Research Proposal: Equality & Diversity Impact on Conflict Management

This research proposal investigates the significance of equality and diversity in mitigating workplace conflicts arising from cultural differences. The study, focusing on Hennes & Mauritz (H&M), aims to identify the impact of conflicts on employee performance and propose effective management strategies. The research encompasses an introduction to conflict management and the concepts of equality and diversity, outlining research objectives, questions, and the rationale behind the investigation. A literature review explores the concepts, the role of equality and diversity practices in conflict resolution, and the impact of conflicts on employee performance. The methodology section details the use of qualitative and quantitative methods, primary and secondary data collection, and the application of a Gantt chart for time management. The proposal concludes with a list of cited references, providing a comprehensive overview of the research approach and supporting literature.

Research Proposal

Cover page
Abstract
Conflict management as well as equality & diversity are the two essential element
behind every successfully business entity. It has been observed that while expanding business
functions at international marketplace, human resource management team face some issues
related to employee and employer conflicts arise at the environment. It creates negative
influence on the overall performance and efficiency of staff members which affect the end
result of the company. The present investigation is conducted where the aim of the research is
“To investigate the significance of equality and diversity for reducing conflicts arise at
workplace due to cultural differences.” With the help of conducting the whole research,
impact of conflicts on the performance of employees has been identified and effective
measures can be taken by the management team for improving the performance and
effectiveness.

Contents
Abstract......................................................................................................................................2
Introduction...............................................................................................................................4
Research Aim.........................................................................................................................4
Research objectives................................................................................................................4
Research Questions................................................................................................................4

Introduction
Conflict management refers to a procedure where negative impact of conflicts reduce by
the management team and increasing the positive aspects for the enhancement of
effectiveness. Main aim behind conflict management is to improve the learning as well as
group results, including performance of the individuals. Due to rise in conflicts and disputes
among employees and employer, it is required by the human resource manager to adopt
conflict management strategies. In the present research, Hennes & Mauritz is chosen as the
base company for conducting the whole investigation in an effective manner and reduce
negative impact by providing them recommendations related to conflict management. H&M
is a Swedish clothing multinational corporations establish in the year 1947. Company deals in
fast fashion clothing which was incorporated by Erling Persson. The present investigation
includes research aim and objectives along with methods for gathering information.
Research Aim
“To investigate the significance of equality and diversity for reducing conflicts arise at
workplace due to cultural differences.” A Case study on Hennes & Mauritz (H&M).
Research objectives
1. To know the concept of Equality & diversity and conflict management.
2. To identify the significance of equality and diversity practices in order to resolve
conflicts within the workplace.
3. To examine the impact of conflicts on the performance of employees working within
the organization.
Research Questions
1. What do you know about the concept of Equality & Diversity and conflict
management?
2. What are significance of equality and diversity practices in order to resolve conflicts
within the workplace?
3. What is the impact of conflicts on the performance of employees working within the
organization?
Rationale for the research

For conducting an investigation, it has been said that there are different reasons behind
doing a research. It has also been identified that behind doing any reason their are some
reasons and its own impact which is required to be considered by every researcher so that the
whole investigation will produce favourable and positive results. Main reason or purpose
behind doing this research is the professional basis of the investigator as they saw some
issues related to cultural differences which leads towards conflicts might affect the overall
performance of the individual and whole. By doing this, they can easily identify the reasons
behind such factors and might reduce the negative influence. Apart from this, another reason
is related with the investigators own interest as they want to improve the knowledge and
understanding related to the specific topic which help them in getting opportunities in both
personal as well as professional level.
Literature review
Concept of equality and diversity and conflict management
On the basis of opinion of.....equality and diversity at workplace is associated to the staff
members working within the organization needs to be equal opportunities. Diversity said to
be very common element arise at the workplace as each and every individual comes in the
organisation from different background and have their own values and beliefs. It has also
been said that the concept of cultural diversity is growing up on a fastest level as
organisations start expanding their business functions at international marketplace. Due to
cultural differences among individual working within the organization conflicts and disputes
arise which creates negative influence on the performance of employees. Therefore, it is
required by the human resource manager of an organization to provide equal opportunities to
each and every individuals working within the company. This will assist them in reducing
negative influence of conflicts on the performance of employees.
Significance of equality and diversity practices in order to resolve conflicts within the
workplace
As per the opinion of.....it has been said that equality and diversity practices plays very
essential role in the growth and development of a business entity. Implementation of equality
and diversity practices help in creating positive working environment within the workplace
which increases the overall efficiency of staff members as they get equal growth
opportunities at the competitive environment. With the help of this, human resources
manager can effectively and efficiently resolve conflicts and negative impact of disputes from
the workplace. Along with this, by adopting this managers of the company can motivate their

