Equality and Diversity in the Workplace: A Study on Asda

This research study explores the strategies adopted by Asda to manage equality and diversity in the workplace. It examines the concept, benefits, challenges, and strategies of maintaining equality and diversity. The study also includes data analysis and research outcomes.

Unit 11- Research project

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................1
Presenting the primary and secondary methods..........................................................................1
Data Analysis..............................................................................................................................3
Research outcomes .....................................................................................................................9
Reflection....................................................................................................................................9
Alternative research methodologies..........................................................................................10
CONCLUSION .............................................................................................................................10
Recommendations.....................................................................................................................10
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................12
Appendix........................................................................................................................................13

INTRODUCTION
To sustain brand image and remain competitive in the business, most of the companies
keep focusing on equality and diversity. Similarly, the present study is also based upon the
equality and diversity of Asda and with the help of relevant information, report describe the
importance of equality and diversity within a workplaces and how the company uses different
types of strategies that assist to provide equal opportunities to all the employees.
Research Aim:
“To ascertain the strategies adopted by the organization in order to managing equality and
diversity at the work place – A study based on ASDA.
Research Objectives:
 To understand the concept of equality and diversity in relation to Asda.
 To analyse the benefits or advantages of maintaining equality and diversity in workplace.
 To determine the challenges associated with maintaining equality and diversity in an
organisation.
 To identify different strategies that can be adopt by Asda for managing equality and
diversity at workplace.
TASK 2
Presenting the primary and secondary methods
Research Methodology
Research Philosophy: There are four main types of research philosophy and among all,
Interpretivism Philosophy has been adopted by the researcher in order to meet the define aim
(Ryan, 2020). Also, this assist to understanding the human interest and their views which aid to
determine the strategies adopted by a firm to manage equality and diversity.
Research Approach: Three main types of approach such that Inductive, deductive and
Abductive. Among all, Inductive approach has been adopted by the investigator which in turn
helps to reach proper conclusion by using different theories (Ghauri, Grønhaug and Strange,
2020). Further, approach also assist to evaluate the observation of selected respondents who
answer the research question.
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Research strategy:Though there are different strategy of research but among all, scholar uses
questionnaire which help to gather information under primary research while uses relevant
books and articles for collecting data under literature review section.
Data Collection: Both types of data collection methods has been adopted by the researcher such
that primary and secondary (Cutchin and et.al., 2020). Further, these strategy assist to meet the
define aim and also collect range of information which aid to determine the strategies used by
the firm for maintaining equality and diversity at workplace.
Data Analysis: Under this, thematic data analysis has been adopted by the scholar which help
the scholar to present the data in a presentable form such that it help to meet the evaluate the
views of respondents. That is why, relevant graphs and tables are used that assist to accomplish
the aim of present study.
Sampling: For generating proper outcomes, around 40 employees of Asda has been chosen by
using simple random sampling method so that they share their views in order to get proper
result. Also, scholar generate the best outcomes in order to meet the define aim.
Ethical consideration: Scholar should make sure that they have to make sure that proper
confidentiality is maintain so that it helps to protect the data (Reynolds, 2020). Also, proper
communication should be done so that results are properly generated. Also, effective
management should be done which in turn leads to meet the define aim with a specific tenure.
Cost: For presenting the entire research, scholar require around £175 which includes financial
cost, transportation, internet cost etc.
Access: There are some issue which scholar faces regarding to accessibility such that there are
some sites which are access denied and that is why, it causes delay the entire project and this
somehow affect the results as well.
Literature Review
Theme 1: Concept of equality and diversity
According to Utoft (2020) equality is all about to ensure that every people within a
workplace have an equal opportunity and they are not treated differently on any basis. Through
this, company is also make sure that company treat equally to all the people by a motive. On the
other side, Bencivenga (2020) diversity is difference between the people as well as group which
is based on different characteristics i.e. physical abilities, religious beliefs, status, age etc.
Theme 2: Benefits to maintain equality and diversity
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Seierstad, Gabaldon and Mensi-Klarbach (2017) reflected that there equality and
diversity (E&D) within a workplaces is able to foster and protecting the employees which in turn
assist to makes an effective modern organization. Also, it assist to promotes innovation within a
business because having a diverse workforce means wide range of employees who share their
views and enhance productivity level. Hunt and et.al., (2018) also stated that diversity improved
the brand reputation and management also open up new talent which in turn generate best
outcomes as well. Also, with the help of E&D, employees learn new skills within a team which
in turn generate the best results, as people comes form different background and they all have
different perception which helps to improve business output.
Theme 3: Challenges related to maintaining equality and diversity
Sarvaiya and Eweje (2017) share their opinion and stated that ethnic and cultural
difference is consider the biggest challenges for the company because company have their own
policies and laws which who hold bias against the people with different ethnic and cultural
background. Further, Manfredi (2016) stated that generation gap is also consider another
challenge for the company which leads to affect the culture because employees from other
generation faces difficulties while adapting the changes and this creates conflicts. Also, due to
lack of understanding with the E&D concept, company also faces challenges.
Data Analysis
Theme 1: Knowledge related to equality and diversity
Respondents
Yes 35
No 5
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Interpretation: In accordance with the above table, it is interpreted that more than half of the
selected respondents are agree that they know the concept of equality and diversity. Like out of
40, 35 are agreed and 5 are disagree and this is also supported by Greene (2019) that E&D is the
broad concept which assist to provide many advantage to company and this is turn help to meet
the define aim.
Theme 2: Employers treated equally to the employees
Respondents
Yes 34
No 6
4
Yes No
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
35
5
Respondents

