Types of Strategies and Initiatives for Building a Diverse and Inclusive Workforce

This report discusses the strategies and initiatives implemented by Next Plc to build a diverse and inclusive workforce. It covers the project aims and objectives, project management plan, time framework, research methodology, and data analysis. The report also provides recommendations for Next Plc to further improve their inclusive workplace.

Unit 6 - Managing a
Successful Business Project
1

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
It is essential for business to have proper following of strategies as well as initiatives in
order to maintain diversity as well as equality at workplace to gain positive outcomes. In this
report, organisation selected is Next Plc that has made aim as well as objectives and performing
accordingly. In order to prepare project management plan, several components has to be
determined such as risk, time, cost, scope and others. For completing given aim and objectives of
research work, time framework need to be made. The researcher has used research methodology
in order to collect data and information with help of techniques and tools.
2

Table of Contents
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY.............................................................................................................2
TOPIC: “What types of strategies and initiatives do companies put in place to build a diverse and
inclusive workforce?”......................................................................................................................4
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................4
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................4
Project aims and objectives....................................................................................................4
Project management plan.......................................................................................................5
Time-frames work..................................................................................................................6
Research Methodology...........................................................................................................8
Data analysis and interpretation...........................................................................................11
Reflection.............................................................................................................................15
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................15
RECOMMENDATION.................................................................................................................15
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................16
Appendix 1: Project Logbook Template.......................................................................................17
Appendix 2: Performance Review.................................................................................................19
3

TOPIC: “What types of strategies and initiatives do companies put in
place to build a diverse and inclusive workforce?”
INTRODUCTION
In order to run business in successful manner, it is significant for an organisation to
follow equality and diversity so that set goal and objectives can be attained (Barak, 2016.). It is
essential to provide equal opportunity to work force so that they are motivated for better work
performance. The organisation chosen for this assignment is Next Plc that was established in the
year of 1864 at Leeds, United Kingdom. It is retail business dealing in footwear, home and
clothing. This report highlights about project aim as well as objectives, project management plan,
time framework, research methodology along with reflection and recommendation provided to
organisation.
MAIN BODY
Project aims and objectives
Overview of the Company
The organisation chosen for this report is Next Plc founded in the year of 1864
headquarter at Leeds, United Kingdom. It is multinational retail business that deals in different
products such as home, clothing, footwear. This is operating more than 500 stores in different
places employing approx 43,970 employees.
Research Aim
“To identify various kinds of strategies as well as initiatives that are taken by enterprise
for building diversity and inclusive workforce.”- A study on Next Plc
Research Objectives
 To determine thought of diversity as well as equality.
 To identify issues which are raised due to lack of diversified culture at workplace.
 To ascertain various initiatives as well as strategies, take by company for building diverse
workforce.
Research Questions
 What are the thought of diversity as well as equality?
 What are the issues arises raised due to lack of diversified culture at workplace?
4

 What are the various initiatives as well as strategies take by company for building diverse
workforce?
Project management plan
Project Management Plan (PMP)
It is defined as document which is used to describe all stages of project work in
appropriate manner (Brown, 2017). The staged of PMP includes initiation, plan, execution,
monitor, control and close. The purpose of PMP is to conduct better communication among
members as well as providing of information to carry out project work. It assists in saving time
and cost for manager. Components of PMP includes scope, cost, time, quality and so on which
are mentioned below:
Cost- This is the amount of money incurred for project work which varies from business
to business. In order to perform research work through researcher require £500 for collecting
accurate data and information. On other aspect, respective organisation need 100 pounds to
gather information about diversity and equality from authenticate sources. It is also important for
organisation to plan budget in advance.
Scope- This determine about scope of research for assigned topic which helps in future
time period. With such component, business can make better decisions for building diverse work
culture by using different strategies. On other aspect, researcher can know about different
strategies and initiatives for equality and diversity which should be implemented at business.
Time- This is defined as time taken for completing project work in appropriate manner.
For completion of project, time framework is prepared through Gantt Chart and Work
Breakdown Structure (Cho, Kim and Mor Barak, 2017). Researcher takes 3 weeks to complete
given work whereas respective organisation requires 5 weeks to implement strategies related
with equality as well as diversity at workplace in order to achieve set outcomes. This is essential
to decide each and every work in advance to complete them in set time period.
Quality- In this element, data as well as information has to collect through authenticate
as well as relevant sources. The respective organisation need to gather their information through
online, certify sources to maintain quality of work. Similarly, researcher has to keep all relevant
data and information confidential for avoidance of fraudulent activities in order to maintain
quality of research work regarding equality at workplace.
5

