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(2008, 3500 words)
The paper offers a research proposal into the potential relationship between flexible working practices and employees' relationship with their employer. The proposal focuses on the use of research approach and methods rather than on a literary review of the subject material. A study of HRM practices in McDonald's is proposed suggesting an interpretivist, inductive, and case study approach that relies on a mix of qualitative and quantitative research methods.
(2005, 15 500 words)
The dissertation investigates the drivers of employee motivation (EM) conducting case studies of EM in Burger King and Mc DonaldĚs. The review of literature provides information about the food manufacturing industry, motivation theories (i.e. MaslowĚs hierarchy of needs theory, HerzbergĚs motivator-hygiene theory, equity theory), the issues of employee retention, rewards, training and development, etc. The research uses the methods of primary data collection through sampling, interviews and a questionnaire incorporating the findings into secondary data analysis. Conclusions are made about the factors that affect staff motivation thus enhancing their performance and productivity.
(2005, 1500 words)
The paper offers a research proposal to study the levels of stress among full time students having part time jobs during the term. Literature related to the theory of stress is reviewed focusing on stress in the workplace. Research methods are described identifying the placement of the case study and the techniques of primary data collection (questionnaire). The scale and timing of the research are defined.
(2005, 16 500 words)
The dissertation investigates the patterns of leadership behaviour in profit and non-profit organisations. The study is based on the qualitative approach and grounded theory using the methods of secondary and primary (semi-structured interviews) research. Literature is reviewed on the features of profit and non-profit organizations including the problems of fund raising, employee characteristics, etc., and the theory of leadership and management including the trait, behavioural and power approaches to leadership. Conclusions are made about participatory and directive roles of leaders in the analysed organisational types.
(2006, 7000 words)
The dissertation investigates the degree of vulnerability to stress among full-time students who have a part-time job during the academic year. Literature is reviewed on the theory of stress focusing on stress among students. Research methods include the analysis of primary data obtained through sampling and questionnaires. Conclusions are made about the potential for students to suffer from stress.
(2006, 9 500 words)
The dissertation investigates the causes and consequences of working long hours focusing on the study of graduates’ employment in UK investment banks. The review of literature touches upon the ‘long-hour work culture’, its negative effects on individuals, work-life balance research, job security among young professionals, specific features of UK investment banking, etc. Research methods include graduate and undergraduate sampling, the analysis of qualitative data collected through semi-structured face-to-face interviews, and secondary data interpretation. Conclusions are made about the current situation around work-life balance policies, the importance of non-financial rewards along with financial ones in enhancing motivation among young bank employees, etc.
(2006, 8300 words)
This dissertation examined the issues of office romance and sexual harassment, focusing specifically on interns. With employees spending more time working, office romances have become an inevitable part of modern working life. In many cases, these bring with them positive effects for the individuals involved. However, in a number of cases these can lead to problems that result in sexual harassment. Examining a number of stories of office romance and sexual harassment amongst interns posted on the Internet, this dissertation looks at an increasingly important issue – office romance and sexual harassment – from a new light – the case of interns.
(2006, 2500 words)
The paper offers a research proposal to investigate the ways of maximizing the learning outcomes of the employee training programmes in John Lewis focusing on the methods of increasing retention of information. A review of literature on memory theories is presented including the processing theory, the serial position effect theory, etc. Research methodology is described highlighting the technical and ethical issues of the study.
(2006, 3000 words)
The proposal has been produced aiming to analyze the HRM practices of domestic and foreign invested companies operating in China. The proposal holds sections on background, literature review, research questions & objective, methodology, theory, ethical considerations, timeline and resources. The proposed methodology has been discussed in detail which includes case studies of companies Haier and LG, semi-structured interviews, questionnaires and secondary data collection. A Gantt chart has also been provided with hey milestones for the proposed research.
