An Investigation into Workforce Diversity and Management at Walmart

This report examines workforce diversity and its management within Walmart, a multinational retail corporation. The introduction provides an overview of workforce diversity, defining it as the inclusion of individuals with varied cultural backgrounds, ages, races, and other characteristics. The research aims to identify the impact of workforce diversity on employee and organizational performance. The methodology includes literature review, primary and secondary data collection, a quantitative research approach, a descriptive research design, a deductive approach, and the use of research instruments and statistical tools like SPSS. The report explores the background of Walmart, highlighting its diverse workforce and the challenges related to diversity in management positions. The research questions focus on the impact of workforce diversity and its management at Walmart. The literature review delves into the understanding of workforce diversity, its dimensions (age, gender, culture), and its impact on management. The report discusses the advantages and disadvantages of workforce diversity, including its effects on productivity, creativity, and employee satisfaction. The report also covers the importance of managing workforce diversity effectively to reduce conflicts and enhance brand image and profitability.

Research methods (1)

TOPIC
“An investigation into Workforce diversity and its management in the workplace”. A
study on Walmart.
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
Overview of the research
Workforce diversity refers as a differences and similarity among workers in ways of
cultural background, age, race, religion, gender, physical abilities and disabilities etc. In addition,
workforce diversity is the bringing together of different number of people with a broad range of
experiences, characteristics and background. Along with this, workforce diversity management
introduces as managing diversity among employees within an organisation (Noe and et. al.,
2017). Managing workforce diversity implies developing an enterprise climate in which a
diverse employees do to its best potential. Main aim of workforce diversity management is
making employees work to the best or effective of their potential. This research method is based
on Walmart which is an American multinational retail organisation that operates their business in
chain of grocery stores, discount departmental stores and hypermarkets. Main intent of
conducting this assignment is to identify impact of workforce diversity on performance of
employees as well as organisation also. For this, literature review will be conduct by researcher.
This section will support an organisation by providing accurate and in-depth information about
the impact of workforce diversity and its management within the workplace. Along with this,
various number of research methods will also use for conducting this investigation in systematic
manner. For this, primary and secondary source of data collection, quantitative research,
descriptive research design, deductive approach, positivism research philosophy, research
instruments, random sampling methods with the help of SPSS tool etc. All these are consider useful
and important research methods which will be apply for completing this assignment systematically and
effectively.
Background of Walmart
Walmart is an American multinational retailer that was one of the biggest retailers and
among the largest corporations in all over the world. It was founded in 2 July 1962 by Sam
Walton and headquartered in Bentonville, Arkansas, United states. They also operated their
business in different countries such as China, Canada, United Kingdom and Germany. Walmart
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is one of the most diverse organisation in America (Walmart, 2019). Walmart is not only the
international largest retailer in terms of revenue but, with just about 2.5 million workers around
the world, also boasts its largest workforce.
One of the main problem Walmart faced was diversity in its management position
(Walmart's Workforce Diversity, 2015). It is a biggest diversity issue which will direct impact on
business performance and its profitability. There are different reasons about increasing diversity
in workplace among workforce such as communication, language, culture, mental concept,
struggle with implementation, resistances to change etc. All these are biggest reasons which will
directly or negatively impact on an organisation performance and profitability. In order to
manage this issue, more management promotions for women and people of colour must be
require. Another solution for dealing with diversity is an organisation track outputs closely and
be flexible with diversity policy. Along with this, management is more essential and important
for an organisation to manage workforce diversity and achieve better results within given time
duration.
Research questions
 What are the impact of Workforce diversity and its management in the workplace of
Walmart?
Research objectives
 To develop basic understanding about the phenomena of workforce diversity.
 To identify dimension of workforce diversity in regards of an organisation.
 To analyse impact of workforce diversity on management of Walmart within a
workplace. To determine significance of Workforce Diversity Management for Walmart.
