Research Proposal: Cultural Diversity and Growth at Debenhams

This research proposal investigates the importance of managing cultural diversity in enhancing the growth and success of Debenhams. It aims to define cultural diversity, determine its role in the company's success, and identify strategies for effective management. The study explores the benefits of a diversified workforce, including improved creativity, innovation, and understanding of customer needs. The methodology involves a deductive approach, a survey strategy, and quantitative research methods, utilizing both primary and secondary data sources. The proposal outlines the research objectives, questions, responsibilities, and the reasons for choosing the topic. The research also includes a literature review, a work breakdown structure, and a Gantt chart to manage activities and timelines, ensuring the project's efficient completion. The research gap identified includes the lack of sufficient information regarding the conception and need of cultural diversity, actual role of managing cultural diversity in enhancing growth and success level of Debenhams, and effective strategies and ways that could be adopted to ensures effective management of cultural diversity.

Research Proposal Form
Student Name: Student ID:
Centre Name:
Tutor: Date: __________________
Unit: Research Method
Proposed Title: Role of managing cultural diversity in enhancing growth of
Debenhams.

Section One: Title, objective, responsibilities
Title or working title of the research project (in the form of a question, objective or
hypothesis)
Title:
Role of managing cultural diversity in enhancing growth of Debenhams.
The concept of equality is associated with creation of a workplace and business
environment where all the employees and other candidates are treated fairly without any
kind of discrimination or prejudice behaviour on the basis of their age, religion, culture,
background or any other characterises (Spivak, 2020). On the other hand the phenomena
of diversity is all about ensuring a better collaboration a bonding among diversified
employees through leading a sense of positivity among them by eliminating there
differences. The organisation selected for current assignment is Debenhams which is a
famous British Multinational retailer which is operating as a department stores in the
various allocation of UK and Denmark and also having its franchise stores in other
countries. The main headquarter of Debenhams is situated at England, United Kingdom
and currency it operates in more than 178 location across the country thus, it become vital
and more important for Debenhams to ensure and lead proper management of cultural
diversity to ensure easy expansion and better growth.
Research Aim
The aim of this research is, “To evaluate the importance of managing cultural diversity
along with its role in enhancing growth and success level of an organisation”. An
investigation leads out on Debenhams.
Research objectives:
a) To review about the conception of cultural diversity along with its importance for a
company.
b) To determine the role of managing cultural diversity in enhancing growth and
success level of Debenhams.
c) To investigate about the viable ways for Debenhams which ensures better
management of cultural diversity at its place of work?
Research questions:

1) Why managing cultural diversity is important for Debenhams?
2) Is there any significant role lead by managing cultural diversity in enhancing
growth and success level of Debenhams?
3) What are the possible recommended ways for Debenhams which ensures better
management of cultural diversity at its place of work?
Responsibility for this research
The responsibility while conducting current research work comprises of ensuring
collection of authentic and most relevant form of data for study. Apart from this
maintaining the ethical consideration and ensuring that none of participant or associated
individual should not get hurt during course of investigation is also a vital responsibility of
researcher along with maintaining the privacy and authenticity of collected data. Further,
completion of current investigation in most efficient and effective way along meeting of
all set objective is also a responsibility of researcher.
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):
The main reason for opting current topic is that in today’s dynamic world management of
cultural diversity become essential to have a more diversified and inclusive workforce
with enhanced level of skills and creativity. Thus, selection of current research topic based
in phenomena of cultural diversity is rationale as it led better understanding about role of
managing cultural diversity in better success and growth of a company. Further,
improvement in managerial skill is also ensured along with meeting personal and
academic interest of researcher.
Apart from this, the selected research topic is also viable and meets the personal interest of
researcher. The current research topic based on the analysis of conception of cultural
diversity is important from the educational and academic purpose of researcher and also
ensures development of effective research and managerial skills. Further, the current study
would also boost the confidence and knowledge level of researcher which will play a vital
role in improving future plans and lead to effective growth opportunity and development.
Beside this, the better knowledge about cultural diversity along with analysis of strategies
for effective management of cultural diversity is also important and significant for
researcher and other scholar to enhance their understanding on this vital concept.

