Unit 6 Report: Strategies and Initiatives for Workforce Diversity

This report, focusing on Next Plc, investigates strategies and initiatives for creating a diverse and inclusive workforce. It outlines project aims and objectives, including determining the understanding of diversity and equality, identifying issues stemming from a lack of diversity, and ascertaining company initiatives. The project management plan covers costs, scope, timeframes (using Work Breakdown Structure and Gantt charts), and quality assurance. The research methodology includes primary and secondary research, qualitative and quantitative approaches, and a questionnaire. Data analysis interprets responses on diversity awareness and issues, alongside recommendations for improvement. The report concludes with a summary of findings and suggestions for enhancing diversity and inclusion within Next Plc, contributing to the understanding of effective business practices.

Unit 6 - Managing a
Successful Business Project
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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.
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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
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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?
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 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.
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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.
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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.
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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:
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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.
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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...
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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
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a) Agree b) Disagree
0
5
10
15
20
25 22
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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
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13 a) Improve in creativity
b) Increase in profitability
c) Reduction of employee
turnover