Managing a Successful Business Project

Managing a Successful
Business Project

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................3
P1: Devise project aims and objectives for a chosen scenario...............................................3
P2: Produce a project management plan that covers aspects of cost, scope, time, quality,
communication, risk and resources........................................................................................6
P3: Produce a work breakdown structure and a Gantt Chart to provide timeframes and stages
for completion........................................................................................................................8
TASK 2..........................................................................................................................................11
P4: Carry out small-scale research applying primary and secondary methods appropriate for
meeting project aims and objectives....................................................................................11
TASK 3..........................................................................................................................................14
P5: Present findings and data using appropriate tools and techniques.................................14
P6: Communicate appropriate recommendations as a result of findings and data analysis to
draw valid and meaningful conclusion................................................................................22
TASK 4..........................................................................................................................................23
P7: Reflect on the value of undertaking the project to meet stated objectives and own learning
and performance...................................................................................................................23
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................23
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................24
APPENDIX....................................................................................................................................26

INTRODUCTION
A business project refers to the project that particularly intended to accomplish a business
objective. In the highly competitive market, it becomes very difficult for organisations to
maintain equality and diversity at workplace. Various issues and challenges are face by
companies in maintaining diverse workforce within firm and ensure that all are treated equally
(Scott, Ditroilo and Marshall, 2017). In this report, selected organisation is Unilever which is a
transnational consumer goods firm which is located in London, United Kingdom. The company
was established in 1929, around 90 years ago and offers variety of products to consumers
including cleaning goods, beauty and personal care products, foods & refreshments etc. This
report covers aims and objectives along with project management plan that covers various
aspects of costs, time, quality, risk, scope, communication and resources. Moreover, it includes
WBS structure and Gantt chart that provides time frames and activities for completion. A small
scale research is also conducted by applying appropriate research methodologies. Apart from
this, data is analysed and findings are presented by using appropriate tools. At last,
recommendations are provided based on the analysis and findings, a valid conclusion is drawn
and reflection is included on own learning and performance while doing overall project.
TASK 1
P1: Devise project aims and objectives for a chosen scenario
Equality at workplace refers to the act of treating each individual equally and provide
them equal opportunities for their growth and development. Diversity includes all the differences
that makes a person unique in terms of cultural background, religion, education, language,
abilities, age, gender, ethnicity etc. Maintaining diverse workforce in work place is a challenge
for organisations in current competitive market (Armstrong, Landers and Collmus, 2016). At
workplace, equality is about fairness or impartiality as well as providing each individual with
equal opportunities to develop their potential. But, it is not easy within organisation as there are
many people working within firm and each person has its own beliefs and values. The first and
foremost challenge of equality and diversity is having right perspective about these. Apart from
this, demeanour and negative attitudes can be a challenge to equality and diversity at workplace
as they are likely to harm work relationships and influence self esteem, thus resulting in
declining work productivity.

It is very crucial for organisation like Unilever to emphasize on ensuring equality and
diversity at workplace as the profitability and productivity of a company are highly linked with
these aspects (Basak and Khanna, 2017). Lack of equality and diversity at workplace can hamper
its performance as a whole. This report is based on the topic “Different issues and challenges that
may arise due to lack of equality and diversity in the workplace”. The aim and objectives of
project formulate on the basis of research title are mentioned below:
Aim of project:
“To ascertain the distinct challenges that are faced by organisation when maintaining
equality and diversity at workplace. A case study on Unilever.”
Objectives of project:
 To understand the significance of equality and diversity in workplace.
 To determine various challenges that an organisation face while maintaining equality and
diversity at workplace.
 To ascertain the strategies that can be employ by firm to overcome challenges associated
with lack of equality and diversity.
Research Questions:
 What is the significance of equality and diversity in workplace?
 What are the various challenges that an organisation face while maintaining equality and
diversity at workplace?
 What strategies an organisation could employ to overcome challenges associated with
lack of equality and diversity?
Literature Review:
Significance of equality and diversity
Equality and diversity is all about promoting and fostering a discrimination free culture
within firm by providing equal opportunities to all individuals working within the firm.
According to Ellie Johnson, equality and diversity is all about acknowledging that each
individual has a right to get equal and fair treatment at workplace irrespective of their age,
religion, gender or any other characteristic (What is Equality and Diversity? Why is it
important?, 2019). In order to get sustainability and success, organisations are require to ensure
equality and diversity at workplace. These helps in promoting healthy culture within organisation
that leads to improve productivity and performance of both employees and organisation.

