Strategies and Initiatives to ensure a Diverse Workforce

This report discusses the importance of equality and diversity in building a diverse workforce. It includes a case study on Coca Cola Company and explores various strategies and initiatives for creating an inclusive workplace. The report also analyzes data and findings related to the topic.

Managing a Successful
Business Project

Table of Contents
Title: Strategies and Initiatives to ensure a Diverse Workforce. A case study on Coca Cola
Company..........................................................................................................................................1
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
Part 1: Project Plan and Execution...................................................................................................1
P1) Aim and objectives for the project...................................................................................1
P2: Produce a project management plan that covers aspects of cost, scope, time, quality,
communication, risk and resources........................................................................................3
P3) Work breakdown structure and Gantt chart.....................................................................4
P4: Carry out small-scale research applying primary and secondary methods appropriate for
meeting project aims and objectives.......................................................................................7
P5) Analysis of data and findings...........................................................................................9
Part 2: Project Report and Reflection............................................................................................17
P6) Conclusion and Recommendations................................................................................17
P7) Reflection.......................................................................................................................18
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................20
APPENDIX I.................................................................................................................................22
APPENDIX II................................................................................................................................24
Template for Performance Review to be attached with the report by the learner:........................24

Title: Strategies and Initiatives to ensure a Diverse Workforce. A case study
on Coca Cola Company.
INTRODUCTION
Supervision of both equality and diversity is necessary for a company to manage the
significant level of productivity and performance in the organisation through boosting the moral
of employees. Equality is mainly concerned with yielding fair and equal opportunity for all
employees while concept of diversity aim at reducing the differences between diversified
individuals to establish better bonding and coordination between them (Buttrick, 2018). The
organisation selected for current research topic is Coca Cola company which is a famous
international corporation and deals as a manufacturer of non-alcoholic and other beverage
concentrates and syrups having its headquarter in Georgia, U.S. together with many branches in
UK and other location of globe. This report includes a description about main objectives and aim
together with project management plan and various statistical tool. Further, a small scale
investigation is also conducted together with its analysis and suitable recommendations to meet
the objectives of research.
Part 1: Project Plan and Execution
P1) Project’s aim and objective
Literature review on selected research topic
As per the opinion of Rosalind Lang, 2019, equality is mainly associated with fair
chances irrespective of race, age, gender, sexual orientation, class, religion or belief, disability
or any other form of discrimination at workplace in order to ensure an equal and fair chance to
enhance skill or know about something new and more innovative at work. On other hand,
diversity is a concept that is based on principles of dignity and aim at valuing and recognising
together with considering different backgrounds, level of knowledge, types of skills along with
working experiences of individuals in order to encourage them and using these difference to
create a more productive and effective workforce. Thus, the concept of creating and leading a
diverse and inclusive workforce is increasing to promote a culture of equality to avail various
advantages related with diverse workforce (Redd, Sims and Weekes, 2020).
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According to the view point Rose Johnson, 2019, diverse workforce is mainly associated
with bringing together of a variety of people to one workplace who comes from different
ethnicities, sexual orientations, socioeconomic status, ages, genders and religions in order to
enhance the viability and creativity skills of organisation. A Large number of benefits are created
by diverse workforce that includes enhanced productivity and competitive strength together with
improvement in morale, performance and creativity skills of employees.
Therefore, the current research conducted on Coca cola that is a famous American
manufacture, marketer and retailer of non-alcoholic beverage concentrates, syrups and drinks
across various parts of world including UK (Nelson and Deen, 2019). In order to have better
growth opportunity and performance it become essential for Coca cola to adopt some better
strategies and ways that support diverse workforce thus following research is conducted to
evaluate about this topic, the main aim and objectives of which are stated below:
Aim
The aim and purpose of current research work is, “To evaluate the importance of equality
and diversity together with determination of various types of Strategies and Initiatives that could
be put by companies in place to build a diverse and inclusive workforce”.
Research objective
The main reason and objective behind conducting this investigation in Coca Cola
Company are stated as follows:
 To evaluate the importance and advantages associated with management of equality and
diversity.
 To determine the various types of strategies and initiatives that could be put by Coca
Cola Company in place to build a diverse and inclusive workforce (Raphael, 2019).
 To examine the role of diverse workforce in facilitating better growth and expansion
opportunity for an organisation like Coca Cola Company.
Question tag
 What are the various importance and advantages associated with management of equality
and diversity?
