Managing a Successful Business: Project Management Plan and Research Methods

This report discusses the project management plan for a chosen scenario, including cost, scope, time, quality, communication, risk, and resources. It also explores the use of primary and secondary research methods to meet project aims and objectives. The report includes findings and data presented using appropriate tools and techniques.

Managing a successful
business

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
P1. Devise project aims and objectives for a chosen scenario....................................................1
P2. Produce a project management plan that covers aspects of cost, scope, time, quality,
communication, risk and resources.............................................................................................2
P3. Produce a work breakdown structure and a Gantt Chart to provide time frames and stages
for completion.............................................................................................................................3
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................5
P4. Carry out small-scale research applying primary and secondary methods appropriate for
meeting project aims and objectives...........................................................................................5
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................8
P5. Present findings and data using appropriate tools and techniques........................................8
P6. Communicate appropriate recommendations as a result of findings and data analysis to
draw valid and meaningful conclusions....................................................................................12
TASK 4..........................................................................................................................................13
P7. Reflect on the value of undertaking the project to meet stated objectives and own learning
and performance........................................................................................................................13
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................14
Personal performance review.........................................................................................................15

INTRODUCTION
Equality and diversity play a crucial role in overall growth and development of a
business. This will lead to improve overall performance of a company as well as help in
conducting business operation in more effective manner. Chosen company for this report is
McLeod and partners. This is company is specialised in executing different types of research for
their clients. This company is providing its services to various clients in order to resolve their
issues as well as provide better solutions. This will help in improving their productivity as well
as profitability. This report includes project management plan that consist of cost, scope, time,
communication, quality, resources and risks. It consists of work breakdown structure and Gantt
charts that will provide a time frame for research. Different methods has been used in order to
conduct an effective research as well as analyse data. It report includes the key finding on the
bases of research as well as various recommendations is also suggested.
MAIN BODY
TASK 1
P1. Devise project aims and objectives for a chosen scenario.
Aims:
To identify the impact of equality and diversity at workplace
Objectives:
 To identify the concept of equality and diversity.
 To analyse issues that may arise due to absence of equality and diversity at workplace.
 To ascertain measures that could be taken to resolve issues that may arise due to lack of
equality and diversity at work place.
Questions:
 What is the concept of equality and diversity.
 What are the issues that may arise due to absence of equality and diversity at workplace.
 What are measures that could be taken to resolve issues that may arise due to lack of
equality and diversity at work place.
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P2. Produce a project management plan that covers aspects of cost, scope, time, quality,
communication, risk and resources.
Project management plan includes different elements that is necessary for a investigator
to conduct an effective and efficient research. It can be describe as a well written document
which consist of each and every detail about the plan. The document of project management plan
will help in executing, monitoring as well as controlling the activities of research project. This is
very helpful in performing all activities of plan in correct and effective manner. Project
management plan covers various aspects such as cost, scope, time, quality, resources, risk as well
as communication. This is mention below in detail. Cost – This refers to the amount that is necessary for a research to perform activities of
project in effective manner. It is essential for an research to have correct amount of
money that is necessary for a person to conduct investigation process in correct way. The
cost that is required to perform all task of research is 500 £ and for successful conducting
this project 600 £ will be required by investigator. Scope – By this research project investigator will be able to provide effective and
efficient ways through which a company will be able to conduct their business operation.
This research will lead to provide correct and in depth information regarding diversity
and equality. It will provide importance of equality and diversity for an organisation and
help in achieving desired goal. Time – This can be describe as time that is required by an investigator to perform
activities of research project. It is essential for a researcher to set right time frame as well
as divide its activities on the bases of estimated time required. Do that they can complete
all task and activities in accurate time duration. Quality – Quality can be describe as a standards that is necessary for achieving desired
results. It is important an investigator is collecting high quality and appropriate data while
conducting a research. This will be lead to conduct research activities in correct manner. Communication – Researcher needs to communicate with many people in order to
collect appropriate and accurate data. This will be very helpful in conducting research
project in smoothly manner by collecting appropriate data and information.
 Risk – There are various factors which can have negative impact over the research
project. It is essential for investigator to collect right and appropriate data in order to
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reduce risk. The major risk that is included in research project consist of wrong or
inappropriate data.
P3. Produce a work breakdown structure and a Gantt Chart to provide time frames and stages for
completion.
Work breakdown structure as well as Gantt chart play a crucial role in performing
activities of research project. This will be very helpful in providing estimated time frame as well
as different stages that is required for completion of tasks. Work break down structure and Gantt
chart is mention below in detail.
Work break down structure
Work breakdown structure refers to breaking down the large complex projects into effortless
tasks that can be managed easily. A WBS enables the managers of the company to assign the
tasks accurately to the team members without any hassles. The elements of the project that are
not necessary and useful can be eliminated which in turn leads to saving time.
3