(2006, 8500 words)
The dissertation investigates the attitudes towards organisational change and occupational stress associated with it. Literature is reviewed on the theories of stress, change management, the role of employment grades, etc. A case study is conducted in the HR Directorate of HM Prison Service aimed to identify the differences in change related stress levels among various employment grades. Secondary research methods are applied to the primary data collected through questionnaires among the targeted group of HM Prison Service employees. Conclusions are made about the reactions to change and the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS) characteristics among different grades of employees.
(2005, 12 500 words)
The dissertation investigates the impacts of the merger between Hewlett Packard (HP) and Compaq in 2002 on the company’s philosophy and leadership style. The review of literature touches upon the theories of leadership, management, mergers and acquisitions, etc. The study uses secondary research methods combined with the primary research based on a triangulation approach through observation, semi-structured interviews with HP employees and questionnaires. Conclusions are made about the effectiveness of the company’s leadership.
(2006, 3000 words)
The paper offers a research proposal on the impact of values rewards on individual and organizational performance reviewing theories of motivation, i.e. Maslow’s theory of needs, Alderfer’s ERG theory, Equity theory, Goal-setting theory, Expectancy theory and Motivator-Hygiene Theory. Research methodology is described explaining the rationale behind using the positivist methodological approach, sampling, qualitative primary data (interviews) and secondary data. The intended time scale of the work and the estimation of the incurred expenses are outlined.
(2005, 9000 words)
The dissertation investigates the issues of work stress seeking to identify its impact on businesses. Literature related to stress is reviewed including the areas of occupational health, work and industrial psychology, physiology of work and organisation, EU and UK legislation, etc. The causes of stress at work are identified; primary research is conducted using the data collected through semi-structured interviews among managers from the UK and across Europe. Conclusions are made about managers’ attitudes to the phenomenon of stress and the role of national and international guidelines on stress reduction. Recommendations to companies concerning work stress are offered.
(2006, 2500 words)
The paper offers a research proposal on the topic of external consulting identifying the aim of the study (human resource consulting related to employee recruitment), reviewing literature on the importance and effectiveness of consulting, the recruitment related problems faced by companies, etc. The strategy and design of the research are outlined; the methods of data collection are described; ethical issues and research limitations are reviewed.
(2006, 11500 words)
The dissertation examines the impacts of the work life balance (WLB) policies within the BT Group UK describing the company’s structural and cultural background, and focusing on the practices of the BT Wholesale department. A literature review touches upon the theory of Work-Life balance, changes in family values, advantages and disadvantages of WLB policies, etc. Qualitative and quantitative research methods are combined using the analysis of the secondary data and the primary data collected through a questionnaire and an interview with a member of BT senior management. Recommendations are made to improve BT policies of WLB.
(2004, 12000 words)
The dissertation investigates the concept of employee empowerment (EE) in UK public sector offices conducting a case study. The review of literature covers EE related subjects, i.e. EE organisational and individual benefits, employees’ and organisation’s roles in effective EE implementation, etc. Primary qualitative and quantitative methods (semi-structured interviews and questionnaires) are used in combination with secondary research. Recommendations are made about how to handle the imbalance in empowerment identified among employees.
(2005, 13000 words)
The dissertation investigates the issue of employee turnover in service industry conducting a case study of employee retention strategies in McDonald’s fast food restaurants in Edinburgh. McDonald’s background and current HR problems are discussed. A literature review touches upon the theory of human resource, employee commitment, the labour-intensive nature of fast food organizations, the causes of employee turnover, the strategies of employee retention, etc. The study uses qualitative and quantitative research methods including primary research (based on interviews and a questionnaire) and secondary research (based on theoretical sources, survey data, etc.). Recommendations are made about the use of human relations techniques in employee retention.
(2005, 8500 words)
The dissertation examines the negative impacts of bullying on the well-being of employees in an organisation aiming to identify the effect of organisational communication (formal and informal) and organisational identification in solving this problem. Literature is reviewed on the issues of social support, uncertainty reduction, work related stress, personalities of bullies and their victims, gender related discrimination, etc. Research methods include primary data collection (thorough a questionnaire) and analysis of correlations between different variables, i.e. bullying, promotion, stress, social support, etc. Conclusions are made about the most common forms of bullying and the ways to deal with them.
