How Companies Responded to Challenges of Equality and Diversity at Workplace

This report discusses how Aston Martin Lagonda and other companies responded to challenges of equality and diversity at workplace, including gender pay gap, sexual harassment, and gender-based leadership differences. It explores the aims and objectives of the research, project management plan, and research methodology.

Managing A Successful
Business Project
Name of the learner: Daniela Furtuna
Name of the Supervisor: Ali Usman
Project Title: Management A Successful Business Project
Date: 24/12/19

TOPIC
“How companies responded to challenges faced due to equality as well as diversity at
workplace like gender pay gap, sexual harassment, difference in leadership based on gender.” A
study on Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings plc.
INTRODUCTION
In order to manage a business operation at a global level a company requires to hire
candidates who belongs to the different nations, cultures and have unique sets of values and
behaviour that creates diversity at working environment. Equality at workplace is significant for
treating all employees in a equal manner or not discriminated on the behalf of their caste, gender
and so on factors that will assist in providing equal opportunities for growth and development.
Whereas, diverseness can assist in creating innovation in the products as well as services of a
business organisation by introducing new and innovative ideas. As promoting workplace equality
as well as diversity helps in solving or handling the challenges like gender pay gap, fluctuation in
leadership related to the gender difference as well as sexual harassment. In this report, Aston
Martin plc case is considered which is a British organization and produced luxurious sports car
and expansive tourist. It has total 100 years of experience in creating and designing the world's
most fair motor vehicle. Under this assignment discuss about the aims and objectives of research
related to the challenges and resolution mechanism of equality as well as diversity at working
environment. In addition, develop a project administration plan, use WBS and Gantt chart for
time frames to implement a developmental plan, conduct a small scale research as well.
TASK 1
P1
Due to the increase in globalisation as well as business integration there is the demand of
equality as well as diversity at working premises is rising in order to manage diverse workforce
in a significant manner which provides balanced opportunities to develop and success in a
company (Adgaonkar, 2018). This will assist Aston Martin Lagonda in optimum utilisation the
employees potentiality by motivating them that helps in accomplishing the company's goals as
well as objectives within the certain time period. In addition, a friendly, safe as well as secure
workplace can be developed that draws some attention and interest of actual workers towards the
organisation.
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Aim:
Research aim refers to the aspiration of research study as it is required to accomplish he
end result of a project. It should be required specific and concise in such a way that it has been
identified. It sets a specific goal in the mind of researcher towards the entire project. In this
report the project aim is “To ascertain how the organisation react to challenges affiliated to
equality as well as diversity at working environment so that the productivity of employees
can be improved or developed by providing them balanced opportunity that generates
healthy rivalry among them.” In this research a case of Aston Martin plc is taken in order to
understand about the several things such as the thought of equality as well as diversity,
challenges as well as resolutions methods and strategies. In order to know about all these things a
company requires to study in an appropriate manner as it impacts on the company's working
environment and leads in many causes and challenges that results in decreasing the productivity
and profitability of a business entity.
Objectives:
 To identify the actions that to be taken by Aston Martin plc to overcome challenges.
 To evaluate the impact on Aston Martin Lagonda plc after resolving issues affiliated with
the equality as well as diversity at working environment.
 To implement the equal opportunity policy within the company in order to check fairness
as well as equality among workforce.
Questions:
 What kinds of actions can be taken by Aston Martin Lagonda to overcome from the
challenges?
 What is the impact of resolving issues regarding the equality and diversity at working
premises?
 How policies and strategies can be implemented in the company for ensuring the fairness
and equality among employees?
P2 Prepare a project management plan.
It is an authorized written representation that assists to direct in execution and monitoring
all the phases of project (Allaoui, Bourgault and Pellerin, 2019). It is developed by a manager of
Aston Martin plc. so that the scope, time, cost, quality etc. can be ascertained so that the task
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goals can be accomplished effectively. The several aspects of project management plan are as
follows: Scope: It assists in deciding the particular project objectives, transferable, attributes,
roles, deadlines etc. of the company like Aston Martin Lagonda so that the expected
outcomes can be effectively gained. Adequate methods as well as methods are to be used
in the research so that the tasks aim are attained on period of time as well as within the
approximated budget.
