Research Project

My topic is Equality and diversity in the workplace. I start this subject 10/02/2020

Research Project
Table of Contents

1. Introduction..................................................................................................................................1
Research Theme: Equality and diversity in the workplace....................................................1
Research Topic: Managing cultural diversity in the workplace.............................................1
Background of research project..............................................................................................1
Brief Overview of company...................................................................................................1
Problem statement..................................................................................................................1
Aim and objectives.................................................................................................................2
Rational or reasoning for choosing the topic..........................................................................2
Research questions.................................................................................................................2
2. Literature Review.........................................................................................................................3
Introduction to Literature review............................................................................................3
Main Body..............................................................................................................................3
3. Methodology................................................................................................................................6
4. Timeline of research activities.....................................................................................................8
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9
Appendix I: Questionnaire.............................................................................................................11

1. Introduction
Research Theme: Equality and diversity in the workplace
Research Topic: Managing cultural diversity in the workplace
Background of research project
Equality and diversity has become a vital concept for all orgnisation to enhance
motivation and creativity of its workforce along with focusing in more better expansion and
growth at diversified locations (Ravazzani, 2016). Thus, to have better knowledge about the
importance and implication of management of cultural diversity has become a vital part of all
orgnisation. Management of cultural diversity is mainly associated with having a unbiased HR
practises and recruitment and selection process in order to allow all candidates to apply for the
job and also have fared chances of getting employee in an organisation. Furthers, the implication
of wealthy and diversity also lead better effects on motivation and creativity of employees and
management of effective cultural diversity lead to enhanced competencies and skill of
organisation. Thus, the current research project is based on the topic of evaluation about the need
for managing cultural diversity within an orgnisation to have better success and growth rate.
Brief Overview of company
The organisation selected for this research project is Sainsbury that is a well know retailer
of UK the headquarter of which is situated at London, UK. Sainsbury provides a wide range of
products to its customers that consist of dairy products, fruits and vegetables, health and Beauty,
fish and meat and clothing items. At present this organisation is facing huge competition from
orgnisation like Tesco and Asda and Sainsbury also wants to have better growth and expansion
thus, it is selected for current research topic in order to evaluate about the need and importance
of managing cultural diversity within Sainsbury plc to have better success and growth rate
(Hopkins and et. al., 2016).
Problem statement
The problem statement and issue that is evaluated through current research work is based
on the need and importance of management of cultural diversity at the workplace of an
enterprise.
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Aim and objectives
Research Aim
The main aim of current investigation is “To evaluate about the need for managing
cultural diversity within an orgnisation to have better success and growth rate”. A case study on
Sainsbury’s
Research Objective
The main purpose and objectives behind conducting this research work on Sainsbury are
stated as follows:
 To investigate about the Phenomenon of cultural diversity and its implication within an
organisation.
 To evaluate about the need and importance of managing cultural diversity within
Sainsbury plc to have better success and growth rate.
 To determine the measures that could be adopted by Sainsbury’s to ensures effective
management of cultural diversity and equality at its workplace.
Rational or reasoning for choosing the topic
The main reason and rational behind selection current research topic are stated as below:
Professional reason- The rationale for opting current research topic consists the fact that it
meet the professional needs of researcher through leading better information about the
Phenomenon of cultural diversity and its implication along with the knowledge of measures that
could be adopted to ensures effective management of cultural diversity and equality at
workplace. Thus, selection of research topic is rationale and justifiable from view point of an
organisation and professional perspective of researcher.
Personal reasons- The another justification for selection of current resrch topic on
managing cultural diversity is associated with personal implication of researcher as it lead to
better development of skills and knowledge and also meet the educational and academic purpose
of investigator.
Research questions
 What is meant by Phenomenon of cultural diversity and its implication within an
organisation?
 What is the need and importance of managing cultural diversity within Sainsbury plc to
have better success and growth rate?
