Managing a Successful Business Project

Managing a Successful
Business Project
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Contents
Managing a Successful Business Project.........................................................................................1
TITLE: “What issues and challenges may arise out of equality and diversity in the workplace and
what measures could be taken to resolve them?”............................................................................3
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
1. Aim and objectives of project......................................................................................................3
2. Literature Review.........................................................................................................................4
Concept of equality and diversity in relation to organisation.................................................4
Issues and challenges that may arise out from not maintaining equality and diversity in
workplace...............................................................................................................................5
Different measures which assist in resolving the issues associated with equality and diversity
................................................................................................................................................6
3. Project Management Plan............................................................................................................7
Gantt chart..............................................................................................................................8
Work Breakdown structure...................................................................................................11
4. Research methods and approaches.............................................................................................11
5. Data analysis and interpretation.................................................................................................15
Data analysis.........................................................................................................................15
Data interpretation................................................................................................................16
6. Discussion (comparison of primary findings with secondary research)....................................23
7. Reflection on overall experience from project...........................................................................24
8. Recommendations and suggestions for improvement...............................................................26
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................27
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................28
Appendix........................................................................................................................................29
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TITLE: “What issues and challenges may arise out of equality and diversity in the
workplace and what measures could be taken to resolve them?”
INTRODUCTION
1. Aim and objectives of project
Background of study:
Equality and diversity and very significant concepts in an organisation and is necessary
for management to ensure it within the workplace. It will provide many benefits to company in
terms of improved profitability, increase employee engagement, promote innovation and
creativity etc. (Sarter and Thomson, 2019). However, there are several challenges that may arise
while maintaining equality and diversity in workplace. Marks and Spencer is a well-known
organisation which offer its products and services since 1884. This project aims to assess the
issues and challenges which may arise due to quality and diversity in workplace and the
measures that can be taken to resolve them.
Aim of study:
The primary aim of performing this project is “To assess the issues and challenges that
may arise out of equality and diversity in work place and the measures which could be taken to
resolve them. A case study on Marks & Spencer”.
Objectives of study:
The objectives associated with this study are provided underneath:
1. To understand the equality and diversity concept in relation to organisation.
2. To analyse the issues and challenges arise out from not maintaining equality and diversity in
workplace.
3. To determine different measures which assist in resolving the issues associated with equality
and diversity.
Questions of research:
The research questions in relation to this project are as follows:
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1. What is the concept of equality and diversity in relation to organisation?
2. What are the issues and challenges that may arise out from not maintaining equality and
diversity in workplace?
3. What can be the different measures which assist in resolving the issues associated with
equality and diversity?
2. Literature Review
It represent a systematic analysis and scanning of secondary information exists in the form
of pats facts and researchers work. Literature review forms an important part of a project as it
provides a base for further investigation and also leads to better information and understanding
about the selected topic and its objective with the help of secondary sources (Buttrick, 2018).
For current project following literature review is lead out on the topic of equality and diversity
with the help of review and scanning of online articles and journal, a discussion and analysis of
which is provided below:
Concept of equality and diversity in relation to organisation
As per the view point of Mary Jones, 2019, the concept of equality is all about ensuring
that everybody has an equal opportunity and fair atmosphere within an organisation where no
one is treated differently or discriminated because of their characteristics or physical appearance.
Further, it has been also analysed that the concept of diversity is associated and related with
setting and placing a positive value among people belongs to different culture and background
through eliminating and reducing those differences. Apart from this, it has been also analysed
that the Offering fair, courteous and equal opportunities to all individuals along with making
strategies and efforts for fully embracing the principle in order to treat all employees with
fairness is also a vital aspect of concept of equality. On the other hand, diversity facilities and
ensures knowledge of different areas of the community along with a better understanding of
market segments and consumer behaviour through recruiting and hiring employees from
different background (Christian, 2019). Thus, an analysis can be that concept of equality and
diversity in relation to organisation is also about providing a working environment where people
of all backgrounds and experience feel valued and equally appreciated.
Further, as per the view point of Lozano, J. F. and Escrich, T., 2017, the concept of
equality is associated with the providing a sense of fairness for historically recognised certain
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group of people with some protected characteristics who seemed to face and experienced high
level of discrimination based on their race, disability, sex or culture. On the other side, the
concept of diversity is related with indentifying these factors and characteristics which forms
base for discrimination to create a positive interface and optimistic inclusion in these difference
to enhance the overall coordination and interaction among diverse form of employees (Brown,
2017). Therefore, an analysis can be made out that both concept of equality and diversify are
important and vital as equality creates a fair and positive environment where as diversity ensures
a more coordinated and balanced workforces which comprises of employees from different
background and cultures to improve the overall skill and competency level of a firm (Buttrick,
2018).
