organizational Productivity

This research project investigates the influence of work-life balance and enrichment experiences on organizational productivity, with a specific focus on IKEA. The study aims to identify work-life balance approaches, ascertain barriers to their implementation, and explore the relationship between work-life balance, enrichment experiences, and organizational productivity. The research employs a mixed-methods approach, utilizing secondary data from articles, journals, and government publications, alongside primary data collected through questionnaires distributed to IKEA employees. The project includes a detailed research proposal outlining objectives, research questions, methodology, and a Gantt chart for project management. It also addresses ethical considerations, including participant consent, data storage, and security, ensuring the responsible conduct of the research. The findings are expected to provide valuable insights into how work-life balance initiatives affect employee performance and organizational outcomes within IKEA.

Research Project
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Introduction
Equality and diversity can be said to be one of crucial considerations for business which
are operating in the contemporary business environment. It has been determined that equality
carries relevance to all the organisation irrespective of their size and scale of operations. To
ensure equality and diversity practices in an organisation it is crucial for a business to offer
similar environment and opportunities so that people can grow and develop. This investigation
focuses on identifying the influence of undertaking approaches to work life balance and
enrichment experiences on productivity and performance of employee.
Aim
“To investigate influence of approaches of work-life balance and enrichment experiences
on organisational productivity. A stud on IKEA.”
Objectives
 To identify the approaches of work-life balance and enrichment experience.
 To ascertain the major barriers to implementation of work- life balance and enrichment
experiences
 To investigate relationship between work life balance and enrichment experience and
organisational productivity.
Research Questions
 What are approaches of work-life balance and enrichment experience?
 What are major barriers to implementation of work- life balance and enrichment
experiences?
 Describe the relationship between work life balance and enrichment experience and
organisational productivity.
Research Methodology
To fulfil requirements of this investigation a mix approach of data collection will be chosen. The
requirements of secondary information will be fulfilled through use of articles, journals and
government published data. Whereas the primary investigation for this project will be done
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through undertaking of a questionnaire which will be distributed among the employees working
for IKEA.
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Research Proposal Form
Student Name: Ionut Vsilache______________________ Student ID: ____________
Centre Name: _ ____________________
Tutor: ________________ Date: __10/03/2020_________________
Unit: ____11________________
Proposed Title: __ “To investigate influence of approaches of work-life balance and
enrichment experiences on organisational productivity. A study on IKEA
____________________________________________
Section One: Title, objective, responsibilities
Title or working title of the research project (in the form of a question, objective or
hypothesis)
“To investigate influence of approaches of work-life balance and enrichment experiences on
organisational productivity. A study on IKEA
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?):
 To identify the approaches of work-life balance and enrichment experience.
 To ascertain the major barriers to implementation of work- life balance and enrichment
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experiences
 To investigate relationship between work life balance and enrichment experience and
organizational productivity.
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):
Main reason while choosing this research as to conduct this investigation and have effective
leaning related to influence of approaches of work-life balance and enrichment experiences on
organizational productivity (Brown, Kim and Faerman, 2019). Along with this, it also aid
researcher to make significant increase in knowledge related to approaches of work life balance
in addition with numerous ranges of techniques as well as tool as to conduct research in a well
defined and effective manner. Further it has been identified that present research can be
undertaken as a academicals purpose that will duly benefit students to learn about work-life
balance.
Section Three: Literature sources searched
Use of key literature sources to support your research question, objective or hypothesis:
Approaches of work-life balance and enrichment experience
On the basis of Work life balance is mainly defined as a term that is basically use as to define
balance that are required by an individual between time that are duly allocated to work and other
aspects of life. In order to maintain work life balance, it is essential to not focus upon all the
aspect at once but it is important to do fewer things in a perfect manner (Youssef-Morgan and
Craig, 2019). By providing work life balance company can effectively able to increase staff
retention rates, motivation, reduce employee stress and more in a significant manner. There are
different approaches related to work life balance that company can be adopt such as harmful,
passive, active and beneficial. The belonging of staff member to each kind of mainly expected to
various qualitatively from the each other in context to psychological functioning as well as role
engagement.
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Major barriers to implementation of work- life balance and enrichment experiences
As per opinion of Alan Kohll (2020) Graeme Codrington (2020) Main barrier to implement
work life balance and enrichment experiences is that employees are not aware about the
programs exist (Ratnesh and Sinha, 2019). In addition to this, managerial support also acts as
one of the most important barrier that affect implementation of work life balance. As there are
some barriers which company face in executing the enrichment experience and also work life
balance for an instance lack of the control, unsupportive relationship, no skills, high stress level
etc. These all the factors develop negative impact on the work life balance of employees and also
enrichment of experience at workplace.
