Research Project: Promoting Equality and Diversity at AstraZeneca Plc

This research project investigates the need for promoting equality and diversity within an organizational context, with a specific focus on AstraZeneca Plc. The project includes a table of contents, an introduction that overviews the research and provides background information on the significance of equality and diversity in business. The literature review explores the concepts of equality and diversity, their importance in developing a productive workforce, and the challenges organizations face when implementing these practices. The methodology section justifies the research approach and explains the methods used. Results, conclusions, and recommendations are presented, followed by a reflection and a list of references. The study aims to understand the concept of equality and diversity in the workplace, analyze its importance, identify issues faced by AstraZeneca, and determine ways to promote equality and diversity within the company.

Research Project

Table of Contents
TITLE: ............................................................................................................................................1
Chapter 1: Introduction....................................................................................................................1
Chapter 2: Literature Review ..........................................................................................................3
Chapter 3: Methodology Justification .............................................................................................6
Chapter 4: Methodology Explanation .............................................................................................8
Chapter 5: Results..........................................................................................................................11
Chapter 6: Conclusion and Recommendations .............................................................................23
Conclusion ................................................................................................................................23
Recommendations ....................................................................................................................23
Chapter 7: Reflection.....................................................................................................................24
References .....................................................................................................................................26
Appendix .......................................................................................................................................29

TITLE:
To investigate the need of promoting equality and diversity in an organisational context.
A case study on AstraZeneca Plc.
Chapter 1: Introduction
Over view of the Research
The present study is based on the investigating the need of promoting equality and
diversity in context of an organisation. Equality and diversity are two different term but plays an
essential role in the progression of business organisation (Ahern and Clarke, 2013). Diversity
and equality are refers as the term of promoting equality of opportunity for all by enriching
diversity and providing chance to each individual to attain their position which is free from
discrimination or prejudice. In today's modern business environment, individuals are very much
aware in regards to their own rights, therefore it is important for the businesses to promoting
equality and diversity their business promotion. In this the study is conducted over the
AstraZeneca Plc and it is a wide pharmaceutical company which is concern over maintaining
diversity and equality in respect to conducting effective business functions to attain growth and
sustainability.
Background of the Research
In the context of business, diversity and equality has a significant aim to ensure that
everyone has the access to getting same fair treatment and opportunities. Equality and diversity
are two major term which are consequently performs vital role in developing work place
performance via maintaining equality in diversified business operations (Ng and Sears, 2012). In
this particular study, AstraZeneca Plc is selected for this dissertation because, the scope of
chosen subject area is wide. Therefore, the study is based on analysing the need of promoting
equality and diversity in an organisational context, as in this investigation is requires to be
executed over a business and AstraZeneca is effective because it is a large multinational
business which is effective on which investigation execution will be supportive in addressing the
investigation issue in effective manner. In the present study context, investigation over a large
business context is required to gather valuable information to reaching at the significant
outcome. As large business firm AstraZeneca Plc is based on the business ethics that are related
with equalitya and diversity, therefore, the business is also facing issues regarding cultural
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diversity and equality, so the study execution over AstraZeneca Plc is effective in providing a
significant direction to reaching at the key outcome. AstraZeneca Plc is an English Swedish
multinational pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical business. The company is having its global
business operations with its headquarter is in Cambridge, United Kingdom. The company has
started its operations since 1999 by the effective merger of the Swedish Astra and The English
Zeneca Group. The company has around 61,100 employees who are contributing their
significant efforts in the growth and development of business (Gürtürk and Hahn, 2016). The
potential aim of AstraZeneca Plc is to promoting diversity and maintaining equality for the
purpose of achieving significant edge within commercial centre.
Rationale of the Research
The investigation into consideration is based on analysing the need of promoting equality
and diversity in the context of business, thus this is an wide area of research which is effective in
developing academic as well as practical knowledge base of individual (Barth and et. al., 2014).
The potential reason for conducting the research is to enhancing the idea and knowledge base of
learner towards the area of promoting equality and diversity and how these are beneficial in
attaining growth and success for a business. This present area of study is effective in developing
the academic benefits in enhancing the personal as well as professional ability to perform tasks
in appropriate manner.