 Cost: This aspect assists in approximating the budget of this program so that the
expenditures are required to be performed so as to carried out the thought appropriately
can be ascertained. This assists in analysing the total value that the organisation Aston
Martin Lagonda will have to occur in order to accomplish the goals of research. Overall
cost of this undertakings for the organisation is:
Cost break down Amount (in £)
Travelling expenses 50
Cost of data gathering 120
Training and development expenses 30
Resource requirements 80
Other cost 20
Total cost 300
 Time: This factor aids in approximating the actual time which will be needed from the
beginning of the research project to the utilization of investigation outcomes in Aston
Martin Lagonda to attain wanted objectives and goals (Bhattarai, 2018). The time
appropriated by investigator for this research is 10 weeks. Quality: This is associated with accumulation of data from genuine and relevant
resources so that appropriate determinations can be interpreted in the company Aston
Martin Lagonda that will assist in additive the research within time frame and estimated
budget. The investigator uses both qualitative as well as quantitative methods to gather
data so as to insure the credibility and dependability of data which has been gathered.
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 Communication: Appropriate communication requires to be developed so that the
flowing of content through several phases can be done effectively and efficiently as well
as the meaning of information are sensed in the identical meaning as it is deliberated so
that appropriate outcomes of the company Aston Martin Lagonda can be accomplished.
E-mails, texts and video-chats and so on are utilised by investigators so as to keep the
transparency as well as ease through which data are divided. Risk: This aspect that makes obstacles as well as impacts the research efficiency as well
as quality (Christian, 2019). It can be related to the lack of time, resources, interpersonal
skill, critical thinking skill, research, communication skills and so on. In the case of
Aston Martin Lagonda, company will have various kinds of risks that is related to funds
and other is related to whether company will be capable to attract customers or not.
 Resources: These are the instrument which assist the investigator in managing the
research appropriately so that desired outcomes can be attained. These are statistical
instruments, expertise, skills, technology, financial techniques etc. While talking about
the Aston Martin Lagonda, company will need funds, advanced technologies as well as
skilled research and development departments. As resources are required for performing
tasks in a easier manner.
P3
Work Breakdown structure: It is a procedure through which a whole project is divided
and arranged into hierarchies of project deliverables, its tasks and subsequent tasks. It helps in
providing time and cost estimates for projects (Dhanraj, 2015). It is useful for prioritizing,
planning, organizing and understanding the components of the project so that it can be properly
managed and implemented.
The various activities of WBS of our project are explained below:
S.No Activity Explanation
1 Setting Aims and
Objectives
The expectations from the project are specified on what has to
be achieved.
2 Project Management Plan It describes all phases of the project
3 Research Methodology The process used for evaluation of the study
4 Data Collection The process of gathering inputs from respondents
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S.No Activity Explanation
5 Data Analysis The process of systematically processing, organizing and
presenting the data.
6 Conclusion and
Recommendations
Conclusions are interpreted and summarized results.
Recommendations are researcher's comments on project.
7 Report Submission Submission of final research report (Project Deliverables).
Gantt Chart: This is a bar representation that horizontally illustrates the performance
plan of a project on the basis of what and when factors. It is a graphical representation of project
tasks that are scheduled over time in a chronological order. The concept of Gantt Chart was first
used in 1890 by Karol Adamiecki, it was later developed in 1905 by Henry Gantt into a model
used by project managers round the globe. This will assist researcher in effectively convey about
the research to the manager (Erickson, 2014).
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TASK 2
P4
A research is simply a structured inquiry on a problem or question, to describe, explain,
study and analyse the phenomenon in order to provide a solution or extensively explain the
problem so other researchers can solve the problems found (Henry, 2014). Researcher used
various kinds of tools to collect, evaluate and interpret the information in order to take effective
decision for accomplishing research objectives. These are discussed below:
Quantitative research: In this type of research, a researcher collects data which is
observable and numerical in nature. The researcher uses various statistical tools and
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mathematical techniques to conclude the research question. The conclusions derived from this
type of research are more accurate, reliable and valuable. Using questionnaires is most common
way of collecting data in such types of researches.
Questionnaire: It is a set of fixed written questions given with or without options to
respondents asking them to fill their responses. It is the most common way young researchers use
to collect data for research. It is inexpensive, gets higher number of responses compared to other
modes but is unreliable for studies of higher confidence intervals (Honeyman and Jana, 2019).