Relationship between work life balance and enrichment experience and organisational
productivity
According to Larry Kim (2020), There is a formative set of relationship among work life
balance and enrichment and organizational productivity. Work life balance effectively leads an
entity to make improvement in morale and motivation of their employees. In addition to this, it
duly enhances organizational image as well as retention of employees. This makes entity to have
large number of experienced employees. This makes organization to significantly increase their
profitability in a well-defined manner. There is a direct relationship among the enrichment
experience and also work life balance and organizational productivity. If the work life balance
will be good them employees can get the better experience and this will helps in develop the
positive impact on organizational productivity.
REFERENCES
Books & Journals
Youssef-Morgan, C.M. and Craig, L., 2019. Work–life balance, stress and well-being:
moderating effects of psychological capital. In Creating Psychologically Healthy Workplaces.
Edward Elgar Publishing.
Brown, H., Kim, J.S. and Faerman, S.R., 2019. The influence of societal and organizational
culture on the use of work-life balance programs: A comparative analysis of the United States
and the Republic of Korea. The Social Science Journal.
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Ratnesh, M., Ali, A. and Sinha, A.R., 2019. Determinants of work-life balance: A cross-cultural
review of selected Asian countries. Space and Culture, India. 7(1). pp.223-239.
Kim, L., 2020. These 5 Things Will Keep You from Achieving Work-Life Balance. [Online].
Available through: < https://smallbiztrends.com/2018/05/barriers-to-work-life-balance.html >.
Codrington, G., 2020. Challenges – and solutions – to Work-Life Balance. [Online]. Available
through: <http://www.tomorrowtodayglobal.com/2009/08/14/challenges-and-solutions-to-work-
life-balance/>.
Kohll, A., 2020. The Evolving Definition Of Work-Life Balance. [Online]. Available through:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/alankohll/2018/03/27/the-evolving-definition-of-work-life-
balance/#331d3d019ed3 .
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):
Aims and Objectives
Literature Review
Research Methodology
Submission of research proposal
Data collection analysis
Result of findings
How long this will
take:
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Evaluation and recommendation
Submission of final report
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Milestone one: ____________ Research Proposal _____
Target date (set by tutor): ___________29 Days _________
Milestone two: ___________________ Research Project ____
Target date (set by tutor): __________________45 Days ________
Gantt Chart
Gantt chart is define as a graphical representation of wide range of activities that are going to be
undertaken throughout research investigation as per in accordance with set time. Mentioned
below Gantt chart of present research is being given:
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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 onion framework
Research methodology is defined as a effective process with the help of which investigator can
effectively able to allocate data and information in a well defined manner. Present research
include research onion framework that is being undertaken by researcher as to accomplish
research in a best effective manner.
Research Approach
This is concerned with proper plans and explaining about process for conducting an
investigation. There are inductive and deductive two different research approaches. In
conducting the present investigation, there will be inductive research approach used because it is
based on the qualitative research method and analyzing the collected information in significant
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way.
Research Philosophy:
Research philosophy define as a way, nature and pattern of research in which researcher allocate,
utilize and evaluate gather data. This is of mainly two types that include interpretivism and
positivism. In order to fulfill present research requirement investigator undertaken use of
interpretivism as to accomplish research objectives.
Primary and secondary data collection:
There are mainly two forms of data collection methods that are secondary and primary. In order
to accomplish present research requirements questionnaire is being undertaken by investigator as
to collect well defined and information in a primary data collection segment. While on the other
as to collect research via secondary method Websites, books, online articles, magazines etc is
going to be use of researcher.
There will be primary method of data collection used as developing a questionnaire. The main
reason behind using the primary method is that it provides the fresh and accurate information
regarding the specific subject area. Questionnaire is main source of primary method and this will
mainly used to collect information.
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):
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I confirm that the project is appropriate.
Agreed /Disagree: (Name of the IV) Date
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Research Ethics approval form
.
Section 1: Basic details:
Project title:
“To investigate influence of approaches of work-life balance and enrichment experiences on
organisational productivity. A study on IKEA
Student name: IONUT VASILACHE
Student ID number:
Programme: HND
College Name: REGENT COLLEGE
Intended research start date:
Intended research end date:
Section 2 Project summary
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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
 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?
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)?
By taking use of probabilistic sampling method 50 respondents are going to be undertaken.
Describe the processes you will use to inform participants about what you are doing:
In order to provide information to the participants in relation to purpose of research mode
of email will be undertaken via which sharing of information will be done in a well defined
manner.
How will you obtain consent from participants? Will this be written? How will it be made clear
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to participants that they may withdraw consent to participate at any time?
By taking use of questionnaire, researcher will learn about the approval of respondents. In
addition to this it will be in a written form
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
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)
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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?
Researcher
During the research:
Researcher
Where will the data be stored?
Personal Computer as well as in software is being undertaken as to store data
Will mobile devices such as USB storage and laptops be used
Yes No
If Yes, please provide further details:
After the research:
Where will the data be stored?
How long will the data and records be kept for and in what format?
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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:
The above information is correct, and this is a full description of the ethical issues that may
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arise in the course of my research
Name: Date:10/03/2020
Please submit your completed form to your supervisor and also attach to the Research
Proposal when submitting to Turnitin.
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