Communication- This is the way of interaction among individual with help of channels
which is understand by all members (Dey and Teasdale, 2016). It can be written as well as oral
communication to get positive outcomes. Next Plc has used oral communication in order to
conduct meeting for implementation of various strategies for equality and diversity at workplace.
Here, researcher has used both written as well as oral communication for collecting data from
respondents regarding assigned topic in appropriate manner.
Risk- In order to carry out research work, researcher has come across with different types
of risk such as inadequate budget, limited resources, lack of time, inaccurate response and many
more. On other hand, organisation has faced risk in terms of unskilled staffs, lack of equality
among members, lack of motivation, lack of utilisation of resources, inaccurate data and
information and others.
Resources- It is referred to component that helps in identifying resources needed for
conducting research work. From researcher point of view, it is related with accurate sources,
time, pen, appropriate response from respondents and in context of organisation they require
resources like skilled employees, data, sources, tools and many more.
Time-frames work
For measuring time framework, several techniques should be applied by Next Plc that are
given here:
Work Breakdown Structure
This is defined as process of dividing complex work into simple as well as manageable
form (Garg, 2018). It is used by manager to simplify work in order to execute project work. In
WBS, huge activities are broken into simple and manageable components. Such time framework
is used for project management as well as research work. This is created to provides accurate
information through reliable sources, assignment of roles & responsibilities, assisting time, risk,
cost and so on.
6

Gantt chart
This is referred as bar chat that helps in project illustration which ascertain relationship
between status of schedule and activities (Gotsis and Kortezi, 2015). Gantt Chart is presented
with help of vertical as well as horizontal axis that indicates status of work and activities in
effective and efficient manner. It has several parts such as dependencies, progress, timelines,
dateline, bars, lists and others. This helps in planning, organising, coordinating and tracking of
activities and work in best possible manner.
7

Research Methodology
It is the concept which helps in defining specific tools and techniques which is used to
identify, select, process and analyse data and information about given project work (Kaplan and
Donovan, 2016). Such part of work leads to identify as well as evaluate both validity and
reliability of information in appropriate manner. Some of the kinds of research methodology
used by respective organisation are mentioned below:
8

Primary Method- It is defined as method in which data are collected for first time by
researcher in order to identify as well as address problems in effective manner (Kundu and Mor,
2017). This is also known as first hand or raw data and information. Such method takes more
time and expensive in nature due to collected for first time. Primary method includes focus
groups, case studies, telephonic interviews, personal interview and others.
Secondary Method- It is referred as second hand information in which data are already
collected from researcher or scholar. This type of method incurred low cost and save time due to
already collection of data for provided topic. The researcher can take help from various sources
like books, magazine, journal articles, websites, reports and many more. This focus on providing
low reliable as well as accuracy of collected data and information.
Qualitative Research- This is referred as research that does not include statistical or
numerical data and information (Lindsay and et. al., 2018). Such type of research work includes
observations, words, photographs, language and many more. It is applied to get benefits with
proper understanding of motivations, reasons and opinions. This research uses different methods
like focus group, observation, opinions, interviews and others. The size of sample is very small
and respondents should fill quota provided to them in proper manner.
Quantitative Research- This research is applied to quantify issues with help of
collecting information that is easily converted to numeric or statistics form. It assist in generating
relevant data and information through attitude, opinion and getting outcomes from large size of
sample population. It includes longitudinal studies, survey, face to face and many more. Such
type of research is used by researcher in order to collect numerical data or statistics information.
From the analysis of above, it has summarised that researcher need to apply primary as
well as qualitative research to gather data as well as information in appropriate way. This assist
in providing relevant and accurate data about given project work. For primary, organisation has
prepared questionnaire to collect data and qualitative research has provide in-depth information
for provided work.
Sampling- It is defined as process that is applied to analyse numerical and statistical
information in which participants are acquired from large population. The chosen size of sample
is 30 in order to collect data and information.
9

