Equality and Diversity in the Workplace

This document discusses the methods for conducting primary and secondary research, applying analytical tools to analyze research findings and data, and communicating research outcomes in an appropriate manner for the intended audience. It also explores the significance of equality and diversity in the workplace, the role of employers in maintaining diversity and equality, effective strategies for managing equality and diversity, and the major challenges faced in managing equality and diversity.

Equality and Diversity
in the workplace
1

Contents
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................3
P3 Methods for conducting primary and secondary research......................................................3
P4 Apply appropriate analytical tools analyse research findings and data..................................4
M2 Merits, limitations and pitfalls of data collection and data analysis approach....................13
TASK 3..........................................................................................................................................14
P5, M3, D2 Communicate research outcomes in an appropriate manner for the intended
audience.....................................................................................................................................14
TASK 4..........................................................................................................................................18
P6, M4, D3 Reflect on the effectiveness of research methods applied for meeting objectives.18
P7. Alternative research methodology.......................................................................................19
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................20
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................21
Appendix........................................................................................................................................23
2

TASK 2
P3 Methods for conducting primary and secondary research
There are different methods that will be require for conducting primary and secondary
research in systematic manner. These methods will be explained as below:
Primary and secondary research: For gathering primary information, questionnaire has
been used by investigator because it is beneficial in collecting of first hand and quantitative data
in less time period. On order side, for collecting secondary type of information, there are some
sources that may be require to use by researcher (Barak, 2016). These sources are magazines,
books, articles, journals etc. Along with this, secondary data has been used for literature review
and primary data will be followed for data analysis and interpretation.
In order to conduct both types of research, there is requirement of appropriate amount of
cost, access and ethical consideration. These are explained as below:
Cost: In order to do primary and secondary research, there is requirement of sufficient
amount of cost which is around £ 200. The cost is also necessary for managing number of
resources such as stationery, internet connection, access to secondary material and so on (Kang
and Kaplan, 2019).
Access: For carrying out appropriate studies researcher uses numerous sources both the
primary and secondary study. It is obligation of the researcher to keep confidentiality of the
records collected by them from number one resources. Thus, investigator ensures that the
accumulated statistics might be only accessed via the investigator and other approved authority.
Ethical consideration: There are numerous principles of research ethics that will be used for
doing primary and secondary research effectively. These principles are anonymity,
confidentiality, informed consent, do not harm, voluntary participation etc. All these are main
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principles that will be applied by researcher for doing primary and secondary researcher ethically
(Kassinis and et. al., 2016).
P4 Apply appropriate analytical tools analyse research findings and data.
Content analysis is an analytical tool that will be applied for analysing quantitative
information about the topic. In this tool, researcher will create themes on each question and
analysis data within limited time period. Along with this, there are some steps that must be use
for analysing and interpreting quantitative data, these are making of frequency table, presenting
graphs and interpreting primary data and its relation with the secondary data (Ozturk and Tatli,
2016). These steps will be explained as below:
Frequency Table
Q1) Are you aware regarding the role of equality and diversity at workplace of
M&S?
Frequency
a). Yes 30
b). No 10
Q2) What are the importance of equality and diversity in the workplace
environment of Marks & Spencer?
Frequency
a). Diverse workplace breaks down language barrier 10
b). Increased employee satisfaction 10
c). Protecting everyone from discrimination 10
d). Reduced high employee turnover 10
Q3) According to you, employer’s behaviour is important part for maintaining
equality and diversity in the workplace?
Frequency
a). Strongly agree 15
4

b). Agree 20
c). Disagree 3
d). Strongly disagree 2
Q4) What is the role of employer’s in mainlining of diversity and equality at
workplace?
Frequency
a). Communicate all information equally 13
b). Provide diversity and inclusion training 17
c). Develop discrimination free environment 10
Q5) What are the effective ways or strategies that may be apply for managing
equality as well as diversity also at workplace of M&S?
Frequency
a). Encourage employees to work in diverse group 14
b). Prioritize Communication 16
c). Base Standards on objective criteria 10
Q6) What are the useful ways that may be require by M&S for promoting
diversity and equality at workplace?
Frequency
a). Offer workplace flexibility 12
b). Implementation of equality act 2010 18
c). Create mentorship program 10
Q7) According to you, Equality act 2010 will be beneficial for M&S in
protecting of employees from any kind of discrimination?
Frequency
a). Yes 35
b). No 5
Q8) What are the major challenges that may be face by M&S while managing Frequency
5

equality and diversity at workplace?
a). Cultural and language barrier 12
b). Lack of team work 15
c). Ineffective communication 13
Q9) What are the measures that would be require to follow by M&S for
eliminating the challenges associated with the management of diversity and
equality at workplace?
Frequency
a). Establish mentoring opportunities 12
b). Promote team work 15
c). Provide diversity training 13
6