 Which are the possible strategies and initiatives that could be put by Coca Cola Company
in place to build a diverse and inclusive workforce?
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 How a crucial role is played by diverse workforce in facilitating better growth and
expansion opportunity for an organisation like Coca Cola Company?
P2: PM plan that includes aspects of time, cost, scope, communication, quality, resources and
risk
Project management (PM) plan is referred as the document or a formal report that involves
different phases of project along with their details. Creation of project management plan helps
researcher in executing, managing, monitoring and controlling all the activities and task of
project. This project is developed on the topic "initiatives and strategies to develop diverse
workforce". In order to make sure project completion and its activities successfully, a plan will
be developing that it defines the requirements of project and helps in addressing those
appropriately. Different aspects are included in PM plan consist of cost, quality, time, scope,
resources, communication and risk (Flick, 2015). The plan in context of this project and different
elements of plan are mentioned below:
Cost of project: It refers as the value or money which is required to gain effective
outcomes of project. In relation to this particular project, around 500 pounds are required for its
completion of all the activities in successful manner. Some of the cost which are associated with
product are as follows:
Cost breakdown of Project:
Investment £100
Expertise £85
Research & Development cost £65
Resources for implementing diverse workforce
strategies
£140
Cost of executing changes in workplace £110
Total £500
Scope of project: It is associated with determining the future value of research. The scope
in relation to of this business project is wide as it helps researcher in gaining deep insights about
strategies and initiatives to develop diverse workforce (Glukhov, Ilin and Levina, 2015). This
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also supports business organisation in maintaining equality and developing diverse workforce
within organisation.
Time: This aspect or component of project management plan is related to constant
progress of all the activities and events that occurs in irreversible sequence. This helps in
determining the beginning and finishing time of project. In context of this project, approximately
8 to 10 weeks are needed by the researcher to ensure its successful completion.
Quality: This attribute of PM plan is subjective and is crucial aspect that requires to be
considered by investigator in order to ensure adequate outcomes. In this project, researcher will
use appropriate methods for collecting data that includes questionnaires and observations
(Harland, 2014). This will help researcher in make sure that the quality of project is high.
Communication: It is a two-way process that helps researcher in communicating all the
information regarding research appropriately to others. Different communication tools are
utilized by researcher in this project so that all the associated information will communicate
properly. Email, messages and telephone are utilized by researcher as the communication tool to
exchange all the information regarding the project (Oduro and et. al., 2019). Apart from this, the
information about strategies and initiatives is communicated by using appropriate
communication tools like mails and circulars.
Risk: It is the uncertainty related to a project due to which deviations may occur in actual
outcomes. In regards of this project, lack of cost and time are the main risks as these may hinder
the effectiveness of project and leads to delay in its completion within specified time. Moreover,
lack of other resources for implementing strategies is also a risk due to which firm may not able
to execute strategies appropriately.
Resources: In order to accomplish desired outcome, proper availability of resources is
very necessary. It includes all the physical, financial, human and technological and technological
resources. To ensure project completion in successful way different resources required by
researcher includes internet, appropriate funds, skill team members as well as other necessary
resources.
P3) Work breakdown structure & Gantt chart
Gantt Chart: It is a chart or graphical representation that shows schedules of a specific
project. This is a tool which is used by project administrator in planning and scheduling all the
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relevant activities of project. In evaluating time duration, determining resource requirement and
developing schedule to task completion, Gantt chart will be used (Buttrick, 2018).
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Work breakdown structure – It is a commonly used project management tool that
facilitates better bifurcation and distribution of resources and task for effective completion of
research (Redd, Sims and Weekes, 2020). Use of following WBS is made for current research
work to bring clarity and transparency in investigation through properly sating and bifurcating all
activities and task into different groups.
P4: Primary along with secondary methods for mitigate aims and objectives of project
At the time of conducting research, different approaches adopted by researcher to perform
all the activities appropriately and meet the aim of project. Research methods helps in collecting
information effectively and drawing valid conclusion on the research (Long, 2016). Some of the
methods that are used in context of this project are mentioned below:
Primary research: In this research method, first hand data will be gathered by project
manager. For gathering adequate data and information on the topic, questionnaire will be use by
project manager. This will help in gathering fresh data on the topic (Nelson and Deen, 2019).
Secondary research: In this research method, second hand data will be collected by
researcher which is non numerical. Different sources will be used together secondary data
including journals, articles, past publications, newspapers etc. In comparison to the primary
research method, secondary data collection method consumes less time as well as it is cost
effective as it incurs less cost to gather data.