Qualitative investigation method : It is related to the open ending questionnaires in
order to gather detailed and reliable information that have been analysed by investigators. It is
hard or difficult to present in graphical form and various resources can be used such as interview,
observation and surveys.
Sources of data collection:
Primary research: It is the research any organization or individual performs to get
exclusive data based on its requirement. It is tailored, containing questions and options pre-
designed to assess the respondent in a particular manner. Data is usually collected by way of
focus groups, questionnaires, observations and interviews etc.
Secondary research: It is the research which is done by other organization and
individuals which is material to us. The data is usually listed and published in databases, books,
journals and survey organizations. It provides a base for primary research on what is already
done and what addition can a researcher make to it.
Simple Random Sampling: It is a method used for drawing samples from population in
a way that every element of population has a equal and probable chance of getting selected as a
sample (Ilyas, 2017). The samples drawn through simple random sampling represent the
complete population in an unbiased manner. Hereby, investigator is exercising non-random
sample distribution method as well as choose a sample size of 30 respondents to gather
information.
Questionnaire
Quantitative questions
Q1) What is the age group of employees who are working in an organisation?
a) 18-24
b) 25-35
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c) Above 35
Q2) What is the gender demographics of existing workers?
a) Male
b) Female
Q3) Do you understand about the equality and diversity at workplace?
a) Yes
b) No
Q4) What kinds of threats related to diverse workforce in Aston Martin plc?
a) Increased conflicts
b) Communication barriers
c) Increased groupism
Q5) What kind of problems are faced by an organisation if there is no equality at their
working environment?
a) Decrease in productivity
b) Increase in jealousy
c) Demotivation
Q6) Do these concepts help company to achieve its objectives?
a) Agree
b) Disagree
Q7) What type of strategies are used by a company to increase equivalence at workplace?
a) Training and development
b) Performance appraisal
c) Encouraging equal participation
Q8) What are the importance of equality as well as diversity at working environment of
company?
a) Equal opportunities
b) Gain productiveness
c) Competitiveness of business improve
Qualitative questions
Q9) What are the challenges related to the equality as well as diversity at the workplace of
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Aston Martin plc?
a) Increase in gender pay gap
b) Sexual harassment
c) Gender divide in leadership
Q10) Methods by which these challenges can be efficiently dealt with?
a) Fast response to these issues
b) Managers being alert about these issues
c) Increasing women empowerment
Q11) Any suggestions or recommendations?
TASK 3
P5
THEME 1: Age group of employees who are working in an organisation.
Q1) What is the age group of employees who are working in an
organisation?
Frequency
a) 18-24 12
b) 25-35 9
c) Above 35 9
Total 30
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12
9
9
a) 18-24
b) 25-35
c) Above 35
Interpretations: - The above graph shows the age group of employees who are working in a
Aston Martin Lagonda. Out of a total of 30 respondents, Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings
plc has a balanced workforce with employees of almost all age groups ranging from 18 years to
above 35 years of age. It is observed that the age group 18-24 dominates other age groups with
almost 40% employees while 25-35 years age group and above 35 years age group having 30%
each.
THEME 2: Gender demographics of existing workers.
Q2) What is the gender demographics of existing workers? Frequency
a) Male 16
b) Female 14
Total 30
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16
14
a) Male
b) Female
Interpretations: - The above graphical representation shows the gender demographics of their
all members on the behalf of male and female elements. Out of a total of 30 respondents, the
company has a equally balanced workforce when we consider the gender proportion ratio. The
company has an approximate of 53% of male employees and 47% of female employees. Aston
Martin is a leading luxury cars maker and follows modern employee satisfaction processes which
are reflected through the responses gained through questionnaire.
THEME 3: Understand about the equality and diversity at workplace.
Q3) Do you understand about the equality and diversity at workplace? Frequency
a) Yes 30
b) No 0
Total 30
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30
a) Yes
b) No
Interpretations: - The above graphical as well as tabular presentation depicts that how many
respondents are aware about the concept of equality and diversity at workplace. Out of a total of
30 respondents, all respondents answered in favour when they were asked if they understand the
diversity and equality at workplace. This indicates employee participation and satisfaction in the
Aston Martin plc (King, Horrocks and Brooks, 2018).
THEME 4: Threats related to diverse workforce in Aston Martin Lagonda Global
Holdings plc.
