Behaviours Supporting Equality and Diversity: McDonald's Case Study

This research project proposal, submitted by a student, focuses on the behaviors that support equality and diversity in the workplace, using McDonald's as a case study. The research aims to understand the impact of these practices, identify behaviors that foster balance, and explore challenges faced in managing equality and diversity. The proposal outlines the research objectives, questions, and the rationale behind the study, emphasizing the importance of equality and diversity in today's globalized and competitive environment. It includes a literature review, detailing sources that discuss the benefits of equality and diversity, behaviors that promote it, and challenges faced by organizations. The methodology section describes the research approach, design, and methods, including the use of an interpretivistic philosophy, inductive approach, descriptive research design, and a combination of primary and secondary data collection methods, including questionnaires. The proposal also includes a timeline of activities, ethical considerations, and confirmation from the tutor and project proposal checker, ensuring the project's validity and ethical compliance. Overall, this project offers a comprehensive analysis of equality and diversity in the workplace, providing valuable insights for organizations.

Research Project

Research Proposal Form
Student Name: ______________________ Student ID:
____________
Centre Name: _____________________
Tutor: ________________ Date:
___________________
Unit: ____________________
Proposed Title: ______________________________________________
Section One: Title, objective, responsibilities
Title or working title of the research project (in the form of a
question, objective or hypothesis)
“ Behaviours that support equality and diversity in the workplace” - Case Study on
McDonald
Aim:
“ To investigate the behavior that influence equality and diversity at workplace” - Case
Study on McDonald
Research objectives (e.g what is the question you want to answer?
What do you want to learn how to do? What do you want to find
out?):
Research objectives
 To understand the impact of practicing equality and diversity within organization.
 To ascertain the behavior which company can imply to create a balance between
equality and diversity in functional unit.
 To identify the issues which organization face during managing equality and diversity
at workplace.
Research questions
 What is the impact of practicing equality and diversity within organization?
 What are the behavior which company can imply to create a balance between equality
and diversity in functional unit?
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 What are the issues which organization face during managing equality and diversity at
workplace?
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 rationale behind preferring this topic for present research study is that, in current
era of globalized and competitive world, the aspect of equality and diversity becomes the
major concern for majority of the organization. This is because, it help employers to build a
healthy and strong relationship among each other and also lead them to improve the overall
productivity of company in an improved manner. Along with this, by conducting such
research study, it assist researcher to acquire the information regarding the influence of
equality and diversity at workplace as well as over workers performance towards
organizational goal. Moreover, by this report, investigator will also be able to identify several
behavior which empower employers to manage equality and diversity inside business
function. In addition to this, current research report also assist researcher to examine different
sort of challenges that an establishments undergoes while supporting equality and diversity at
workplace. Apart from this, by organization this study, investigator will also be enable to
know about various types of research methodology in order to produce accurate and reliable
report within prescribed time duration.
Section Three: Literature sources searched
To understand the impact of practicing equality and diversity within organization.
According to Angel Sharma, 2016, In the present generation of marketplace, the concept of
equality and diversity is one of the essential elements in every form of organization as it is
believes that such working culture helps them to accomplish their goal in an efficacious
manner. However, as per the overall analysis of company's productivity, it has been stated that
the aspect of equality and diversity impact positively over their capability to attain sustainable
growth and development (Managing diversity and equality in the workplace, 2016). However,
the term equality means assuring that each and every manpower are getting fair treatment
whereas diversity is termed as acquiring and respecting diverse culture, language, religion,
caste, gender, values, norms and many more. In addition to this, by managing equality and
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diversity it empower organization to grab several growth opportunity which lead them to gain
competitive advantage among competitors or rivalries. Furthermore, with the implication of
equality it empower establishments to understand the market competition and also the
dynamic nature of customer need or demand in order to render high level of satisfaction or
motivation towards firm's image. Apart from this, diverse culture also drive organization to
adopt innovative or advanced technology that lead them to place their brand in an aggressive
or competent position in a stipulated time limit. Furthermore, there are are some more
benefits that firm can obtain by managing equality and diversity at workplace such as improve
productivity, enlarge market share, enhance competition, increase sales performance and so
on. Therefore, it has been signified that with the proper or positive relationship towards
personnel enrich organization overall proficiency ratio and brand value among rivalries in an
impressive style.
To ascertain the behavior which company can imply to create a balance between equality and
diversity in functional unit.