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In this business project, for gathering relevant information, primary method will have used
by project manager (Polonsky and Waller, 2018). Primary data will be gathered through
questionnaire.
Qualitative research: In this, non-numerical data will be gathered by researcher
understanding underlying reasons and opinions. It enables researcher to gain deep knowledge on
topic and collect adequate amount of data.
Quantitative research: Through using this research method, numerical data will be collect
by researcher by conducting systematic investigation. Generally, this method will use when there
is large sample size.
In relation to this project, both qualitative and quantitative research methods are
undertaken by project manager to collect large number of information on study area and draw
valid conclusion.
Sampling: it is the process through which sample is selected by researcher from the overall
population. Simple random sampling will use by project manager to select sample from the
population (Raphael, 2019). For gathering data on the topic, 30 respondents will be selected.
Questionnaire: It is a tool that includes range of questions to be answered by
respondents. In this tool, the questions regarding the topic are included with the purpose of
collecting data or information from the respondents (Glukhov, Ilin and Levina, 2015). The
questionnaire to collect data on topic, i.e., strategies and initiatives to ensure diverse workforce
within organisation are mentioned below:
Questionnaire
Q1) Do you believe that effective management of equality and diversity is necessary and
important for an organisation?
a) Yes
b) No
Q2) What are the various importance and advantages associated with management of
equality and diversity?
a) Add new skills to teams
b) Promotes innovation
c) Improve business output
Q3) Do you agree with the fact that diverse workforce lead to better growth and expansion
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opportunity for an organisation?
a) Agreed
b) Disagreed
Q4) How a crucial role is played by diverse workforce in facilitating better growth and
expansion opportunity for an organisation like Coca Cola Company?
a) Better community relations
b) Understanding of diversified language
c) Improves reputation of company
Q5) Which are the possible strategies and initiatives that could be put by Coca Cola
Company in place to build a diverse and inclusive workforce?
a) Effective communication
b) Fair and flexible recruitment strategies
c) Formation of inclusion committee
Q6) How an important role is be lead by management and leadership of Coca cola to
ensures better management of equality and diversify at its workplace?
a) Educating and directing employees
b) Promoting Flexibility
c) Participative decision making
Q7) As per your perspective what overall implication would be laid by diverse workforce
and effective management of equality and diversity on overall expansion and success of
Coca Cola company?
a) Positive
b) Neutral
c) Negative
Q8) Any further recommendation for Coca Cola that could be put in place to build a
diverse and inclusive workforce?
Interview question
Q1) What are the common forms of discrimination that are commonly found in workplace of
Coca Cola Company?
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Q2) How better competitive strength and higher productivity is lead by management of equality
and diversity?
P5) Analysis of data and findings
Analysis of quantitative data
For analysis and better interpretation of quantitative data gathered with the help of
questionnaire use of pie charts and frequency table is made.
Theme 1: Management of equality and diversity is necessary and important for an
organisation
Q1) Do you believe that effective management of equality and
diversity is necessary and important for an organisation?
Frequency
a) Yes 26
b) No 4
Interpretation
It has been seen that proper Management of concept of equality and diversity is vital and
important for a company as 26 responders out of 40 are in support of this fact and statement
while only 4 participants are having a varied thinking who are opposing this fact.
Theme 2: Importance and advantages associated with management of equality and
diversity
Q2) What are the various importance and advantages associated
with management of equality and diversity?
Frequency
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a) Add new skills to teams 10
b) Promotes innovation 12
c) Improve business output 8
Interpretation
Many advantages and importance is associated with management and effective
maintenance of equality and diversity as it could be analysed from above frequency table that 10
respondents believes that it add new skills to teams while 12 participants have supported
promotion of innovation as benefit of equality and diversity. Apart from all these 8 participants
are having an opinion that improvement in business output is related with supervision of equality
and diversity.
Theme 3: Diverse workforce lead to better growth and expansion opportunity for an
organisation
Q3) Do you agree with the fact that diverse workforce lead to better
growth and expansion opportunity for an organisation?
Frequency
a) Agreed 24
b) Disagreed 6
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Interpretation
It would be concluded on the basis of above stated diagram i.e. pie chart that diverse
workforce lead to better augmentation and expansion opportunity for an organisation as 24
respondents are agreed with this theme where as only 6 participants are there who disagreed with
this statement.
