Managing Cultural Diversity at the Workplace: Research Proposal

This research proposal investigates the effects of managing cultural diversity in the workplace, focusing on Marks & Spencer as a case study. The study aims to determine the impact of diverse cultures on staff performance, examining the objectives, research questions, and literature review on the concept of cultural diversity, its influence on employee performance, and the advantages of effective management. The research methodology includes both quantitative and qualitative approaches, utilizing deductive reasoning, primary and secondary data collection methods, and non-probability sampling. The proposal outlines the activities, timelines, and ethical considerations, including informed consent and data security, ensuring compliance with the Data Protection Act. The proposal also includes a Gantt chart for project management and seeks ethical approval for human participant research, covering participant recruitment, consent, data storage, and potential ethical concerns. The research intends to explore how senior authorities face challenges in managing diverse cultures and the potential benefits of such management for an organization.

Research Proposal Form
Student Name: ______________________ Student ID:
____________
Centre Name: _____________________
Tutor: ________________ Date:
___________________
Unit: ____________________
Proposed Title: Managing cultural diversity at the workplace.
Section One: Title, objective, responsibilities
Title or working title of the research project (in the form of a question, objective or
hypothesis)
Research Title: - Determine the affect of managing diverse culture on staff performance.
Research Aim
“To determine the affect faced by senior authorities while managing diverse culture at
workplace. A case study on Marks & Spencer”.
Research objectives (e.g what is the question you want to answer? What do you want
to learn how to do? What do you want to find out?):
Objectives
 To know about the concept of managing cultural diversity.
 To examine the influence of diverse culture over the employees’ performance.
 To analyse several advantages gain by management while managing cultural
diversity.
Research questions
 What is the concept of managing cultural diversity?
 What are the influences of diversified culture on employees’ performance?
 What are several advantages gain by management while managing cultural
diversity?
Section Two: Reasons for choosing this research project
Reasons for choosing the project (e.g links to other subjects you are studying,

personal interest, future plans, knowledge/skills you want to improve, why the topic is
important):
Rational of the study:
Respective research project is performed upon the topic that is managing cultural diversity
at workplace. Moreover, this incorporates several aspects that include influences and
advantages to manage diverse culture that drives towards firm’s performance development.
Additionally, there are few reasons besides performing overall investigation that
incorporates professional and personal reasons. Along with this, there could be investigator
personal interest beside selecting respective topic that enhances its own understanding as
well as knowledge. While on other side, professional research could facilitate various
opportunities of growth in future period.
Section Three: Literature sources searched
Use of key literature sources to support your research question, objective or
hypothesis:
Concept of managing cultural diversity.
According to Cockayne (2020), It is essential to manage the various culture individuals.
Moreover, this is considered as process where tradition, religion, culture and other of all
employees are different as well as that has competencies to influence staff performance. in
addition to this, it become essential for firm to manage the diverse culture that occurs
within work area in order to gain favourable results.
Influence of diverse culture over the employees’ performance.
As per the Colella and King, E. eds., (2020), This has been determined that in case
superior of entity manage the diverse culture at respective work area effectively and
efficiently then business productivity as well as performance may influences in favourable
manner in competitive market area. In addition to this, it is undertaken as procedures that
has both favourable as well as unfavourable influence upon staff. In case of favourable
influence, this would aids in forming optimistic as well as stronger relation among staff
and manager. While on other side, in case unfavourable influence manager regularly get
irritated as well as restless in order to manage diverse cultural individuals.
Advantages gain by management while managing cultural diversity.
According to DhananiBeus and Joseph (2020), This have been analysed that there are
various advantages which are gain by management for managing diversified culture

individuals performing into entity. Moreover, one of the effective benefit is it would
become competent to retain its employees for long duration that enhances organisation’s
brand reputation. Also, the other advantage that is obtain by management is that it would
become competent to build optimistic work atmosphere into its firm taht drives towards
development as well as success in competitive market.
Reference
Books and journals
Cockayne, D.G., 2020. Underperformative economies: Discrimination and gendered ideas
of workplace culture in San Francisco’s digital media sector. Environment and
Planning A: Economy and Space, 50(4), pp.756-772.
Colella, A. and King, E. eds., 2020. The Oxford handbook of workplace discrimination.
Oxford University Press.
Dhanani, L.Y., Beus, J.M. and Joseph, D.L., 2020. Workplace discrimination: A meta‐
analytic extension, critique, and future research agenda. Personnel
Psychology, 71(2), pp.147-179.
Harnois, C.E. and Bastos, J.L., 2020. Discrimination, harassment, and gendered health
inequalities: do perceptions of workplace mistreatment contribute to the gender
gap in self-reported health?. Journal of health and social behavior, 59(2), pp.283-
299.
Section Four: Activities and timescales
Activities to be carried out during the research project (e.g
research, development and analysis of ideas, writing, data
collection, numerical analysis, tutor meetings, production of final
outcome, evaluation, writing the report):
Introduction
Research Aim Objectives
Review of literature
Research Methodology
Submission of the research proposal
Feedback from tutor
Data collectionstage
Data analysis
Research result
Conclusion as well as recommendation
How long this will
take:
5
8
12
16
1
5
28
22

