Assessing Equality and Diversity in the Workplace: M&S Report

This report delves into the critical importance of equality and diversity within the workplace, focusing on Marks & Spencer as a case study. It begins by outlining the project's objectives, which include defining equality and diversity, assessing M&S's strategies, evaluating challenges, and recommending improvements. The report then details the project management plan, encompassing cost analysis, scope definition, time management (including a Gantt chart), quality assurance, communication strategies, and risk assessment. The research methodology section explores interpretivism, qualitative research, and an inductive approach, along with data collection methods (primary and secondary) and sampling techniques. The report further covers data analysis, including the evaluation of appropriate techniques and tools. Finally, it presents conclusions and recommendations based on the data analysis, reflecting on the learning experience. This report provides a comprehensive overview of diversity and equality in the workplace, offering valuable insights into the strategies and challenges faced by organizations like Marks & Spencer.

MANAGING A
SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS
PROJECT

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
LO 1.................................................................................................................................................3
Project objective and aims...........................................................................................................3
Project management plan that cover all essential aspects............................................................4
Work breakdown structure and Gantt chart.................................................................................6
......................................................................................................................................................7
......................................................................................................................................................7
......................................................................................................................................................8
Comprehensive project management plan, project schedules and milestone..............................9
LO 2.................................................................................................................................................9
Research methodologies..............................................................................................................9
Literature review........................................................................................................................11
LO 3...............................................................................................................................................12
Data analysis..............................................................................................................................12
Conclusion and recommendation as result of data analysis.......................................................18
Evaluating appropriate techniques and tools use to analyse data..............................................19
LO 4...............................................................................................................................................19
Reflection...................................................................................................................................19
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................19
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................20

Topic: To identify the importance of Equality and Diversity in workplace.
INTRODUCTION
Diversity and equality in workplace is one of the most important elements, that affects
business progress and productivity. It is the subject that relevant for all workplaces, irrespective
of whether employer employ two or more applicants in company (Ozeren, 2014). The current
report is based on diversity and equality in Marks and Spencer and its importance for business.
This study sets out findings from systematic review of literature on businesses case for diversity
and equality in workplace. The aim of this report is to assure that all employees has right to get
same opportunities and access fair treatment towards management. It explains the aim and
objective of study, project management plan and research methods applied for collecting data.
Furthermore, this report justifies appropriate techniques and tools to analyse information and
clarifies self learning and performance experience.
Company's Background
Marks and Spence is a multinational retailer of UK. Company is dealing in sale of
clothing, food products and home products. Company had a policy of selling only British goods.
Today company has expanded across borders serving large number of customers.
LO 1
Project objective and aims
Aim-
To determine the value and strategies used to improve diversity and equality in
workplace. A case study of: Marks and Spencer.
Objective-
 To define the concept of equality and diversity.
 To asserted different strategies used by Marks & Spencer for implementing diversity and
equality in workplace.
 To evaluate the challenges facing by company due to lack of diversity and equality in
workplace.
 Recommend solutions to enhance and improve equality and diversity in H&M.
Research questions-
 What is concept of diversity and equality?

 What are the varies strategies used by company for utilizing equality and diversity in
workplace?
 What are the challenges faced by M&S due to lack of diversity and equality in company?
 What are the suggestions for improving equality and diversity in workplace?
Project management plan that cover all essential aspects
Project management plan is approved and formal document that defines how work is
controlled, executed and monitored (Saxena, 2014). It refers to detailed or summary document
include baselines, planning documents and subsidiary management plans. This summary will use
to define strategy project team will takes to deliver conscious project management scope of
work. As work proceeds, the progress of project is measured against performance management
standard included in plan. Project manager is accountable for creating project management plan
effectively following inputs from stakeholders and project team. The purpose of producing PMP
is to cater baselines of what has to be gained by work, how it is achieved and who will be
included, how it will be measured and reported and how data will be communicated.
Components of project management plan-
Cost-
It provides both the amount of money being spent, input cost estimated and cost output
calculation which is amount of monetary estimated to be accepted. The total fund required to
complete this project is mentioned below. In simple words, cost is the value of money in research
project that will use to produce work or deliver on time.
Table of expenses for whole research-
Particular Cost
Expenses related to stationary products £160
Expenses on gathering data £300
Cost of printing £60
Cost related to preparing questionnaire £70
Total £ 590
Scope-

