Investigating Workforce Diversity and Equality at Marks & Spencer

This report investigates strategies and initiatives related to equality and diversity within the workforce of Marks & Spencer (M&S). It begins with an introduction highlighting the importance of a diverse workforce and the challenges of globalization. Task 1 outlines the objectives and aims of the research, focusing on formulating strategies to manage a diverse workforce and its impact on the company's competitive edge, along with the background of the organization and the scope of the research. The project management plan, including communication, structure, scope, resources, cost, time, risk, and quality, is discussed, alongside a work-breakdown structure and a Gantt chart. Task 2 focuses on small-scale research and its implementation using qualitative and quantitative research methods. The report aims to provide insights into how M&S manages its diverse workforce and the benefits derived from its diversity strategies. The report includes an analysis of M&S's approach to diversity, project management aspects, and research methodologies.

Unit 6 – Managing a Successful
Business Project

Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................4
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................4
Objectives and Aims...............................................................................................................4
Project aspect that include cost, risk, resources, quality etc. to formulate an effective plan. 6
Explaining of work-based down structure and Gantt chart....................................................8
TASK 2..........................................................................................................................................10
Small scale research and its implementation with use of qualitative and quantitative research
..............................................................................................................................................10
TASK 3..........................................................................................................................................11
Tools and techniques related with explain of data analysis.................................................11
Recommendation from data analysis....................................................................................16
TASK 4..........................................................................................................................................17
Study about the goals and objectives to understand own learning.......................................17
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................18
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................19

TITLE
To investigate about various initiative and strategy that relates with equality and diverse
organisation's workforce. A Study report on Marks & Spencer.
INTRODUCTION
Workforce is most important part of an organisation which aids management to manage
all operations and functions for generating desired outcomes. With the analysis of existing
market conditions it is evaluated that globalisation impacts on all aspects of business specifically
on human resources as it is an essential asset for organisation which is not replica by
competitors. The selected business for this research is Marks & Spencer that operates in cloth,
retail and food industry among all over the world with engaging large number of employees (Al-
Jenaibi, 2017). Moreover, report will include aims and objective related with initiative and
strategy for ensuring and managing diverse and equality related workforce. Project management
plan and its essential aspects such as time, resources and many more will also include in the
report. In the last, small scale research to accomplish research aims and objectives is focused in
the upcoming report.
TASK 1
Objectives and Aims
Research issue
The topic for conducting this research is to manage strategy and initiative for building
equality and diverse workforce in organisation. Marks & Spencer is performing their work at
global level by engaging individuals that belongs to different culture, value and background. In
the present scenario, respective organisation provides employment to large number of individuals
for performing their operations in international market. But the issue which faced by
management is that employees face conflicts and challenges at time of communication (Pleasant,
2017). This result group project not generates effective results in M&S due to inappropriate
management of workforce. So strategy and initiative for ensuring equality and diverse workforce
is implemented by organisation to manage all workforce in organisation.
AIM- “To formulate strategy and initiative that manage workforce which supports a business for
developing competitive edge in market.”
Objective

 To provide and undertake evidence that relates with managing equality and diverse
and equality workforce in the organisation.
 To study all essential aspects which generate more efficiency of engaged employees
by modifying initiative and strategy related with diverse and equality workforce.
 To analyse and understand benefits which is obtained by organisation with implement
of equality and diversity strategy.
Background of organisation
Marks & Spencer is a British retail organisation that is situated in London, England and it
was established in the year 1884. Michael Marks and Thomas Spencer is the founder of Marks &
Spencer which start business in the retail industry at initial stage. With the recent information it
is identified that more than 80,000 employees are working in company for managing business
operations (Hajro, Gibson and Pudelko, 2017). So with strategy and initiative of equality and
diverse workforce management obtain better results in organisation to perform its operations in
an accurate manner by managing large employees of company.
Scope- This research is based on the employees that perform their work in company operations
to complete all task with more efficiency. There are various employees is engaged in company
and each of them perform different role in company so by understanding equality and diverse
workforce it is easy to obtain appropriate results with-in the organisation.
Managing equality and diverse workforce in organisation
According to the Andera Cook, 2018 diversity is anything which makes individuals differ
from one place to the another. Religion, gender, political, citizenship etc. are included in this
report. This also defines organisation are performing their work with motive of accomplishing
better position in market. With building equality and diverse environment with managing teams
it is easy for organisation to accomplish different advantage that provides potential results to
employees for accomplish of better position in market. There are various task performed by
management which is leading business to provide right training to all equality and diverse
employees. Moreover, with recruit diverse workforce management also undertakes aspects which
are used to generate more creativity in business by recruiting individuals that are skilled and
capable for performing organisational work with more efficiency. This also determine
management leads to analyse candidates which generates efforts and perform task for recruiting
qualified and professional individuals.