Questionnaire- This is defined as instrument of research that contain various category of
open and close ended questions having objective to gather appropriate information from different
participants. Questionnaire prepared for given research work is mentioned here:
Questionnaire
Q1) Are you aware about equality and diversity at workplace?
a) Agree
b) Disagree
Q2) What are the issues arise due to lack of diversified culture at workplace?
a) Rise in conflict among members
b) Decline in productivity
c) Declination of market value
d) All of them
Q3) What are the advantages of implementing diverse culture at workplace?
a) Improve in creativity
b) Increase in profitability
c) Reduction of employee turnover
Q4) As per your views, what are the main initiatives that needs to apply by Next Plc for
inclusive workplace?
a) Creation of new opportunities
b) Avoidance of making assumptions
c) Staffs in decision making
d) All of the above
Q5) What are different types of legislation which are made for equality as well as diversity
at workplace?
a) Disability Act, 1995
b) Equality Act, 1970
c) Health and Safety Act, 1974
Q6) Any recommendation for further improvement...
10

Data analysis and interpretation
Theme 1
Q1) Are you aware about equality and diversity at workplace? Frequency
a) Agree 22
b) Disagree 8
Interpretation
Equality and diversity are important for business to attain goal and objectives in effective
manner. From the above diagram, it has concluded that out of 30 respondents only 22 are aware
about concept of equality and diversity at workplace where as remaining 8 are unaware about
such concept. They are made aware about such concept in effective manner for positive
outcomes.
Theme 2
Q2) What are the issues arise due to lack of diversified culture at
workplace?
Frequency
a) Rise in conflict among members 8
b) Decline in productivity 7
c) Declination of market value 5
d) All of them 10
11
a) Agree b) Disagree
0
5
10
15
20
25 22
8
Column B

Interpretation
It is essential for organisation to have diversified culture at workplace for better results.
The lack of diversified culture leads to creates in terms of rise in conflict among members,
decline in productivity, declination of market value. From the above diagram, it has summarised
that out of 30 participants, 8 said rise in conflict among members is main issues, 7 said for
decline in productivity, 5 favours for declination of market value and remaining 10 favours for
all of them.
Theme 3
Q3) What are the advantages of implementing diverse culture at
workplace?
Frequency
a) Improve in creativity 8
b) Increase in profitability 9
c) Reduction of employee turnover 13
Interpretation
The implementation of diverse culture at workplace provide advantage to business in
terms of improve in creativity, rise in productivity and reduction of employee turnover. The
above diagram represents that out of 30 respondents 8 favours for improve in creativity, 9 said
12
8
9
13 a) Improve in creativity
b) Increase in profitability
c) Reduction of employee
turnover

for creativity and remaining 13 said to provide advantage in terms of reduction in employee
turnover.
Theme 4
Q4) As per your views, what are the main initiatives that needs to apply by
Next Plc for inclusive workplace?
Frequency
a) Creation of new opportunities 9
b) Avoidance of making assumptions 8
c) Staffs in decision making 7
d) All of the above 6
Interpretation
There are some initiatives which needs to apply by Next Plc for their inclusive
workplace. This includes creation of new opportunities, avoidance of making assumptions, staffs
in decision making. The presented diagram concluded that out of 30 respondents 9 favours for
creation of new opportunities, 8 said for avoidance of making assumptions, 7 said staffs in
decision making and remaining 6 favours for all of them.
Theme 5
Q5) What are different types of legislation which are made for equality as Frequency
13
a) Creation of new opportunities
b) Avoidance of making assumptions
c) Staffs in decision making
d) All of the above
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10 9
8
7
6
Column B