(2005, 8000 words)
The dissertation aims to investigate the reasons behind a high employee turnover rates in the retail industry. A literature review includes definitions of employee turnover (ET), effects of ET on an organisation, importance and techniques of employee retention, etc. Research methodology is described including primary research methods (a questionnaire, a focus group study, a survey) and secondary data analysis. Conclusions are made on the basis of research findings about the main causes of employee turnover. Recommendations for employers within retail industry are offered.
(2005, 12900 words)
Stress in the workplace has been described as “the black plague” of modern times and, depending on which set of figures you read, is either a serious problem or has reached epidemic proportions (Palmer, 2004). It can have major detrimental consequences on both individuals and organisations alike. There is growing interest and debate about this issue and in particular how to best deal with it. The Health & Safety Executive has led the way as regards research in the United Kingdom and following lengthy consultations and detailed studies have recently proposed the first practical and workable occupational stress model. This dissertation will examine how current literature and in particular the HSE model applies to a group who are arguably the most pivotal players in the management of stress in the work place, namely the managers themselves. It will be shown that research in this area has been limited. With the help of feed-back from managers of four different organizations information was gathered and analysed in relation to the causes of and influences upon occupational stress for management and the suitability or otherwise of the HSE model. It was found that while the current model displayed some usefulness and relevance it’s terms of reference was either flawed or incomplete as a stress management tool for managers. Numerous possible additional causes of occupational stress, not included in the HSE model, were identified by this research as well as various influencing factors which may directly affect or contribute towards stress levels amongst managers. This led to the conclusion that a more specific, better-defined and more inclusive model was required to be developed for dealing with stress-at-work levels amongst managers. In addition possible areas that may merit further research were identified.
(2005, 9500 words)
The dissertation aims to study the relationship between job satisfaction and job performance. A literature review covers the topics of occupational/organisational psychology including personality types and tests, predictors of contextual performance, factors influencing job satisfaction, etc. The correlation between personality variables and job performance/satisfaction is studied using the methods of multiple regression analysis. Conclusions are made about the role of gender and other variables in the personality – performance/satisfaction area.
(2005, 11000 words)
The dissertation aims to investigate the problem of employee retention conducting a case study of employee turnover in Eurofilter, a filter manufacturing company. The literature review includes theories of employee retention, satisfaction, motivation, reward, training, development, recognition, job customisation, outsourcing, etc. Research methods are based on primary data (questionnaire, focus groups, sampling and pilot study) and secondary data collection and analysis. Conclusions are made about the tactics used by Eurofilter to reduce turnover and increase retention of the employees.
(2005, 21000 words + 1500 words)
The dissertation aims to investigate the development of the reward system as part of HRM. The review of literature touches upon the origin of reward and performance relationship, different forms of reward, types of reward schemes, theories of motivation, etc. Research methods include collection and analysis of primary data (through questionnaires and interviews) and secondary data interpretation. A case study of a hospital and Wal-Mart supermarket chain is conducted. Conclusions are made about the effectiveness of their reward and motivation practices, employee satisfaction and the areas of managerial concern. The research proposal identifies the title and aims of the study listing the questions and theories to be covered while investigating the impact of reward system on performance of employees and enterprises. The evaluation of research is made including its ethical aspects and possible limitations.
(2005, 1000 words)
The paper presents a research proposal to examine the effectiveness of Marks and Spencers strategy in making each department a self-managed team. Academic opinions on the link between autonomy and job satisfaction are reviewed; a plan of the case study is offered describing research methods (questionnaires and interviews), time schedule, anticipated problems, etc.