staff members and can improve their working style in a positive manner. In addition to this, it
has also been said that by motivating staff members on a regular basis by giving them equal
chances can enhance their performance which leads towards the attainment of organizational
goals and objectives in an appropriate manner. Along with this, they can also retain their
capable and skilled staff members for a longer duration of time by providing them equal
growth and development opportunities.
Impact of conflicts on the performance of employees working within the organization.
According to the view point of....it has been identified that conflicts among the staff
members might arise at workplace which affects the overall performance and efficiency of
workers. Due to different culture, background, thoughts and opinions of each and every
individuals working in the organization might create disputes which can be both positive and
negative. Positive influence of conflicts help in creating decisions with the help of
communicating each and every persons thought and opinions. This might create conflicts
because of different views point and opinions of the individuals working in the organization
but at the same time creates positive outcomes for the company. Apart from this, employee
feel demotivated and might arise conflicts between staff members which reduces their overall
performance and efficiency in a negative manner. Therefore, conflicts have both positive and
negative influence over the performance of employees.
Research Methodology
In order to conduct the whole research in a well defined manner, it has been said that
investigator need to adopt different types of data collection methods. Some of the most
important tools which are going to be used by the researcher for completing the whole
research are going to be discussed as follows:
Qualitative Method: It defines as a method used to gather all non-numerical data
which will assist in completing the whole research in a positive and well defined manner. All
the information gathered by researchers are authentic and can easily be reliable to conclude
the whole investigation in an appropriate way. Along with this, it has also been concluded
that data which is collected with the help of qualitative method are mainly in the structure of
descriptive & can easily interpret by scholars.
Quantitative: It refers to the kind of research method which assist in gathering all
numerical, statistical as well as mathematical data for completing the investigation in an

effective way. For this, mainly researchers use survey, polls, questionnaires and so on for
doing the whole research in a statistical manner.
In the present context, quantitative method is usually adopted by researcher which
provide authentic data and information.
Primary: In this method, fresh and raw data is gathered by the investigator for which
questionnaires, observation, survey method is used by the researcher. All these methods assist
in drawing valid conclusion with the help of raw data.
Secondary: According to this method, researcher use online articles, websites,
magazine, newspaper and many more for gathering information and data. This is one of the
most effective method as it is cost and time effective.
In relation to the present investigation, both primary and secondary data collection
method are adopted by the investigator where literature review is used in secondary method.
Time Scale
Gantt Chart: A Gantt chart refers to a kind of bar chart which graphically represent
the overall project schedule. This is a tool which is mainly used by researcher while
conducting the investigation in order to identify the time schedule. This chart includes
vertical as well as horizontal axis where task performed shows on the vertical axis and the
time taken is on horizontal axis. In addition to this, with the help of Gantt charts starting and
ending point of the research can easily be identified.

References
Books and journals
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Spivak, G.C., 2020. Scattered Speculations on Business and Cultural Diversity. In The Praxis
of Diversity (pp. 199-212). Palgrave Macmillan, Cham.
Young, S. and Guo, K.L., 2020. Cultural diversity training: the necessity of cultural
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de Vries, J., 2020. Identifying Inventory Project Management conflicts: results of an
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Breeze, J., Blanch, R.J., Mazzoli, R., DuBose, J., Bowley, D.M. and Powers, D.B., 2020.
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