University Research Proposal: Diversity Management in Irish Workplaces

This research proposal investigates the significance of diversity management in the Irish workplace. It begins with an introduction highlighting Ireland's diverse population and the importance of acknowledging diversity in the workplace. The study aims to analyze the challenges and opportunities of diversity management, including barriers to effective implementation and strategies for ensuring it. The literature review explores the importance of diversity management, the context of diversity in Ireland, and the impact of globalization. The methodology outlines a descriptive approach, employing both qualitative and quantitative data collection methods through interviews and surveys. The research will use thematic analysis to analyze data, and address limitations such as time constraints and potential biases. Ethical considerations, including informed consent and confidentiality, are also discussed. The proposal includes a Gantt chart outlining the research timeline and a comprehensive list of references.

Running head: RESEARCH PROPOSAL
RESEARCH PROPOSAL
Diversity management in Ireland. Identifying the challenge and opportunities for
managers.
Name of the student
Name of the university
Author note

1RESEARCH PROPOSAL
Table of Contents
Introduction and background of the study...............................................................................2
Research aims and objectives.....................................................................................................2
Research questions.....................................................................................................................3
Literate review...........................................................................................................................3
Importance of diversity management at the workplace.........................................................3
Context of diversity management in Ireland..........................................................................3
Methodology..............................................................................................................................5
Theoretical framework...........................................................................................................5
Data collection method..........................................................................................................5
Sampling size and sampling method......................................................................................6
Data analysis method.............................................................................................................6
Limitations of the study.........................................................................................................6
Ethical considerations................................................................................................................7
References..................................................................................................................................9

2RESEARCH PROPOSAL
Introduction and background of the study
The aim of the study is to present the proposal for the purpose of understanding the
significance of diversity at the workplace. It has been observed that Ireland has been one of
the few countries with higher demographic diversities at work. It has been previously
observed that the higher percentage of migration is one of the highest in Ireland on the global
scale since it has been found that 39% of the total population is Irish while the rest is of UK,
EU and the USA (Harvey et al. 2015). This is reflective of the fact that the diversity at the
workplace is crucial in the context of Ireland as majority of the employment is from diverse
background. This study is to understand the issue of diversity at the workplace. This issue is
significant due to the fact that there are issues of not acknowledging diversity at the
workplace in the context of Ireland(Harvey et al. 2015). This study is also significant from
the point of view that diversity management at the workplace is one of the crucial aspects of
the human resources management.
Research aims and objectives
The aim of this study is to understand the importance of diversity management at the
workplace within the given context of Ireland. The objectives of this research are:
 To analyse the issue of diversity management at the workplace
 To understand the underlying nuances of diversity management at the workplace and
their impact on the people
 To recommend the ways in which diversity management can be ensured at the
workplace

3RESEARCH PROPOSAL
Research questions
RQ1. What are barriers to effective diversity management at the workplace in the context of
Ireland?
RQ2. What are the in which diversity management can be ensured at the workplace and what
are the significance of the process?
Literate review
Importance of diversity management at the workplace
The issue of diversity management at the workplace is defined as the process of managing
the individual employees form diverse background. The issue of diversity management at the
workplace is embedded in the value of equal opportunity of individuals (Solimene et al
2017). At the age of globalisation, there is a great influx of people from diverse ethnic
backgrounds. This is the diverse background that people come from which has multiplicity of
different attributes. Hence the issue of a diverse workplace is one where the respect for
people with diverse background are given the due respect. Diversity is not acknowledged
only in the ethnic background of people, it is equally important for the people of different
gender, race and religion to gain equal opportunity at the workplace. It has been observed the
author that the issue of diversity is one of the key factors that a are impacting the
multinational companies (Roberson et al. 2019). Some of the importance of diversity
management are the issue of innovation since it is always attracting new talents. Diverse
workplace fosters innovation and new ideas at the workplace.
Context of diversity management in Ireland

4RESEARCH PROPOSAL
The issue of diversity management in the context of Ireland, it is significant to note that
organisations are operating in the globalised market that has made possible the interaction of
the Irish employees with that of the international counterparts. This situation has created the
impetus for companies to include employees form diverse backgrounds (Hunt et al. 2015).
The development of technology has escalated further development of the interaction between
the Irish employees and the overseas employees. Moreover the location of Ireland has
number of multinational companies that has become increasingly aware of adopting
employees from diverse cultures. It has been observed that the issue of migration is the key
issue for this influx of diverse culture and it is important for this purpose it has been sensitive
towards the multicultural aspect in Ireland(Jyoti et al. 2017). This has been further observed
that the issue of diversity in the context of Ireland has been debated an discusses even before
since it has been noted that assuring the culture of culture is not enough, it is also about the
process of developing the culture of inclusiveness. This is substantiated by the process of
assuring equal voice to each of the staff since it has been crucial to ensure equal opportunity
for the staffs of different background. Diversity management at the context of Ireland not
only requires the culture of equal treatment of the employees, it is also about the leadership
style and the level of acceptance of the managers towards the diverse culture(Hunt et al.
2017). Since the issue of diversity managing is one of the crucial aspects of the Human
resource management of the company, it is important to develop the robust system of the
HR structure keeping in mind the influx of employees from around the world having unique
culture and background. Hence it is to be argued that the issue of diversity at the workplace
is to be driven by the process of proactive approach of the organization and the manager at
the operation since it is the approach and the outlook that prepares the company towards the
process of higher receptiveness. Diversity at the workplace is not about the inclusion of the