(2005, 5500 words)
The dissertation aims to investigate the issues of HR management responsibility in contemporary China providing a review of literature on the theory of HRM, employee recruitment, selection, training and development in China, benefits and costs of line management involvement in HRM, etc. The research is based on the inductive approach using qualitative and quantitative methods in primary (questionnaires and interview) and secondary data analysis. Conclusions are made about the changing relationship between line management and human resource management.
(2005, 11000 words)
The dissertation aims to investigate the causes and outcomes of workplace romances regarding them as natural occurrences with possible embarrassing complications, and discussing their challenges for the management. The issues of personal ethics, privacy rights, favouritism towards the partner, sexual harassment, discrimination, etc. are reviewed. The policies of Marriott regarding workplace romances between subordinates and supervisors, and between peers are outlined. The nature of ‘love contracts and ‘consensual relationship agreements is discussed focusing on their legal implications in the UK and the USA. Conclusions are made on the basis of literature review and case studies, about the policies and procedures in regards to workplace romances.
(2006, 1500 words)
The focus of the study is on identifying the fundamental similarities and differences between the human resource management practice in Bulgaria and in other countries, especially UK. The aims and objectives of the proposal are based on identifying socio- cultural, political and organisational factors that seem to shape and motivate organisational structure and functions in the various industries of Bulgaria. The role of the transitional and changing economy and the importance of HR issues of wage structures, employee satisfaction and the impact of privatisation are also considered in the analysis. The research would be based on quantitative and qualitative analysis of primary and secondary data obtained using interviews, surveys and published articles.
(2005, 8000 words)
The aim of the dissertation is to account for the high employee turnover in retail industry and offer solution in staff retaining. A literature review touches upon the theory of labour turnover, the effects of employee turnover on staff and organisations, the importance of staff retention, etc. Investigation methods are based on primary research (questionnaires, a focus groups study, a pilot study and a survey), and secondary data in the form of academic books, reports, articles, etc. on labour market, HRM, employees behaviour, etc. Recommendations are made about the means of motivation to reduce employee turnover.
(2005, 10500 words)
People are the key asset that firms trade on, especially within the management consulting industry. However, the ability to leverage the internal knowledge that resides within them and encourage best practice is more difficult than might be expected. Linked in with the firms corporate and HR strategies, reward management becomes an integral tool to encourage the active sharing of knowledge. However, it is also important in reducing labour turnover, especially in tight labour markets, as well as motivating employees to improve organisational performance. This dissertation examines the linkage between corporate, HR and reward strategy, as well as some key aspects of financial and non-financial reward management. Next, it asks the question: To what extent can Accenture use remuneration as a means of reducing turnover and motivating employees. The analysis involves understanding the competitive environment within which Accenture competes through to the emphasis the firm places on different types of remuneration package. This dissertation would be useful for anyone interested in the linkages between corporate, HR and reward strategy, as well as those interested in reward management, the psychological contract and work-life balance and there application to a real life case.
(2005, 12000 words)
The dissertation aims to investigate how flexible working arrangements affect employee motivation using the example of a Health centre. The review of literature covers the definitions of flexible employment, the history of its application in British National Health Service (NHS) and in Europe, legislation on working time, theories of motivation, flexibility patterns and difficulties in their implementation, etc. Research methods include collection and processing of primary data (questionnaires, structured interviews, observation) and secondary data using both qualitative and quantitative techniques. Recommendations are made for the management of the Health centre to improve their flexible working practices.
(2005, 11500 words)
The aim of the dissertation is to examine the determinants of successful performance in expatriates analyzing the correlation between organizational, individual, environmental, cultural and other factors. The review of literature covers the problems of expatriation, expatriate adjustment and failure, expatriate recruitment and management, cross-cultural training, repatriation, etc. The methods of research include primary (questionnaires) and secondary data collection and interpretation to test the authors hypotheses using SPSS software. Conclusions are made about the implications and limitations of the study and the directions of future research.
