An examination of the extent which transformational leadership contributes to improving employee motivation and engagement to shape the organisational culture in the healthcare sector in the UK. A case study of NHS

An examination of the extent which transformational leadership contributes to improving employee motivation and engagement to shape the organisational culture in the healthcare sector in the UK. A case study of NHS

Considering how leadership is regarded as an influential factor when it comes to shaping organisational cultures within human resources management, the aim of this research is to investigate the extent which transformational leadership is effective in improving employee motivation and engagement within the healthcare sector in the UK.

For this research the NHS will be used as a case study.

Project proposal should follow a traditional social sciences approach and comprise the following sections:

1. Title
2. Introduction / (organisational) context of the proposed study
3. Literature review
4. Research questions / objectives or hypotheses
5. Research design and methodology
6. Research methods
7. Research ethics considerations
8. Resource requirements
9. Limitations, including an identification of contingency plans
10. Project plan including timeline/Gantt chart
11. References

Sections of the research project proposal: content under each heading.

1. Title of the Project Proposal:

Reflect as accurately as possible the content of the research proposal

2. Introduction to the research: context-background:

This section should describe the area you will be investigating and explain the rationale and the context for the research plans. Explain why this topic is of an interest are interested and why it is worthwhile. You should provide sufficient background information on the issues which is being researched for the reader to be able to understand the rest of the Project as well as its value. If you focus on an organisation you should provide enough organisational information to put the research plans into context.

3. Review of the literature:

This should be presented under a separate heading. Through this review, you show that you have acquired knowledge about the literature that relates to the research area and identify the research/gaps which the research relates to. It is not intended as a near- finished critical analysis of the literature at this stage: in the Project Proposal, provide an identification of themes from academic and other relevant recent and/or historically important literature which acts as the basis for the intended study and, most importantly, identify where the intended study fits into this debate.

It is important that you include key relevant literature, with references to key texts and especially refereed journal articles (RJA). Normally we would expect 10-12 references of RJAs at least. If this is not relevant in your field, indicate why.

1. Specific research questions / objectives / hypotheses:

Here or at the end of the literature review section, clarify the link between the previous research done in the field of interest, and the research focus.

Specific research questions: generally, a research proposal has 3-4 research questions/objectives that the research will address. These need to make it clear exactly what is the focus of the proposed research: identifying what is to be analysed, and to what purpose. It is important these questions/objectives are researchable, precise, clear and show a focus on critical analysis. The questions (or objectives) should provide sufficient scope for a project of this size, but also be achievable within the resources available. They should not be vague or too general and should be leading to observable outcomes.

The research questions or objectives will be used by the reader to judge the rest of the proposal, so make sure that the proposed research design, data collection and analysis fit with these. If relevant and suitable in terms of aim and methodology, research questions could be formulated as hypotheses.

ADDRESSING MARKING CRITERIA 6-11: “HOW” & REFERENCING

2. Research methodology & design:

This refers to an overall view of the methodology and design chosen to answer the research questions/achieve the research objectives, as well as a justification of these choices: explain the reasons for the methodology and research design and reflect upon whether his is the most ‘effective’ way to answer the research aim.

Methodology refers to the broad approach you plan to take – issues such as qualitative; quantitative or mixed approach; inductive or deductive. You also need to outline and justify the research design

Research methods: 

Secondary data will need to be used for this research. This refers to the methods relating to data collection and sampling.

When using secondary data provide details of the data itself, access (public; company owned) and validity for the research.

Be as precise as possible. For instance: regarding secondary data, specify the exact data sources you intend to use; for questionnaires specify the distribution, population, sample size, likely response rate; for interviews specify interview population, intended interview duration and way of analysis etcetera.

3. Research ethics considerations

Reflection on research ethics should be included in the text of the proposal,

4. Resource requirements

Reflect on data availability: provide clear information on access to the data collected/used:

Limitations of your research plan; identification of contingency plan.

Especially if access to (parts of) the data is still uncertain, reflect on possible alternative ways to collect data to answer the research question.

5. Project plan including time line/Gantt chart

Indication by month or week of when each step of the research will be executed.

References:

Harvard referencing must be used.

Ensure that the below criteria is met:

1. demonstrate advanced understanding of the elements, which are important in the research of a Human Resource Management issue, including research aim formulation; research design and process; review of literature; data identification/collection and analysis, presentation of analysis and provision of clear reasons for choices made.
2. demonstrate critical evaluation and application of the Human Resource Management research knowledge through their own research project proposal in which they:

• provide an initial review of academic/practitioner literature relevant to their research that places their work into context of work already published;
• Identify, define and justify research aims or objectives which are both worthy of and capable of investigation at master’s level, and within the resources available;
• identify specific research questions/objectives or hypotheses to guide the investigation;
• design a methodology of enquiry appropriate to their proposed investigation and taking account of the contextual ethical considerations;
• determine, and justify, data and information collection methods along with initial strategies for data analysis;
• appreciate the limitations of their study and determine contingency plans;
• demonstrate the ability to reference according to the Harvard standard;
• demonstrate a writing style appropriate to the Human Resource Management discipline and to an acceptable standard of written Business English.
• The research topic/aim should show clearly that you will be conducting research on a business issue from a human resource perspective.
• The research topic/aim should make it clear that the research is relevant from an organizational people management perspective. (it does not have to focus on an organization, but need to be relevant for HR at organizational level)
• include recommendations and a plan of implementation within a realistic time frame and showing awareness of potential costs; and a Personal Statement, which reflects on how the Project may have been undertaken more effectively.