This project is quite beneficial and helpful in future work, it helps company during facing
issues or difficulties due to lack of diversity and equality in workplace. The strategies will
mentioned in this project will use by firm to enhance diversity and equality, that will help to
make environment around work place positive. It will help to identify current issues and
implement strategies in order to solve these effectively. With the help of this project researcher
will be able to gain more knowledge about equality and diversity strategies.
Time-
Time is referred to period that is needed for achieving specific aim of this project,
appropriate planning and scheduling of work is essential. Researcher will have to take different
steps for managing time effectively such as monitoring, measuring, scheduling, and controlling
activities during project management plan. In this project Gantt chart will help to see fixed
timeline of work. Researcher will require 6 weeks to complete this project in systematic and
effective manner. To assure that work should be done within time company determine all
activities and aspectc that is considered as components of project.
Quality-
This element is related with all kinds of constraints, it is too similar with scope of
project. Company require developing plan and strategies that help to meet out quality standards,
researcher also develop strategies to measure the quality of work through various tools. In order
to maintain diversity and equality in workplace, M&S will use different tools like benchmarking,
effect and cause analysis to maintain and improve quality of work much better than before.
Communication-
In respect to organization, communication is one of the most essential activity that helps
to share information about workplace situation with other stakeholders effectively through use of
different communication tools. In simple words, it is the act of transferring and sharing
information about quality and diversity in workplace. Manager in company will use tools like
email, message box and other to communicate and interact with their seniors in order to make
discussion based on implementing strategies for improving diversity and equality in workplace.
The aim of this project will complete with the help of effective communication, in which
management and other stakeholders communicate for purpose of taking decision related to
implementing equality and diversity. There are possibilities that the message is not understood in
the same senses in which it has been conveyed. It may effect the operations and performance if

communication channels are not effective. This involves high risk for the company and people
working within.
Risk-
Different types of risk is associated with implementing strategies related to diversity and
equality in workplace. Cost risk, lack of resource, expert opinion and risk that all over activities
will take long time than expectation is considered as various kinds of risk from perceptive of
Marks and Spencer. It described as possibility of failure, uncertainty and loss due to some
reason, it is an uncertain event that affects the objective of work and growth of business. Cost
risks should be met by making effective strategies that will help company in stabilising its
operations in the event of cost failures. Companies are generally in lack of resources and they
should have alternative available so that their operations and workings are not hampered.
Communication risks could be met by taking the proper feedback from the receiver that it is
understood in the same sense. This will avoid conflicts and mismanagement in company.
Resources-
It is strongly related to cost of work, in order to implement plan to improve diversity and
equality in workplace M&S required human resource, funds for training, and other equipments
that helps to achieve their goal.
Work breakdown structure and Gantt chart
Gantt chart-
It is a timeline use as project management plan or tool to illustrate how work will run and
proceed. With the helps of Gantt chart researcher will be able to view individual tasks,
sequencing of tasks and its duration.

Work break down structure-
WBS is project deliverable that managed or organized by project team perform inot
manageable sections. The purpose of producing work break down structure is to reduce difficult
activities to assemblage of tasks.

Comprehensive project management plan, project schedules and milestone
Comprehensive project management plan include many documents and plan require for
success of work, it consists with milestone activities, structure and more things.
Milestone-
Activity From To
Processing aim and objectives
of research
30/10/19 04/11/19
Analyzing collected data set 05/11/19 10/11/19
Giving appropriate suggestions 12/11/20 16/11/19
With the help of creating outline of project, aims and milestones project management
team will be able to monitor progress of work effectively. Project schedule is created for
monitoring each and every activity related to topic, that must be interconnected with objectives
as well as aim of project.
LO 2
Research methodologies
It is described as specific method or procedure will use to determine, identify, analyse
and process information about chosen topic. In project, research methodologies will allow
researcher and reader to critically measure work overall reliability and validity.
Research philosophy-
It believes in way in which essential data about phenomenon will be collected, use and
analysed in effective manner. Research philosophy is deal with development, nature and other
things of knowledge (Koro-Ljungberg, 2015). Pragmatism philosophy, positivism and
interpretivism research philosophy are the three different types of this method. In this project,
researcher uses interpretivism philosophy for conducting report to measure initiatives and
strategies taken by M&S to develop equality and diversity in workplace. Through this method,
research is able to interpret components of whole study effectively and also attain the aim i.e. To
determine the value and strategies used to improve diversity and equality in workplace in better
manner.
Research type-