Q1) Are you aware regarding the role of equality and diversity at workplace of
M&S?
Frequency
a). Yes 30
b). No 10
Q2) What are the importance of equality and diversity in the workplace
environment of Marks & Spencer?
Frequency
a). Diverse workplace breaks down language barrier 10
b). Increased employee satisfaction 10
c). Protecting everyone from discrimination 10
d). Reduced high employee turnover 10
7

Q3) According to you, employer’s behaviour is important part for maintaining
equality and diversity in the workplace?
Frequency
a). Strongly agree 15
b). Agree 20
c). Disagree 3
d). Strongly disagree 2
Q4) What is the role of employer’s in mainlining of diversity and equality at Frequency
8

workplace?
a). Communicate all information equally 13
b). Provide diversity and inclusion training 17
c). Develop discrimination free environment 10
Q5) What are the effective ways or strategies that may be apply for managing
equality as well as diversity also at workplace of M&S?
Frequency
a). Encourage employees to work in diverse group 14
b). Prioritize Communication 16
c). Base Standards on objective criteria 10
9

Q6) What are the useful ways that may be require by M&S for promoting
diversity and equality at workplace?
Frequency
a). Offer workplace flexibility 12
b). Implementation of equality act 2010 18
c). Create mentorship program 10
10

Q7) According to you, Equality act 2010 will be beneficial for M&S in
protecting of employees from any kind of discrimination?
Frequency
a). Yes 35
b). No 5
Q8) What are the major challenges that may be face by M&S while managing
equality and diversity at workplace?
Frequency
a). Cultural and language barrier 12
b). Lack of team work 15
c). Ineffective communication 13
11

Q9) What are the measures that would be require to follow by M&S for
eliminating the challenges associated with the management of diversity and
equality at workplace?
Frequency
a). Establish mentoring opportunities 12
b). Promote team work 15
c). Provide diversity training 13
12

M2 Merits, limitations and pitfalls of data collection and data analysis approach
Approach of data collection apart from their Merits, limitations and pitfalls
Approach of data collection Merits Limitations and pitfalls
Qualitative The qualitative research
process uses a smaller number
of sample sizes that resulted in
usage of minimum amount of
capital.
Qualitative approach of data
collection is not providing
numerical data.
Quantitative The quantitative approach
allows researcher to reach a
large number of sample size
(Rees and Smith, 2017).
Some efforts at randomization
will not make usable
information.
Approach of data analysis apart from their Merits, limitations and pitfalls
Approach of data analysis Merits Limitations and pitfalls
Inductive Inductive approach is more
flexible as the investigator
does not have to tag on any
pre-determined data.
Inductive approach is not
appropriate because it take
more time and not analysis
and interpreted data in form of
quantitative.
Deductive Deductive approach is useful
because it will support
researcher in analysing of
This approach not helps
researcher in drawing of valid
outcomes.
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quantitative information easily
and in limited time period
(Sharma, 2016).
Therefore, within an investigation quantitative approach will be used for data collection
and deductive approach is used for analysing quantitative information easily and in limited time
period.
TASK 3
P5, M3, D2 Communicate research outcomes in an appropriate manner for the intended
audience.
Theme 1: Awareness regarding the role of equality and diversity in the working place
Interpretation: 40 respondents are aware about the role played of equality and diversity
within an organisation of M&S. They have idea as equality and diversity helped an organisation
in retention of talented workers longer time. Remaining 10 respondents unaware about the same
concept.
Theme 2: Significance of equality and diversity in the workplace environment
Interpretation: Equality and diversity at workplace environment have direct and positive
influence. For this respondents have knowledge as it helps M&S in reducing language barrier,
increased employee satisfaction, reduced employee turnover and protecting employees from any
type of discrimination.
This information is correlated with the secondary data collected for literature
review. In this authors have opinion as equality and diversity support business by reducing
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higher employee turnover rate and also protecting each employee from any type of
discrimination (Pearl-Martinez and Stephens, 2016).
Theme 3: Employer’s behaviour is important part for maintaining equality and diversity
Interpretation: Behaviour of employers at workplace played an important role in
management of diversity and equality. For this statement 15 respondents are strongly agreed, 20
are agreed, 3 are disagreed and remaining 2 are strongly disagreed.
Theme 4: Role of employer’s in mainlining of diversity and equality at workplace
Interpretation: There are number of effective roles that were played by employers of the
M&S while maintain of diversity and equality at workplace. 13 respondents have knowledge as
communicating all information equally to the employees is main role that was played by
employers and it’s resulted in improvement of performance level. 17 respondents have idea as
providing of inclusion and training to the workers is main role because it helps in increment of
knowledge among diverse workforce. Remaining 10 respondents have opinion as development
of discrimination free environment is effective role played by employers by maintaining
diversity and equality in the workplace.
This information not matched with the information collected for literature review
from number of secondary sources such as books, articles, journals etc. In order to
communicate this information to the indented audience, variety of communication channels
were followed by researcher which are e-mail, oral and written communication etc.
Therefore it is essential for researcher in achievement of research aim and objectives easily
(Pearson and et. al., 2018).
Theme 5: Effective strategies for managing equality as well as diversity
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Interpretation: There are various numbers of strategies that have been used by M&S for
managing workplace diversity and equality effectively. 14 respondents have idea as
encouragement of employees to work in diverse group is main strategy because it helps in
development of strong relationship among diverse and potential employees. 16 respondents have
knowledge as prioritizing communication is effective strategy because it will support in
elimination of language and communication barrier at workplace. Remaining 10 respondents
have idea as base standards on objective criteria helps M&S to maintain diversity and equality
and also accomplish their set goals and objectives easily.
Theme 6: Useful ways for promoting diversity and equality at workplace
Interpretation: There are number of effective ways that will be require to use by Marks &
Spencer with purpose to promote diversity and equality at working environment. 12 respondents
have opinion as offering of workplace flexibility helps business to promote equality. 18
participants have view as implementation of equality act 2010 is best ways to promote equality
and diversity and protect employees from any kind of discrimination. Remaining 10 participants
have view as development of mentorship program for employees is most effective and essential
for encouraging of diversity and equality in the workplace.
Theme 7: Effectiveness of Equality act 2010
Interpretation: Equality act 2010 is effective and essential at workplace because this act will
support M&S to protect their all workforce from any type of discrimination for example race
discrimination, gender discrimination, age based discrimination, disability discrimination and so
on. For this statement 35 respondents are agreed, whereas remaining 5 can’t say about the same.
Theme 8: Major challenges exist in managing equality and diversity
16