(2005, 1100 words)
The proposal is aimed at research in the field of human resource management focused on absenteeism of employees. The research proposal is focused on the factors affecting the absence of employees in an organization and its link with the overall organizations health. One of the key objectives of this proposal is to evaluate the extent and impact of each factor of absenteeism on the organization. This work contains an in-depth literature review and methodology proposed for this study including a Gantt chart of main milestones for the proposed project.
(2005, 3000 words)
This dissertation proposal examines the environmental and firm-level consideration that multinational corporations (MNCs) take into account when making market entry decisions in developing countries. Whilst considerable literature has examined the internationalisation decisions of MNCs in the developed world and in emerging economies, relatively few have investigated the developing world context. Developing countries suffer from a range of environmental and firm-level difficulties that affect internationalisation decisions. At the environmental level, they face information problems, hampering investment, regulatory difficulties, decreasing economic efficiency, and judicial shortfalls that undermine contractual compliance. At the firm-level they lack the administrative, organizational and managerial capabilities to leverage firm-specific resources and knowledge that are vital to success. This proposal would be useful for any student wanting to know how to write a well structured and cohesive proposal that illustrates how to effectively link a studys research aims, objectives, literature review and methodology sections.
(2005, 18500 words)
This dissertation examined work motivation and occupational stress and their effect on sales performance within a single Vodafone store. First, a comprehensive literature review of motivation and stress was provided as the backdrop for the study. This highlighted the different content and process models of motivation and the main factors that cause stress within the workplace. Next, the research philosophy, strategy and methods used were outlined and justified in some detailed. Third, the results were presented before being discussed. The study itself involved gaining an understanding of the sales function at the Vodafone store and a focus group with sales staff to highlight key motivators and stressors. Finally, a questionnaire was used to measure a range of issues aimed at better understanding what motivated sales staff and whether stress affected their levels of motivation. This dissertation would be particularly useful for students wanting a detailed understanding of work motivation and occupation stress.
(2005, 4000 words)
This dissertation proposal sets out a case to examine the different drivers that motivate sales staff within Vodafone UK, a high tempo sales environment. A robust methodology is provided, discussing aspects of research philosophy (epistemology; ontology), research methodology (ethnography; grounded theory), research methods (participant observation; focus groups; survey design; sampling) and ethical considerations. A literature review of the eight main content and process theories of motivation is set out and discussed. This proposal would be useful for anyone interested in motivation in the workplace, sales environments, the case organisation, Vodafone, and those who want to know how to write a coherent dissertation proposal with a strong methodology and literature review.
(2005, 16000 words)
Disabled people remain one of the most discriminated against and unprotected social groups. This has in part resulted from their treatment as second class citizens, protected under social welfare and charity law. However, major pieces of legislation, including the US Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990, EU Framework Employment Directive and UK Disability Discrimination Act of 1995 have helped to herald a way forward. Measures have been put in place to enforce countries and businesses to comply with legislation aimed at preventing employment-related discrimination and equality for disabled people. Using the medical (personal tragedy) model and social (or rights-based) model of disability as a framework, this dissertation investigated the issues of disability and employment in the UK and US, providing a critical review of the literature and law.
(2005, 14500 words)
As the competitive environment that firms face intensifies, firms find it more difficult to recruit and retain employees. Once employed, firms need to manage the psychological contract that exists between themselves and their employees. This contract consists of a number of organizational and employee obligations that must be meet. Where the firm violates the contract, it can result in decreased levels of trust, employee commitment and motivation, as well as higher staff turnover. Where the employee violates the contract, the firms performance will suffer. To combat the competitive environment within which firms now compete and the need to retain employees, firms are increasingly employing flexible working practices, including flexi-time, time off in lieu, job-sharing and working from home. In this content, this dissertation aimed to investigate whether these flexible working practices had an impact on the psychological contract; in other words, it aimed to investigate whether there was a relationship between flexible working practices and the psychological contract. The dissertation contains an extensive literature review that examines the UK working environment, flexible working practices, the psychological contract and power relationships within firms. Following a comprehensive methodology, a study is conducted examining the working practices and psychological co |
