Research Project: Equality and Diversity at Lotus Cars Ltd

This report presents a research project focusing on behaviours that support equality and diversity in the workplace, using Lotus Cars Ltd as a case study. The introduction outlines the research topic, aims, objectives, rationale, and research questions. The literature review explores existing research on equality and diversity, highlighting key concepts and advantages. The research methodology details the philosophical approach (Positivism), research approach (Inductive), and methods (Qualitative and Quantitative). Data collection methods include primary sources like interviews and surveys, and secondary sources from existing literature. The report aims to identify and evaluate the strategies and behaviours that support equality and diversity at Lotus Cars. The report is organized in a systematic manner, starting from introduction to conclusion and recommendations. The report includes an overview of the research findings and provides recommendations for alternative research methodologies. The report concludes with recommendations to improve equality and diversity in the workplace at Lotus Cars.

Unit 11 – Research
Project

Table of Contents
Research topic: Behaviours that support equality and diversity in the workplace. A case study on
Lotus cars Ltd..................................................................................................................................1
A. Introduction.................................................................................................................................1
A.1) Overview of research topic............................................................................................1
A.2) Research aim and objectives..........................................................................................1
A.3) Research rationale..........................................................................................................1
A.4) Research questions.........................................................................................................2
B. Literature review.........................................................................................................................2
C. Research methodology................................................................................................................4
D. Data analysis and interpretations................................................................................................8
D.1) Interpretation of questionnaire.......................................................................................8
D.2) Interpretation of interview questions............................................................................13
E. Research Outcomes...................................................................................................................14
Covered in PPT.....................................................................................................................14
F. Reflection & recommendation for alternative research methodology.......................................14
F.1) Reflection on the effectiveness of research methods applied.......................................14
F.2) Recommendations for alternative research methodologies..........................................14
G. Conclusion................................................................................................................................15
H. Recommendation......................................................................................................................15
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................16

Research topic: Behaviours that support equality and diversity in the
workplace. A case study on Lotus cars Ltd.
A. Introduction
A.1) Overview of research topic
Lotus cars Ltd is basically a British automotive company that is engaged in
manufacturing of sports and racing cars having its main headquarter in Hethel, England. Lotus
cars Ltd is having specialisation in designing and producing light weight and fine handling race
automobiles and also facilitates engineering consultancy services in parts of UK, Malaysia,
China and US. Thus, being a multinational company, Lotus cars Ltd employs individuals from
diversified culture and backgrounds that make it nesseary for this organisation to have better
behaviours and strategies to manage equality and diversity at workplace in order to maintain the
efficiency and productivity level of its employees (Bowl, 2018). Thus, following research is
based on the topic of behaviours that support equality and diversity in the workplace in order to
facilitate better success and growth opportunity for an organisation.
A.2) Research aim and objectives
The main aim of conducting this research is, “To study and evaluate the behaviours and
strategies that support equality and diversity in the workplace”.
Research Objectives
The main purpose and objectives behind conducting this research and investigation on
Lotus car Ltd are started as follows:
 To have a better perception about the phenomena of equality and diversity at
workplace.
 To identify the advantages that are facilitated by the support of equality and diversity
at the workplace of an organisation.
 To evaluate the strategies and behaviours that can be adopted by Lotus car Ltd to
support equality and diversity at its workplace (Parnacott and Whitehouse, 2019).
A.3) Research rationale
The main reason and justification for selection of current research topic that is based on
behaviour that support equality and diversity in the workplace is the fact that proper management
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of equality and diversity ensures betterment in performance and motivation level of employees
that is necessary and crucial for success of an organisation. Thus, this research is rational and
important form view point of organisation and its employees as ensure better workplace
environment and a positive atmosphere for better accomplishment of objectives. Beside this, the
topic of equality and diversity is also justifiable from academic and educational background of
investigator as ensures better knowledge and development of skills together with creating better
learning opportunity for other scholars.
A.4) Research questions
The research questions that are evaluated and answered through this research are as follows:
 What perception you are having about the phenomena of equality and diversity at
workplace?
 What are the advantages that are facilitated by the support of equality and diversity at the
workplace of an organisation?
 What are the feasible strategies and behaviours that can be adopted by Lotus car Ltd to
support equality and diversity at its workplace?
B. Literature review
A literature review provides a detailed discussion and structural analysis from published
sources or references on specific research topic. It is proper summary or description about the
research content on the basis of conduction aspect of surveys, interviews and detailed internal
and external research about the topic (Özbilgin and Slutskaya, 2017). The objective of literature
review is to determining the goals to be achieved, where this research report is considered to
attain the aims of LOTUS company’s agendas through literature review objectives.
To elaborate the better scenario of equality an diversity at workplace.