From the point view of Fraser Sherman, 2019 it is analysed that workplace diversity
provides workforce to complete all task with right staff. This makes also concern that companies
are managing staff which is used to generate better skills and experience in order to build
innovativeness in organisation (Gurung and Prater, 2017). This also determines that equality and
diverse group members unfortunately face complexity to encourage innovativeness for
minimising business challenges. The main reason to understand initiate about strategy related
with business and its workforce leads management for organising issue and overcome them by
resolving company issue that are raised among equality and diverse department and its
employees. This also defines there are several problems stated which generate difficulties for
entire staff if there are various religion persons exists in company. Example- Jewish individual
less prefers to eat in the cafeteria of Marks & Spencer.
By monitoring the view point of Michael, 2019 diversity management of employees is
complex because it recruits individuals from different race, ethnicities and society. Moreover,
according to present system and procedure diversity is constrained with more than two
components that make different elements among employees. Like, some individuals belongs to
similar culture but the method to perform work, making decisions is completely different and it
is because of different in their education. Working with a large number of individuals it is
important to formulate a similar culture in organisational premises. Large organisation such as
Marks & Spencer open transparent channel of communication, foster culture of team work and
develop resolution skills in order to solve dispute which take place among employees while
working for a similar project (Zhuwao, 2017).
Project aspect that include cost, risk, resources, quality etc. to formulate an effective plan
All important phase, guideline and information that are required for completion of project
is commence in project management plan. This plan is developed from perspective of researcher
that aids to accomplish results according to decided company actions or activities. PMP also
provide benefits to researcher by completing project with low cost and in minimum time period.
Some points of project management plan are mention as follow: Communication- The first aspect that is most important for organisation relates with
providing plan is to provide important information to all individuals in order to generate
better results. Therefore, communication is included among organisation which leads for

providing, gathering and utilising all important information which is utilised by
researcher and its team to complete work with using organised steps. Structure- With the help of developing structure it is easy for researcher or management
to complete all work properly because structure helps to complete project with decided
steps. In context of research the structure formulates by management leads to complete
project under the guidance of professional persons. So all policy and initiative related
with ensuring of diversity is included for generating meaningful results from research. Scope- In context of scope employees are the pillar for an organisation that leads
management for completing their work in an appropriately. This also defines researcher
undertakes different employees for completing the research project (Janssens and Zanoni,
2014). So the scope of study for completing research on strategy and initiative related
with equality and diverse workforce is beneficial in current market and for future also. Resources- To complete project or research it is important for researcher to arrange all
essential resources. Computer system, printer, pen, mobile phone, internet and many
more are the essential resources which lead to manage all research project task with
sequential steps. With arranging all essential resources management complete it’s project
in an effective manner by completing research properly. Communication matrix- This is recognised by the management that by generating
effective assessment related with research researcher is able to collect all essential funds.
It also refers that researcher focus on all resources that are utilise by management in
generating respond. Further, research project members complete research through
delegating right role to each individual with complete research in more effective manner. Cost- One of the essential concept that is used to complete work or research is the
requirement of cost which is utilised by researcher for completion of research with more
efficiency. The estimated cost to complete project is £ 250 and it is utilised by researcher
for transport, purchase of books, making prints of respondents. Further, cost is also used
in completion of research with low cost (Ryan, Ravenswood and Pringle, 2014). Time- The time for complete of research project is two months and it is also important for
managing research in decided time weeks. Further, overall work is divided into different
weeks in which researcher complete research by dividing task as per time period. The

estimated time for exploring and managing research projected time is decided by
analysing all actions and it leads to complete task in minimum time period. Risk- The term risk is address and monitor by organisation in each aspect and according
to direct point for this research it is identified researcher face challenges on regular basis.
Further, capacity of researcher relates with different capacity that is used for completion
of project with more efficiency through minimising risk related aspect from research.
Therefore, completion of research also reduce challenges and integrate meaningful results
from research (Kopmann and et. al., 2015).
 Quality- Data, information and use of resources are some important aspects which are
used by management for completing all work with quality aspect. Along with this
professional review and constant supervision from individuals is selected which leads to
complete all research in positive manner. Quality control chart also developed by
organisation for ensuring project results by matching results with quality chart.
Explaining of work-based down structure and Gantt chart
Gantt chart- With the analysis of Gantt chart it is identified that organisation use respective
tool as an important project aspect which provides all information by utilising horizontal lines.
Moreover, Gantt chart is used for delegating the project into small period in order to complete
project with more efficiency. This also defines project are completed in less time by utilising
Gantt chart as a project tool and it support management to make schedule of all activities for
completion of research with more efficiency as time is crucial aspect for researcher to complete
project in an accurate manner.

Work-break down structure- The term WBS is defined as an abbreviation that is used
for completion of complex project in an accurate manner. There are various task performed by
management that is used by organisation in completion of project with more efficiency. But it is
complex to understand complex project in this situation WBS is used by researcher or
organisation because it decompose a large project into smaller task and complete all activities in
an accurate manner by align all of project activities in an coordinate manner.

