Employee Motivation. A Case Study from the Fast Food Chain KFC in Central London

Master's Thesis , 2012 , 61 Pages , Grade: 60%

Leadership and Human Resources - Miscellaneous

The main aim of this dissertation project is to critically examine the chosen organization KFC and to study the effect of its leadership on the motivation of its employees. The research question is "How can management develop their leadership style to motivate staff members to achieving their organizational roles?"

Attracting and retaining employees in the current business world has become a big challenge for the organizations. Due to increase in competitors and new entrants, it has become a tough task for the organizations. Globalization has also added a new dimension to the challenge. The workforce is now comprised of people from different countries and different cultures. As a result, keeping them motivated to give a high performance is a big task for the managers. There have been many research and theories of leadership and motivation. However, these are not still fully understood and the relationship between leadership and motivation still needs in depth research. Leaders need to find ways to motivate their subordinates by catering their individual needs and move away from the traditional methods.

For the purpose of explaining the causal relationship between leadership and motivation, the researcher pursued an action research strategy and followed an inductive approach as the researcher had to work closely with the organization. Both quantitative and qualitative data was collected using an employee survey questionnaire and a focus group interview of the managers.

The data analysis gave information about leadership and motivation of KFC. The managers stressed on having clear communication, independence and decision making for them. The staff stressed on communication, recognition, rewards, improved work condition and self satisfaction. The results revealed that KFC should look to employ some new strategies to increase the motivation of its staff. The researcher has made some recommendations at the end of the report. However, as this research was conducted in a small location, it may require further in depth research to come to an exclusive conclusion.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION & PROJECT OVERVIEW
• 1.1 Research Topic
• 1.2 Research Question
• 1.3 Research Opportunity
• 1.4 Factors Behind The Research Opportunity
• 1.5 The Organization
• 1.6 Aims and objective
• 1.6.1 Research aim
• 1.6.2 Research Objectives
• 1.7 Research Methodology
• 1.8 Rationale and Expected Benefits
• 1.9 Dissertation Road Map
• 1.10 Summary
• CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW
• 2.1 Scope of the Research
• 2.2 Theories of Motivation
• 2.2.1 Current Situation
• 2.3 Leadership Theories
• 2.3.1 Review of Early Leadership Theories
• 2.3.2 Current Leadership Theories and Practices
• 2.4 Characteristics of Leadership
• 2.5 Leadership Attitude and Motivation
• 2.6 Qualities of a high performing team
• 2.7 Common Theme of Leadership and Motivation
• 2.8 How the Research Add to the Literature Review
• CHAPTER 3: RESEARCH METHODS
• 3.1 Research Purpose
• 3.2 Research Approach
• 3.3 Research Strategy
• 3.4 Generalisability
• 3.5 Sampling Technique
• 3.6 Time Horizons
• 3.7 Data Collection
• 3.8 Limitations
• CHAPTER 4: RESEARCH STUDY RESULTS
• 4.1 Questionnaire Survey Results
• 4.2 Focus Group
• 4.3 Research Results

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This dissertation investigates the impact of leadership styles on employee motivation within a major fast-food chain, KFC, focusing on five specific stores in Central London. The research aims to understand how management can cultivate leadership approaches that effectively inspire employees to achieve their designated organizational roles. The dissertation explores the relationship between leadership and motivation, employing both qualitative and quantitative research methods to uncover insights from both managers and staff members.

• The effect of leadership styles on employee motivation.
• The importance of communication and recognition in motivating employees.
• The role of rewards, work conditions, and self-satisfaction in employee motivation.
• The impact of organizational culture on employee motivation.
• Strategies for developing effective leadership practices that enhance employee motivation.

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

Chapter 1 introduces the research topic, defining the research question and outlining the research opportunity. It delves into the factors motivating the research, providing context for the study. The organization, KFC, is then presented, followed by a detailed exposition of the research aims and objectives. This chapter concludes by outlining the research methodology, the expected benefits, and the dissertation's roadmap.

Chapter 2 presents a comprehensive literature review focusing on the theoretical underpinnings of both motivation and leadership. It examines the current situation in relation to these concepts, exploring established theories and practices. The chapter further explores the characteristics of leadership, examining the relationship between leadership attitude and motivation. It delves into the qualities of high-performing teams, identifying common themes in leadership and motivation. Finally, the chapter elucidates how the research contributes to the existing literature on these topics.

Chapter 3 details the research methodology employed, including the research purpose, approach, and strategy. It discusses the generalizability of the findings, the sampling technique used, and the time horizon of the study. The chapter also elaborates on the data collection methods, including employee surveys and focus group interviews, and concludes by outlining the limitations of the research.

Chapter 4 presents the research findings, encompassing both the results from the questionnaire survey and the focus group interviews. The data analysis provides insights into leadership practices and employee motivation within KFC, highlighting key themes identified by both managers and staff members.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

Leadership, motivation, employee satisfaction, communication, recognition, rewards, organizational culture, KFC, fast-food industry, employee engagement, action research, qualitative research, quantitative research, employee survey, focus group interview.

• College: Cardiff Metropolitan University
• Grade: 60%
• Author: Salamun Adnan (Author)
• Publication Year: 2012
• Pages: 61
• Catalog Number: V477497
• ISBN (eBook): 9783668960923
• ISBN (Book): 9783668960930
• Language: English
• Tags: employee, motivation, case, study, fast, food, chain, central, london