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 What are the set measures that could be adopted by Sainsbury’s to ensure effective
management of cultural diversity and equality at its workplace?
2. Literature Review
Introduction to Literature review
It forms a vial and crucial part of all research and dissertation as it apart that consist of
evaluation and review of available secondary data to form a better understanding and base for
research work (Sammarra and et. al., 2017). The literature review is mainly associated with
survey and referral of books, articles, journals and other literature available and related with
current research topic and its objective so that a better knowledge and understating could be
develop to achieve the set targets. The current literature review is based on the theme of equality
and diversity the main emphasis of which is on the topic of managing cultural diversity. The
discussion and evaluation of various online articles and resources surveyed and analysed for
current investigation are provided below in the main body of literature review.
Main Body
To investigate about the Phenomenon of cultural diversity and its implication within an
organisation.
As per the view point of Don Potochny, 2020, the phenomenon of cultural diversity that
is also commonly known as multiculturalism basically denotes a group or set of diverse
individuals and persons who belongs to different backgrounds and coming from a different
culture or society. Mainly, the main factors that included and taken into account by cultural
diversity consist of diversification on the basis of language, race, sexual orientation, religion,
gender, age and ethnicity. The implication and effect of cultural diversity is also seen in
organisation as it has been evaluated the creation of cultural diversity and its proper management
is a beneficial for organisation as it is something that enhance range and viability of an
organisation (Bendl, Hainzl and Mensi, 2019).
Further, as per the view point of Marge Friginal-Sanchez, 2018, the implication of
cultural diversity within an organisation is positive and enriched its creativity and competencies.
It has been evaluated that effective management and implication of cultural diversity at
workplace of an organisation offers many significant and crucial business factors that mainly
consists of enhanced and more better communication and interaction with diversified and foreign
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customers. It has been evaluated that effective communication is a vital part of every
organisations and key for its success as it being able to communicate effectively with customers
of different parts of the world is a key benefit for all companies as it a something that lead a
better way to build relationships, connections and better understanding cultural distinctions about
various place and differences in doing business in foreign countries. Thus, it can be evaluated
that , having culturally diverse workers is one of the greatest assets a business can have as with a
workforce that acknowledges and have awareness about various concepts and aspects of
diversified culture lead to a higher possibility to efficiently improve the business in the market
(Chia and Gibson, 2019).
Thus, with respect to above discussion it can be evaluated that cultural diversity is mainly
associated with working of diversified group of people and employees at single workplace to
meet and achieve the desired targets. Furthers, it has been find out that implication of cultural
diversity is vital for a company as it a factor that enhance lead to positive impact and enhanced
competencies and awareness of orgnisation to have better results and effective communication
with diversified customers who belongs to different culture.
To evaluate about the need and importance of managing cultural diversity within Sainsbury
plc to have better success and growth rate.
According to the view point of Katie Reynolds Katie Reynolds, 2019, effective
management and creation of cultural diversity leads to many benefits and advantages for an
organisation thus, it become an important and necessary aspect for all organisation. The main
need and importance of managing cultural diversity by Sainsbury organisation consist the fact
that a diverse cultural perspectives and management of diversity among staff is helpful in
inspiring creativity and also drive innovation at workplace. It could be evaluated that a variety
of viewpoints coming from cultural diversity in workforce lead to a wide-ranging of personal and
professional experience and view point of team and its members offers a new and better
perspectives for a company that inspire to solve the issues and problems in a more effective and
creative way through looking the workplace and the world in a different and more creative way
(Lozano and Escrich, 2017). Thus, it can be evaluated that managing cultural diversity is
important and crucial for Sainsbury as it a concept that lead to enhanced creativity and
innovation level at workplace that is vital for having better success and growth.