Theme 4: Role played by diverse workforce in facilitating better growth and expansion
opportunity
Q4) How a crucial role is played by diverse workforce in facilitating
better growth and expansion opportunity for an organisation like
Coca Cola Company?
Frequency
a) Better community relations 12
b) Understanding of diversified language 10
c) Improves reputation of company 8
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Interpretation
A crucial and vital role is played by diverse workforce in facilitating better growth and
expansion opportunity for an organisation as it 12 participants believes that it ensures better
community relations where as 10 respondents are in favour of better understanding of diversified
language. Further, 8 individuals are also having a thinking that improvement in companies
reputation is also a factor of diverse workforce that facilitates better growth and expansion
opportunity.
Theme 5: Possible strategies and initiatives that could be put by Coca Cola Company in
place to build a diverse and inclusive workforce
Q5) Which are the possible strategies and initiatives that could be
put by Coca Cola Company in place to build a diverse and inclusive
workforce?
Frequency
a) Effective communication 7
b) Fair and flexible recruitment strategies 14
c) Formation of inclusion committee 9
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Interpretation
In accordance with 7 respondents, effective communication is the suitable initiative that
could be put by Coca Cola Company in place to build and create a more diversified and inclusive
workforce while 14 participants are in favour of fair and flexible recruitment strategies to support
selection of individuals form diversified backgrounds. Apart from this, 9 individuals believes
that formation of inclusion committee is a crucial strategy that could be put by Coca Cola
Company in place to build a diverse and inclusive workforce.
Theme 6: Role lead by management and leadership of Coca cola to ensures better
management of equality and diversify
Q6) How an important role is lead by management and leadership of
Coca cola to ensures better management of equality and diversify at
its workplace?
Frequency
a) Educating and directing employees 11
b) Promoting Flexibility 7
c) Participative decision making 12
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Interpretation
A important role is lead by management and leadership of Coca cola to ensures better
management of equality and diversify as 11 participants support that they ensures educating and
directing employees while 7 believes that they promote flexibility to support diversity. Finally,
12 individuals are in favour of participative decision making is a crucial role of management and
leadership of Coca cola to ensures better management of equality and diversify.
Theme 7: Overall implication laid by diverse workforce and effective management of
equality and diversity on overall expansion and success
Q7) As per your perspective what overall implication would be laid
by diverse workforce and effective management of equality and
diversity on overall expansion and success of Coca Cola company?
Frequency
a) Positive 22
b) Neutral 6
c) Negative 2
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Interpretation
22 individuals have supported positive implication is laid by diverse workforce and
effective supervision of equality and diversity on overall expansion and success of Coca Cola
organisation where as 6 respondents are in favour of its neutral implication. Beside this, 2
individuals are also there who thinking that diverse workforce and effective management and
supervision of equality and diversity could also lead to negative implication through enhancing
cost of company.
Analysis of qualitative data
For analysis of qualitative data collected through interview use of Thematic approach is
made.
Theme 1: The common forms of discrimination that are commonly found in workplace of Coca
Cola Company
Interpretation
With accordance of large number of respondents the most common forms of discrimination that
are commonly founded in workplace of Coca Cola company are associated with sexual
discrimination and gender pay gap created because of the male dominance nature and culture that
is prevailing at its workplace.
Theme 2: Better competitive strength and higher productivity is lead by management of equality
and diversity
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Interpretation
It has been observed through analysis of responses of participants that better competitive strength
and higher productivity is lead by supervision of equality and diversity as it lead to creation of a
more positive and fair workplace environment that facilitates better motivation and creativity
level in employees that is necessary for achieving higher productivity and competitive strength.
Part 2: Project Report and Reflection
P6) Conclusion and Recommendations
Conclusion
With respect to above research conducted on Coca Cola Company it could be concluded
that effective supervision of equality and diversity is necessary and important for a firm as it lead
to add new skills in teams, promote innovation and also improve the business output. Further, it
has been observed that diverse workforce lead to better growth and expansion opportunity for an
organisation through creating better community relations and providing better understanding of
diversified language that enhance communication skills and reach of organisation. Apart from
this it has been evaluated that that better competitive strength and higher productivity is also lead
by management and effective supervision of equality and diversity. At last, it can be summarised
that a large number of strategies are there that can be adopted by an organisation to build diverse
workforce that includes effective communication, fair and flexible recruitment strategies and
formation of inclusive committee. Apart from this, management and leadership also facilitates
equality and diversity through ensuring better education and direction, promoting flexibility
together with participative decision making.