Gantt Chart -
A type of column chart that is horizontal and represents the plan of a project and its
schedule over a period of time. The chart comprises of various elements like task list, the
timeline of the project, bars and milestones, resources that are assigned for completion of the
project, the progress of the project etc.
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TASK 2
P4. Carry out small-scale research applying primary and secondary methods appropriate for
meeting project aims and objectives.
There are various methods that could be used by researcher to conduct its activities of
research. This methods will help in collecting appropriate and accurate data which will be
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helpful in conducting a successful research. It is important for researcher to collect right data so
that they can evaluate as well as analyse it in order to get use full information.
Quantitative Data -
It can be defined as a form of data that is expressed in the form of numbers and the
information is quantifiable. The information that is presented in the form of quantitative data is
clear to understand and specific in nature. Also, the data can be analysed in order to get proper
and accurate results. Quantitative data is easy to understand as it can be expressed in the form of
charts and graphs. Most companies rely on quantitative data in order to carry out the decision
making process for the organizations. For carrying out analysis of the data, a person needs to
some some kind of expertise and experience.
Qualitative Data -
Qualitative data on the other hand can be referred to as the form of data that has
characteristics associated with it. This type of data is not expressed in the form of numbers,
graphs or charts but qualities. Qualitative data arranges and presents the information in
categories based on features of a particular thing. Surveys and interviews can be cited as
examples of qualitative data. Besides having advantages like explaining the observations ,
collection and analysis of this type of data consumes a lot of time and it represents a small
population unlike quantitative data which can represent a large set of data.
Primary Research -
It refers to the procedure of collection of data directly from people or through ways like
questionnaires, surveys, face-to-face interviews, focus groups and observations. The data
collected through primary research is accurate and direct. Also, it is easy to customize data
collection according to the researcher's personal requirement. The results obtained are reliable
with the data being fresh. Primary research is based on raw data and not on an earlier analysed
data and is performed by the researcher himself. The time and cost involved in the collection of
primary data are high. The data collected is according to the researcher's specific needs and the
type of result he/ she is seeking.
Secondary Research -
Secondary research involves using the data that was previously collected and analysed.
The researcher applies the results of that data in his own research after modifying it. Secondary
research is easy to carry out when compared to primary research as the data needs not to be
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collected and is readily available on Internet, in libraries, as journals, research papers etc. The
research is carried out by someone else but the results are used by someone else in his/her
research which makes the process of secondary research fast and easy. Also, the time involved is
short and the cost is low.
For this research, investigator has used both primary and secondary sources of data
collection. In this researcher has conducted a proper survey in order to collect data as well as
interpretative it into useful information. In primary source of data collection information is
collected for the employees of respective company. Sample size that is selected of survey
questionnaire are 30 current employees. This will help in take better business decisions.
Secondary sources has been used by researcher in order to collect data from online sources,
books and journals and other documents.
Questionnaire
1. Are you well informed about the idea of diversity and equality?
 Yes
 No
2. In your view point what are the major issues which affect equality and diversity?
 Employees conflicts
 Gender inequality
 Cultural difference
 All of the above
3. Do you think that equality and diversity will have impact over performance of employees>
 Yes
 No
4. What are the activities conducted by company in order to promote equality and diversity at
workplace?
 Policies related to equality and diversity
 Reduce discrimination
 Training to employees
 All of the above
5. Do you think company is following all rules and regulation set by government in order to
promote equality and diversity at workplace
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 Yes
 No
6. What are the major consequences faced by company in absence of equality and diversity?
 Increase in staff turnover
 Impact over performance of employees
 Reduces employee participation
 All of the above
7. Do you have any recommendation or suggestion for McLeod and partners in order to
improve equality and diversity at workplace.
8. What are the strategies that should be adopted by respective company for enhancing equality
and diversity in organisation.
TASK 3
P5. Present findings and data using appropriate tools and techniques.
Theme 1: Concept of diversity and equality.
1. Are you well informed about the idea of
diversity and equality?
Frequency
 Yes 25
 No 5
8
Yes No
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
25 5 Column B