5RESEARCH PROPOSAL
people under the single umbrella it is equally about the process of nurturing and developing
their individual potential in order to harness their potential to that of the organization’s.
Methodology
Theoretical framework
This study will be conducted by undertaking the descriptive approach since this approach
leaves the option for conducting an in-depth analysis (Simonsohn et al.2017); this study will
not be including the realism and interpretivism approaches since it is conducted mostly for
the purpose of management studies. In case of this descriptive approach of study, it is
important to note that the sensory experience of the researchers is given the importance for
the analysis of the fact. It is also logical and critical in conducting the research undertaking
the descriptive approach in study. For the research design, this study will be undertaking the
analytical design which is important for the purpose of conducting the study through
evaluating the study in a descriptive ways. It has also been observed that the existing theories
are important for the purpose of the study and it is possible to include the same undertaking
the analytical research design(Simonsohn et al.2017).
Data collection method
For the purpose of conducting the research, primary and secondary data collection will be
undertaking, this study will be conducted undertaking the qualitative and quantitative
research method due to the possibility of conducting the interview method and survey
methods of data collection. In case of the secondary data collection, it is important to
undertake the review of the relevant literature, books and the peer-reviewed journals of the
same.

6RESEARCH PROPOSAL
Sampling size and sampling method
This study will be completed by undertaking the probability and non-probability method of
sampling (Smith 2015). In addition to this, some random sampling method is also included
for the purpose of the study. The interview would be undertaken of three managers Ireland
based companies which has recruited highest number of overseas employees in order to
understand the management and inclusion of diversity management at the workplace. Along
with the non-probable sampling of the interview and focus groups, this study will be
highlighting the probability sampling for the survey method of data collection.
Data analysis method
The issue of data analysis is one of the crucial parts of the whole research study since it is
important to derive the data in a proposer manner (Panneerselvam 2014). The data analysis
method would be undertaken by applying the thematic analysis in practice. This will be
helpful in gaining insight into the issue of the underlying theme of the literature and the
issues of the current topic.
Limitations of the study
It is important to mention that there are number of research limitations of this study, firstly, it
is the issue of time limitations that will be restrictive of the scope of the research. It might
become difficult for the purpose of the study to collect the primary and secondary data within
the short time . It is also important to note that the opinion shared by the managers might be
biased to certain extent which can present a biased understanding of the issue. It might be
also difficult to gain permission or dates for the interview sessions from them.

7RESEARCH PROPOSAL
Ethical considerations
It is important to consider the fact that there are number of ethical for conducting a particular
research. In this regard, it is important to undertake an impartial approach toward the research
method. For the purpose of the research, it will be ensured that prior consent is taken form the
participants. This consent will be collected in a written form and their identities will be kept
personal and confidential. In addition to this, it will be ensured that the personal information
shared by the focus groups and survey respondents are kept secret. In case of the secondary
resource collection referencing would be made in order to ensure no form of plagiarism is
found in the body of the research.

8RESEARCH PROPOSAL
Activities 1st
to 3rd
Week
4th
to 10th
week
11t
h to
13th
Week
14t
h to
17th
Week
18th
to 21st
Week
22
nd to
23rd
Week
24th
Week
Selection of the topic 
Literature review  
Creating layout 
Data collection from
secondary sources
  
Analysis and
interpretation of
collected data
  
Findings of the data  
Conclusion of the
study

Formation of draft  
Submission of final
work

Gantt chart
Created by the author

9RESEARCH PROPOSAL
References
Harvey, C.P. and Allard, M., 2015. Understanding and managing diversity: Readings, cases,
and exercises. Pearson.
Hunt, V., Layton, D. and Prince, S., 2015. Diversity matters. McKinsey & Company, 1,
pp.15-29.
Jyoti, J. and Kour, S., 2017. Cultural intelligence and job performance: An empirical
investigation of moderating and mediating variables. International Journal of Cross Cultural
Management, 17(3), pp.305-326.
Mackey, A. and Gass, S.M., 2015. Second language research: Methodology and design.
Routledge.
Panneerselvam, R., 2014. Research methodology. PHI Learning Pvt.Ltd..
Roberson, Q.M., 2019. Diversity in the workplace: A review, synthesis, and future research
agenda. Annual Review of Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behavior, 6,
pp.69-88.
Simonsohn, U., Nelson, L. and Simmons, J., 2017. Research Methodology, Design, and
Analysis. Annual Review of Psychology, 69(1).
Smith, J.A. ed., 2015. Qualitative psychology: A practical guide to research methods. Sage.
Solimene, S., Coluccia, D. and Fontana, S., 2017. Gender diversity on corporate boards: an
empirical investigation of Italian listed companies. Palgrave Communications, 3, p.16109.