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Beside this, it can be observed as per the opinion of Janine Schindler, 2019, that cultural
diversity is needed in Sainsbury as it lead to enhanced competencies and awareness about
diversified customs and norms of customers and also eliminates the barrier of communication
and cultural implications thus, ensures better expansion and growth for an organisation. Beside
this, the other important aspect and need of managing cultural diversity for Sainsbury orgnisation
consist of drawing and attracting talented pool of candidate from a culturally diverse and
different backgrounds that allows an organization to attract and retain the best talent for a longer
period of time that lead to enhancement and betterment of overall skills and competencies of
orgnisation like Sainsbury to have better success and growth rate (Ng and Sears, 2018).
Thus, with respect to above discussion it can be evaluated that need and importance of
managing cultural diversity within Sainsbury plc had increased as it lead to enhanced cultural
sensitivity, better insight and more effective local knowledge that means higher quality through
attracting and retaining more talent employees and leading enhanced creativity and innovation
that allows larger targeted marketing for organisation like Sainsbury to have better success and
growth rate.
To determine the measures that could be adopted by Sainsbury’s to ensures effective
management of cultural diversity and equality at its workplace.
As per the opinion of Dr. Richard T. Alpert, 2020, effective management of cultural
diversity has become vital and essential for all orgnisation to have enhanced skills and
competencies through leading a more creative and innovative workforce. Thus, it becomes vital
for all orgnisation to adopt and come with significant measures and strategies to ensures effective
management of cultural diversity and equality at its workplace. Some of these measures that can
be adopted by Sainsbury’s to ensures effective management of cultural diversity and equality at
its workplace are evaluated below:
Effective Communication- Having good communication and bonding among the staff
and team members is the best way that can be adopted by Sainsbury to ensure proper
management of cultural diversity. Effective communication among employees ensures better
interaction and transfer of view across diversified workforce that lead to better understanding of
feelings and norms of various culture, thus lead to better management and implication of cultural
diversity (Mehng, Sung and Leslie, 2019).
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Regular cultural training- Providing regular cultural training is also an effective way
that can be adopted by Sainsbury to develop better understanding about diversified culture
among the employees as it ensures better awareness and respect for different culture among
employees thus, lead to better management and creation of cultural diversity.
Transparent recruitment and selection- It is most vital measure that lead to creation of
cultural diversity at workplace. Sainsbury must adopt and implement unbiased and transparent
recruitment and selection process at its workplace to lead selection of employees and candidates
who belongs to diversified culture (Garg, Pandey and Vashishta, 2017).
Thus, on the basis of above discussion it can be evaluated that the effective measures that
lead to creation and effective management of cultural diversity at workplace consist of various
measures like effective communication at workplace that allows better transformation of view to
ensure effective bonding and creation of an inclusive workforce. Apart from this, regular cultural
training an effective tool and measures to create awareness regarding diversified culture among
staff to create better respect and enhanced feeling for people and customers who belongs to
diversified cultural group (Jin, Lee and Lee, 2017). Further, implication and adoption of
unbiased and transparent recruitment and selection process is the first step to employ individual
from diversified culture to enhance creativity and innovation level of orgnisation thus, lead to
effective creation and management of cultural diversity and equality at workplace of Sainsbury.
3. Methodology
It is that section of a research report that provide information about the various methods and
approaches that are used for conduction of an investigation or research work in an more effective
and better way to accomplish set objectives (Malik, Madappa and Chitranshi, 2017). To adopt
most suitable and viable research methodology for current investigation on Sainsbury based on
the theme of equality and diversity use of research onion is made that provided better
justification for selection of a suitable research method and approaches. A discussion and
justification about the research philosophy and method used for current investigation is provided
below with the help of research onion.
Research philosophy- The first layer of research onion indicates about the philosophy the
selection of which is based on nature of study. The philosophy of research is mainly bifurcated
into four main parts that consist of Objectivism, Constructivism, Positivism and Interpretivism
philosophy that lead better information regarding set hypothesis and research work. Out of theses
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four use of Positivism seems most viable and suitable for current research work as it helps in
finding the better explanations and also lead to measuring the accepted knowledge (Butcher,
2016). Beside this, the main reason behind making use of positivism research approach is that it
lead to higher importance to get and evaluate the quantitative results thus, ensures better
analytical analysis.