Reflection
Submission of final project 10
6
4
2
Milestone one: Literature Review
Target date (Set by tutor):
01/04/2020 to 16/04/2020
Milestone two: Data Collection
Target date (set by tutor): 19/05/2020 to 25/06/2020
Milestone Three: Data Analysis
Target Date: 26/06/2020 to 27/07/2020
Gantt Chart:

Section Five: Research approach and methodologies
What type of research approach and methodologies are you likely to use and why?
What your areas of research will cover:
Research methodology:
Quantitative and qualitative are two key forms of research methods that are utilised
through researcher. Moreover, in this research, Qualitative and quantitative both methods
are undertaken by investigator.
Research approach:
Research approaches are mainly of two types that are deductive and inductive. For this
research, deductive approach is undertaken through investigator as this facilitates effectual
information. Moreover, this also renders helps for drawing conclusion effectively and

efficiently.
Data collection:
It is considered as one of the vital method which is of two kinds such as secondary and
primary. So, for this investigation, researcher undertakes both secondary and primary
method. In secondary method literature review is going to be opted while in primary
questionnaires method.
Sampling:
There are basically tow forms of sampling collection method such as Non probability and
probability. Within respective research, researcher undertakes the non probability method
where random sampling is utilised through them. In addition to this, 30 respondents are
selected that are the staff of Marks & Spencer.
Comments and agreement from tutor
Comments (optional):
I confirm that the project is not work which has been or will be submitted for another qualification and is
appropriate.
Agreed: ________________ (name)_______________ Date ______________
Comments and agreement form project proposal checker( IV sampling)
Comments (Optional):
I confirm that the project is appropriate.
Agreed /Disagree: (Name of the IV) Date

Research Ethics approval form
All students conducting research activity that involves human participants or the use of data
collected form human participants are required to gain ethical approval before commencing
their research. Please answer all relevant questions and note that your form may be returned if
incomplete.
For further support and guidance please see your respective Unit Tutor:
Before completing this form, we advise that you discuss your proposed research fully with
your unit tutor. Please complete this form in good time before your research project is due to
commence.
Section 1: Basic details:
Project title:
“To determine the affect faced by senior authorities while managing diverse culture at
workplace. A case study on Marks & Spencer”.
Student name:
Student ID number:
Programme:
College Name:
Intended research start date: 13/03/2020
Intended research end date: 26/08/2020
Section 2 Project summary
Please select all research methods that you plan to use as a part of your project:
 Interviews Yes
 Questionnaires Yes
 Observations Yes
 Use of personal records Yes No
 Data Analysis Yes
 Action Research Yes No
 Focus Groups No
 Others (Please specify) : n/a
Section 3: Participants
Please answer the following questions, giving full details where necessary.
Will your research involve human participants?
Yes
Who are the participants? Tick all that apply:
Ages 12-16: No Young people aged: 17-18 No Adults: Yes
How will participants be recruited (identified an approached)?
Describe the processes you will use to inform participants about what you are doing:
The participants of the primary research will be sending with the informed consent form
and questionnaire on email.

How will you obtain consent from participants? Will this be written? How will it be made clear to
participants that they may withdraw consent to participate at any time?
By applying E-mail
Studies involving questionnaires: will participants be given the option of omitting questions that do not wish
to answer?
Yes
If no please explain why below and ensure that you cover any ethical issues arising from this
Studies involving observation: Confirm whether participants will be asked for their informed consent to be
observed.
Yes
Will you debrief participants at the end of their participation (i.e give them a brief explanation of the study)?
Yes
Will participants be given information about the findings of your study?(This could be a brief summary of
your findings in general)
Yes
Section 4: Data Storage and Security
Confirm that all personal data will be stored and processed in compliance with the Data Protection Act
(1998)
Yes
Who will have access to the data and personal information?
Researcher/Supervisor
During the research:
Reseacher/Supervisor
Where will the data be stored?
USB and Laptop
Will mobile devices such as USB storage and laptops be used
Yes
If Yes, please provide further details:
After the research: Safely dispose of the data
Where will the data be stored?:
USB/Laptop

How long will the data and records be kept for and in what format?
Approx Six months
Will data be kept for use by other researchers? No
Section 5 : Ethical Issues
Are there any particular features of your proposed work, which may raise ethical concerns? If so, please
outline how you will deal with these: N/A
It is important that you demonstrate your awareness of potential risks that may arise because of your
research. Please consider/address all issues that may apply. Ethical concerns may include, but are not
limited to the following :
 Informed consent. Yes
 Potentially vulnerable participants. n/a
 Sensitive topics n/a
 Risk to participants and /or researchers: n/a
 Confidentiality/anonymity: Yes
 Disclosures/ limits to confidentiality: Yes
 Data storage and security, both during and after the research (including transfer, sharing,
encryption, protection). Yes
 Reporting: Yes
 Dissemination and use of your findings: Yes
Section 6: Declaration
I have read, understood and will abide by the institution’s Research and Ethics Policy: Yes
I have discussed the ethical issues relating to my research with my Unit Tutor:
Yes
I confirm that to the best of my knowledge:
The above information is correct, and this is a full description of the ethical issues that may arise in the
course of my research
Name: Date:
Please submit your completed form to your tutor and also attach to the Research Proposal when
submitting to Turnitin.