well as diversity at workplace?
a) Disability Act, 1995 10
b) Equality Act, 1970 10
c) Health and Safety Act, 1974 10
Interpretation
In order to follow equality and diversity at workplace, it is very important to apply all
legal legislation by business. There are different types of legislation which are made for both
equality and diversity such as disability act, equality act and health and safety act. The diagram
presents that out of 30 respondents, 10 of each favours for disability act, equality and health and
safety act.
Theme 6- Any recommendation for further improvement...
There are some recommendation which are provided to respective organisation for better
running of their business. They should focus on providing of equal opportunity to each and every
employees and includes them in decision making so that set goal are achieved. This helps in
motivating them and provide encouragement for better work performance.
14
10
10
10
a) Disability Act, 1995
b) Equality Act, 1970
c) Health and Safety
Act, 1974

Reflection
The carrying of research work is not for me as it was first time where I conducted
research work. I had faced several issues and problems for attainment of effective goal and
objectives. Through research work, I have analysed my strength and weakness to gain positive
outcomes. My strengths includes time management skills, leadership skills, proper decision
making whereas I lack in communication and risk taking skills. I have to enhance my weak areas
so that I would not face any problem in future time period. This research work helped me a lot to
improve myself and learned many new things which assist for my personal career growth and
success along with increase in knowledge and experience in effective way.
CONCLUSION
From the report, it has summarised that business need to follow diversity and equality for
running organisation in an effective and efficient manner. This assist enterprise to achieve
growth as well as success from marketplace. Project management plan leads to know about cost,
time, risk, resources, quality for carrying out research work. For completion of project work,
time framework has applied that divide activities and task to simpler form. In order to collect
information for assigned work, methodology has applied in appropriate manner. For
improvement, recommendation are given to work on weal areas and enhance them in most
effective way. Moreover, it is essential that research work should be performed in legal as well
as ethical manner.
RECOMMENDATION
For better improvement of business, some recommendation are given to Next Plc which
are described below:
 It is recommended to Next Plc to provide equal opportunity to each and every work force
so that they focus on attainment of business goal and objectives.
 It is also recommended for following of all legislations, acts for successfully running of
business activities and operations at competitive marketplace.
Thus, these are few important recommendation given to business for attainment of
positive results.
15

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Barak, M. E. M., 2016. Managing diversity: Toward a globally inclusive workplace. Sage
Publications.
Brown, J., 2017. Inclusion: Diversity, the New Workplace & the Will to Change by Jennifer
Brown. Publish Your Purpose Press.
Cho, S., Kim, A. and Mor Barak, M. E., 2017. Does diversity matter? Exploring workforce
diversity, diversity management, and organizational performance in social
enterprises. Asian Social Work and Policy Review. 11(3). pp.193-204.
Dey, P. and Teasdale, S., 2016. The tactical mimicry of social enterprise strategies: Acting ‘as
if’in the everyday life of third sector organizations. Organization. 23(4). pp.485-504.
Garg, S., 2018. HR INITIATIVES FOR CREATING INCLUSIVE AND ACCESSIBLE
WORKPLACE FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES. NICE Journal of Business.
13(1).
Gotsis, G. and Kortezi, Z., 2015. Operationalizing Critical Diversity Theories: A Contextual
Framework of Implementing New Diversity Practices. In Critical Studies in Diversity
Management Literature (pp. 69-98). Springer, Dordrecht.
Kaplan, M. and Donovan, M., 2016. Inclusion Dividend: Why Investing in Diversity & Inclusion
Pays off. Routledge.
Kundu, S. C. and Mor, A., 2017. Workforce diversity and organizational performance: a study of
IT industry in India. Employee Relations.
Lindsay, S. and et. al., 2018. A systematic review of the benefits of hiring people with
disabilities. Journal of occupational rehabilitation. 28(4). pp.634-655.
Minbaeva, D. B., 2018. Building credible human capital analytics for organizational competitive
advantage. Human Resource Management. 57(3). pp.701-713.
Tang, N. and et. al., 2015. Inclusion and inclusion management in the Chinese context: an
exploratory study. The International Journal of Human Resource Management. 26(6).
pp.856-874.
Yang, Y. K. and Wu, S. L., 2016. In search of the right fusion recipe: The role of legitimacy in
building a social enterprise model. Business Ethics: A European Review. 25(3). pp.327-
343.
Online
Work Breakdown Structure. 2020. [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.tutorialspoint.com/management_concepts/work_breakdown_structure.ht
m>.
16