Interpretation : From the above graphical representation it can be analysed that most of the
employees are informed about the idea of equality and diversity. It has been identified that out of
30 respondents 25 are very well informed about the idea of equality and diversity. Where as only
5 respondents are not aware about it.
Theme 2: Issues which have affect equality and diversity.
2. In your view point what are the major
issues which affect equality and diversity?
Frequency
 Employees conflicts 6
 Gender inequality 4
 Cultural difference 5
 All of the above 15
9
Employees conflicts
Gender inequality
Cultural difference
All of the above
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16
6
4
5
15
Column B

Interpretation : Though the information collected by survey it has been identified that there are
various issues which will lead to have impact over equality and diversity. Out of 30 respondents
6 and 4 feels that the major issues is employee conflicts and inequality in genders respectively.
Where as other 5 respondents has state that cultural difference is major issues. Majority of
employees feel that all of the above mention issues are equality responsible.
Theme 3: Impact of equality and diversity over performance of employees.
3. Do you think that equality and diversity
will have impact over performance of
employees?
Frequency
 Yes 26
 No 4
10
Yes
No

Interpretation : From the above graphical representation it can analyse that that most of the
respondents feels that equality and diversity will have major impact over performance of
employees. 26 respondents out of 30 are the favour of statement that it will have impact on
employees performance where as other 4 employees feel that equality and diversity will not have
any impact.
Theme 4: Activities to conduct by company for promoting equality and diversity at workplace.
4. What are the activities conducted by
company in order to promote equality and
diversity at workplace?
Frequency
 Policies related to equality and
diversity
5
 Reduce discrimination 5
 Training to employees 3
 All of the above 17
11
Policies related to equality and diversity
Reduce discrimination
Training to employees
All of the above
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18
Column B

Interpretation : It is important for a company to conduct different activities which will have
impact over the business. Through the above represented it can be analysed that there are several
activities conducted by company in order to promote equality and diversity at workplace. It has
been identified that 5, 5 and 3 respondents feel that company has developed strict policies related
to equality and diversity, reduce discrimination as well as training of employees. Where as out of
30 respondents 17 feels that all of the above mentioned are important for organisation in order to
promote equality and diversity at work place.
Theme 5: Rules and regulation set by government in order to promote equality and diversity at
workplace.
5. Do you think company is following all
rules and regulation set by government in
order to promote equality and diversity at
workplace.
Frequency
 Yes 25
 No 5
12
Yes No
0
5
10
15
20
25
25
5
Column B

Interpretation : From the above collection of data it can be concluded that respective company is
following all rules and regulation that is developed by company for promoting equality and
diversity at their work place. Majority of employees that is 25 out of 30 has agreed that it is
following rules and regulations. Where as 5 out of 30 responded negative that company is not
following rules set by government.
Theme 6: Major consequences faced by company in absence of equality and diversity
6. What are the major consequences faced
by company in absence of equality and
diversity?
Frequency
 Increase in staff turnover 5
 Impact over performance of
employees
5
 Reduces employee participation 5
 All of the above 15
13
Increase in staff turnover
Impact over performance of
employees
Reduces employee
participation
All of the above

