Equality and Diversity Project: Apple Inc. Case Study Analysis

This project delves into the realm of project management, specifically examining equality and diversity issues within the context of Apple Inc. The project begins with an introduction to equality and diversity in the workplace, emphasizing their significance. It then outlines a detailed project management plan, including cost, scope, time, quality, communication, risk, and resources. A work breakdown structure and a Gantt chart are provided to illustrate project organization and timelines. The research methodology employs a qualitative approach, utilizing the Interpretivism philosophy and an inductive research approach, with primary data collected through questionnaires. The project includes data interpretation, analyzing the impact of gender pay gaps on employee performance and organizational challenges. It concludes with reflections on the value gained from conducting the project, reflective writing, and a comprehensive bibliography and appendices.

Managing A Successful Business Project

Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................................3
2. Project management plan...................................................................................................4
3. Work Breakdown Structure and Gantt chart......................................................................5
4. Researcher Methodology....................................................................................................8
5. Data Interpretation............................................................................................................10
7. Reflection.........................................................................................................................20
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................21
REFERENCE.................................................................................................................................22
Appendix........................................................................................................................................24
Log book........................................................................................................................................26
Performance review template..........................................................................................................1

1. INTRODUCTION
Equality and diversity are terms that mainly used within organization, which ensuring
everybody has an equal opportunity so as they can free to do their task. On the other hand,
Diversity is mainly taking account of differences between group of people and give positive
values. In workplaces, it will increase issues of equality and diversity such as gender pay gap
which causes for affecting overall business environment. It also increases conflict between
employees. In this way, it will require for giving equal treatment of employee and give freedom
to share their innovative idea for organization growth.
Apple Inc is based on the multinational technology corporation that deals in designs and
develops electronic computer software and online services. It provides various type of services
in marketplace such as iPhone smartphones, iPad tablet and other mac personal computers. The
organization was established in the 1977 and went achieve success through market in 1980
(Sundstrom and et.al., 2016).
The research will be in context of equality and diversity issues where how company
responds towards and deals within proper manner. It also investigates about the significance
impacts of equality and diversity issues in performance of employee. An effectively accomplish
the company’s futuristic goal and objectives.
Aim: To investigate that how multinational companies responded to the current issue gender pay
gap in equality and diversity at workplace. A case study on Apple Inc.
Objective:
 To analyze the positive and negative aspects of equality or diversity in the workplace.
 To determine the significance impacts of equality and diversity issues in performance of
employee.
 To evaluate the challenges faced by Apple Inc. firm due to sexual harassment, unequal
pay scale.
 To provide recommendation related solution for reducing consequences of equality and
diversity issues in organization.

Research Questions:
 What are different positive and negative aspects of equality and diversity in the
workplace?
 How can determine the significance impact of equality and diversity issues in
performance of employee?
 What are challenges faced by Apple Inc. firm due to sexual harassment, unequal pay
scale?
 How can be recommendation related solution for reducing consequences of equality and
diversity issues in organization?
2. Project management plan
Project management plan is the formally approved document used for proper
management in project execution. The PMP documents define actions, preparation, integration
along with coordination in various planning activities (Adekiya and Ibrahim, 2016). It also
defines about project execution along with monitoring and controlling throughout the course of
project.
 Cost- The amount required by the researcher to accomplish the research project is termed
as cost. In the project management plan, there will be distribution of cost according to
requirement of each activity. There will be requirement of £200 by researcher to
accomplish the project including the cost of labor and material. The cost of £1500 will be
required for implementation of project.
 Scope- The scope in completion of research will be in finding the different ways of
recruitment, selection and training of employee to ascertain their contribution in
adherence of international requirement. The research will help other scholar to
understand the relationship between employee development to cope with challenges in
HRM policies and international requirement. From the project perspective, there will be
development for opportunities to new position within company along with commitment
of lifelong learning and relevant skill and competencies in employees.
 Time- The total time required to achieve the aims and objectives of project is termed as
the time of research. The researcher has estimated a timed period of 8 weeks to
successfully accomplishment of research. With perspective of company project the time
required will be 10 weeks.

 Quality- The quality of the research refers to the authenticity of the research project.
From the perspective of research, there should be proper implementation of project
management plan and quality standard to bring the best outcome from the quality of work
performed. In the views of project, there should be implementation of key performance
indicators and bench marking to ensure the quality of effectiveness and efficiency in
performance of project.
 Communication- In the completion of research, there should be effective
communication among team members. Foe the proper communication from respondent,
questionnaire will be filled (Clarke and Higgs, 2016). Direct email will be used as
communication tool for the effective result. With the perceptive of project, telephonic
tools and emails will be used by HR and employees to have proper training and
development.
 Risk- The risk in completion research will be in theft of data and physical injury to
researcher or team members. The other risk can be lack of financial resources and
technological resources. In the completion of project, there will be financial risk and
human resource risk.
 Resources- There will be requirement of laptops, assistant and technological guidance.
For keeping up the backup laptop will be used along with assistant manager to manage
the work in absence of manager (Galankashi and et.al., 2015). From the perspective of
project, there will be requirement of human resources and financial resources for
completion.
3. Work Breakdown Structure and Gantt chart
Work Breakdown Structure is project management and engineering systems for
breakdown of the project into smaller and simpler components. The structures is basically a key
deliverable for organising the teams works into managerial sections.
Gantt chart -The use of charts and bars for the proper illustration of project schedule. It
is the visual representation of schedule indicating the starting and finishing point.