Recommendations
With respect to evaluation of above and current research findings following
recommendations can be made for Coca Cola that could be put in place to ensure a more diverse
and inclusive workforce:
 Implementation of fair and flexible recruitment strategies are recommended for Coca
Cola company as it yield equal selection opportunity and chances to individuals who are
coming form diversified backgrounds and culture without any kind of favouritism or
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discrimination thus, lead to creation of a diversified and more connected inclusive
workforce.
 Adoption of participative decision making strategy is also an effective strategy that can
be implanted by Coca Cola company to develop better equality and diversity at
workplace. The justification behind adoption of participative decision making is that it
lead to better involvement of all employees without any discrimination thus, ensure
higher level of boding and commitment in them that lead to creation of diverse and
connected workforce.
P7) Reflection
The current research work was a valuable journey that lead to enhancement in my
knowledge and skills together with overall development of my competencies. Use of qualitative
together with quantitative research method would had been made by me that facilitate collection
of more authentic and in-depth information for current research work. Further, use of interview
had lead to improvement in my communication and interpersonal skills. Beside this, many
issues and limitation were also encountered by me that are mainly related with management of
time and resources as there was limited time to compete current research work together with
insufficient resources. Thus, to overcome following limitations and issues use of Gantt chart and
WBS was made by that facilitated better bifurcation of resources and task thus, lead to timely
completion of work and accomplishment of research objective in a more effective way.
Therefore, it seems from my side that current work was very useful and vital for me from my
personal and educational point of view that has ensured better growth opportunity and success in
my academics in future.
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APPENDIX I
Template for evidence collection to be attached with the report by the learner:
Project Logbook for the chosen organisation:
Name of the learner: Name of the Supervisor:
Project Title: Date:
Update of weekly research/ tasks achieved (Account
for a minimum of six weeks with dates)
 What have you completed?
 Did you fulfil Task requirements?
 Are you on track and within deadlines set?
 Did you need to make any changes to your
project management plan?
Comments
I have completed project on “Strategies and
Initiatives to ensure a Diverse Workforce”. A case
study on Coca Cola Company.
Yes
Yes
No
Any risks and / or issues identified?
 Did you identify risks/issues with a lack of
skills required for undertaking research
tasks?
Lack of time management skill is faced
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 Did you identify any additional risks/issues
that have an impact on the project
management plan?
No
Problems encountered
 What barriers did you face?
 How did you overcome them?
Time management and bifurcation of resources
Through making WBS and Gantt chart
New Ideas and change of project direction Develop new and effective way of communication.
What Have I learnt about myself this week?
 How did I feel when I had to deal with
tasks/problems?
 Did I find it useful to complete the tasks?
 How well have I performed? What did I
contribute?
 What can I improve on next week?
 How might this learning apply in the future?
Felt aggravated.
Yes
Up to 100% of my skill and competencies
My time management skills
Develop better understanding and knowledge for
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future
Tasks planned for next week
 Which tasks are priority?
 Have you set aside sufficient time for
completion?
collection of viable and authentic data
yes
Project plan status to date (on, ahead, behind)
Supervisor comments to address
Signature of the Supervisor and date:
APPENDIX II
Template for Performance Review to be attached with the report by the
learner:
 What was the Project supposed to accomplish?
The project accomplished on Strategies and Initiatives to ensure a Diverse Workforce. A case study on
Coca Cola Company.
 Did the project succeed in its aims/ how do you know? Specifically, please
outline any evaluation and assessment undertaken.
Yes, as all the objectives and aim is met on time.
 What things do you think worked well and why? Evaluate all aspects of the
project (e.g initial inception, project activities and project outcomes) from a
range of perspectives.
My communication skills worked well . aspects of this project includes preparation
of project management plan, Gantt chart and WBS together with conduction and
analysis of research.
 What problems emerged during the project and how were they tackled? Was
there timely identification of issues and resolution during the project process?
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Insufficient time
 What did you learn from undertaking the project?
Effective communication and interpersonal skills.
 How would you rate your performance as a management consultant leading
the project?
9.5 out of 10.
 What strengths and weakness of your performance did you identify?
My communications skills are strength while time management is weakness.
 How will this inform and support your continuous professional development?
This research work support my continuous professional development through
enhancing my knowledge and skills.
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