Research Approach- The two main terms that are include in the second layer of research
onion consist of research approach i.e. inductive and deductive and use of research onion
suggests that an appropriate research should be picked to accomplish the research work in more
effective manner. Thus, with respect to nature of current investigation use of deductive approach
is made as it lead to better scan of theories to the research question trough leading better
knowledge about the confirmation or rejection of the question. Further, deductive research
approach is more associated with conduction of quantitative research thus, it is adopted for
current investigation.
Research method- It is the most vital layer of research onion which yield information
about the research method according to which complete investigation would be conducted. It is
mainly bifurcated into two types i.e. quantitative and qualitative out of which adoption and use
of quantitative research method is made for current investigation on Sainsbury as it lead to
collection and evaluation of data in numeric and statistical form that is easy to conclude and
present (Wang, 2018).
Research strategy- This section of research methodology yield information regarding the
overall strategy and plan for investigation. The current research is based on Survey strategy
where data would be collected with the help of questionnaire that is provided below the head of
Appendix I.
Data collection and analysis – It is one of the most vital part of a research methodology that
lead to information about the main sources of data collection and origins from where data is
actually data. The two main sources of information and data from where data is collected for
current investigation are provided below:
 Primary sources- Use of primary sources of data collection is made for current research
work as it ensures and lead to collection of data directly from the selected participants
and individuals thus, lead most authentic and first hand data that provide due information
about perceptive and opinion of respondents (Ravazzani, 2016). For collection of
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primary data use of questionnaire is made that is provided at the end under the heading
of appendix I.
 Secondary sources- Use of secondary sources of information is also made as it lead to
evaluation and survey of past figures and information that provides better support and
base for overall research work. Further, with respect to current investigation secondary
information is obtained from online articles and journals.
Sample Method- Sampling basically represent a vital method through which selection of pre
determined of respondents is made by researcher from a large number of population in order to
accomplish a researcher work in a more cost and time effective manner (Lozano and Escrich,
2017). With respect to current investigation use of Random sampling method is made by
investigator in order to select a sample size of 30 respondents from the employees of Sainsbury
to collect information from them on the topic of equality and diversity with more emphasis on
managing cultural diversity.
Ethical considerations- While doing a research work it is essential for investigator to fulfil
all ethical considerations and code of conduct. Thus, with respect to current investigation proper
approval and written consent is taken from all participants in order to maintain the ethical
consideration of research work. Further, due care is taken that none of research activity should
harm or hurt any individuals or intellectual property rights in any manner.
4. Timeline of research activities
Taking out and performing an investigation and research is a complex task that consists a
wide range of activities and task. Thus, to maintain the clarity in research work and achieve the
desired objective on time use of Gantt chart has been made to preset the timeline of research
activity. Gantt chart is basically a statistical and project management tool that provides a more
clear and systematic representation of all the task and activities of a research project in a
systematic and practical way in form a bar chart (Tjosvold, 2017). The following Gantt chart is
made for current research project that is reflecting all the research activity. The main advantage
of using Gantt chart is that it reduce the chances of overlapping of work and activity and ensures
timely completion of all activities within specified timelines and duration.
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REFERENCES
Books and journal
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Bendl, R., Hainzl, A. and Mensi-Klarbach, H., 2019. Diversity in the Workplace. In Oxford
Research Encyclopedia of Psychology.
Butcher, M., 2016. Managing cultural change: Reclaiming synchronicity in a mobile world.
Routledge.
Chia, T. and Gibson, C., 2019, August. How Experiences with Diversity and Mindfulness
Contribute To Inclusive Diversity Climates at Work. In 79th Academy of Management
Annual Meeting 2019.