Research Aim
To investigate the need of promoting equality and diversity in an organisational context.
A case study on AstraZeneca.
Research Objectives
 To understand the concept of equality and diversity in the context of workplace.
 To analyse the importance of equality and diversity in developing productive and
effective workforce.
 To identify the issues which are faced by AstraZeneca n while implementing equality and
diversity practices. To determine the ways through which equality and diversity could be promoted in
AstraZeneca.
Research Questions
 What is the concept of equality and diversity in the context of workplace?
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 What are the importance of equality and diversity in developing productive and effective
workforce.
 What issues are faced by AstraZeneca while implementing equality and diversity
practices?
 What are the ways are opt by AstraZeneca in promoting equality and diversity?
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Chapter 2: Literature Review
The concept of equality and diversity in the context of workplace.
According to the opinion stated by Mercy Njiru, 2014, equality and diversity are two
effective terms which are applied to define and champion diversity, equality or human rights as
referring to the values of society. It mainly promotes equality of opportunities which are
provided to the individuals at work place and providing path to attain their significant objectives
which are free from discrimination and prejudice. In the context of workplace equality and
diversity are the fundamental aspect which are requires to be considered by the businesses to
providing an effective work place environment.
As per the views of Kay Pearman, 2019, equality is refers as the right each individual has
to attain the same treatment without considering their age, gender, social position, race, sexual
orientation and religion. In addition it defines as an effective concept which encompasses over
creating fair treatment for people in society and ensuring each individual are gain fair or equal
opportunity to gain success and reaching at their predetermined aims and objectives that are
effective for the personal and professional development of individual (Janssens and Zanoni,
2014). Diversity is defined as the recognition which ensures that each individual within
workplace are unique and works as per their own capability. In addition to this, the concept of
diversity mainly encompasses over acceptance and respect or is related with an understanding of
exploring the capability of individual in development of opportunities for the businesses at
global level (Choi and Rainey, 2014). In the context of work place diversity defined the term to
employing individual who are having different skills and uniqueness or they are mainly belongs
from different background based on nationality, religion, physical appearance, education, gender
and many others.
The importance of equality and diversity in developing productive and effective workforce.
From the views expressed by Louise Petty, 2016, diversity and equality are two important
element of an organisational context. Effective diversity and equality practices are appropriate in
making sure that the provides services to the individuals are accessible and fair to every one. In
today's modern business environment, the key motive of each small as well as large business
environment is to strengthen their workforces by providing them diversified area of opportunities
and equality within the workplace environment (Kulik, 2014). Equality and diversity in the work
place promotes effective and efficient workforce, thus equality and diversity helps the in
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motivating employees at work place to contributing their significant efforts in the growth and
success of business. There is innumerable importance of equality and diversity in developing
productive and effective workforce, some are associated as below:
Increased Creativity: In the context of business, workplace diversity and equality develops
creativity, thus diversity and equality helps the firm is retaining individual from homogeneous
group and this create value for the firm in developing creativity (Riivari and Lämsä, 2014).
Therefore, people from different background, culture and religion or education background are
more liable in promoting creativity via providing innovative knowledge base and ideas. This
overall performs vital role in strengthen the workforce of the firm.
Improve moral: Equality and diversity helps the firm in encouraging employees via developing
their moral, thus highly motivated people are effective for the firm in contributing their
significant efforts in the growth and success of business. Equality mainly providing fair
opportunities to the individuals to attain growth within diversified areas.
The issues which are faced by an organisation while implementing equality and diversity
practices.
As per the views expressed by Avijat Niroula, 2017, In today's modern business
environment, the key motive of each small as well as large business enterprises is to attaining
higher growth and success via managing equality and diversity at work place. Managing equality
is the responsibility of the management department, as it is important for an organisation to
promote equality for the attainment of better results and outcomes and this also create value in
reducing discrimination. Along with this, Diversity is the major concern of organisational
authority to explore business functions at global level for the purpose of attaining higher growth
and success (Tatli and Özbilgin, 2012). In successfully implementation of equality and diversity
practices, organisations are facing multiple issues and conflicts, in which some are associated as
below:
Communication Barriers: This recognised as the key issue which is mainly faces by the
businesses during the implementation of equality and diversity practices. Communication is a
major aspect which is requires to be properly implemented by the management in respect to
properly managing business practices (Cooper, Patel and Thatcher, 2013). Therefore, inequality
at work place, create the issue of communicate as employees are not willing to implement
relationship with each other and it affects the overall working of the firm.