Appendix 1: Project Logbook Template
Week 2 Week4 Week 6 Week 8 Week 10
Update on weekly
research/tasks
1. What have you
completed?
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
2. Did you fulfil task
requirements?
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
3. Are you on track and
within deadlines set?
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Any risks and/or issues
identified?
1. Did you identify
risks/issues with a lack
of skills required for
undertaking
research/tasks?
Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Problems encountered?
1. What barriers did you
face?
Time Resources Communication Decision Making Cost
2. How did you overcome
them?
Division of time for
all work.
Proper allocation of
tasks..
Participation, reading
books and so on.
Including oneself
in decision
making.
Making budget
in advance.

What have I learnt
about myself?
1. Did I find it useful to
complete the tasks?
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
2. How well have I
performed?
Poor Good Requires
improvement
Better Excellent
3. What did I contribute? Skills Efforts Capability Knowledge Experience
4. What can I improve on
next week?
Communication Risk Management Listening Skills Time
Management
Leadership
5. How might this learning
apply in the future?
Work completion Participation in
activities
Achievement of goal
as well as objectives
Work
performance
Performing of
same work
6. Tasks planned for next
week?
Initiation of project Deciding project
management plan
Research
Methodology
Preparation of
questionnaire
Analysis as well
as interpretation
of data
Project status to date: On, Ahead, or
Behind
On, Ahead or
Behind
On, Ahead, or
Behind
On, Ahead,
or Behind
On, Ahead,
or Behind
Comments and
signature of the Tutor

Appendix 2: Performance Review
Performance Review
 What was the project supposed to accomplish?
Yes, project was achieved on given time period. I performed best in order to complete
given work in appropriate manner so that aim and objectives are accomplished.
 Did the project succeed in its aims? How do you know? Specifically, please
outline any evaluation and assessment undertaken.
The aim of assigned project work is identifying various kinds of strategies as well as
initiatives that are taken by enterprise for building diversity and inclusive workforce.”- A
study on Next Plc. I think assigned project work has succeed their aim and objectives
because of taking feedback on regular basis from high authority.
 What things do you think worked well and why?
There are different works which are assigned to me that should be completed in given
time period. As I made time framework for all types of activities that is required for given
work.
 What problems emerged during the project and how were they tackled?
Was there timely identification of issues and resolution during the project
process?
Main problem emerged during the project was time period as collection of data and
information requires more time which is not possible to gather in that short period of
time. For tackling with such problem, I have applied time framework to accomplish it in
given period of time. Each and every issues were timely identified and proper solution
was provided.
 What did you learn from undertaking the project?
There were several skills which I have learned from undertaking project work such as
communication, risk taking and so on. I also focused on improving my weak area.
 How would you rate your performance as Project Manager?
Being the project manager, I rate myself as 7 out of 10 for my performance due to lacked
in few areas.
 What strengths and weaknesses of your performance did you identify?
With this performance, I have easily analysed my strong as well as weak points. The main

strengths includes time management, decision making, leadership and weaknesses are
risk management and communication. I have to improve my weak areas in appropriate
manner.
 How will this inform and support your continuous professional
development?
This information will helps me in continuous professional development through improving
weaknesses for success and growth of my career.