According to the Mary Jones, 2019. The equality and diversity are two individuals
concept where it defines personal perception of equality in terms of work and diversity in terms
of discrimination, where the meaning of equality and diversity it refers about the human rights as
defending the valuable society. It facilitates the opportunity to the workforce in which every
individual getting a chance to achieve as per their potential and it increase their growth in terms
of higher performance. Similarly for Lotus Company which is basically manufactured luxuries
and sports cars the workforce of their business environment is having a presence of equality and
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diversity between men and women workers there is no sort of discrimination (Ng and Stamper,
2018). By mapping of performances to each individuals is depending at operation, manufacturing
or administrative work in the organization.
Identify the advantages which facilitates by the supported of equality and diversity at the
workplace of an organization.
According to the opinion of Louise Petty, 2016. Equality and diversity is content topic
which is related to the resembles workplaces, regardless, of weather in organization having one,
two or hundred employees are working there should be effective equality and diversity in
division of work as well as in decision making also, the agenda of this process is to makes
assurance that every employees get equal opportunity and fair judgment on the basis of their
performances. The equality upbringing the golden opportunities and provides the neutral
outcomes without any errors while the diversity having a advantages which helps to develop the
business in terms of infrastructure, training to new employees, generating the external source of
opportunities to existing employees where they can promote their skills and knowledge as well
as their creativity, visions in the market, to attain or accomplish to pitch the idea to more and
more consumers, Diversity helps to makes interact with intellectual customers to diverse the
workforce (Greene, 2019). As in Lotus company there is necessity of equality diversity
workforce where many workers as well as experts has been appointed towards the work projects
to for implementing the best alternatives products into market to pitch more to more consumers
as there many competitors are already setting tehri benchmark in terms of customer retention,
market capture in profit margin etc. So the automotive companies have to enhanced and taking as
opportunity of utilize the advantages of equality and diversity.
To evaluate the strategies and behaviors that can be adopted by Lotus car Ltd in a support
with equality and diversity at the workplace.
According to the Somen Mandel, 2020. The equality and diversity is to providing the
opportunity platform in terms of generating fair equality judgements with improvised the
decision making process. The strategies which can helps to Lotus company as for Equality and
Diversity at workplace as to bring engagement work activities with group peers where they
coordination with each other, the work division should be not allocate on the basis of gender as it
allocate the performances basis where it female or male. As the lotus company is automotive
where the major work is to attract the clients or manufacturing format where the diversity of
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work can brings the appointing job as per the competences based. So, as the strategies are
mentioned where the major ones are to follows the work perform distribution equally (Bend,
2019).
C. Research methodology
Research Methodology generates a set of specific procedure and tools with techniques
which are optimized by a respective researcher or mangers to identify and evaluate the right
approach of process and analysis the information of the data which is related with the topic. The
particular research methodology provides information and represent the implementation of
strategy to collection of data and conclusion of research (Gawrych, 2019).
Research Philosophy
It provides the structure as well as the sources in which the data of related topic should be
collected and analysis the used by researcher. The two main researcher philosophy which can
help to utilized by researcher are as follows:
Positivism: This type of research philosophy is utilized by researcher who is more
focuses in the prediction of outcomes of research related data. It is also known as Scientific
research which can influence researcher’s values and behaviors.
Interpretivism: This process of researcher is used by those researcher who are only
focuses to collecting the data which are precious and contain the detailed knowledge which
provides the better generalization (Jayaweera and McCarthy, 2016).
For this particular research there is use of Positivism philosophy while selection and
investigation as to considering the main focus of the particular research is on predicting and
generating the outcomes on essentials aspects.
Research approaches.
It formally represent the strategies or procedure which can used for research and involves
the couple of steps with some assumptions for an effective method of data collection, analysis
and interpretation. Research Approaches is of the two types which are explained below:
Deductive: This process of approach is by selecting a particular theory which is
generating from the particular hypothesis for that created theory and finally the collection of
analyzing the data on the basis of hypothesis (Manfredi, 2016).
Inductive: This approach of research is concerned with generation of new upbringing the
theory with emerge to the data, where it provide the more logical process in which multiple
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assumptions and premises are involved with the combination with conclusion of research of
research.
For this research there is optimum utilized of inductive approach is made to reach
specific conclusion and to focus outcomes which helps to emerging with data and will provide
the new theory of the research.
Research Method:
A research method is facilitates a systematic procedure for conducting and meeting up to
the objectives of any research. There are two main types of research method whichare described
below:
Qualitative research: By using of this method which is structured by researcher when in
depth in detailed knowledge of information is generated by collecting from self-assessment such
as through surveys, interviews and feedbacks etc (Mahlangu, 2019).
Quantitative research: By using of this research method is collected in form of
arithmetic or numeric data which is also known as statistical data which reflect the view point of
brief perspective of participants and not much importance is given in depth knowledge.
