Gender Pay Gap - Case Study on Mercedes Benz

This report focuses on the concept of equality and diversity in organizations, with a case study on Mercedes Benz. It aims to investigate the influence of gender pay gap on organization and employees productivity. The report includes the explanation of project aims and objectives, production of project management plan, development of Gantt Chart and Work Breakdown structure, and carrying out small-scale research using qualitative and quantitative research methods. It also analyzes the research data and provides recommendations for managing gender pay gap.

Managing a Successful
Business Project

Table of Contents
TOPIC..............................................................................................................................................1
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
P1. Explanation of project aims and objectives......................................................................1
P2.Production of project management plan............................................................................2
P3 Develop a Gantt Chart and Work Breakdown structure...................................................4
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................6
P4 Carry out small-scale research by applying qualitative and quantitative research methods
appropriate for meeting project aims and objectives..............................................................6
TASK 3..........................................................................................................................................10
P5 Analyse research and data using appropriate tools and techniques................................10
P6 Communicate appropriate recommendations as a result of research and data analysis to
draw valid and meaningful conclusions...............................................................................17
TASK 4..........................................................................................................................................18
P7 Reflect on the value of undertaking the research to meet stated objectives and own learning
and performance...................................................................................................................18
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................19
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................20

TOPIC
“ Gender Pay Gap” - Case Study on Mercedes Benz
INTRODUCTION
The concept of equality and diversity plays a vital role within the organisation as it
enable them to accomplish the pre determined goal or objective in an effective manner. Along
with this, due to the adoption of globalisation it motive all form of establishment to invite
diverse workforce inside the working culture with an aim of improving the overall performance
of firm in an effective way (Alexeev and Tapon, 2012). However, the term diversity refer to
those activity which is concern about accepting and respecting diverse culture, gender, sex,
religion, values, norms, beliefs and etc. and on the other hand equality is relate with treating and
providing equal opportunity to every kind of employees and avoiding the factor of discrimination
or partiality. Hence, by the implementation of equality and diversity, it assist establishment to
enhance its overall productivity and also boost the morale of manpower in a positive manner. In
relation to this report, Mercedes Benz has been considered which is a leading and reputed
company in Germany auto-mobile industry. Moreover, for this research, Gender Pay Gap has
been chosen for which researcher identify specific aim, objective, questions, development of
project management plan. Furthermore, implication of various research methodologies, usage of
appropriate tool to analyse the gathered data. Finally, determining relevant suggestion for
enlarging the proficiency of an organisation in an improved way.
TASK 1
P1. Explanation of project aims and objectives
Overview of company
Mercedes Benz is one of the well established and branded global auto- mobile company
which is founded in the year of 1926. It is headquartered at Germany and deals into wide range
of products like auto mobiles, trucks, buses, luxury vehicles and etc.
Research Aim
“To investigate the influence of gender pay gap over organisation and employees overall
productivity”. Case Study on Mercedes Benz
Research Objective
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 To understand the impact of Gender Pay Gap on the productivity of the employees and
the organisation.
 To analyse various strategies that Mercedes Benz has to implement within the
organisation for managing the influence of Gender Pay Gap.