Diversity also promotes innovation within firm as diverse workforce possess different skills,
knowledge and abilities and when these integrate, creates creative concepts that results in
innovation.
Challenges of maintaining equality and diversity at workplace
There are some challenges that organisations face while maintaining equality and
diversity at workplace. These includes conflicting working styles, employee resistance, ethnic
and cultural differences etc. All these may creates hurdles in path of management when
implementing equality and diversity practices within workplace. As per the view point of Katie
Reynolds, 2017, attitudes and working styles of each individual can be different which reflects
compounding differences. If these are not recognized by management of firm, then conflicting
styles of work can hamper the productivity of company (Challenges of cultural diversity in the
workplace, 2017). The another challenge that organisations face includes resistance to change.
Diversity influence norms of organisation by developing flexibility need and evolution to
broader culture. This need sometimes creates resistance as some people may uncomfortable to
adjust in culture while others may actively opposed the idea of developing diversity in
workplace. Apart from this, ethnic and cultural differences is also an issue that business entities
face when implementing practices of equality and diversity. There are some people who hold
prejudice against individuals who belongs to diverse cultural, religious and ethnic backgrounds.
This discrimination results in lack of equality and diversity at workplace.
Strategies to overcome challenges of lack of equality and diversity
There are some challenges that a business entity may face during maintaining equality
and diversity in workplace. These issues includes resistance to change, conflicting working
styles and ethnic and cultural differences. In order to overcome these challenges, there are some
strategies that an organisation such as Unilever can employ. Providing employees with training
and awareness programmes on cultural sensitivities and diversity in workplace can help company
in reducing ethnic and cultural differences and promoting equality and diversity at workplace.
By fostering team work and collaboration culture, the issue of conflicting working styles can be
address by company (Clinton and Whisnant, 2019). Team working helps company in fostering
healthy work culture and promoting workplace diversity. In addition to this, proper
communication of diversity policies can helps business entity in eliminating internal resistance.

Aware people regarding benefits of equality and diversity can helps company in gaining support
from employees in maintaining discrimination free workplace.
P2: Produce a project management plan that covers aspects of cost, scope, time, quality,
communication, risk and resources
Project management plan is characterised as a formal report that includes all the phases of
project and their details. This document depicts about how a project is executed, managed,
monitored and controlled (Crane and Matten, 2016). This research project is about different
issues that may arise due to lack of equality and diversity within workplace. In order to ensure
successful completion of all the activities of project, a project management plan is prepared that
defines project needs as well as supports in addressing those effectively. The plan includes
various aspects such as time, scope, cost, quality, resources, risk and communication which are
mentioned below in context of project:
Cost Cost is the value or the amount of money that is incurred by an institution or
business entity for gaining effective results. For successful completion of this
particular project, the cost incurred by researcher is £5,000. There are some
costs that are associated with this project which are mentioned below:
Cost breakdown of Project:
Investment £600
Expertise £400
Research & Development cost £650
Employees Training £850
Resources for implementing equality and diversity £1400
Cost of executing changes in workplace £1100
Total £5000
Scope This aspect determines the future value of project and includes all the aspects
covered in project (Drews and Van den Bergh, 2016). This research has
wider scope as it supports investigator in getting clear understanding
regarding importance of equality and diversity at workplace, challenges