For this particular research there is use of both Qualitative research and Quantitative
research for attaining the depth knowledge as well as generates the detailed information as well
as the help of statistical data will generates the performnances graphs in the market with
regarding the research topic which is related to automobile industry where it provides the fair
judgements and making effective decision making and further recommendation to meeting up the
objective of research (Avis, 2018).
Sources of data collection
It is basically represent the middle point of the data which is actually collected fro the
research.
Primary Source: The data is been collected from this source of primary by providing the
current data which is authentic and reliable in terms of self assessment or examine by the
individuals researcher for gathering and allocating for the context of research. By using of
different techniques like interviews and survey which makes successfully happened of data
collection primary sources (Ashurst, 2019).
Secondary Sources: This source of provides the mobility and accessibility to data which
is having a existence in documents and articles where the researcher makes to utilize that for its
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research and adapt all the information from the others data. Secondary data is been very flexible
in terms of collection of data from newspaper, articles, internet etc.
As for this research there is use of both sources of data as primary is for generating the
processing in terms of interviews and surveys information and secondary is for to having the
other authentic data which has already proven from other researcher.
Sampling Method
Sampling method is formally used by researcher for choosing or selecting pre determined
data in terms of numbers and units or observation for the purpose of analysis of data effectively
evaluate and determine a set of data (Norris and Carter-Rogers, 2017). As for this research there
is use of Simple random sampling method which is made for a motive to provides the probability
for all observation by reducing the chances of biasness and favoritism from research where it
creates the conflicts. A sample size of 40 respondents are selected from the employees and
workforce of Lotus car Ltd to gain their opinion on the topic of equality and diversity.
Ethical Implications:
The ethical implications is regarding for this research is that all data has been collected
with full confidential and secure of the data by implementing the compliances which are related
to research and all the data of this topic are not contain any illegal activity as well as it belongs
the ethical resources.
Activities and timeline
Use of Gantt Chart is made to sow the activities an timeline associated with current research
work which is basically a horizontal bar graph shaped which shows as statistical data with
different forma of variances, transparency, clarity and simplicity of research where it helps to
understand the facts and figures with optimum information providers of research and accomplish
the objectives which directly related to the research (Stein, Hannah and Zimmerman, 2019).
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Instrument used for data collection
Use of various tools and instruments are made by a researcher to collect autistic
information for conducting an investigation. For current research work use of questionnaire is
made to collect quantitative data while use of interview is made to collect qualitative data. Use of
both the tools ensures collection of authentic data directly from the respondents that enhance the
viability of research work.
Questionnaires
It is proper written document which contains the group of questions which are related to
the topic which belongs to the research and gathered the reviews of respondent (Talati, 2016).
Use of following questionnaire is made to collect information and perspective of 40 participants
selected from the workforce of Lotus car ltd.
Questionnaires
Q1) Is adoption of Behaviours that support equality and diversity in the workplace are
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beneficial and important for an organisation?
a) Yes
b) No
Q2) What are the advantages that are facilitated by the support of equality and diversity at
the workplace of an organisation?
a) Enhance creativity
b) Better morale
c) Increase in productivity
Q3) What consequences could be faced by Lotus car Ltd in absence of equality and
diversity?
a) Limited growth
b) Chaos and conflicts
c) Ineffective communication
Q4) Do you agree with the fact that enhancement in level of diversity also facilitates better
growth and expansion opportunity for organization together with enhancement in
competitive strength?
a) Agreed
b) Disagreed
Q5) What are the feasible strategies and behaviours that can be adopted by Lotus car Ltd
to support equality and diversity at its workplace?
a) Boosting of cultural competency
b) Training to develop cross-cultural understanding
c) Compliance with all provisions of Equality act, 2010
Q6) Any further recommendations for Lotus cars ltd to create behaviours that support
equality and diversity in the workplace?
Interview- It is a commonly used instrument or method of collection of qualitative data
through a two communication between researcher and participants thus, lead to gathering of
more in-depth and better perceptive of respondents (Fischer, 2017).
Interview questions
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Q1) What perception you are having about the overall implication and impact of equality and
diversity on performance and success of an organisation?
Q2) What opinion you are having regarding the role of top authority and managers in creation of
behaviours that support equality and diversity in the workplace?
D. Data analysis and interpretations
D.1) Interpretation of questionnaire
Use of frequency table and pie charts are made for analysis and interpretation of
quantitative data collected through questionnaire a description of which is provided below:
Theme 1: Behaviours that support equality and diversity in the workplace are beneficial
and important for an organisation
Q1) Is adoption of Behaviours that support equality and diversity in
the workplace are beneficial and important for an organisation?
Frequency
a) Yes 36
b) No 4
Interpretation
In accordance with above drawn pie chart it can be analysed that behaviours that support
equality and diversity in the workplace are beneficial and important for an organisation as out of
40 participants, 36 are in favour of this statement while only 4 participates are having a different
thinking about this fact regarding benefits of equality and diversity.
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