Addressing Workplace Equality and Diversity: Debenhams Project Report

This report examines the issues and challenges arising from equality and diversity in the workplace, using Debenhams as a case study. It begins with an abstract and introduction, outlining the aims and objectives of the project, including an investigation of equality, diversity, and inclusion strategies. The report includes a project management plan, covering scope, risk, time, quality, cost, communication, and resources, along with a Gantt chart and Work Breakdown Structure (WBS). A literature review provides context. The research employs both qualitative and quantitative approaches, utilizing primary data collection methods. The report concludes with findings, analysis, and recommendations for stakeholders to improve workplace equality and diversity. Desklib provides past papers and solved assignments for students.

Managing a Successful Business
Project

ABSTRACT
Equality and diversity helps the organization to grow smoothly in the open market place.
Equality in the work place brings harmony at work place as well as helps in retaining skilled
employees for longer time duration. On the other hand diversity helps firm to compete with
rivalry. This report includes aims and objectives of the project in which issues emerged from
equality and diversity at the workplace. Primary data collection method in order to collect
relevant data from the respondents for the specified topic. Qualitative approach is widely adopted
by firm so as to deliver authentic and relevant information to the readers. Gantt Chart and WBS
is used in order to finish the project in the set deadline. Recommendation in context of
stakeholders are given so that necessary improvements can be done.

TITLE:
“What issues and challenges may arise out of equality and diversity in the workplace and
what measures could be taken by Debenhams to resolve them”. A case study on Debenhams.
INTRODUCTION
Today's business are operating diversely in intense competitive world. Distinguished
people with varied background are working under one roof in order to gain the common goal
designed by firm. Whereas, equality is the core element which need to be adopted in the working
premises so as to create faith and trust in the eyes of the customers. Diversity and equality aid
administration to grow the business smoothly in global market place (Al-Jenaibi, 2017). This
report is based on Debenhams which is a international retailer operating under department store
format United Kingdom. The firm is situated in London, UK whose CEO of the company is
Stefaan Vansteenkiste. This successful enterprise was founded in the eighteen century as a
single store in London. But now it has grown to 178 places across Denmark, UK and Ireland.
This report includes aims and objectives. Along with this project management plan covering
scope, size, time, quality, cost, communication and resources. Gantt Chart and Work Break
Down structure is prepared to that set objectives can be attained. For better results quantitative
and qualitative approach is studied in detail. Proper recommendation is provided after
considering the research findings.
Set aims and objectives
Background of Debenhams.
Debenhama is a international retailer operating stores in UK. In the eighteen century this
comaony was founded as single store in London. But with the phase of time it has expanded it's
business in around 178 countries across the globe. This leading company founder was William
Debenham. The employees are provided appropriate training so that their overall workforce
efficiency can be raised accordingly. Various products are sold by organization such as
cosmetics, gifts, toys, fashion clothing, home furnitures and many more.
Equity and diversity is the emerging issue in an organization. Many problems are faced
by company by building diverse culture in the working premises. In order to create tough bench
mark for others it is essential to work on the issues of equality and diversity. Management are
framing unique strategies in order to overcome the problem related to equity and diversity.

Organization frame aims and objectives so that strategies can be framed accordingly to
achieve it. They are designed by scanning the external environment effectively so as to attain
best outcomes. It also helps firm to motivate their staff members to work day and night to
achieve the common goal in the set time frame (Bardach and Patashnik, 2019).
Aims:
“To investigate equality, diversity and inclusion strategies at Debenhams”. A case study
on Debenhams.
Objectives:
 To examine the concept of equality , diversity and inclusion through a review of existing
literature.
 To examine the hurdles and objection which may occurred out of equality and diversity
in working premises.
 To identify the ways that could be interpreted to overcome the issues arise out of
diversity and equality.
 To examine the outcome of equality and diversity on the overall performance and
fruitfulness level of employees working in Debenhams.
Questions:
 What do you understand by phenomena of diversity and equality?
 To examine the strategies adopted by Debenhams to build a diverse and inclusive
workforce.
 How equality and diversity outcome overall performance and fruitfulness level of
employees working in Debenhams?
 Which are the hurdles and objection which may occurred out of equality and diversity in
the workplace?
Design Project Management Plan (PMP) by including scope, risk, time, quality, cost,
communication and resources.
Project Management Plan is a document which helps to explain every phase of a project.
This is used by the firm to complete the task smoothly without interference. The points are
mentioned beneath:

Scope: The scope of research conducted on the topic “To investigate equality, diversity
and inclusion strategies at Debenhams”is wider . By framing strong strategies for the issues and
challenges emerged from diversity and equality business can grow tremendously (Bryson, 2018).
By providing diversity training to the skilled and capable employees productive results can be
gained easily. Management monitor all the activities at the floor so that no one is disrespected in
any way and smooth working environment is created.
Risk: While conducting the research several challenges were faced research while
gathering information. Some of the risk factor are, time management, conflict among team
mates, lack of funds etc.
Cost: This is the main element in an enterprise in order to run research work smoothly.
This showcase value of amount that is needed in production and delivery of a commodity. By
analysing all the factor top management design budget for the company. Lack of funds can be
overcome either by collecting cash amount from friends, relatives, banks etc. So the estimated
budget for research work is as follows:
Activity Amount ($)
Travel 50
Research material 20
Research tools 30
Total 100
Time: This plays a vital role in achieving the desire outcome. Here, researcher requires
119 days in successfully complete the research work (Carter, 2018). All the activities are planned
accordingly so that they get full-filled in the set time duration.
Communication: Two-way free flow of communication is used by the research as easily
information is transferred to other party. By this best outcome can be gained as compare to
competitors. Lack of communication reduces productivity at a large scale.
Resources: All the resources are used effectively and efficiently to that researcher can
attain best outcomes. By motivating human resource company’s goodwill can be raised and
customers needs and preferences can be meet on time. The various sources from where data are

assembled are, books, journals, magazines and articles. All this resources helped researcher in
gathering authentic and relevant data for the topic. By this reliable information can be provided
to the readers regarding the topic.
Prepare Gantt Chart and Work Break Down Structure (WBS)
Gantt Chart: In 1910- 1915 this bar chart came into existence. The inventor of Gantt
Chart was Henry Gantt, an American engineer and social scientist. It shows dependency
relationship between existing schedule and activities. This is used by the organization as it
describes project schedule. It directly aids in measuring resources required, assessing how long a
project should take, design the path to complete the task. Gantt Chart plays a critical part as it
easy to create, use and keep track (Corey, 2017). There are numerous advantages of Gantt Chart
which are stated as:
1. Schedule the task easily
2. Smartly demonstrating project plan
3. Visual representation of time frames

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Work Break Down Structure: In this case, complex task is simplified into smaller
components in order to complete the project in set time period. The work is allotted to workers
as per their ability and knowledge to gain productive results. Here, the chances of error reduce to
a large extent which is a positive mark of the firm. Moreover, it organizes team work into
manageable sections which assist to gain competitive advantages against rivalry (Crane and
Spence,2019). Benefits of WBS (Work Break Down Structure) are as follows:
1. Easy collection of resources based on priority of tasks.
2. Uplift efficiency of the project
3. Assist to determine time, cost, human assets etc. resources required.
4. Convenient to manage and organize the project

