USW Management Project

Workforce Planning and Development for Organizational Success:

A Case Study on [Pret A Manger] in Hong Kong

CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY

Introduction

Research methodology is referred as the chapter in the investigation that holds great
importance in the whole research because it provides accumulation and analysis of data. It
includes certain stages called research process which is followed and guided in the design of
the investigation. The main objective of selecting various research methods is assembling
relevant and reliable piece of information (Bairagi and Munot, 2019). It includes different
types of research methods that include: research approach, philosophy, strategy, data
collection, choice etc. It also includes different so that apt information could be assembled
and defined objectives could be met. The methodologies facilitate investigator to evaluate
overall reliability and validity.

Types of research

Research Philosophy:

Research philosophy is one of the significant approaches because it follows approach as well
as research designs respectively. The philosophy is relied upon three parts that are:
epistemology, ontology and realism. Investigator has relied upon epistemology because it
gives three more important sub parts that are: positivism, critical realism and interpretivism.
The present study relies upon positivism because it gives advantage to investigation by
measurement and observation. Numerical data is analysed effectively and efficiently so that
aim could be achieved (Willmott, 2020).

Research Approach:

Research approach provides kinds that help in relying whole study on them. The kinds are:
inductive, abductive and deductive (Ragab and Arisha, 2018). Deductive approach is
considered in the current research as it majorly assists in testing the findings of present study
in particular context of workforce planning and development for the enhancement and also
profitability of the organisation. The biggest benefit of deductive approach is it evaluates and
measures information that is present in numbers and figures.

Research Choice:

Research Choice is the research methodology that aids investigator to carry out apt data so
that definite outcome could be taken out. This is categorised in three significant types that
include: mono method, multi-mixed method and mixed method. Mono method is used by
investigator because in this researcher has to make selection between qualitative and
quantitative. Quantitative is used in the investigation so that information about workforce
planning and development for the enhancement and also profitability of the organisation
could be assembled in numerical format (Clarke and Visser, 2019). Survey is used for
assembling numerical data and primary data in the short time duration. It is the apt strategy
for the collection of first-hand data and numeric piece of information in the shorter period of
time.

Research Design:

Research design is the research method that provides apt design so that information could be
used, assembled, evaluated and analysed. The design can be descriptive, exploratory and
experimental research design. Descriptive research design is selected by researcher because it
aids in using, assembling and evaluating statistical piece of information in minimum period of
time. The descriptive research design mainly aims at describing population, phenomenon and
situation in numerical form. It considers a broad variety of research methods for investigating
the whole investigation (Säfsten and Gustavsson, 2020).

Sampling and target research population

Sampling is the research method which facilitates in identifying and selecting appropriate
number of respondents so that their opinions and views could be recorded. A sample referred
as a subset of individuals from a larger number of population. In simpler words, sampling
means choosing the group that researcher collects information in an investigation. The
sampling has classified in two main types that are: probability and non-probability sampling. It
is identified that there is larger population available and in practical manner it is not possible
to choose whole population. It is very tough activity to gather piece of information from the
whole population so the types of sampling help investigator in the current study (Newman
and Gough, 2020).

Researcher has selected probability sampling because it assists in choosing representatives

who can represent the whole popular in the particular context of workforce planning and
development for the enhancement and also profitability of the organisation. The sampling of
probability follows random sampling in which there is no need of selecting the respondents
with particular criteria or specifications. Random sampling and probability sampling provides
equal chance to each and every selected respondent so that they can provide opinions and
views regarding the topic of present study. Respondents are selected from the chosen
organisation i.e. Pret A Manager in Hong Kong because they are directly connected to the
organisation and they possess great piece of information related to workforce planning.

15 managers are selected from Pret A Manager in Hong Kong as representatives because they
are the people in the company who are continuously putting efforts to build great team of
workforce. In an organisation managers are the people who form strategies to develop their
employees so that profitability of the organisation could be enhanced. So, they can give apt
opinions and views about the workforce planning and this also includes challenges they face
while developing their employees in terms of increasing and improving their profitability level
(Lai, 2018).

Data Collection

Data collection is the procedure to assemble and measure data about the targetted topic in
an established system. It is known as the research component in every field of the study
because it assists in assembling appropriate piece of information in the shorter time duration.
This is divided into two parts that are: primary data collection and secondary data collection.
Researcher has taken aid of both the data collection types so that relevant data could be
accumulated and carried out. Primary data collection is considered in the present
investigation because it carries out first-hand piece of information directly from the source of
data. Basically, the primary method helps in taking out information for the first time related
to the topic i.e. workforce planning and development for increasing the profitability of
organisation. Questionnaire is used in the current study about raw piece of information in
shorter time period (Davidavičienė, 2018).