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Insufficient management of operations: This issue is mainly occurs due to diversity, as
businesses are concern over exploring operations at wider level for the purpose of attaining
growth and success. During diversifying business operations the issue of management has arises,
thus businesses are not properly able to execute all the operations in right manner and this has
wider influence over the growth of business.
The ways through which equality and diversity could be promoted in an organisation.
According to the opinion stated by Diane Lynn, 2018, Equality and diversity are two
major aspects which are requires to be considered by the businesses for the purpose of attaining
higher growth and success within the commercial centre. As a large pharmaceutical company, it
is important for AstraZeneca to manage equality and diversity for the purpose of attaining
higher growth and success at work place. There are multiple ways that are implemented by
AstraZeneca to promote equality and diversity at work place, in which some are associated as
below:
Equal Opportunity policy- To promote the equality and diversity, there is a need to company to
develop equal opportunity policy. It is formal manifest that can set out the commitment of
company to fairness, it provides the guidelines and to deal with the issues properly (Guillaume
and et. al., 2013). Through this, an organisation can communicate commitment to the quality of
opportunities in to employment.
Proper Grievance procedure- Grievance is dissatisfaction of staff members which what they
expects from an organisation and management (Laudet and Humphreys, 2013). Management
should follow the proper grievance procedure and solve the issues of those employee s which
face the discrimination related issues, company should treat all employees equally and make the
policies same for each employee.
Work place flexibility- Flexibility helps in able the people and organisation to meet through
making the proper changes to location and time (Olsen and Martins, 2012). At workplace, there
should be flexibility so that employees will feel comfortable to working. Employer should treat
all the staff members equally and deal with them positively. In order to promote equality and
diversity, manager should focus on train employees, prioritise employee work life balance,
remove gender pay gap and any others.
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Chapter 3: Methodology Justification
Research methodology is an important area of investigation which performs a vital role in
assisting the whole work in right direction via the support of suitable selection of methodology.
The main obligation of an investigator is to analyse, select and implement an effective strategy
which is suitable for a specified subject area. The major selection of methodology is based on the
type of investigation, thus an investigation is either called qualitative or quantitative in nature.
therefore the selection is based on the information accumulated by the researcher (Olsen and
Martins, 2012). The present investigation area is based on analysing the need of promoting
equality and diversity in an organisational context. This is a wide area of academic work which
can properly be investigated via the guidance of qualitative research. As it is effective in
providing detailed evaluation over the subject area with the supports of appropriate information.
In this descriptive research design is the most suitable as it is appropriate for quantitative
research and performs effective role in conducting detailed analysis through the support of
theories and hypothesis. In this, information accumulation is based on primary as well as
secondary source of data collection (Singh, Winkel and Selvarajan, 2013). Primary investigation
is effective in accumulation of data which is new in nature and in this data information
accumulation is relay upon survey in which data has been gathered via the help of developing
questionnaire as it is most effective and liable source of collecting primary data. The major
reason for choosing questionnaire is that, it is effective in gathering large amount of data within a
less time duration and also effective in providing information with actual facts and figures which
are liable in reaching at the potential outcome. On the contrary, the major disadvantage of
primary investigation is that it is based on respondents opinion and in this people are meanly not
providing their consent and not showing their concern regarding providing information.
In this the study area of wide as it is important for the researcher to analyse opinion of
respondents and interpret them in actual action. In this secondary investigation is conducted to
justifying the work in viable manner through developing theoretical framework, in which
investigation issue is discussed in detailed manner. In this information is mainly gathered from
books, Journals, newspapers, published research articles etc. Secondary investigation has major
importance in providing suitable guidance to the work through developing an in-depth evaluation
via the support of already gathered data related to the similar area of study. The major
disadvantage of this method is that in this information gathering is tough as the authenticity of
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sources is matters. Therefore it is important for the investigator to find appropriate sources to
provide suitable information that assist the work in right manner.