Rationale of research
Main rationale behind conducting this assignment is to identify effective of workforce
diversity and its management on business within a workplace. This research helps in both
manner including professional and academical (Riccucci, 2018). In professional way, this
investigation support researcher to improve their literature review skill, time management skill,
presentation skill , data analysis skill, data interpretation skill etc. With the help of all these skills
researcher is able to conduct investigation in systematic manner. In academic way, with the help
of this study, students can easily develop their understanding about the impact of workforce
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diversity. Along with this, this research is useful for investigator as well as students by
increasing their knowledge about the effect of workforce diversity.
Importance of research problem
Workforce diversity in Walmart is biggest issue which will effects on performance of
employees as well as organisation. This research is important for people by providing accurate
understanding about the effect of workforce diversity on an organisation. There are different
advantages of solving or managing workforce diversity in the workplace such as high employees
performance, improve productivity, improve goodwill, decrease in high employee turnover etc.
All these are biggest benefits for Walmart. As it will also support an enterprise by increasing its
market ratio and market image in customer's mind (Mor Barak, 2015).
CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW
Literature review is a type of comprehensive summary which is applied by an
investigator to analysis in-depth information or data about the current topic. Main intent of
literature review section is to identify gaps in previous studies. In this section, various number of
authors or writers have to give their opinion regarding the phenomena, dimension, impact and
significance of workforce diversity in regards of Walmart. Therefore, it is important section for
conducting research method about the specific area of study. With the help of literature review a
researcher will be able to address research question and research objectives in more detail
manner (Knights and Omanović, 2016).
Theme 1: Basic understanding about the phenomena of workforce diversity.
According to the Donna Swarthout, 2019, workforce diversity introduces as a valuable
asset for any organisation that seeks a competitive benefit in the global economy. There are some
key characteristics of workforce diversity such as race, gender, age, ethnicity, ability, religion
and sexual orientation. An organisation that embraces workforce diversity can broaden its
knowledge base and become more innovative and competitive. In simple word, workforce
diversity is a similarities and differences among workforce in regards of cultural background,
race, sex, religion, sexual orientation, physical ability, physical disability etc. Workforce
diversity is a workforce belonging of a broad mix of employees from different ethnic and racial
background of various genders and ages, and of different national and domestic cultures.
On the other hand James Wilkinson, 2014, diversity in the workplace is refers reality in
most organisations and businesses. If an enterprise strive to enhance their competitive benefit in
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the marketplace, they they must acquire how to manage a diverse workforce in successful
manner. In regards of an organisation, workforce diversity refers as planned and systematic
commitment by the enterprise to hire, retain, select, reward and encourage a heterogeneous mix
of workers. Goals of the workforce diversity is to find out, attract and retain the best people of
each group. Another goal of diversity within a workplace is to develop an effective environment
where that talent can execute at its best to increase shareholders value. There are different
importance of workforce diversity for any organisation such as maximise the productivity,
enhance the creativity, providing competitive advantages, increasing loyalty of workers, satisfy
customer's needs, enhancing decision making by giving various perspective on issues. As all
these are biggest advantages of workforce diversity which will helps an organisation by
improving its performance and productivity in marketplace. On the other side, there are different
drawbacks of workforce diversity such as language, communication, generation gaps, physical
disability, mental disability, gender equality, cultural differences, ethnic differences,
accommodation of beliefs, acceptance and respect. All these are major issues of workforce
diversity which will negatively effects on productivity and performance of company.
There are different types of diversity such as Demographic, Experiential, Informational
and Fundamental. All these are consider main types of diversity which will directly impact on an
organisation and its employees also in positive and negative manner.
Demographic diversity: It is a type of diversity within a workplace. This type of diversity
mainly based on demographic background of employees such as gender, disability status, race,
age and ethnicity.
Experiential diversity: It is another kind of workplace diversity which basically based on
life experiences of worker, such as being a father or mother, a military veteran, an immigrant and
a former politician (Kundu and Mor, 2017).
Informational diversity: It is also consider as an effective kind of diversity which based
on knowledge and education background of employees, such as secondary education versus an
Master in Business Administration education.
Fundamental diversity: This type of diversity is based on values and beliefs of an
employees, such as significance of ethics within a workplace, as well as the better relationship
between workers and their enterprises.