Interpretation : From the above collected it can be analysed that there are various consequence
that could be faced by company in the absence of equality and diversity. It has been analysed that
5, 5 and other 5 employees feels that it will lead to increase staff turnover, impact on
performance of employees and reduces employee participation. Where as 15 employees feel that
all of the employees will have impact over business.
Theme 7: Suggestion for McLeod and partners in order to improve equality and diversity at
workplace.
7. Do you have any recommendation or suggestion for McLeod and partners in order to
improve equality and diversity at workplace.
Interpretation : Yes, there are various recommendation for respective company in order to
improve their performance. This company should develop positive and friendly work
environment. So that they can develop better relationship as well as improve performance of
employees.
Theme 8: Strategies that should be adopted by company for enhancing equality and diversity
in organisation.
8. What are the strategies that should be adopted by respective company for enhancing
equality and diversity in organisation.
Interpretation : There are different strategies that should be adopted by company in order to
improve equality and diversity. For this it should provide proper training and development ot
employees. So that they can work in effective and efficient manner.
P6. Communicate appropriate recommendations as a result of findings and data analysis to draw
valid and meaningful conclusions.
As per above research there are various recommendations for business and these
recommendations will help in conducting business operations in more effective and efficient
manner. It is very important for research Assistant to provide appropriate recommendation to
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business which will help in achieving set goals and objectives. Different recommendation for
McLeod and partners are mention below.
 It is very important for this company to promote equality and diversity in organisation as
this will lead to enhance their performance. By promoting this company will be able to
develop strong image in market area as well as develop positive brand image.
 This company should develop strong and effective policies regarding equality and
diversity. This will help in providing strict guidelines to employees and help in
conducting business operations in effective and efficient manner. By develop policies
which are related to equality and diversity this will lead to perform task in collective
manner.
 It is essential for an organisation to follow all rules and regulations that is developed by
political and legal aspects. There are various rule and regulation that is developed by
government which will provide guidelines to company in order to enhance equality and
diversity.
 Company should provide positive and friendly work environment as that employees work
in better manner. This will lead to enhance overall productivity of organisation as well as
achievement of set objectives. By creating positive work environment respective
company will be able to gain trust from their employees.
 Training and development is considered as an effective way to promote equality and
diversity. It is very important for respective company to provide timely training to their
employees so that they can easily work with different types of employees. This will lead
to increasing skills as well as knowledge of employees in order to perform business
activities.
 Employee engagement is one of the crucial part of organisation so respective company
should focus of enhancing employee engagement. This will be very helpful in motivating
employees to work in effective manner and lead to achievement of desired goals.
 This company should integrate employees of different culture and background in order to
improve equality and diversity. This will lead to increase in interaction of employees with
each other and lead to improve team work skills.
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TASK 4
P7. Reflect on the value of undertaking the project to meet stated objectives and own learning
and performance.
There are various issues and challenges faced b me while conducting this research. This
has negative impact on overall performance as well as achievement of set goals. I have learn
many new things while performance this research. It has helped me in enhancing my knowledge
as well as information about equality and diversity. For this conducting this research I have used
different sources of data collection which is very helpful in collecting requirement information. I
have gathered information for various sources such as primary and secondary. This lead to
conducting high quality research as well as achievement of desired results. I have faced time
management and financial issues while conducting respective research. Due to lack of financial
amount provided to perform research activities, I was not able to conduct business operations in
correct manner. Because of this I was not able to manage all task and activities in accurate as
well as appropriate manner. In order to perform research activities in effective manner as well as
accomplish desired objective I have take help from my senior person. They has provided proper
guidelines which has help in performing task in better manner. I have tried my best to perform all
activities in correct manner in order to successful achieve set targets and results.
CONCLUSION
From the above report, it can be concluded that equality and diversity form important
aspects in a company. But these come with various challenges with them. It should be noted that
hiring people from various backgrounds can increase the overall productivity of the team
members as well as widens the area of inputs and suggestions from the employees. Promoting
equality within the workplace promotes a healthy organizational culture and increased job
satisfaction among the employees. Equality creates equal opportunities for all the members and
the environ is free from any kind of discrimination and work with their full potential.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Ahmed Dine Rabeh, H., Jimenez-Jimenez, D. and Martínez-Costa, M., 2013. Managing
knowledge for a successful competence exploration. Journal of Knowledge
Management. 17(2). pp.195-207.
Annanperä, E., Liukkunen, K. and Markkula, J., 2016. Managing emerging business ecosystems–
A knowledge management viewpoint.