Garg, S., Pandey, D. K. and Vashishta, A., 2017. Workforce diversity management techniques.
ZENITH International Journal of Business Economics & Management Research. 7(4).
pp.41-46.
Hopkins, W.E. and et. al., 2016. Values-based leadership effectiveness in culturally diverse
workplaces. Cross Cultural & Strategic Management.
Jin, M., Lee, J. and Lee, M., 2017. Does leadership matter in diversity management? Assessing
the relative impact of diversity policy and inclusive leadership in the public sector.
Leadership & Organization Development Journal.
Lozano, J. F. and Escrich, T., 2017. Cultural diversity in business: A critical reflection on the
ideology of tolerance. Journal of Business Ethics. 142(4). pp.679-696.
Malik, R., Madappa, T. and Chitranshi, J., 2017. Diversity management in tourism and
hospitality: an exploratory study. foresight.
Mehng, S. A., Sung, S.H. and Leslie, L. M., 2019. Does diversity management matter in a
traditionally homogeneous culture?. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: An International
Journal.
Ng, E.S. and Sears, G.J., 2018. Walking the talk on diversity: CEO beliefs, moral values, and the
implementation of workplace diversity practices. Journal of Business Ethics, pp.1-14.
Ravazzani, S., 2016. Understanding approaches to managing diversity in the workplace.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: An International Journal.
Sammarra, A. and et. al., 2017. Enhancing Knowledge Sharing in Age-Diverse Organizations:
The Role of HRM Practices', Age Diversity in the Workplace (Advanced Series in
Management, Volume 17).
Tjosvold, D., 2017. Cross-cultural management: foundations and future. Routledge.
Wang, J., 2018. Strategies for managing cultural conflict: models review and their applications in
business and technical communication. Journal of Technical Writing and
Communication. 48(3). pp.281-294.
Online:
Don Potochny. 2020. Cultural Diversity in the Workplace. [Online] Available Through:<
https://www.biospace.com/article/cultural-diversity-in-the-workplace/ >.
Marge Friginal-Sanchez. 2018. The Impact of Cultural Diversity in the Workplace. [Online]
Available Through:< https://medium.com/the-looking-glass/the-impact-of-cultural-
diversity-in-the-workplace-930ceb44585f>.
Katie Reynolds. 2019. 13 benefits and challenges of cultural diversity in the workplace. [Online]
Available Through:< https://www.hult.edu/blog/benefits-challenges-cultural-diversity-
workplace/ >.
Janine Schindler. 2019. The Benefits Of Cultural Diversity In The Workplace. [Online] Available
Through:< https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescoachescouncil/2019/09/13/the-benefits-
of-cultural-diversity-in-the-workplace/#1f4c949871c0 >.
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Richard T. Alpert. 2020. Managing Cultural Diversity in the Workplace. [Online] Available
Through:< https://www.diversityresources.com/cultural-diversity-workplace/ >.
Appendix I: Questionnaire
Questionnaire
Q1) Are you having any perception about the Phenomenon of cultural diversity and its
implication within an organisation?
a) Yes
b) No
c) Neutral
Q2) What is the main need managing cultural diversity within Sainsbury plc?
a) Enhanced competition
b) Objective of better expansion
c) Diversified needs of target customers
Q3) Why it is become essential and important for Sainsbury plc to have better
management of cultural diversity?
a) Lead to enhance creativity and innovation
b) Higher motivation and productivity
c) Better knowledge and implication about diversified culture
Q4) Are you agreed with the fact that Sainsbury must adopt some better measures to
ensure better management of cultural diversity too have better success and growth rate?
a) Agreed
b) Disagreed
Q5) What are the set measures that could be adopted by Sainsbury’s to ensure effective
management of cultural diversity and equality at its workplace?
a) Effective communication
b) Regular Cultural training
c) Unbiased HR practises
Q6) Any further recommendation for Sainsbury’s to ensure effective management of
cultural diversity and equality at its workplace?
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