Research Project on Equality and Diversity in the Workplace

Research Project
Table of Contents
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Topic: “ To evaluate the concept of Equality and diversity in the workplace”. A research project
conducted on Marks & Spencer.......................................................................................................1
Chapter 1 Introduction.....................................................................................................................1
1.1) Research project description...........................................................................................1
1.2) Research aim and objectives...........................................................................................1
1.3) Reasons for choosing this research project.....................................................................2
1.4) Activities and timescales................................................................................................2
Chapter 2: Literature review............................................................................................................3
Introduction............................................................................................................................3
Importance of managing equality and diversity.....................................................................3
Impact of gender equality on organizational growth..............................................................4
Strategies to manage gender equality.....................................................................................4
Chapter 3: Methodology..................................................................................................................5
Chapter 4 Data Collection and Analysis..........................................................................................7
4.1) Data collection................................................................................................................7
4.2) Data analysis, presentation and discussion.....................................................................8
Chapter 5: Conclusions and Recommendations............................................................................15
5.1) Conclusions...................................................................................................................15
5.2) Recommendations.........................................................................................................16
Chapter 6: Personal Reflective Statement......................................................................................16
6.1) Reflect on the research methods used in your project...................................................16
6.2) Consider research methods that could have been used.................................................16
6.3) Areas for further research..............................................................................................17
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................18
Appendices.....................................................................................................................................19
1.1)Research Proposal Form................................................................................................19
1.2) Research Ethics Approval Form...................................................................................24
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Topic: “ To evaluate the concept of Equality and diversity in the workplace”.
A research project conducted on Marks & Spencer.
Chapter 1 Introduction
1.1) Research project description
In today’s world with rapid expansion of organisation at diversified place and in different
economies the issue and challenges related with equality and diversity are faced by all
organisation that effects and hamper the performance of organisation, thus proper steps are need
by companies to effectively manage equality at its workplace and focus on providing a
discrimination free atmosphere to its employees (Daly, 2019). Marks & Spencer is one of the
major British multinational retail organisation having it’s headquarter in London. This
organisation is growing and expanding with a rapid speed thus, facing issues related with gender
inequality and diversity that is hampering performance and morale of its employees. Therefore,
the current research is focused on evaluation of concept of equality and diversity to have better
understanding about its implication on performance of employees together with determination of
possible strategies that can be adapted by organisation to manage gender equality in its
organisation.
1.2) Research aim and objectives
The aim of this research work is, “To study the impact of gender equality in leadership and
management on growth of an organisation.”
Research Objective
The main objectives behind conducting this research project on Marks & Spencer are
stated below:
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 To study the importance of managing equality and diversity for an organization.
 To study the impact of gender equality in leadership and management on growth of
organization (Van der Vleuten, 2016).
 To study the strategies that can be adopt by M&S to manage gender equality at
workplace.
Research Question
 What are the importance of managing equality and diversity for an organization?
 What impact or influence is created by of gender equality in leadership and management
on growth of organization?
 What are the possible strategies that can be adopt by M&S to manage gender equality at
workplace
1.3) Reasons for choosing this research project
The main reason behind choosing this current research topic is that with increase in
globalisation and expansion of organisation at diversified places the issues of managing equality
and diversity has increased thus, it become necessary for all organisation to understand the
importance of managing equality at its workplace to ensure better growth and development of
organisation. Thus, the selection the current research topic is suitable and justifiable as it
facilitates better information about the importance of gender equality in organisation together
with the strategies that facilitates better management of equality and diversity in organisation.
Beside this, the educational and academic background is also a reason for selection of this
research topic as fulfil the academic criteria of researcher and also lead to improvement in
knowledge and skills together with providing better information to other scholars.
1.4) Activities and timescales
To organise all the activities and task of research use of Gantt chart is made for current
investigation. It facilitates more transparency and clarity in research work through ensuring
systematic and more practical presentation of all research activities (Verloo, 2018) . Following
Gantt chart is prepared by investigator for current research to ensure timely completion of work
through eliminating chances of chaos and confusion.
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Chapter 2: Literature review
Introduction
This part provides large amount of information to address research objectives, by
summarising viewpoints of various researchers. For this purpose, a number of articles and books
are explored from internet and other secondary resources, based on chosen topic. In context with
present topic, as it is based on importance and impact of gender equality, therefore, it can be
analysed in following way –
Importance of managing equality and diversity
As per views of Martinsson and Griffin, 2016, it has been evaluated that today in order to
operate business successfully, both national and multinational organizations are required to
introduce diverse workforce. For this purpose, hiring workers from different background,
religion, gender and more, will help in developing diversity at workplace (Why is diversity in the
workplace important?, 2020). In context with M&S, as this retail firm operates business at
worldwide level, therefore, diverse workforce helps in understanding customers more efficiently.
Along with this, employees of different-different background, also aid respective firm in break
down language barriers, through which needs and demands of customers can be determined.
Furthermore, providing equality to workers especially as per gender basis, also aid managers of
M&S in increasing employee satisfaction. In this regard, gender equality can be introduced by
employing more females and given them leadership or management position at workplace. It will
help in boosting morale of female staff as well as, improve organizational image also.
Impact of gender equality on organizational growth
According to different viewpoint of Blankenship and Kubicek, 2018, it has been
articulated that increasing diversity and gender equality at workplace, impact on organization in
both negative and positive manner. Here, giving equal opportunity to female staff to gain high
position as management and leadership, will help a firm in increasing creativity at workplace. In
context with M&S, this would help in enhancing women’s role at workplace. Having a women’s
presence in leadership and management position, also aid to get high employee engagement,
with a stronger commitment of workers to contribute best efforts and performance, to meet
customer satisfaction (Female leadership: The impact on organization, 2018). This would also
help in increasing productivity of workers when they feel equality at workplace, regardless of
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