Bell, J. and Harrison, B.T., 2018. Vision and values in managing education: Successful
leadership principles and practice. Routledge.
Brown, A., 2013. Managing challenges in sustaining business excellence. International Journal
of Quality & Reliability Management. 30(4). pp.461-475.
Evans, J.D. and Johnson, R.O., 2013. Tools for managing early-stage business model
innovation. Research-Technology Management. 56(5). pp.52-56.
Fageha, M.K. and Aibinu, A.A., 2013. Managing project scope definition to improve
stakeholders’ participation and enhance project outcome. Procedia-Social and
Behavioral Sciences. 74. pp.154-164.
Fernandez, S. and Rainey, H.G., 2017. Managing successful organizational change in the public
sector. In Debating Public Administration (pp. 7-26). Routledge.
Gangotra, A. and Shankar, R., 2016. Strategies in managing risks in the adoption of business
analytics practices: A case study of a telecom service provider. Journal of Enterprise
Information Management. 29(3). pp.374-399.
Jeston, J., 2014. Business process management: practical guidelines to successful
implementations. Routledge.
Lu, V.N., Plewa, C. and Ho, J., 2016. Managing governmental business relationships: The
impact of organisational culture difference and compatibility. Australasian Marketing
Journal (AMJ). 24(1). pp.93-100.
Martini, A., Pareto, L. and Bosch, J., 2013, June. Improving businesses success by managing
interactions among agile teams in large organizations. In International Conference of
Software Business (pp. 60-72). Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg.
Mattel, B., 2015. Catering: a guide to managing a successful business operation. John Wiley &
Sons.
Morrison, A.M., 2013. Marketing and managing tourism destinations. Routledge.
Sharan, A.D. And et.al., 2015. Managing the delivery of health care: what can health care learn
from the business community?. Clinical Spine Surgery. 28(7). pp.254-257.
Log Book
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)
Comments
I have completed project on topic “To
identify the impact of equality and
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 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?
diversity at workplace”.
Yes
Yes
No
Any risks and / or issues identified?
 Did you identify risks/issues with a lack of skills
required for undertaking research tasks?
 Did you identify any additional risks/issues that
have an impact on the project management plan?
Yes, there are various issues that occur while
conducting this research. The major issues was
related to time management and lack of
financial resources.
No
Problems encountered
 What barriers did you face?
 How did you overcome them?
I have faced many barriers in order to
successful conduct this project. There was
storage of time in order to complete task in
effective manner.
I have take taken help from my senior perform
to conduct activities of research project
New Ideas and change of project direction I have identified that there are many creative
and innovative ways in order to direct project.
Training will be most effective method.
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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?
I felt frustrated when is have to deal with these
problems. I try to motivate myself in order to
handle these issues.
Yes
I consider that I have performed very well as I
have used my skills to complete this research
project.
In next week, I should more focus on
managing time as well as funds.
Leaning from this project will help in
enhancing my skills and knowledge.
Tasks planned for next week
 Which tasks are priority?
 Have you set aside sufficient time for completion?
My priority is to ask relenvent questions as that
accurate data can be evaluated.
Yes
Project plan status to date (on, ahead, behind)
Supervisor comments to address
Signature of the Supervisor and date:
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Personal performance review
1. What was the project supposed to accomplish?
This project report is based on “To identify the impact of equality and diversity at workplace”.
2. Did the project succeed in its aims? How do you know? Specifically, please outline any
evaluation and assessment undertaken.
Yes this project succeed it aims as it is successful completed in set time frame. This lead to
enahnce equality and diversity at work place. By this research project respective company is
able to perform task in better manner.
3. 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.
I think my communication skills has worked well and help in performing set objective in
correct manner. While conducting project activities of these research project I have to
communicate with many people in order to collect data
4. What problems emerged during the project and how were they tackled? Was there
timely identification of issues and resolution during the project process?
There were various problems that emerged during this project such as time management
and financial requirement. My senior person has helped me in dealing with these issues as well
as provide guidelines to perform task. This has helped in while tackling these issues as well as
resolving it.
5. What did you learn from undertaking the project?
I have learned various things from this project as it has helped me in gaining in depth
information about the equality and diversity. I have also leaned to completed task of research
project in effective manner.
6. How would you rate your performance as project manager?
I would rate my performance as 9 out of 10.
7. What strengths and weaknesses of your performance did you identify?
My major strength that has been identified during this research is communication skills
where as my weakness is time management skills.
8. How will this inform and support your continuous professional development?
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This will be very supportive in my continuous professional development. By enhancing
information about equality and diversity I will be able to develop better strategies in order to
remove issues regarding equality and diversity.
9. The success of the project and its usefulness in supporting your chosen
organisation’s organisational performance.
This research process is very supportive in enhancing equality as well as diversity with in
McLeod and partners. By this research respective company will be able to develop better
business strategies as well as gain desired goals and objectives.
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