Interpretation: In management of equality and diversity within the workplace, there are
number of channels that may be face by Marks & Spencer. 12 respondents have knowledge as
cultural and language barrier is main challenge due to diverse employees that have to belong
with different background and not have knowledge about the current language. 15 respondents
have view as lack of team work is major challenge that may be arising during management of
diversity and equality. Main reason behind arising this challenge as potential workforce not
supports company in managing of diversity at workplace. Remaining 13 participants have view
as ineffective communication is major issue for company because there is problem in
communication of information to the diverse workforce because they not understand about the
current language.
This information is related and matched with the literature review information that
was gathered by researcher by using books, journals, articles and many other secondary
sources. In this, some authors have idea as cultural and language barrier is major challenge
due to the different background of employees (Ravazzani, 2016).
Theme 9: Measures for eliminating the challenges
Interpretation: At workplace of M&S, there is requirement of eliminating the challenges
associated while management of equality and diversity in the workplace. 12 respondents have
idea as establishment of mentoring opportunity to each diverse employee will be essential in
overcoming of issue of language and cultural barrier. 15 respondents have opinion as promotion
of team work support in eliminating of lack of team work challenge and remaining 13
respondents have opinion as providing of diversity training support in reducing of the challenge
of ineffective communication.
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Recommendation: From the above mentioned information, it has been recommended different
ways to the M&S in retention of employees through equality and diversity practices. These ways
will be recommended as below:
 Establishment of equality act 2010: This is a best recommendation to M&S to follow
this act that will be beneficial and essential for them because it will support them to
protect their all employees from any type of workplace discrimination easily. This act
will also support company in development of equality and retention of diverse workforce
at workplace for longer time period that resulted in higher business reputation.
 Implementation of inclusion and diversity working environment: This is another
recommendation to the M&S to develop diversity and inclusion workplace by providing
training, offering flexibility etc. This will be beneficial and essential for company
because with the help of this, they can easily retain employees and achieve long term
goals and objectives within limited time period.
TASK 4
P6, M4, D3 Reflect on the effectiveness of research methods applied for meeting objectives
I am happy that I got a chance for doing this research over the theme of equality and
diversity. For this, I used different methods such as research approach, philosophy etc. These are
effective for me in completing of study easier. I used Questionnaire for gathering quantitative
and primary data from the respondents. Questionnaire is an effective and useful method of data
collection because it supported me while I need data in reliable and valid manner and in limited
time duration. With the help of questionnaire I easily achieved research aim and objectives that
resulted in increment of my progress and success easily.
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P7. Alternative research methodology
Interview is an effective and alternative research methodology that would be use in future if
researcher gets another chance for doing this investigation. Along with the usage of interview
method could simply guide me in undertaking greater effective research in the destiny however
on the identical time, it may be stated that the respective technique might additionally eat greater
time as I ought to in my opinion have interaction with each and every respondent to be able to
accumulate relevant information from them. Overall, with using interview technique I could be
able to acquire required information on research topic.
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Conclusion
From the above mentioned findings it has been concluded that equality and diversity at
workplace environment played significant role by reducing employee turnover, increasing
innovation, improving productivity etc. There are different advantages of equality and diversity
were discussed such as diverse workplace breaks down language barrier, increased employee
satisfaction, protecting everyone from discrimination and reduced high employee turnover. All
these are major advantages that were achieved by company due to equality and diversity. Apart
from this, there are some challenges that were faced by company while managing and promoting
equality as well as diversity within a workplace. These challenges are cultural and language
barrier, lack of team work and ineffective communication. These challenges have negative effect
over business performance and growth. In order to deal with these challenges different ways also
followed which are encouragements of employees to work in diverse group, prioritize
communication, base Standards on objective criteria, development of mentoring opportunities,
promoting team work and providing diversity training. These are more essential ways for
company in reduction of challenges and development of equality and diversity at workplace.
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REFERENCES
Books and journals
Abdul-Raheem, J., 2016. Faculty diversity and tenure in higher education. Journal of cultural
diversity. 23(2).
Barak, M. E. M., 2016. Managing diversity: Toward a globally inclusive workplace. Sage
Publications.
Kang, S. K. and Kaplan, S., 2019. Working toward gender diversity and inclusion in medicine:
myths and solutions. The Lancet. 393(10171). pp.579-586.
Kassinis, G., Panayiotou, A., Dimou, A. and Katsifaraki, G., 2016. Gender and environmental
sustainability: A longitudinal analysis. Corporate Social Responsibility and
Environmental Management. 23(6). pp.399-412.
Ozturk, M. B. and Tatli, A., 2016. Gender identity inclusion in the workplace: broadening
diversity management research and practice through the case of transgender
employees in the UK. The International Journal of Human Resource
Management. 27(8). pp.781-802.
Pearl-Martinez, R. and Stephens, J. C., 2016. Toward a gender diverse workforce in the
renewable energy transition. Sustainability: Science, Practice and Policy. 12(1). pp.8-
15.
Pearson, A. R. and et. al., 2018. Diverse segments of the US public underestimate the
environmental concerns of minority and low-income Americans. Proceedings of the
National Academy of Sciences. 115(49). pp.12429-12434.
Ravazzani, S., 2016. Understanding approaches to managing diversity in the
workplace. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: An International Journal.
21