Q4) What kinds of threats related to diverse workforce in Aston Martin
Lagonda Global Holdings plc?
Frequency
a) Increased conflicts 6
b) Communication barriers 20
c) Increased groupism 4
Total 30
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6
20
4
a) Increased conflicts
b) Communication barriers
c) Increased groupism
Interpretations: - The above data interpretation in tabular and chart form shows that what are
the threats related to the diverse workforce who belongs to different religion, nation as well as
have unique sets of behaviour, values and knowledge. Aston Martin Lagonda employs a mix of
all in its workforce. The company treats diversity in workforce as an asset. Out of a total
responses of 30 respondents, The biggest threat is of communication barriers when referring to
threats of diversity with 67% vote. It is followed by vote of 20% and 13% of Increased conflicts
and Increased groupism respectively.
THEME 5: Problems are faced by an organisation if there is no equality at their working
environment.
Q5) What kind of problems are faced by an organisation if there is no
equality at their working environment?
Frequency
a) Decrease in productivity 14
b) Increase in jealousy 4
c) Demotivation 12
Total 30
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14
4
12
a) Decrease in productivity
b) Increase in jealousy
c) Demotivation
Interpretations: - The above graphical and tabular representation shows thatwhat kind of issues
are faced by the company if there is no equality at their workplace. Based on responses of
employees of Aston Martin, most employees responded with decreased productivity (47%) if
there is no equality in working environment. Another big problem would be Demotivation (40%)
followed by Increase in jealousy with 13% votes (Kordova, 2019).
THEME 6: Concepts help company to achieve its objectives.
Q6) Do these concepts help company to achieve its objectives? Frequency
a) Agree 30
b) Disagree 0
Total 30
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30
a) Agree
b) Disagree
Interpretations: - The above table and graph depicts that equality and diversity at workplace in
an organisation helps company for achieving the organisational goals and objectives. When the
30 respondents were asked if the concepts of equality and diversity of workforce helped Aston
Martin's employees achieve their objectives, All of the respondents (100%) agreed to the
statement made (Larson, 2016).
THEME 7: Strategies are used by a company to increase equality at workplace.
Q7) What type of strategies are used by a company to increase equality at
workplace?
Frequency
a) Training and development 8
b) Performance appraisal 6
c) Encouraging equal participation 16
Total 30
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8
6
16
a) Training and development
b) Performance appraisal
c) Encouraging equal participa-
tion
Interpretations: - The above graph shows that what kind of strategy is most appropriate for the
company in order to increase the workplace equality. Out of a total of 30 respondents, 53%
replied that encouragement of equal participation helped company the most in achieving equality
at workplace. This was followed by Training and development with 17% share and Performance
appraisal with 20% share in responses (Minbaeva, 2018).
THEME 8: Significance of equality and diversity at workplace.
Q8) What are the significance of equality and diversity at workplace? Frequency
a) Equal opportunities 12
b) Gain productiveness 15
c) Competitiveness of business improve 3
Total 30
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12
15
3
a) Equal opportunities
b) Gain productiveness
c) Competitiveness of
business improve
Interpretations: - When the employees were asked about significant results achieved as a result
of diversity and equality measures taken for workforce, 50% of employees agreed that it helped
in gaining productivity. It was followed by the benefit of equal opportunities to workforce by
40% share and 10% share of increase in competitiveness of the business.
Q9) What are the challenges related to the
equality as well as diversity at the workplace
of Aston Martin plc?
Explanation in the context of Aston Martin
Lagonda Global Holdings plc
a) Increase in gender pay gap This is related to the situation when a business
organisation is innovate or create differentiate
between the men and women either they both
are acting same as well as having similar skills
and knowledge.
b) Sexual harassment This is concerned with the unwelcome sexual
behaviour that may lead negative effect on
workers as all members feel humiliated,
offended as well as intimidated.
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c) Gender divide in leadership This is associated with the situations when a
business entity gives priority on male leader in
order to perform all the activities of a project.
Due to this, female leaders are feeling
worthless to their presence in an organisation.
Q10) Methods by which these challenges can
be efficiently dealt with?