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Theme 2: Dimension of workforce diversity in regards of an organisation.
According to the Raksha Talathi, 2019, There are different dimension of workforce
diversity which will directly influenced on an organisation as well as its employees. In addition
of this, workforce diversity is related to the similarities or difference between workers on the
basis of various aspects that directly effect on entire performance of employees at workplace. In
addition of this, diversity makes the employees heterogeneous that is important for every
business organization to enhance their performance level but at the same time, it is also crucial
for company to effective manage the same. It will contribute in improving productivity and
performance of workers and company as well. In this regards, there are various dimensions of
workforce diversity in Walmart that influence the overall performance of workers. All these are
as follows:
 Age: It is one of the important dimension in which employees are belonging to different
age group. This is the major reason of diversity in workforce as every workers are
different from each others. In this, elderly employees are more mature than their junior
and also have high experienced. As diversity at workplace may also positively impact by
creating as well as developing innovative ways to established their objectives. This will
contribute in improving worker's as well as an organisation performance level in market
place.
 Gender: In an organisation, both male and female are working together it impact in both
positive or negative manner. As make employees are usually aggressive and materialistic
whereas female workers are more polite or connected with others. Thus, it is crucial for
business organisation to maintain better coordination among them so that they can easily
accomplish their target and enhance their quality level of performance.
 Culture: It is related with complex of race, language, social traditions, values, religion
and many more in which employees in Walmart are from different cultural background.
In this, company needs to treat all the workers equally so that negative impact or issues
can be reduces at workplace. With the support of this, business organisation enhance their
positive brand image at market place in easy way.
Theme 3: Impact of workforce diversity on management of Walmart within a workplace.
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According to Mor Barak, 2015, workforce diversity is a major effect in the overall
performance of Walmart. As organisation determine positive relationship between diversity and
workers performance in order to reduce the chances of negative impact on management and
workplace as well. In context of this, it also impact in positive or negative way on overall
performance of business organisation and its workers as well. If Walmart manager workforce
diversity effectively then it reduce the conflicts arise at workplace and at the same time also
promote positivity at workplace. This may aid in developing positive brand image of Walmart at
market place. Furthermore, good diversity workforce may also leads in dealing with diverse
market through which company easily increase their profitability level at market place and also
increase market share as compare to its competitors. On the other side, if Walmart fail in
managing workforce diversity then they face issues with employees dissatisfaction, less
motivation, discouragement among workers. This will negatively impact on the brand image of
the company and also increase employee turnover. Thus, it is important for Walmart to manager
their workforce and diversity as well to minimize all the issues occur at workplace so that they
easily accomplished their set target in allotted time frame.
Theme 4: Significance of Workforce Diversity Management for Walmart.
According to Riccucci, 2018, managing workforce diversity is one of the important
activity for every business organisation to make their performance positive and competitive as
well. If company fail in managing workforce diversity at workplace then they face various
issues which directly influence workers performance in negative way. Thus, it is crucial for
Walmart to manage diversity in workforce so that entire activities within the company can be
effectively completed. In this regards, there are significance of workforce diversity management
for Walmart are as follows:
 Better human relations: The main aim of effective workforce diversity management is to
develop positive and common climate within the company as it may aid in improving
better human relation at workplace. It also may leads to develop managerial efficiency
that contribute in establishing positive and healthy working environment.
 Building goodwill of the Walmart: Good workforce management play crucial role in
developing positive image or goodwill at market place. The main reason behind this is
talented workers with diverse background help in proving better and innovative ways to
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perform allotted task. This will help in attaining attaining predetermining goals and
objectives in stipulate time frame.
CHAPTER 3: RESEARCH METHODS
Research methodology is a type of process which is follow by researcher for collecting
accurate information regarding the Workforce diversity in Walmart. This section includes
different methods which will be useful for researcher to use these methods and conduct research
systematically and effectively. There are various methods which are explained as under:
Research design: The entire activity of investigation is mainly relays on the research
design. It is carried by an investigator with purpose to analysing impact of study. The section of
research design is classified into certain parts such as descriptive, experimental, exploratory etc.