This methodology is divided into two concepts that is quantitative and qualitative
research. Quantitative research means correct investigation of phenomena by gathering data
which is quantitative in nature. On the other qualitative research is scientific procedures of
observation use by researcher to collect information about topic that is non-numerical.
Researcher uses quantitative and qualitative method in order to draw appropriate conclusion with
the help better findings (Higginbottom and Liamputtong, 2015). Further, Researcher chooses
qualitative research strategy in order to conduct the research in better manner and also attain the
aim i.e. s To determine the value and strategies used to improve diversity and equality in
workplace. Moreover, this method also helps the researcher to interpret the views of all selected
respondents so that it will help to answer the research questions as well.
Research approach-
Research approach is defined as plan and process that include valuable steps of
assumptions to method of collection, data analysis and interpretation. It is totally depended upon
features of issues related to research. Research approach is of three types, inductive, abductive
and deductive. Researcher in report uses inductive research method because it contributes to
explore determined and phenomena themes. This approach help investigator to develop new
assumptions and concept from data gathered. Using an inductive research approach, the
researcher also meet the aim i.e. To determine the value and strategies used to improve diversity
and equality in workplace and conduct the research in more precise or systematic manner.
Data collection-
It is the term of collecting information about chosen topic by using different relevant and
authentic sources to cater answer in better way, to measure outcomes and to test assumptions.
Data collection is divided into two types that is secondary and primary methods. Researcher uses
both data collection methods, in context of primary data procedure of survey is use for gathering
data from participants. In respect of secondary data, information is collected through journals,
books and other sources. Primary data collection method help researcher to get accurate
information, as it considered as good source of up to date and latest information as they collect it
directly from company in real time about diversity and equality in workplace. Secondary data
gathering method is also beneficial for researcher as it help to reduce risk of expenditure.
Sampling-

Sampling is defined as particular principles that researcher uses for choosing members
from large population to be included in report. They needed to select certain size of sample, due
wider number of applicant in company. Non probability and probability are the two category of
sampling method. Researcher chose simple random sampling method under probability in
which 40 workers of M&S are selected because it supports to take varied view points from
participants in respect to attain the defined aim i.e. To determine the value and strategies used to
improve diversity and equality in workplace.
Data analysis-
Data analysis is the procedure or method of transforming, modelling, examining and
cleansing data with reason of generating accurate information, informing conclusion and
supporting decision taking (Peters and Halcomb, 2015). Data analysis is divided into two
categories quantitative and qualitative and researcher chooses thematic data analysis under
qualitative data analysis because it is the flexible approach that will be changed as per demand
and needs of investigator easily without any side effects on further analysis. Through this
method, researcher also uses graphs, tables and charts in order to present the views of different
selected respondents so that scholar may easily attain the defined aim and objectives.
Ethical consideration-
This stage is referred to collection of values and principles that considered questions of
what is good and bad in concern of people. Researcher has to taken focus all ethical
consideration and follow it during conducting entire research in order to get better results. They
take care of participants chosen for collecting appropriate information about work environment
with diversity and quality.
Literature review
Theme 1: Concept of diversity and equality
As per view of Martínez Palacios, 2016 diversity means understanding that each worker
in company is unique and special, it helps to recognize employees differences. These along
dimensions of ethnicity, age, race, religions beliefs, sexual, political beliefs, gender and other
ideologies. Equality is very essential element for company which they can use to build strong
workforce in workplace effectively. Strachan, Adikaram and Kailasapathy, 2015 contradict that
equality and diversity is important for business, both to assure that group of people and
individuals are treated equally with less favourably. It has become the most significant part of