Issues and challenges that may arise out from not maintaining equality and diversity in
workplace
With respect to the information provided by the Brown, J., 2017, it has been analysed that
many issues and challenges are encountered by an organisation in absence of equality and
diversity at its workplace. Ineffective workplace culture lead by lack of collaboration and
coordination among employees is lead by absence of equality as employees belongs to other
culture and background feel humiliated and discriminated. Apart from thus, lack of equality and
diversity leads to creation of a negative feeling and dissatisfaction among employees which leads
to increase in the case of employee turnover and also hampers the motivation and performance
level of employees (Gechman, 2019). Apart from this, an analysis can also be made that the lack
of equality and diversity in workplace leads to enhancement in cases of harassment and criticism
at workplace which leads to creation of stress and depression among employees who belongs to
diversified culture that hampers the morale and satisfaction level of employees which carets and
lead to many challenges for an organisation in form of high employees turnover along with
enhanced chances of chaos and conflicts at place of work (Miller, 2020).
Beside this, as per the view point Manfredi, S., 2016, it has been observed that ineffective
workplace culture is a vital issue and challenge faced by a firm due to lack of proper equality and
diversity at workplace because of enhancement in chances of discrimination and harassment of
diversified employees. Apart from this, a negative sense and stress is also lead out by ineffective
management of equality and diversity which carets challenge of increased turnover of employee.
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Beside this, low employees morale is also a key challenge and issue that arise out from not
maintaining equality and diversity in workplace which leads to reduction in productivity and
performance of employee (Cachia, 2019).
Different measures which assist in resolving the issues associated with equality and diversity
According to the opinion of the Greene, A.M., 2019, it has been analysed that various
measures are there which provide assistance and guidance to resolve the issue associated with
equality and diversity. The measures which assist in resolving the issues associated with equality
and diversity are evaluated as follows:
Encourage effective communication- Leading out a better communication among
employees is a vital measures which assist in resolving the issues associated with equality and
diversity as it encouraging a better collaboration and bonding among employees which
eliminates the chances of chaos and conflicts (Syed and Ozbilgin, 2019).
Developing diversity policies- It is also a vital way to ensure better creation of diversity at
workplace through providing equal job opportunity and fair promotion strategies to all
employees without any kind of discrimination on the basis of race, culture or background of an
employee (Christian, 2019).
Providing regular cultural and diversity training- It can be also taken as a vital measure
and way to support equality and diversity through enhancing knowledge of all employees about
various culture so that a sense and feeling of respect and mutual consideration can be generated
among diversified employees for better management of equality and diversity (Iacobucci and
Rosa, 2019).
Apart from this, with respect to the information provided by the Lee, S., 2018, it has
been analysed that implication of provision of equality act, 2010 also leads out a viable manner
which assist in resolving the issues associated with equality and diversity through leading and
providing a legal framework to resolve issue of workplace discrimination. Apart from this,
formulation fair HR practises are also vital to overcome the issue of inequality at workplace
trough leading fair recruitment and selection process along with ensuring equal job and
promotion opportunity for all employees to overcome the issues associated with equality and
diversity (Gechman, 2019).
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3. Project Management Plan
Project management plan basically represent a written form of document that is mainly
used by a manager and researcher to provide vital information and guidance for a project or
investigation. Project management plan comprises of detailed information regarding the various
aspects of project starting from its commencement, execution, implementation and monitoring
(Islam, 2019). Following project management plan has been prepared for current project on
Marks and Spencer which provided all needed information regarding the crucial aspects of
current project.
Cost- The aspect of project management plan facilitates information about the estimated
expense and cost of various activities involved in conducing and leading out a project. The cost
of current project has been estimated around £ 200 a bifurcation of which is provide below.
Estimated Budget
Particulars Amount
Transportation cost £60
Cost incurred in technology and internet £100
Other Expenses £40
Total Cost £200
Time- The information regarding the estimated duration which is required to conduct or
complete a project is provided by this aspect of project management plan. The efficiency and
viability of a project is mainly depended in the duration required for completing a project
(Buttrick, 2018). The estimated time duration needed to achieve objective of current project and
complete all set of activities and task is around 9-10 weeks.
Quality- The quality level of a project is mainly depended on the authenticity and
reliability of data collected along with meeting all the ethical consideration while performing an
investigation. To maintain the quality level of current project data has been collected only from
authentic sources to maintain the faithfulness and authenticity of data. Further to meet the better
quality level implication and use of both primary and secondary sources had been made.
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Communication- It is one of the ms crucial aspect and part of project management plan
which is related and associated with the ensuring free flow of information. To maintain an
interrupted and continuous flow of data and information during the times of COVID-19 for
current project use and implication of online modes of communication is made which consists of
e-mails and social media tools (Christian, 2019).
Risk- This aspect of project management plan provides information about various issues
and problems that can be faced while conducting or performing any task. The main issue is
related with management of time and resources as because of COVID-19 many issues and
obstacles are faced during collection of data that forms biggest risk for current project.
Resources- It represent the set of assets and techniques that are utilised for conducting
and performing a project and research work. Current project comprises of use of human resource
in form of participants and team members, financial resource to mmeet reserch expenses,
technical resource like internet and other assets are made to achieve the deired targets and
objective of current research.
Scope- The scope of current investigation is very wide which comprises of issues and
challenges may arise out of equality and diversity in the workplace along with determination of
the measures that could be taken to resolve them (Gechman, 2019).
Gantt chart
It is basically a horizontal bar graph that provides information about the research task and
activities in a more clear and systematic way. Thus, use of following Gantt chart is made to
systematically present the activities of current project in order to remove the chances of chaos
and over lapping of work (Miller, 2020).
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Submis
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