Interpretation: Through the above table, it is evaluated that employer of Asda are treated
equally and also get equal opportunities of growth within a firm. Such that out of 40, 34 are
stated yes and 6 of them are not agreed. So, Scholtz and Kieviet (2018) also supported that with
Asda provide many opportunities to employees so that they perform better without any
discrimination and this in turn leads a business towards positive direction. Therefore, it is
reflected that company's employees are treated equally and this sustain positive working
environment as well.
Theme 3: Maintaining E&D is beneficial for the firm
Respondents
Yes 36
No 4
5
34
6
Yes
No

Interpretation: By conducting primary research, it is stated that with the help of equality and
diversity company get many benefits and range of sampling are also agreed with the same. Like,
out of 40, more than half (36) are agreed while only 4 of them stated no. Thus, it is reflected that
with the help of effective policies and strategies, company keep recruiting best employees so
that they provide range of solution in order to meet the define aim.
Theme 4: Benefits of maintaining E&D
Respondents
Improve productivity 5
Enhance innovative skills 4
Team-working skills 6
All of these 25
6
36
4
Yes
No

Interpretation: As per the diagram, it is reflected that Asda get many advantages while
maintaining equality and diversity at the working area. Such that 5 of them stated that it help to
improve the production level, while 4 stated that employees enhance innovative skills and 6
stated that team working abilities are also increases but 25 of them are stated all of these. Hence,
it can be stated that these are the positive impact which a company get while managing E&D so
that brand image of a firm is sustain.
Theme 5: Challenges which a company face while maintaining E&D
Respondents
Employee resistance 22
Culture of organization 9
Lack of understanding regarding concept 9
7
5
4
6 25
Improve productivity
Enhance innovative skills
Team-working skills
All of these

Interpretation: In accordance with the first handed research, most of the employees stated that
company face issue while maintaining E&D such that 22 of them stated that employee resistance
is the biggest problem which Asda faces while 9 of them stated culture of organization and lack
of understanding e&d is another challenge. Thus, it is also supported by Ylöstalo
(2016) that companies are faces many issue but there is a need to solve because increasing
employee resistance means company productivity affected and that is why, it has to develop the
strategies to overcome such
Theme 6: Providing equal opportunities of growth is the strategy that company adopt
Respondents
Provide diversity awareness training 11
Hiring diverse workforce 9
Providing equal opportunities of growth 20
8
22
9
9
Employee resistance
Culture of organization
Lack of understanding
regarding concept

Interpretation: Asda develop many policies and strategies in order to meet the define aim such
that out of 40 respondents, 20 explain that company provide equal opportunities of growth, 9 of
them stated that hire diverse workforce and only 11 stated that conduct training programs for
diversity awareness. Thus, it is reflected that Asda make sure that it provide range of options for
their employees which in turn leads a business towards success direction.
Research outcomes
Enclosed in PPT
Reflection
By suing Gibbs reflective cycle model, I share my views with regards to the whole
research. Such that I uses different research methodologies which assist to generate the best
outcomes. Such that with the help of primary sources, I designed questionnaire which assist to
determine the views of respondents and through secondary data collection sources, I perform
literature review in a systematic manner. In addition to this, the overall journey of an entire
research is so good and I also learn interpersonal skills. Further, I gain knowledge with regards
to the research methodologies section and raise my presentation skills which help me to conduct
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11
9
20
Provide diversity awareness
training
Hiring diverse workforce
Providing equal opportunities
of growth