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Chapter 4: Methodology Explanation
This is the most impelling area of an investigation as it assist the investigator in
implementing primary investigation is viable manner to reaching at the potential outcome. This
section is particularly based on providing an appropriate guidelines to implement appropriate
sources and instruments to gather valid and reliable information, that could be resulted in
reaching at the potential results (Ocloo and Matthews, 2016). This part is mainly based on
execution of primary investigation as proper assistance is required to suitable execution of
primary sources. Primary research is effective in determining the need of promoting equality and
diversity at work place of an organisation for the purpose of attaining growth.
Access: Access is the primary concern of an investigator to conduct a research in right manner.
In the present investigation study is conducted over AstraZeneca and the access is required to
collecting information via the opinion analysis of the employees. In this investigation, access has
been gained by the mutual concern of the researcher and the management of the firm, as the
organisational management has providing approval to the researcher to gather information from
their employees as the staff members are more valuable in providing authentic and actual
information. Therefore, there is no need for consent form as the researcher is having good or
mutual relationships with the management of the firm. This could help the researcher in gaining
suitable information (Ellemers and et. al., 2012). After gaining the approval questionnaire is
being circulating via the email facility and the questionnaire related to the chosen subject area
are mailed to the respondents who are having significant idea and knowledge regards the area of
equality and diversity. As people with suitable knowledge related with similar area are effective
in rending authentic information.
Sampling: Sampling is the most imperative part of an investigation as it is effective in
determining the accuracy of the outcome. Sampling is emphasises over selecting people.
Therefore, population is the aggregation of the aspects that has some or other characteristic in
common manner. Sampling mainly replicates from the original population and it is mainly based
on probabilistic and non-probabilistic sampling methods. In the present investigation work
sampling has been select through random sampling as in this randomly individuals are picked
among the group in which people are having idea about the similar area of study. Sample size of
30 has been taken and in this respondents are the individuals who are aware about the chosen
subject area and employees and staff members of the organisation, as people with high
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knowledge are mainly liable in providing information in regards to the area of analysing the need
of promoting equality and diversity in the context of business growth. In this male and female
both the staff members are involves, who are belongs from the age group of more than 18 years.
Primary data collection instrument: This is also an important area of investigation as it refers as
a general term which is applied by the researcher as a most appropriate device for measurement.
Primary research is defined as the procedure of collecting information from original aspects as
opposed to gathering data from another research that are already being done by others. Primary
investigation is effective in providing actual information over the subject area of determining the
need of promoting equality and diversity in an organisation (Gay, 2013). Primary informations
can be accumulated from multiple sources like self administration, interview, survey, field
observation and experiments. In the present area of work information is gathered through
conducting survey via developing a questionnaire which covers the aim and objectives of the
research.
Data collection administration: This is also a major task which is requires to be performed by
the researcher in respect to maintaining the authenticity and management of information. In the
present investigation area, interview is conducted and questions are being asked to the individual
who are having supportive knowledge regarding the subject area through execution of an
personal interview. The researcher have to administer the questionnaires and the informations in
appropriate manner and analyse them to reaching at the potential outcome. In this administration
has been done through receiving questionnaire via the help of email and suitable management
has been done through receiving views of the selected people from the staff member of
AstraZeneca through the exponential support of survey. Therefore, information gathered from
the survey is kept in the form of word document and than analysis section is conducted through
assisting the work in right manner.
Data analysis approach: Data analysis is refers as the procedure of analysing the information via
applying analytical or statistical techniques to gather appropriate data and aid in organisational
decision making. This part of investigation methodology plays vital role in analysing the
gathered information to providing suitable outcome on the investigation area (Valls and
Kyriakides, 2013). In the present area of investigation data has been analysed with the help of
thematic analysis as in this themes are prepared on the questions of that are being asked in the
survey via the help of questionnaire and also cover the aim and objectives of the study. Thematic
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