 To identify different techniques that can facilitate the organisation in managing the
challenges of Gender Pay Gap in terms of overall productivity of the organisation.
Research Questions
 What is the impact of Gender Pay Gap on the productivity of the employees and the
organisation?
 What are various strategies that Mercedes Benz has to implement within the organisation
for managing the influence of Gender Pay Gap?
 What are the different techniques that can facilitate the organisation in managing the
challenges of Gender Pay Gap in terms of overall productivity of the organisation?
P2.Production of project management plan
It is a plan which explain the how a project is performed, controlled and determine so that all the
activities in the project are performed in set order. In the other words, it is a brief summary about
the project and it contains the base of the project as well as other subsidiary management plans.
With the reference of this research projects, the plan include the cost, quality,scope, resource and
time which will address the set objective based on the gender pay gap in the effective ways
(Basow, 1992).
Cost: For conducting this investigation, the cost and fund is required by the researcher to
collect the appropriates information in the market so that research can be completed on time and
in the effective ways. For undertaking this research the investigator will be preparing a budget
with the help of which they can determine the actual cost that they will incur. The estimated cost
for undertaking the project is 200£ and allocation of the cost is given below:
Description Cost
Survey 50£
Equipment for the project 40£
Travel cost 35£
Management cost 75£
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Total 200£
Quality: To have good quality of the project, the investigator can use different types of
tools and techniques such as qualitative and quantitative method of investigation. It will helps in
maintaining good quality of project. Also the data will be gathered from the primary sources i.e.,
from the employees of the company and various relevant secondary sources such as website,
books, journals etc. due to which the authenticity of the research can be ensured.
Time: It is time-frame which is required to completed the given task in the proper ways.
The researcher of this project have determine the 6 months for completing the all the tasks. To
support this the Gantt chart and WBS will be formulated as with this the activities will be
allocated time period within which they have to be completed.
Scope: With the reference of this research, it has a large scope as it is based on the
diversity and equality in the workplace in context of gender pay gap. It will facilitate the
organisation in formulating various policies and strategies so that they can overcome the issue of
gender pay gap on the basis of recommendations provided by the investigator.
Communication: Their are formal as well as informal communication in the research,
effective communication is essential to collect and transfer such information in the research
team (Butler, 2002). The communication will take place between the project managers in the
company with the researcher through emails, interaction via telephone, video conference etc.
Risk: While conducting the investigation there are various different risk associated with
the research such as problem and conflict come across while conducting the investigation in the
process. Also the risk related to this project is of completion of project on time which can be
managed with the help of Gantt chart and WBS and technical risk which can be managed with
the help of various methods of analysis.
Resources: There are various factor which are to be taken care in the research such as
land, labour, machinery and human resource in the projects. In the context of this research,
investigator required internet access, laptop ,various equipment and finance in the human
resource projects. The researcher make best use of human resource in the project so that better
results can be interpreted in the projects.
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P3 Develop a Gantt Chart and Work Breakdown structure.
Gantt chart: This chart is formed by the various different bars which represent work
activities in the projects. This bar are divide according to the work needs to be performed by the
researcher in the given task and projects (Butler, 2004). In the other words it can be stated that
this chart is used as tool in the project management plan by delegating the work into bars in the
given task. Further this chart helps in giving a time-frame which will be needed to complete the
given activates in the organisation.
4