Rees, G. and Smith, P. eds., 2017. Strategic human resource management: An international
perspective. Sage.
Sharma, A., 2016. Managing diversity and equality in the workplace. Cogent Business &
Management. 3(1). p.1212682.
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Appendix
Questionnaire
Q1) Are you aware regarding the role of equality and diversity at workplace of M&S?
a). Yes
b). No
Q2) What are the importance of equality and diversity in the workplace environment of Marks &
Spencer?
a). Diverse workplace breaks down language barrier
b). Increased employee satisfaction
c). Protecting everyone from discrimination
d). Reduced high employee turnover
Q3) According to you, employer’s behaviour is important part for maintaining equality and
diversity in the workplace?
a). Strongly agree
b). Agree
c). Disagree
d). Strongly disagree
Q4) What is the role of employer’s in mainlining of diversity and equality at workplace?
a). Communicate all information equally
b). Provide diversity and inclusion training
c). Develop discrimination free environment
Q5) What are the effective ways or strategies that may be apply for managing equality as well as
23

diversity also at workplace of M&S?
a). Encourage employees to work in diverse group
b). Prioritize Communication
c). Base Standards on objective criteria
Q6) What are the useful ways that may be require by M&S for promoting diversity and equality
at workplace?
a). Offer workplace flexibility
b). Implementation of equality act 2010
c). Create mentorship program
Q7) According to you, Equality act 2010 will be beneficial for M&S in protecting of employees
from any kind of discrimination?
a). Yes
b). No
Q8) What are the major challenges that may be face by M&S while managing equality and
diversity at workplace?
a). Cultural and language barrier
b). Lack of team work
c). Ineffective communication
Q9) What are the measures that would be require to follow by M&S for eliminating the
challenges associated with the management of diversity and equality at workplace?
a). Establish mentoring opportunities
b). Promote team work
c). Provide diversity training
24

Q10) Recommend different ways by which M&S can retain employees through equality and
diversity practices.
25