the entire research in a better manner. Even I think that interview method is more convenient as
compared to questionnaire because it help to reduce the number of sample size which further
help me to determine the views of the selected sample. As for the research, I used questionnaire
which is costly method while other methods are cost effective. Otherwise entire research assist
me to raise my knowledge and also offer me an opportunity to learn new things.
Alternative research methodologies
For future research, I used quantitative research methodology because it is more reliable
as compared to qualitative. Also, under that, deductive and positivism research approach are
used that help to generate the actual results because statistical tool is applied. On the other hand,
under this study, I learn that research methodology plays an important role in the order to meet
the define aim by using effective methods of collection. Such that in the present study,
questionnaire is designed under qualitative study, but when the same research will conducted, I
will use quantitative study in which SPSS tool is applied so that it will assist to generate the best
outcome without considering the views and human interest.
Also, qualitative study helps to provide in-depth analysis while quantitative relies on
number and figures and that is why, for the present study, scholar chooses this because to
analyze the strategies used by Asda for maintaining E&D is examine by taking views from the
employees only.
CONCLUSION
By summing up above it has been concluded that equality and diversity plays an
important role in the success of a company. Such that from data analysis section, it is clearly
reflected that majority of selected respondents are happy with the company's culture and Asda
also uses many strategies to keep the employees happy. While, more than half of the selected
respondents are agree that employers are also treated well with the employees and keep
promoting them to meet the target of a firm. This is clearly reflected that having a diverse
workforce assist to maintain the brand image of the firm in effective manner.
Recommendations
 Asda should focus on the training session in which employees should be aware related to
diversity. This is so because it help to generate the respect towards each other and this in
turn leads to improve the productivity level.
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 Further, it is also recommended to the firm that proper growth and promotions should be
provided to the employees without any discrimination so that it assist to meet the define
aim and creates happy working environment as well.
 Lastly, for managing language and communication error between diverse workforce,
company should conduct training classes for all the employees where they learn different
languages which in turn leads to provide sense of equality among each other.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Bencivenga, R., 2020, April. Gender Equality in Academia and ICT Companies: Still Doing or
Undoing Gender?. In ICGR 2020 3rd International Conference on Gender Research (p.
48). Academic Conferences and publishing limited.
Cutchin, G. M. and et.al., 2020. Data Collection Methods for the Voice Range Profile: A
Systematic Review. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, pp.1-19.
Ghauri, P., Grønhaug, K. and Strange, R., 2020. Research methods in business studies.
Cambridge University Press.
Greene, A. M., 2019. HRM, Equality and Diversity. The SAGE Handbook of Human Resource
Management, p.238.
Hunt, V. and et.al., 2018. Delivering through diversity. McKinsey & Company Report. Retrieved
April. 3. p.2018.
Manfredi, S., 2016. 6W Equality and Diversity at Work under the Coalition. Employment
Relations under Coalition Government: The UK Experience, 2010-2015, p.108.
Reynolds, N. P., 2020. Gaining ethical approval. In How to Keep your Doctorate on Track.
Edward Elgar Publishing.
Ryan, G. S., 2020. Postpositivist critical realism: philosophy, methodology and method for
nursing research. Nurse researcher.28(1).
Sarvaiya, H. and Eweje, G., 2017. Gender equality and diversity in the workplace: A partnership
between CSR and HRM. In Gender Equality and Responsible Business (pp. 135-152).
Routledge.
Scholtz, H. and Kieviet, S., 2018. The influence of board diversity on company performance of
south African companies. Journal of African Business.19(1). pp.105-123.
Seierstad, C., Gabaldon, P. and Mensi-Klarbach, H. eds., 2017. Gender Diversity in the
Boardroom: Volume 2: Multiple Approaches Beyond Quotas. Springer.
Utoft, E. H., 2020. Exploring linkages between organisational culture and gender equality work
—An ethnography of a multinational engineering company. Evaluation and Program
Planning.79. p.101791.
Ylöstalo, H., 2016. Traces of equality policy and diversity management in Finnish work
organizations. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: An International Journal.
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Appendix
Questionnaire
Q1) Do you have any knowledge about equality and diversity?
a) Yes
b) No
Q2) Do you treated by your employer equally and get equal opportunities of growth and
development in company?
a) Yes
b) No
Q3) According to you, does maintaining equality and diversity in workplace would be beneficial
for Asda?
a) Yes
b) No
Q4) What are the positive impact company get while maintaining equality and diversity?
a) Improve productivity
b) Enhance innovative skills
c) Team-working skills
d) All of these
Q5) What challenges does organisation may confront while maintaining equality and diversity in
workplace?
a) Employee resistance
b) Culture of organisation
c) Lack of understanding regarding concept
Q6) Which is the appropriate strategy that Asda can adopt to maintain equality and diversity in
workplace?
e) Provide diversity awareness training
f) Hiring diverse workforce
g) Providing equal opportunities of growth
Q7) Recommend the ways to improve the workplace with regards to equality and diversity.
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