Work break down structure: While carrying out the research, the investigator divide its
complex work into small work segment which helps in executing the work in the proper ways in
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the investigation. By using the work break down structure in the investigation so that work can
be done in the effective ways so that desire goals and objectives can be achieved in the
organisation (Denis and et. al., 1999).
TASK 2
P4 Carry out small-scale research by applying qualitative and quantitative research methods
appropriate for meeting project aims and objectives.
Qualitative Research: Qualitative research is an open-ended and non-numerical research
of which answers cannot be yes or no. Prospect have to give their opinion about given topic. This
research is communicational in nature that means researcher have to conduct a small
conversation with prospect. There are several methods of performing qualitative research like
Interview, observation, submergence, open-ended survey, focus groups, unwritten history etc.
Merit of qualitative research is that it helps in identifying consumer's taste. It is a very limber
approach (Denis and et. al., 1997). Demerit of qualitative data is that it is highly subjective in
nature and not statistically calculative. In context of this research, researcher make use of
qualitative approach as it help them to gain in depth information about topic and can make better
solution for identified research problem in an amended manner.
Quantitative Research: Quantitative research refers to the collection of numerical data
from sample universe for the purpose of statistical calculation. Quantitative research is
concerned with quantifiable data like numbers and figures which are mathematically and
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statistically computable. Disadvantages of quantitative research is advantage of qualitative
research and vice versa. Method of executing quantitative research are survey, interview,
questionnaire, schedule and observation. Advantage of quantitative research is that it is easy to
analyse. It is statistically calculable. It is a non biased approach and has a wide reach.
Disadvantages of quantitative research is that it is difficult to draw conclusion from this approach
(Eisenmann, 2002).
Primary Research: Primary research refers to the accumulation of original data from
sample of universe. In primary research, data are collected directly from the prospect. Primary
data are unpublished data that means it cannot be found on any print and electronic information
source. Methods of gathering primary data are interview, survey, questionnaire, schedule and
observation. Benefit of primary research is that it helps in solving problems. Marketer can
accumulate specific data which satisfy their marketing needs. Drawback of primary is that is
very time consuming. Conducting primary research is an expensive activity as researcher have
to bear travelling cost. In relation to this research, investigator utilise primary data method i.e.
preparing questionnaire in order to acquire accurate response from targeted respondents in an
improved way.
Secondary Research: Collection of data that is already gathered by primary researcher is
called secondary research. Researcher collect data from electronic and print information. Data
gathered in secondary research is not original. There are two types of secondary data source one
is internal and another is external (French and Poterba, 1991). Methods of secondary research are
surfing internet , reading books,newspaper and journal. Benefit of secondary research is that is
very cost effective and also it speed up the work because it is a very fast approach.
Disadvantages of secondary research is that information may be outdated. Secondary data may
not be ad hoc to researcher's requirement. Hence, investigator implies this method also for
gathering information from different online sources and also from newspaper or magazines with
an aim of producing reliable report in a prescribed time limit.
Sample size: This component is concern with selecting a group of individual from the
larger number of population. Moreover, it is classified into probability and non- probability
method. Hence, in regard of this research, researcher applies random sampling method that
enable them to give equal chance to all targeted respondents which empower them to express
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their views in an efficacious mode (Gallo, Phengpis and Swanson, 2008). The sample size which
investigator selects for this reserach report is 30 employees of Mercedes Benz.
Questionnaire
Q1) Are you familiar with the term Equality and Diversity?
a) Yes
b) No
Q2) Do you think that an organisation should practice equality and diversity at
workplace?
a) Yes
b) No
Q3) What are the reason behind occurring Gender Pay Gap issue inside organisation?
a) Unfair wages
b) Gender Discrimination
c) Bias behaviour in allocating the responsibilities
Q4) What are the challenges that Mercedes Benz face while managing Gender Pay Gap at
workplace?
a) Improper coordination among employees
b) Ineffective communication
c) Negative working environment
Q5) What the best possible ways which Mercedes Benz can adopt to tackle the issue of
Gender Pay Gap?
a) Fair decision
b) Equal opportunity
c) Transparency in salary
Q6) Does the practice of Gender Pay Gap support organisation in keep manpower loyal
and productive towards the organisational goal?
a) Agree
b) Disagree
Q7) What are the advantages which Mercedes Benz can acquire from eliminating the
issue of Gender Pay Gap?
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a) Enrich manpower performance
b) Enhance brand value
c) Improve working culture
Q8) Provide suitable recommendation for Mercedes Benz to handle the issue of Gender
Pay Gap in order to enhance the business and personnel productivity.
Q1) Are you familiar with the term Equality and Diversity? Frequency
a) Yes 25
b) No 5
Q2) Do you think that an organisation should practice equality
and diversity at workplace?
Frequency
a) Yes 20
b) No 10
Q3) What are the reason behind occurring Gender Pay Gap issue
inside organisation?
Frequency
a) Unfair wages 15
b) Gender Discrimination 5
c) Bias behaviour in allocating the responsibilities 10
Q4) What are the challenges that Mercedes Benz face while
managing Gender Pay Gap at workplace?
Frequency
a) Improper coordination among employees 20
b) Ineffective communication 5
c) Negative working environment 5
Q5) What the best possible ways which Mercedes Benz can adopt
to tackle the issue of Gender Pay Gap?
Frequency
a) Fair decision 5
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b) Equal opportunity 10
c) Transparency in salary 15
Q6) Does the practice of Gender Pay Gap support organisation in
keep manpower loyal and productive towards the organisational
goal?
Frequency
a) Agree 25
b) Disagree 5
Q7) What are the advantages which Mercedes Benz can acquire
from eliminating the issue of Gender Pay Gap?
Frequency
a) Enrich manpower performance 20
b) Enhance brand value 5
c) Improve working culture 5
TASK 3
P5 Analyse research and data using appropriate tools and techniques.
Theme 1: Aware about equality and diversity
Q1) Are you familiar with the term Equality and Diversity? Frequency
a) Yes 25
b) No 5
10