All these are consider effective types of research design but according to the current study,
descriptive design will be used because it is more suitable and helps an investigator to derive
conclusion in effective manner (Farndale and et. al., 2015).
Research philosophy: There are certain types of research philosophy but two is more
essential which is interpretivisim and positivism. As per the the current research, positivism
philosophy is used. As this philosophy will support researcher to collect data in form of
qualitative, figures, facts etc. On the other hand, there is interpretivisim philosophy which will be
not appropriate according to the study because which is mainly based on qualitative research.
Research approach: This section of research method will be classified into two section
such as inductive and deductive. Inductive approach is a part of qualitative research whereas
deductive approach is a part of quantitative research. The current study is based on qualitative
research and for this, deductive approach will be applied by researcher. Main reason behind
choosing deductive approach as it gives additional help for the conclusion of the decision-
making process. This approach will also useful because it not require more resources of an
organisation or researcher as compare to inductive approach.
Research sampling: This part of methodology is divided into two parts which is
probability and non-probability. According to the research topic, random sampling method as an
useful type of probability sampling method is applied by researcher. This type of sampling helps
an investigator to select sample size on random basis and achieve better results within given time
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period. On the other hand, there is non-probability sampling which is not much useful according
to the current study because it require more time of an enterprise or researcher. With the help of
random sampling 60 employees of Walmart will be selected.
Data collection methods: There are basically deuce methods of data collection which is
used for collecting detailed and accurate information regrading the current research topic. For
this, Primary and secondary are consider two essential form of data collection methods. Under
primary research information will be collected using questionnaire because it assist a researcher
by providing reliable data. On the other side, in case of secondary research, magazines, books,
articles etc. resources will be applied. Therefore, both primary and secondary method of data
collection will be applied for this researcher. As these supports researcher by giving valid as well
as detailed information regarding the study.
Research choice: There are two effective choice of research which is qualitative and
quantitative. For current investigation, quantitative research is selected because it helps
researcher to collect appropriate information or data in form of numbers and facts. This choice
will also support an investigator to accomplish better results within given time. Apart from this
qualitative research is not much useful according to the current study because it require more
time of researcher and not provide data in form of figures (Cho, Kim and Mor Barak, 2017).
Ethical consideration: Ethical consideration in study is more critical. Ethics are consider
standards as well as norms for doing that difference between incorrect and correct. Ethics assist
to find out the difference between unacceptable and acceptable behaviour. There are different
principles of research ethics such as voluntary participation, informed consent do not harm,
confidentiality, anonymity and only assess relevant components. All these are main principles
which must be applied by investigator. As it will support them to complete research in ethical
and systematic manner.
Research limitation: It is another main part of research which impact on researcher while
completion of each activities of investigation. There are various limitations of research but time
is consider major limitation for current study. Workforce diversity is a biggest concept and doing
research for this topic, appropriate time will be require by an investigator. Along with this,
inaccurate amount of fund, insufficient resources and improper behaviour of respondents are also
identify main limitation of research. As all these limitations are effect on investigator while
completion of research accurately.
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Questionnaire
Q1) Are you have accurate understanding regarding the impact of workforce diversity?
a) Yes
b) No
Q2) What are the dimension of workforce diversity in regards of Walmart?
a) Age
b) Gender
c) Culture
d) Psychology
Q3) What are the impact of workforce diversity on management of Walmart within a
workplace?
a) Positive impact
b) Negative impact
Q4) What are the significance of Workforce Diversity Management for Walmart?
a) Ability to Deal with Diverse Market
b) Better Decision-Making
c) Better Human Relations
d) Building of Goodwill of the Enterprise
Q5) As per your opinion, what are the benefits of workforce diversity for an organisation?
a) Increase creativity
b) Increase productivity
c) Faster problem solving
d Better decision making
Q6) According to you, what are the drawbacks of workforce diversity for Walmart?
a) Difficulty to Communicate
b) Communications Barriers Leading to Resentment
c) Exposure to Differing Perspectives and Opinions
Q7) Provide recommendation to Walmart about how to overcome impact of workforce
diversity.
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