TASK 2
Small scale research and its implementation with use of qualitative and quantitative research
The term research is defined as the study or investigation which is required for collecting
of the essential information from different resources. In order to complete research with
arranging better workforce it is essential for researcher for explaining the topic with more
efficiency (Calvo-Mora, Navarro-García and Periañez-Cristobal, 2015). There are different
methods is utilised by the researcher to complete research in an accurate manner. Moreover,
qualitative and quantitative research method to state project is mention as follow:
Quantitative market research- In order to understand a selected market that helps to
analyse opinion of different individuals for the selected topic researcher is able to complete
research in the structured manner. Survey, questionnaire, market research etc. are recognised as
the quantitative research methods. The main aim to use quantitative method is to present
information with use of graph and chart. It is a research that has been used to make structured
outcome through which all the different facts and figures are analysed and it is achieved as by
targeting specific market or audience.
Qualitative market research- With the use of qualitative research method researcher
asked open-ended question from the respondents. Along with this qualitative research is
conversational based and it is used to make depth analysis of the topic. In-depth interview, focus
group, innovation research methods is used by organisation for completing the task related with
particular situation such as for this research strategy and initiative related with diversity to
manage all workforce in an accurate manner. It is a research that is conducted as while observing
and unstructured assessment and after that effective decision-making is implemented.
Both qualitative and quantitative research methods are used by researcher because it aids to
understand in-depth factor and information about the selected topic. It also leads organisation for
completing of research by making positive outcomes by understanding all research perspective
that help to analyse working conditions of business.
Methods for data collection
Primary data help the researcher to gather all information that is related with a specific
topic. This governs primary data leads organisation for the selection of information which is
leading researcher to generate results according to current situations. Along with this it also

governs that for completing a specific project organisation and researcher both collect authentic
information to analyse diversity related strategy.
Secondary data is less effective because it is already collected and most of the times it is
used in making better relations that leads in making individuals which provides all information in
making analyse of information which is already collected. This also reduces the efficiency and
provides information to complete research according to current market conditions.
Sampling: It is a method which is used to complete research defines period according to
task that provides opportunity for selecting all individuals. Primary method of data is used by
organisation that is used in making information for a selected topic. This also defines
management leads to utilise information which makes sample by using probability sampling
methods and sample size is 30 to analyse respondent review. In order to conduct the research,
researcher uses primary research and having the sample size of 30. It is the most effective
method of research as in this adequate outcome is conceived that is developed as by taking direct
interview as with the support of questionnaire. Thus, researcher is able to develop suitable
outcome that assist the business to make supportive changes so as to enhance its working
capabilities and abilities. The target audience for this research is to the stakeholder of Marks &
Spencer specifically employee's as it explain and understand about the culture related changes
that impacts on the roles and responsibilities of individuals. It is also used by investigator to
analyse the method that is used to reduce challenges from workplace by minimising equality and
diversity related problems. Moreover, respondents are also attracted because equality factors
increase the probability to accomplish opportunities for all workers and employee's by providing
similar platform to all workers.
TASK 3
Tools and techniques related with explain of data analysis
Quantitative Query:
Q1) Do you have information with respect to marvels of correspondence and
decent variety in M&S?
Frequency
a) Yes 10
b) No 20
Q2) Is it important to assemble assorted variety in M&S\'s working Frequency

environment?
a) Necessary 22
b) Not necessary 8
Q3) How M&S\'s will be affected by not building assorted variety in the
working premises?
Frequency
a) In positive way 15
b) In negative way 15
Q4) Which kind of methodologies can be actualized to construct assorted
working environment in M&S?
Frequency
a) Making mentorship programs 10
b) Edge decent variety workforce approaches 10
c) Instruct chiefs 10
Q5) Does it influence representatives workforce proficiency by building
differing working environment?
Frequency
a) Yes 20
b) No 10
Q6) Does correspondence and decent variety causes M&S to accomplish
want results?
Frequency
a) May be 17
b) May not be 13
Q8) What difficulties are looked by M&S while executing decent variety in
working premises?
Q9) Which sort of techniques can overcome the effect of assorted variety in
M&S?
Q1) Do you have information with respect to marvels of correspondence and
decent variety in M&S?
Frequency
a) Yes 10
b) No 20

Interpretation- With analysis of respondents answer it is identified that most individuals are not
aware about the diveristy strategy and initiative which aids to provide all information in order to
manage workforce which belongs to different background.
Q2) Is it important to assemble assorted variety in M&S\'s working
environment?
Frequency
a) Necessary 22
b) Not necessary 8
Interpretation- As per respondents answer it is identified that it is essential for organisation to
complete all work according to globalisation aspect. Therefore, it is also necessary for company