Interpretation: The shown graph demonstrates the idea about awareness of equality and
diversity among manpower. However, out of 30 respondents, majority of the employees i.e. 25
says that they are very much familiar with the aspect of equality and diversity as it is one of the
core topic in every organisation. Whereas, remaining 5 personnel denies the same as they states
that they does not contain clear view about the term equality and diversity.
Theme 2: Practising equality and diversity beneficial for company
Q2) Do you think that an organisation should practice equality and
diversity at workplace?
Frequency
a) Yes 20
b) No 10
11
a) Yes b) No
0
5
10
15
20
25
25
5

Interpretation: The drawn bar signifies regarding the influence of managing equality and
diversity inside business function. Hence, out of 30 respondents, 20 individuals believes that
practising equality and diversity is essential for organisation as it help them to create healthy
working atmosphere. While, rest of the 10 manpower disagrees with the statement as they says
that maintenance of equality and diversity may impose huge challenges over organisation like
conflicts of interest, miscommunication, reduce employees engagement and so on.
Theme 3: Reason for arising Gender Pay Gap
Q3) What are the reason behind occurring Gender Pay Gap issue
inside organisation?
Frequency
a) Unfair wages 15
b) Gender Discrimination 5
c) Bias behaviour in allocating the responsibilities 10
12
a) Yes b) No
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
20
10

Interpretation: The presented chart is concern regarding the reason for arising Gender Pay Gap
at workplace. To this regard, out of 30 respondents, 15 employees signifies that the major
rationale for happening Gender Pay Gap is distribution of unfair wages, due to which workforce
get demotivated and arises the chances of increasing turnover ratio. Additionally, the other 10
manpower believes that showing partiality in delegating the work among subordinates also form
s the issue of Gender Pay Gap. Finally, remaining 5 individual says that because of gender
discrimination gives way to Gender Pay Gap that disturbs the business culture of an organisation.
Theme 4: Difficulties of Gender Pay Gap
Q4) What are the challenges that Mercedes Benz face while
managing Gender Pay Gap at workplace?
Frequency
a) Improper coordination among employees 20
b) Ineffective communication 5
c) Negative working environment 5
13
a) Unfair wages
c) Bias behaviour in allocating the responsibilities
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16 15
5
10

Interpretation: The shown graphical presentation states about the challenges which is faced by
company while managing Gender Pay Gap in functional unit. In this context, out of 30
respondents, 20 employees think that the core difficulty that Mercedes Benz undergoes while
handling Gender Pay Gap is there will be no proper coordination inside employees that hinder
superior in implementing best decision regrading equality. While, 5 subordinates says that
because of ineffective communication, Mercedes Benz face issue in handling Gender Pay Gap.
The remaining 5 signifies that due to negative working culture it impose huge challenge within
Mercedes Benz in terms of handling the issue of Gender Pay Gap for generate a balance
between equality and diversity at workplace.
Theme 5: Ways to cope up with Gender Pay Gap
Q5) What the best possible ways which Mercedes Benz can adopt to
tackle the issue of Gender Pay Gap?
Frequency
a) Fair decision 5
b) Equal opportunity 10
c) Transparency in salary 15
14
a) Improper coordination among employees
c) Negative working environment
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
20
5 5

Interpretation: The shown bar graph is relate to the ways adopted by organisation to deal with
the challenges of Gender Pay Gap. Hence, out of 30 respondents, 15 personnel thinks that by
maintaining transparency in salary enable Mercedes Benz to easily manage the issue of Gender
Pay Gap and also can enlarge the market share in an amended manner. Moreover, the other 10
employees signifies that rendering equal opportunity drive establishment to overcome the
difficulties of handling Gender Pay Gap. Whereas, 5 individuals believes that by taking fair
decisions also benefit Mercedes Benz to deal with Gender Pay Gap issue and also can strengthen
workforce overall performance in an impressive mode.
Theme 6: Effect of managing Gender Pay Gap
Q6) Does the managemnet of Gender Pay Gap support organisation
in keep manpower loyal and productive towards the organisational
goal?
Frequency
a) Agree 25
b) Disagree 5
15
a) Fair decision
b) Equal opportunity
c) Transparency in salary
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
5
10
15

Interpretation: The displayed pie chart is link with the impact of administering or governing
Gender Pay Gap over personnel attitude towards business goal. However, out of 30 respondents,
25 individuals agrees that taking corrective course of action against the issue of Gender Pay Gap
help establishment to keep its workforce loyal and productive for accomplishing organisational
pre determined purpose. On the contrary, rest of the 5 manpowers are disagreeing the same as
they believes that there is no such connection between Gender Pay Gap and employees
productivity towards firm's objective. This is because, they states that personnel productivity is
directly link with their ability to grab the growth platforms which leads them to explore their
skills and talents.
Theme 7: Advantages of removing Gender Pay Gap
Q7) What are the advantages which Mercedes Benz can acquire
from eliminating the issue of Gender Pay Gap?
Frequency
a) Enrich manpower performance 20
b) Enhance brand value 5
c) Improve working culture 5
16
25
5