On the other hand, researcher has also taken assistance of secondary data collection method.
This method is very useful in the current research because it helps in using information that is
already carried out in the given time duration. Researcher has considered published and used
data about the topic related to workforce planning and development. The sources that are
useful for the accumulation of secondary information are: journals, articles, newspapers,
books, publications, magazines, website of the company etc. Therefore, for the completion of
the whole research study primary and secondary data collection plays major role in the
achievement of pre-determined aim and objectives.

Pilot test is referred as a small preliminary study considered for testing a propose
investigation study before a full scale performance. This study follows the same procedures
and processes as its full-scale counterpart. The main purpose of pilot study is examining the
feasibility of a investigation endeavor. The pilot study includes different types of components
that include: size of the sample and their selection, identifying the specifications for a
successful pilot study dependent upon the defined objectives of the study, assembling
samples to ensure that the procedure is manageable and practical, always testing the
instrument of measurement, data analysis and entry (Melnikovas, 2018).

Analysis method

Data analysis is the procedure of systematically using logical and statistical techniques for
describing and illustrating and evaluating information. Investigators generally analyse patterns
in observations by the entire information accumulation phase. It facilitates in inspecting,
transforming, modelling and cleansing piece of information with the objective of discovering
useful piece of information, informing summary and supporting decision making. There are
different techniques and methods for performing analysis depending on the aim of the
analysis. The different methods for the analysis of information based upon two important
areas: qualitative and quantitative methods in investigation. There are different kinds of
analysing method correlation, regression, SPSS, descriptive analysis, thematic analysis,
frequency distribution analysis etc. Researcher has chosen frequency distribution analysis
because it assists in the evaluation of assembled numerical piece of information in shorter
time duration. A frequency distribution is defined as a representation in a tabular or graphical
format that clearly displays the number of opinions and views in a provided time interval. The
interval size depends on the information being evaluated and the objectives of the analyst.
The intervals are mutually exhaustive and exclusive. Basically, analysis with frequency
distribution assists in showing how often each various value in a set of information occurs.
Various types of graphs are used so that for showcasing the distribution of information. It
shows and looks quite similar like a bar chart but there are significant differences between
them. This is quite helpful in the collection and analysis of the gathered numerical piece of
information (Ryder and et. al., 2020).

Validity and reliability of the research

A valid and reliable investigation is precise and significant. The extent to which a concept is
appropriately measured in a numerical study is referred as validity. Besides this, accuracy or
reliability of the instrument is second of evaluation of quality in a numerical study. The apt
understanding of the questionnaire has been used for allowing participants to understand to
what they are responding with the motive of meeting valid outcomes in the current
investigation. Also, the investigation answered the defined questions it motive, because
responses and answers highlighted that research questions has been understood (Budianto,
2020).

The representatives of the current investigation defined as the significant aspect which clearly
affects the validity of the whole investigation. The target participants focused only on
workforce planning and development and it has limited the response of variety of attitudes,
because everyone who have participated knew at least how to plan whole workforce in the
organisation. Nevertheless, a much larger number of participants will be required if this
investigation were to be absolutely relevant and reliable. The number of those answers in this
particular research thus does not highlight the whole finish population reliably and accurately.

Therefore, investigation depends upon the primary and secondary sources for the
accumulation and analysis of data for meeting the defined aim and objectives. Through these
sources, researcher aims at valid and reliable information so that defined objectives and
questions of the research can be attempted (Greening, 2019).

Ethical compliance of the research

The main aspect of investigation work and the base of research design is ethics of the
investigation. For this investigation period, it follows certain ethical guidelines that are
implemented in the current investigation. Research ethics needs the methods considered for
specifically addressing the issues of the research. Hence, the chosen research design for the
particular research questions and they are directly correlated with the outcome and question
of this study (Zawacki-Richter and et. al., 2020). The investigator had been granted permission
by the major respondents in the investigation during the information accumulation time. In
the process of data collection, no such workforce was harmed and hurt. The anonymity and
confidentiality of the representatives of the data given by investigators must be respected.
The information assembled for quantitative methods are greatly organisationally sensitive.
The investigator shall comply with the information safety law and shall not disclose or leak all
private information and credentials through any media. Hence, from the above mentioned
ethics researcher has tried to conduct the whole investigation in ethical way (Al-Ababneh,
2020).

Conclusion
With the above assembled piece of information, it is summarised that research methods are
quite significant for completing the whole investigation in systematic and ethical manner. In
the present investigation, researcher has taken help of research methods that basically work
around accumulated numerical data. It is understood from the current study that numerical
data is more helpful in comparison to other methods of research which work in qualitative
manner. Quantitative research is the best procedure to assemble and analyse numerical data.
It could be utilised for finding averages and patterns, forming predictions, testing casual
relationships and generalising outcomes to wider and broader populations. In this primary
and secondary sources have been used in the current research so that objectives could be
met efficiently and effectively. Primary information has assisted in collection of first-hand data
through questionnaire. On the other hand, secondary data collection sources have been
considered for published and used information.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals

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Budianto, A., 2020. Legal Research Methodology Reposition in Research on Social

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