Explanation in the context of Aston Martin
Lagonda Global Holdings plc
a) Fast response to these issues Managers of a company requires to immediate
response to these challenges so that all
conflicts can be minimised as well as can grow
and succeed of a business can be maintained
for a longer period of time (Northouse, 2017).
b) Managers being alert about these issues To increase the employee motivation it is
required for employer to must facilitate equal
opportunities to each and every workers
regardless of their skills, knowledge and talent.
c) Increasing women empowerment Employer requires to provide emphasis on
empowering the women by taking initiatives
through conducting programmes which gives
more preference to women only in the working
premises so that it can be created healthy
environment within a business organisation as
well as giving equal treatment to all personnels.
P6
It has been analysed form the above research project that equality and diversity is
essential for Aston Martin plc in order increase the employees potentiality and productivity. This
will assist in motivating employees towards the work efficiently by providing them equal
opportunities in order to grow, develop and success (Ozturk, 2016). This will assist in
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minimising the conflicts among workers related to the communication barrier, differences in
their working style, lifestyle differences and so on due to increase the diverse workforce in the
company. Whereas, equality assists to create and develop a friendly and secure workplace to
enhance the employees performance that assists in getting a competitive edge in the market
environment. Some of the recommendations on the basis of this study are as follows:
The company Aston Martin plc should encourage comprehensive workplace environment
so that all workers can be involved in the decision making process of an organisation that helps
company to take appropriate business decisions. Along with this, a company required to promote
group activities so that the team members participation can be encouraged that assists in actively
involvement of employees towards the project work. Moreover, proper performance appraisal
tool should be used by the company as it can helps in effectively utilising the employees
potentiality towards the accomplishment of organisational goals and objectives within a specified
time period (Silva, 2015).
When all these recommendations should properly used by the company Aston Martin
Lagonda Global Holdings plc it will leads in high productivity as well as profitability as all these
helps in solving the problems and issues and minimise threats that occurs in a company due to
equality and diverse workforce. As it has been find out from the above research that the company
should require to focus on resolving the communication barrier related problem that increase
employee engagement and participation in the organisational activities such as critical solutions,
decision making and so forth.
TASK 4
P7 Reflection.
I feel thankful and worthy that Aston Martin Lagonda that is a reputable company which
provides me a opportunity to do a research for a organisation on a topic of “How companies
responded to issues faced due to the equality as well as workplace diversity.” This was a very
interesting topic and I was used my skills as well as knowledge towards the research in order to
examine the impacts of equality as well as diversity at working environment and some ways
through which it can be eliminated.
As a result of this project several challenges and issues are analysed and resolved in a
proper manner as the company able to resolved some issues such as gender divide in leadership,
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gender pay gap as well as sexual harassment which can leads in increasing the employees
potentiality and productivity. This research study helped me a lot in purifying my own skills sets
that can assist in getting many opportunities in forthcoming regarding to conduct same kind of
projects for large companies. I realised that during this research I got improvements in my
various skills and knowledge also such as communication skill, influencing capability, problem
solving, decision-making, analytical thinking etc.
Moreover, I faced many issues or challenges which were related to the lack of time as
well as insufficient resources. That can be effectively dealt with by preparing a WBS as well as
use Gantt chart for dividing the whole tasks into smaller sections in order to complete it within
the specified time period (Subramanyam, 2018). These tools help me a lot in accomplishing the
project goals, aims and objectives in a successful manner. Also, the research team gives more
hours or extra time to manage the things within the time-frame that can results in successful
completion of this project.
Through this research report I analysed several concepts in detail which can used in a
business organisation for accomplishing the objectives and goals. As the main objective of
Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings plc is to earn maximum profit as well as gaining a
competitive advantage in the open marketplace. Through which a company prepares a specific
aims and objectives related to the encouragement of employees and bring equality at workplace
that helps in motivating their workers towards the high contribution in achievement of
organisational objectives.
CONCLUSION
It has been concluded from the above research project that equality and diversity at
working environment of a company is essential to established as employees belongs to different
nations, religions, cultures and they all have a unique sets of skills, values, attributes as well as
thoughts. These concepts can work in order to reduced harmony and struggle in the organisation
and equality at working premises can assist in improving workers potentiality and productivity as
they get motivation when they get balanced opportunities to develop. Whereas, to solve
challenges regarding gender pay gap, sexual harassment and gender divide in leadership some
strategies can be implemented by a business such as performance appraisals, women
empowerment initiatives as well as eliminating discrimination respectively. This will help in
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strengthening the company by increasing their brand value and accomplish goals and objectives
effectively.
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