Literature Review:
As per the view point of Lydia Dishman, 2019 diversity is discussed as people working
under one roof from distinguish geographical location whose aim is to meet set standards. There
are several issues faced by employees in diverse culture are rowing trench, generation gap, etc.
Competitive advantages can be gained in the cut throat competitive world when diverse culture is
build at the work place. Employees with diverse background come up with more innovative
idea . Business can compete with rivalry when they have diversified culture in their firm. The
set goals and objectives can be attained easily.
As per the view point of Nitisha, 2017, Equality is stated old Latin word of French
originated from aequalis. Deserving male and female is provided same opportunity without any
discrimination being conducted. In order to retain skilled and potential staff members for longer
time duration it is very important to pay employees equal salary for the same post. By this
goodwill can be raised in the eyes of the co-workers which is a positive mark for the company.
Focus on qualitative and quantitative approaches so as to attain projects set aims and objectives.
Qualitative approaches: This approach provide more authentic results in their findings
as it focus more on quality. It is simple as there is less use of numerical facts and figures in their
data interpretation. Qualitative approaches make easy for reader to grab the information easily as
there no graph, pie chart, diagram etc. Information through this helps business associates to pull
the readers over the years as it focusses more on quality presentation (Edmondson and Harvey,
2018).
Quantitative approaches: It is bit complex in nature as compare to qualitative approach.
As it consist of more of mathematical numbers and data in its findings. Quantitative approach
provides information with graphical presentation which make it more attractive and client easily
understand the information.
Diversity and
Equality
Introduction LO1
Aim
Objectives
Project
Management Plan
LO2
Conduct Small
Scale Research
LO3
Findings and
Analysis
Conclusion and
Recommendations LO4
Reflective
Statement
References
Books
Journal Articles
Appendix

In this case researcher use both qualitative and quantitative approaches in their findings
to get accurate results. For qualitative approach open ended questionnaire is used while for
quantitative approach close ended questions are framed. Qualitative approach provide
Debenhams in their findings as it more focus on quality work. And there is less use of numerical
data which become easy for reader to capture the information easily. For the questionnaire below
40 respondents are taken to assemble information for the questions designed (Wright and Coyne,
2018)
Primary data collection method: Researcher uses primary data collection method for
their findings as they are fresh and are not used by any other research in their findings. The data
collected from this method aid research to provide accurate and correct information to their
readers. It assist to build loyal client for the report which is a positive mark for the investigator.
Secondary data collection method: It is also used by investigator in their problem
solving work while gathering data from respondents (Ferenczi, 2018). It is less authentic in
nature as compare to primary data collection method as secondary method is earlier used by
other respondents in their research work. Here, wrong information can be delivered to the reader
as they are not freshly collected from communicator.
Here, investigator adopts primary data collection method for their findings. As they are
fresh and are not used by nay other research the results obtained will be correct and authentic in
nature.
Sampling: It is a statistical analysis that predetermine number of observation taken from
large population. It is used by research as it aid to find representative samples in order to
eliminate bias. There are two types of sampling probability and non-p probability sampling.
Here, research adopts simple random sampling in their research work because it gives fair
chance to create a sample which is truly representative of the population.
Under primary data collection method this questionnaire is used as it display reliable
data gathered from respondents. As it is fresh and and is not used by any other research in their
findings the outcomes will be authentic in nature. It helps the researcher to attract readers for
longer time period with their research work which is a positive sign for investigator.
Questionnaire:

Quantitative questions:
Q1) Are you aware about the phenomena of diversity and equality at Debenhams work place?
a) Aware
b) Un-aware
Q2) What are the hurdles and objection which may occur out of equality and diversity in
working premises?
a) Acceptance and respect for others
b) Language issues
c) Lack of employee involvement
Q3) What are the method by which hurdles and objection affiliated to diversity and equality
can be resolved at Debenhams?
a) Provide diversity training
b) Examine firm's workforce culture
c) Create respect for all culture
Q4) What are the benefits of cultural diversity in Debenhams working premises?
a) More growth in personal and professional level.
b) Diverse team more productive
c) Drive more innovation
Q5) What happens if Debenhams ignore issues and challenges associated with diversity and
equality at work place?
a) market value decreases
b) Skilled employees turn out ratio decreases
Q6) Do you think Debenhams diversity and equality issues and challenges impact employee’s
overall performance?
a) Yes
b) No
Q7) How diversity and equality affect the smooth functioning of Debenhams in global market?
a) In positive manner
b) In negative way
Q8) Do you think diversity is important in Debenhams?
a) Yes