Interpretation: The shown graphical diagram is related with the aspect of positive impact of
removing Gender Pay Gap issue in establishment. However, out of 30 respondents, 20 people
says that the primal benefit which Mercedes Benz can acquire from the elimination of Gender
Pay Gap is that they will be able to enrich manpower performance by obtaining increased of their
participation towards business activities in an impressive style. While, the other 5 states that it
drive organisation to gain brand value among competitors. Finally, remaining 5 persons signifies
that by removing Gender Pay Gap, it assist Mercedes Benz to improve its working culture in an
innovative and competitive way
P6 Communicate appropriate recommendations as a result of research and data analysis to draw
valid and meaningful conclusions.
Recommendation
From the above discussed report, it has been examined that for attaining sustainable
growth and enhancement as well as building positive attitude among manpower, application of
equality and diversity plays a vital role in Mercedes Benz. This is because, it help them to enrich
the capability of company in terms of gaining competing advantage among rivalry. Some of
them are as follows:
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a) Enrich manpower performance
b) Enhance brand value
c) Improve working culture
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
20
5 5

 The primal measure which Mercedes Benz can adopt inside its functional unit for
managing equality and diversity at workplace is that treating all employees in an equal
manner like allowing every manpower to take part in business activities, rendering equal
pay, fair decisions and many more. With the help of such initiation, it empower Mercedes
Benz to enrich its employee engagement, improve firm's profit margin ratio, enlarge
brand reputation in an amended way.
 Additionally, another initiative that Mercedes Benz can implement for creating a balance
between equality and diversity inside working culture is that recognising the effort of
each employees and providing them fair benefits or rewards may motivate them to be
loyal and productive towards organisational goal. Along with this, providing enormous
opportunities to subordinates also assist establishment to enhance its capability in
obtaining positive responses from targeted audience regarding company.
TASK 4
P7 Reflect on the value of undertaking the research to meet stated objectives and own learning
and performance.
I am highly privileged to get an opportunity to conduct a research study on the topic of
equality and diversity. This is because, in this present era of globalised and digital world
majority of the organisation are facing difficulties in managing equality and diversity at
workplace. The main reason behind this issue is that the concept of globalisation forced company
to place diverse workforce for different position. Hence, by organising study over such area
enable me to understand and recognise the significance of practising equality and diversity
within business function. Some of the advantages which an enterprise can gain is that enlarge
market share, explore personnel productivity, improve organisation capability in obtaining
aggressive and competent position among competitors in an innovative or impressive style.
While undertaking the research I faced various difficulties in context of the lack of efficiency in
the communication skills due to which I had to take sessions for achieving improvement in my
skills. With the help of various online sessions I learnt the writing skills which supported email
writing, formulation of the reports etc. Later while making analysis of the responses of the
employees I realised that I must develop better understanding of various analytical skills so that
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it can facilitate me in managing and providing better recommendations to the company. at the
time of gathering the data the interaction with the employees of the company has to be done and
their my team faced difficulty in context of developing better understanding with the people as
some of them were frustrated due to inequality while some of them were not much interested in
responding to the answers and due to this the overall collection of the information was affected
but the team could managed it with their polite behaviour. Apart from this, on the basis of
current research, Gender Pay Gap issue has been preferred as it is one of the major challenge
among employees. The core reason due to which this occur is that showing partiality among
male and female workers in terms of assigning roles or responsibilities, analysing individual
effort, rendering pay, distribution of opportunities to personnel and so on. However, with the
proper management of all available resources and also avoiding the aspect of discrimination
while treating the employees enable establishment to accomplish its pre defined goal in an
improved manner. Moreover, it also assist company to build healthy and long lasting relationship
with each personnel in a positive manner that improves its brand image among rivalries without
any hindrances.
CONCLUSION
This has been concluded from the above explained research report that equality and
diversity help an organisation to create effective working culture as well as can strengthen the
manpower's ability. With the help of such initiation, it empower company to improve its overall
performance and also increase the sales volume by obtaining employee participation or
contribution towards business objective. Moreover, by the application of research methodology
help researcher to produce the valid and authentic research report in a stipulated time duration
without any hindrances.
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