Research Report: Examining Equality and Diversity at Marks & Spencer

This research report analyzes the impact of equality and diversity initiatives at Marks & Spencer (M&S). The report begins with an executive summary and outlines the research methodology, which includes an inductive research approach, interpretivism philosophy, and exploratory research design. Data collection methods involved both primary (questionnaires) and secondary research. The findings, presented in tables and graphs, reveal insights into employee working experience, M&S's diversity initiatives, strategies, issues, and outcomes. The discussion section interprets these findings, highlighting employee retention, M&S's commitment to equality, and the impact on employee satisfaction and productivity. The report concludes with recommendations for M&S and a reflection on the research process, supported by a comprehensive list of references. The study uses both qualitative and quantitative data analysis techniques to present a holistic view of diversity in the workplace environment at M&S.

Research Project

Table of Contents
RESEARCH REPORT ...................................................................................................................1
1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY.........................................................................................................1
2. METHODOLOGY......................................................................................................................1
3. RESULTS FINDINGS-...............................................................................................................5
Tables and graph.........................................................................................................................5
4. DISCUSSION............................................................................................................................10
Interpretation.............................................................................................................................10
5. CONCLUSION..........................................................................................................................12
6. RECOMMENDATION.............................................................................................................13
Recommendations.....................................................................................................................13
7. REFLECTION...........................................................................................................................14
8. REFERENCES..........................................................................................................................16

RESEARCH REPORT
1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The better training are provided to the employees recommending the diversity as the
better employer is able to effect the policies of workplace that insists on rendering values with
relate to equity, equality and equal treatment at the workplace it has been explained in the study.
Study has also evaluated the different method of research methodology in order to explore the
deep understanding of the research. The expected outcome from the project is to promoting the
equality and diversity at Marks & Spencer, the employer should fairly treat their employees, no
favoritism is performed within the workplace.
2. METHODOLOGY
Research Approach : Research approach is the method of research which analyse the
study in the relevant manner. It is divided into two parts deductive and inductive research
approach. Deductive approach is concerned with developing a hypothesis which is based on
existing theory. In other words, deductive approach helpful to determine the relationship between
the variables (Ashe and Nazroo, 2017). In contrary, Inductive approach starts with their process
with observation and theories are proposed towards the end of the research process. This method
is different from deductive where there is no use of hypothesis. The main purpose of inductive
method is to examine the meaning from the data collected in order to find the relationship to
build a final outcomes. So as order to conduct the present study, researcher has been taken
Inductive research approach to generate findings on the research topic.
Research Philosophy : Research philosophy is the term which elaborate the research
topic in detailed manner. There are two types of research philosophy Positivism and
Interpretivism. It has to be acknowledged that the positivism research is quite difficult to
explained in a precise and succinct manner (Hawkins, 2017). The positivism adheres and based
on the factual knowledge and gained through observation. In the method of positivism the role of
researcher has been decreased. In other words, this method is generally based on quantifiable
observation that lead to statistical analyses. In contrary, Interpretivism approach take high
evolvement of researcher and conduct study based on reality. Therefore, Interpretivism is
associated with the philosophies position of idealism which is used to group together with having
diverse approaches. Including social constructivism, phenomenology and hermeneutics.
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Therefore, in order to examine the benefits of Equality & diversity at workplace researcher has
been taken Interpretivism method.
Research Design : Research Design is the plan or format of research process with having
different meaning by different authors. The basic purpose of research design is to address the
answer of research questions. There are two types of research design method Exploratory and
Conclusive (Syed and Ozbilgin, eds., 2015). Exploratory research aim is to implies intends to
explore the research question and does not intend to offer final and conclusive solutions to
existing problems. The main purpose of exploratory research is to examine the research problem
which has to be answers to the issue of the study. In other ways, conclusive research design is a
method which is helpful to generate findings that are practically useful in reaching the research
conclusion and helpful in making decisions. Conclusive method is generally used when study
taking quantitative method of data analysis. Where the researcher analyses data into
mathematical manner (Klarsfeld and et.al., 2016). So in order to conduct the present study
findings. Researcher has been taken Exploratory research design in order to analyse the benefits
of Equality and Diversity at workplace environment of M&S.
Data Collection : Data collection is the core method to further conduct the research
process. Data collection is the technique to collect data through different sources and methods to
possibly meet the study aims and objectives. Therefore, data collection technique relevantly
collect data as per the requirement of the research topic. Also it helpful to measure the outcomes
and makes the high performing goals. Data collection methods has been divided into two
methods secondary and primary collection method. Primary collection method is the way to
collect present and actual data from taking survey, observation, etc. Primary method of data
collection is further divided into method quantitative and qualitative. In Contrary, Secondary
method of data collection is more factual and helps to collect data as much is required by the
researcher (Milner, 2017). In other words, secondary method of data collection is used to collect
data from internet, books, journals etc. all such data and information has already been exit and
written by other researchers. In order to collect advantages and benefits of Equality & Diversity
researcher has been taken both method. Primary method is following supported by Questionnaire
and Secondary method is been collecting through different journals and articles from internet by
formulating as a Literature review.
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Data Analysis : Data analysis techniques helpful to find actual results and findings from
the collected data. Data analysis is the most important method of the research which mainly
focus on the data collection which is collected by the most efficient manner. Research analysis is
the research basic purpose and following business task which is been followed by the effective
manner. Qualitative method of data analysis is the tool which is been used for the method where
the data has been analysed through thematic manner. This method is generally useful when the
study is been conducted thematic presentation without using any statistical tools. Qualitative can
be done by various ways content analysis, narrative analysis, discourse analysis and frameworks
analysis (Kirton and Greene, 2015). In contrary, this method and identification goals effectively
collects the best formation and results to bring effective working outcomes. Quantitative method
of data analysis is based on the calculations where researcher has been chosen statistical tools to
interpret the data such tools are mean, median and mode. In other words, Quantitative approach
is usually associated with findings evidence to either support or reject hypothesis which
formulated at the earlier stages of the research process. So In order to conduct this research
researcher has been taken qualitative data analysis.
Sampling : Sampling can be explained as a specific principle which is used to select
members of population to be included in the study. Sampling is the method to select individuals
for the study which will help to make and understand the study outcomes in an more appropriate
manner (Wrench 2015). There are two types of sampling method probability and non probability
sampling. Probability sampling is the technique where in the study there is a known chance to
participate in the study is available the methods used in probability sampling is systematic,
multistage, simple random sampling and . On the other side, non probability is the method where
all participate did not get chance to participate in the study in fully manner. In order to conduct
this research researcher has been taken simple random sampling with taken 30 employees of
Marks and Spencer to take consideration on the research chosen topic.
Ethical Consideration : This is the term which elaborate the ethical circumstances which is
required for researcher to abide in systematic way. Proper following rules can help researcher to
get good results. In contrary, ethical consideration can also limit the scope of the study in case of
any illegal practices like, disclosed participant personal information, collected data from illegal
manner etc. present study ethical issue can be in the process of collecting data and deal with the
participants.
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Questionnaire
Age :
Occupation :
1. How long you been a part of M&S ?
 1 Year
 2 Year
 3 Year
2. Does Marks & Spencer take initiatives towards Equality and Diversity at workplace ?
 Yes
 No
3. What are the strategies M&S adopts to sustained the Equality and Diversity at workplace ?
 Employee Meetings
 Hire Diverse employees
 Training & Development
4. What are the issues M&S facing due to diversity in workplace environment ?
 Communication Barrier
 Conflicts
 Employees Dissatisfaction
5. What are the major factors that contribute to the relationship between diversity in
workplace ?
 Financial performance
 Innovation
 Team performance
6. What are the outcomes M&S getting from implementing Equality & Diversity ?
 Employee Satisfaction
 Employee Retention
 High Production
7. Does all employees of M&S satisfied with the diverse workplace environment ?
 Yes
 No
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8. Does employees from different background is well interact with each other ?
 Agree
 Strongly agree
 Disagree
 strongly agree
9. Does Equality and Diversity influence the employee satisfaction and productivity ?
 Yes
 No
10 Suggest your own views on Equality and diversity for the Organization._______
3. RESULTS FINDINGS-
Tables and graph
Theme 1: Working experience
1. How long you been a part of M&S ? Frequency
1 Year 7
2 Year 13
3 Year 10
Theme 2: Marks & Spencer take initiatives towards Equality and Diversity
2. Does Marks & Spencer take initiatives towards Equality and Diversity at Frequency
5
1 Year 2 Year 3 Year
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
7
13
10
Column B