Further, leading of current investigation also leads to better understanding about the use of
research methods and enhance experience level of researcher to conduct and lead out a
research work in a better way in future. Apart from this, current investigation on the topic
of cultural diversity would lead to enhancement in knowledge of researcher along and also
ensures improvement in communication and other interpersonal skills by the way of
effective collection and analysis of data. The selection of cultural diversity topic is
important as it ensures better management of talents and skills from diversified group of
employees belong to different cultures thus, vital for an orgnisation to have enhanced
growth and expansion opportunity.
Section Three: Literature sources searched
With respect to the information provided by Jennifer Lombardo, 2020, it has been found
out that the conception of cultural diversity is associated with allowing and appreciating
difference in individuals based on their culture, sex, gender, background and social status.
Cultural diversity is important for an orgnisation as its facilities a more diversified and
creative workforce for betterment of a company. An evaluation can be made that cultural
diversity has become vital and essential for all orgnisation as it facilitates improvement in
the competencies and strength of a business orgnisation through facilitating a positive and
fair workplace environment for all employees irrespective of their culture or other
diversified characteristics. Thus, concept of cultural diversity is vital for a firm to lead
better collaboration among diversified workforces with enhanced coordination and better
skills and talents to accomplish desired goals of a firm in a better way.
According to the view point of Reynolds, 2017, a positive role is lead by managing
cultural diversity in enhancing growth and success level of Debenhams as it supports a
more creative workforces which inspire creativity and drive innovation to lead better
success and growth along with better insight in customers’ needs and trends that makes a
business more competitive and profitable. It has been observed that management of
cultural diversity ensures and leads to selection of more talented and skilled employees
from a wider pool of candidates by overcoming the barriers of cultural difference. Thus,
management of culture diversity provided more talented employees with new and better
perspective to lead and ensure better growth and enhanced success for a company along
with opening way to new markets for better expansion of a firm.
As per the opinion of Richard and Alpert (2020), adoption of fair Recruitment and
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selection process along with implementation of equality act, 2010 and leading effective
communication and team bonding training are viable ways for Debenhams which ensures
better management of cultural diversity at its place of work. Adoption of fair recruitment
and selection process would provide a fair chances and equal opportunity to all candidates
irrespective of their culture or any other discrimination thus ensures better management of
cultural diversity at workplace. Apart from thus educational training and effective
communication would lead to enhanced coordination and better bonding among
diversified employees that is vital to lead a discrimination free workplace for better
management of cultural diversity.
Further, as per the information provided by the Greene, V. M., (2020), the phenomena of
cultural diversity is mainly associated with and represent the presence and existence of
variety of culture or an ethnic groups at a single workplace which represent the quality of
diverse culture in opposition of mono culture. The management and creation of cultural
diversity is taken essential for Debenhams as it leads to and ensures presence of more
talented and creative workforce which comprises of employees with different perceptive to
enhance performance and success level of this organisation.
Research Gap
The research gap for current investigation comprises of lack of sufficient information
regarding the true conception and need of cultural diversity. Actual role of managing
cultural diversity in enhancing growth and success level of Debenhams is also a gap
indentified along with analysis of strategies and ways that could be adopted to ensures
effective management of cultural diversity. Thus, current study and investigation is taken
to fill these gaps by the way of leading evaluation of concept of cultural diversity along
with determining role of managing cultural diversity in enhancing growth and success
level of Debenhams. Further, effective ways to ensures and lead effective management of
cultural diversity would also indentified through current study and research project.
Section Four: Activities and timescales
Work Break Down structure

It is vital project management tool which is used by a researcher to have proper bifurcation
of the complex task and work of an investigation into the small and easily manageable
chunks and group. Thus, use of work break down structure is vital to maintain viability
and efficiency of research through proper management and bifurcation of all work. Apart
from this, the use of work break down structure also remove and eliminate the chances of
possible confusion and chaos among teams members and other parties through properly
defining the role and responsibilities of each individual therefore, it facilitates a more
optimum and efficient use of all research assets and resources to accomplish and acheive
set objectives.
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):
How long this will take:
Gantt Chart (20 weeks)
It is vital management tool that ensures efficient completion of research work through
leading efficient management of time by bifurcating all research activity along with
representing expected time duration of all tasks. Thus, use of Gantt chart brings clarity in
research work and remove chances of chaos and confusion for timely completion of
research project.

Milestone one: Conduct and analyse research relevant to a chosen business research project.
Target date (set by tutor):
Milestone two: Communication of the outcomes of a research project to identified stakeholders.
Target date (set by tutor):
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:
Use of research onion is made to select and adopt suitable method and approach for
current investigation a justification of which is provided below:
Figure 1: Research onion, 2020.