Task
Mode Task Name Duration Start Finish Predecessors
Auto
Scheduled
Identification of needs of
training and development 15 days Mon 9/9/19 Fri 9/27/19
Auto
Scheduled create aim and objective 11 days Mon 9/9/19 Mon 9/23/19
Auto
Scheduled
project management plan
for recruitment 8 days Mon 9/30/19 Wed 10/9/19 1
Auto
Scheduled research methodology 6 days Tue 9/24/19 Tue 10/1/19 2
Auto
Scheduled
collection of data from
employees 5 days Thu 10/10/19 Wed
10/16/19 3
Auto
Scheduled
analysis data and
interpretation 4 days Wed 10/2/19 Mon 10/7/19 4
Auto
Scheduled
recommendation and
conclusion 4 days Thu 10/17/19 Tue 10/22/19 5
Mile stone

Network diagram

4. Researcher Methodology
Research Methodology is used to lay down particular procedures as well as techniques in
order to identify, process, select, and then analyse information about the research. There are
various research methods. In order to perform the research, the Qualitative methods are used.
Research Philosophy
It is a way in which the data about the globalisation is gathered, then analysed and at last
the data is used. There two types of research philosophy used for the study, for the Qualitative
research Interpretivism philosophy is used the meaning of which is involving the researchers in
order to interpret the elements of study in which the human interest is integrated to study.
Another philosophy is Positivism in which only the factual knowledge is gained through
observation (Treweek and et.al., 2018). It is used in the Quantitative research. In order to
perform the research Interpretivism philosophy is used because it will help in gaining the in-
depth insights of the recruitment process in the global market in order to gain close interaction
with the other international employees.
Research Approach
It includes the plan as well as procedures in which broad assumptions steps are there for
the data collection, analysing the data and then interpretation of the data using various methods is
done. For the qualitative study the Inductive approach is used in which observation as well as
theories are processed in which patterns, regularities etc. are used to derive result. Another test is
known as Deductive test. The test is quantitative test in which hypothesis is built based on using
the theory which is existing and reasoning of the data is done. In order to perform the research
Inductive test is used because it is more realistic, more accurate and helps in future inquiries
related to outsourcing.
Data collection
It is a process of gathering as well as measuring information which is based on targeted
variables. Primary data collection means the collection of the data from the primary sources via
interview, questionnaire, Delphi technique, Projective techniques, etc. The secondary data
collection means collection of the data from the secondary source (Swider, Zimmerman and
Barrick, 2015). It is much prevalent in the quantitative research. In order to perform the research,
the researcher has used the primary source of data in which questionnaire method is used

because it is cheap and helps in getting fast result from the employees in order to compare the
domestic and international employee’s performance.
Sampling
The meaning of sampling is taking samples in order to do analysis of the samples. For the
qualitative Research random sampling is used in which from the population sample is selected in
order to make the inferences which is about the population, for example exit polls. For the
quantitative research Purposive techniques is used in which researcher is dependent on the his or
her judgement.
With the goal in which useful information is derived the data is inspected, transformed
and then modelled. All this process is known as data analysis (Smith, 2015). Thematic data
analysis is used in the qualitative research in which the patterns of data is identified using the
cluster of methods. SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) is used to do quantitative
research in which the quantitative data is analysed by using software. In order to conduct the
study Thematic data analysis method is used because this method is highly flexible in which the
data related to the international recruitment can be changed as per the requirements of the
international requirements.
Ethical consideration
The ethical consideration is same for the qualitative and quantitative research in which
moral principles are used which governs the behaviour of the researcher in order to conduct the
research. In order to conduct the research, the ethics used in the study are the equality, in which
all employees are considered equal.
5. Data Interpretation
Data Interpretation is a process for implementation of overall procedures through data
which can be reviewed for purpose of arriving at interference. The research will easily analyse
data relevant to the research project.
Theme 1: Gender pay gap impacts on the performance of employee at workplace.
Q1. Do you think that Gender pay gap impacts on the performance of employee at workplace?
Particulars Respondent
Strongly Agree 2
Agree 3

Strongly disagree 2
Disagree 3
Total 10
Table:1
Figure 1
Data Interpretation:
From the above data, it has found that gender pay gap directly impacts on the overall
performance of employee at workplace. Every respondent shows their own view point about the
issues related gender pay gap. It can be identified that 2 respondents strongly agree, 3 agree, 2
strongly disagree, 3 disagree. As per analysis, it has summarized that gender pay gap increase the
changes in work environment, which directly affecting on the performance and reduce attitude of
workers towards business goals and objectives.

Theme 2 Gender pay gap issue increases the challenges in the organization regarding degrade
productivity and profitability.
Q2. Do you think that Gender pay gap issue increases the challenges in the organization
regarding degrade productivity and profitability?
Particulars Respondent
Strongly agree 4
Agree 2
Disagree 3
Strongly Disagree 1
Total 10
Table:2
Figure 2
Data Interpretation
In above discussion, it has summarized about the Gender pay gap issue, which is one of
most common problem arises at workplace. It can be found that increases challenging situation
of Apple Inc. firm related limited production occurs. As per analysis, it can be determined that
most of respondent strongly agree on the statement where 4 respondents are strongly agreed, 2
agree, 3 disagree and 1 strongly disagree. The respondents are providing the detail about the

issues as per their own experience because this type of situation has increases confliction among
employee which directly affect on growth rate of organization.
Theme 3 the enterprises beneficial for increasing diversity which may secured and
accompanied by policies and practices.
Q3. Do you think that enterprises beneficial for increasing diversity which may secured and
accompanied by policies and practices?
Particulars Respondent
Strongly agree 4
Agree 2
Disagree 3
Strongly Disagree 1
Total 10
Table: 3
Figure 3
Data Interpretation
From the above analysis, it has found that maximum respondents agree on the policies
and procedures which help for maintaining diversity within organization. The respondents are
giving the opinion related policies and procedures because they are mainly followed by Apple