workplace ?
Yes 25
No 5
Theme 3: Strategies M&S adopts to sustained the Equality and Diversity
3. What are the strategies M&S adopts to sustained the Equality and Diversity at
workplace ? Frequency
Employee Meetings 7
Hire Diverse employees 10
Training & Development 13
Theme 4: Issues M&S facing due to diversity in workplace
6
25
5
Yes
No
Employee Meetings
Hire Diverse employees
Training & Development
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
7
10
13
Column B

4. What are the issues M&S facing due to diversity in workplace environment ? Frequency
Communication Barrier 8
Conflicts 7
Employees Dissatisfaction 15
Theme 5: Major factors that contribute to the relationship between diversity in workplace
5. What are the major factors that contribute to the relationship between
diversity in workplace ? Frequency
Financial performance 5
Innovation 10
Team performance 15
7
Communication Barrier
Conflicts
Employees Dissatisfaction
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
8 7
15
Column B

Theme 6: Outcomes M&S getting from implementing Equality & Diversity
6. What are the outcomes M&S getting from implementing Equality &
Diversity ? Frequency
Employee Satisfaction 10
Employee Retention 8
High Production 12
Theme 7: Employees of M&S satisfied with the diverse workplace
7. Does all employees of M&S satisfied with the diverse workplace
environment ? Frequency
Yes 20
8
5
10
15
Financial
performance
Innovation
Team
performance
Employee Satisfaction
Employee Retention
High Production
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
10
8
12
Column B

No 10
Theme 8: Different background is well interact with each other
8. Does employees from different background is well interact with each other ? Frequency
Agree 7
Strongly agree 15
Disagree 5
strongly agree 3
9
Yes
No
0 5 10 15 20 25
20
10
Column B
Agree Strongly agree Disagree strongly agree
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
7
15
5
3
Column B

Theme 9: Does Equality and Diversity influence the employee satisfaction
9. Does Equality and Diversity influence the employee satisfaction and
productivity ? Frequency
Yes 20
No 10
Theme 10: Recommendation & Suggestions
4. DISCUSSION
Interpretation
Interpretation 1: It has been found from the above survey that how long employees have been
working with company. So as according to the survey it has been observed that the retention
growth of the M&S is not that much bad. Second Highest number of 10 employees has spend
more than 3 years in M&S. Which is a good sign in terms of employee retention. Apart from
this, as according to the 13 respondents they have spend 2 years with M&S as a senior position.
And they have shared the value of M&S and its productive environment. Rest of the 7
respondents were spend 1 year with the company and happy with the working environment of
the company.
10
20
10
Yes
No