Research philosophy- Out of Epistemology and Ontology form of philosophies
implication of Epistemology is made and the reason behind this is that epistemology
philosophy is associated with the valid information and emphasis of collection of relevant
information for study (Orr, 2016). Further, Adoption of Positivism research philosophy is
made as it provides better testing of set objectives and a more systematic and scientific
way of conducting research.
Research approach- Out of the two basic forms of research approach which comprises of
deductive and inductive approach application of deductive approach is made as it is more
justifiable as it ensures better scanning of numeric terms and provide significant support to
quantifiable data.
Research strategy- Use of survey strategy is also viable as it ensures collection of larger
and abundant information from wider population through making use of a questionnaire.
Research method- mainly the method of research are divided into three main types or
parts which consists of qualitative, quantitative, or mixed method of research out of which
use and implication of quantitative form of research method is more justifiable and
suitable as it ensures more easy and efficient way of gathering information in numeric
terms that is easy to collect and communicate.
Sources of data collection- Use of both secondary as well as primary set of sources of
data collection is made for current research work to have both first-hand data through
primary sources along with support from past findings which forms part of secondary
sources of information. The primary data for current investigation is collected with the
help of a quantitative questionnaire which would comprise of close ended questions.
Further, the secondary data would be collected with the help of online articles and journals
to provided support and base for current investigation.
Sampling method- it is basically of two type i.e. probability and non-probability sampling
from which use of probability sampling is made for current investigation as it removes the
chances of biasness in selection of observation from vast population (Ennaji, 2020). A
sample size of 35 respondents is selected from the population taken from the employees of
Debenhams is made for collection of primary data with the help of random sampling
technique.
Data analysis and presentation- for analysis of collected set of quantitative information
collected through questionnaire use of frequency table and pie charts will be made.
Further, the analysis of secondary form of data would be made through the help of
systematic literature review. The reason behind selection of quantitative form of data

analysis is that it leads to more effective and better presentation of facts and figures
through use of statistical table and pie charts to reach a more measurable form of results
and conclusion.
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:
The chosen title for this research project is, “To evaluate the importance of managing
cultural diversity along with its role in enhancing growth and success level of an
organisation”. An investigation leads out on Debenhams.
Student name:
Student ID number:
Programme:
College Name:
Intended research start date:
Intended research end date:
Section 2 Project summary
Please select all research methods that you plan to use as a part of your project:
 Interviews No
 Questionnaires Yes
 Observations No
 Use of personal records No
 Data Analysis Yes
 Action Research 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)?
Employees of Debenhams.
Describe the processes you will use to inform participants about what you are doing:
use of notice boards, e-mails and other online channels will be made
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?
Consent will be obtained in written form through signing a consent form.

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.
No
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?
Only Researcher and tutors
During the research:
Reseacher/Supervisor
Where will the data be stored?
Stored in DOC document with the use of USB and Laptop
Will mobile devices such as USB storage and laptops be used
Yes
If Yes, please provide further details:
After the research: the data will be safely disposed
Where will the data be stored? USB/Laptop
How long will the data and records be kept for and in what format?
Three to five 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.
Online
Jennifer Lombardo. 2020. Cultural Diversity in the Workplace: Definition, Trends &
Examples. [Online]. Available Through: <https://study.com/academy/lesson/cultural-
diversity-in-the-workplace-definition-trends-examples.html >
Katie Reynolds, 2017. 13 benefits and challenges of cultural diversity in the workplace.
[Online]. Available Through: < https://www.hult.edu/blog/benefits-challenges-
cultural-diversity-workplace/ >
Dr. Richard T. Alpert. 2020.Cultural Diversity in the Workplace [Online]. Available
Through;< https://www.diversityresources.com/cultural-diversity-workplace/ >
References
Butcher, M., 2016. Managing cultural change: Reclaiming synchronicity in a mobile world.
Routledge.
Ennaji, M. ed., 2020. Managing Cultural Diversity in the Mediterranean Region. Cambridge
Scholars Publishing.
Greene, A. M., 2019. HRM, Equality and Diversity. The SAGE Handbook of Human
Resource Management, p.238.
Greene, V. M., 2020. Cultural Diversity Awareness: Perceptions Of Community Residents
And Police Personnel.
Orr, Z., 2016. Managing cultural diversity through multiculturalism in NGOs for social
change: An Israeli case study. In Re-thinking Diversity (pp. 193-215). Springer VS,
Wiesbaden.
Progoulaki, M. and Theotokas, I., 2016. Managing culturally diverse maritime human
resources as a shipping company’s core competency. Maritime Policy &
Management. 43(7). pp.860-873.
Spivak, G. C., 2020. Scattered Speculations on Business and Cultural Diversity. In the Praxis
of Diversity (pp. 199-212). Palgrave Macmillan, Cham.
Verkuyten, M. and Yogeeswaran, K., 2020. Cultural diversity and its implications for
intergroup relations. Current opinion in psychology. 32. pp.1-5.