In the views of Ruth Mayhew, 2020, In order to survive within current day globalized
market, it is important that organization should make an initiative to support equality and
diversity. This is because, it assist company to generate positive and healthy relationship
between each other and also help them to make use of upcoming different market growth
opportunities for acquiring best position inside industry. However, there are various ways
through which company can support or manage equality and diversity such as equal
opportunity, unbiased behavior, maintaining clarity or transparency in communication,
impartiality in delegating roles or responsibility, fair decisions, proper training program, team
management activities and etc. Thus, by the application of these behavior, it empower
establishments to impose increased level of motivation towards the achievement of business
goal or purpose in an innovative manner. Additionally, such attitude of employer help them to
reduce the occurrence of conflicts or interest and also to reduce employee turnover in an
efficient manner among competitors.
To determine the challenges that company undergoes while supporting equality and diversity
within functional unit.
As per the views of Josh Greenberg, 2019, The overall evaluation of organizational
performance, it has been determined that the concept of equality and diversity impose various
benefits in terms of improving employees and business performance in an amended way. On
the other hand, it create several difficulties over establishments for maintaining a balance
between equality and diversity in functional unit such as generation gap, resistance to
change , cultural differences, linguistic barriers, gender equality, acceptance or respect issue
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and many more. Hence, such type of issues negatively impact over organizational potentiality
in regard of gaining cutting edge competitive advantage among rivalries in a desired time
period. Moreover, there is a possibility that such kind of working culture may increase degree
of employee turnover rate and satisfaction level among manpower. Therefore, for overcoming
such behaviors, an organization must make an initiative in rendering equal opportunities,
treating both gender equally, respecting different cultures or values, fair reward, recognizing
personnel effort in an ethical mode and so on. With the help of such behavior, it enable
establishments to support equality and diversity inside organization and can attain sustainable
growth.
Online
Sharma. A., Managing diversity and equality in the workplace, 2016[Online]. Available
Through; <https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/23311975.2016.1212682?
src=recsys&>
Greenberg .J., Diversity in the Workplace: Benefits, Challenges and Solutions, 2019.[Online].
Available Through; <https://easysmallbusinesshr.com/2010/08/diversity-in-the-
workplace-benefits-challenges-and-solutions/>
Mayhew. R., What Are an Employer's Responsibilities for Diversity in the Workplace, 2020.
[Online]. Available Through; <https://smallbusiness.chron.com/employers-responsibilities-
diversity-workplace-10417.html>
Section Four: Activities and timescales
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:
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Milestone one: ___literature review______________
Target date (set by tutor): ___13 days_________________
Milestone two: ___Data collection____________________
Target date (set by tutor): __26 days____________________
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:
The component of research methodology is related to those aspect
which help researcher to collect relevant data or information from
targeted audience with an aim of providing better solutions for pre
identified problems. Some of the methods are discussed below:
Research philosophy- In relation to this research study, it implies Interprestivistic philosophy
which help researcher to cover all aspects of research in order to develop reliable and relevant
report in prescribed time duration.
Research approach- Inductive approach has been used by researcher that motive them to
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acquire deeper understanding of equality and diversity which assist them to provide
appropriate suggestion in an improved manner.
Research design- In relation to this research, investigator implies Descriptive research
design which enable them to obtain in- depth information regarding equality and diversity for
producing relevant and accurate report in a better mode.
Qualitative research method has been adopted for current research report that lead
researcher to achieve detailed information or data about specified topic and also can complete
the task in a desired time frame without any obstacles.
Data collection- In case of this researcher, investigator utilise primary and secondary method
in the form of questionnaire and different online sources. However, by the application of these
two method motive them to accomplish better outcome in a stipulated time limit.
Sampling technique- Simple random sampling method has been implied by researcher which
enable them to give equal chance to all targeted respondents. Due to which, it aid them to get
accurate opinion or view from respondents in an amended mode. Moreover, researcher choose
20 employees from McDonald as a sample size.
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.
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Agreed /Disagree: (Name of the IV)
Date
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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:
“ Behaviours that support equality and diversity in the workplace” -
Case Study on McDonald
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:
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 Interviews Yes No
 Questionnaires Yes No
 Observations Yes No
 Use of personal records Yes No
 Data Analysis Yes No
 Action Research Yes No
 Focus Groups Yes No
 Others (Please specify) :
Section 3: Participants
Please answer the following questions, giving full details where
necessary.
Will your research involve human participants?
Who are the participants? Tick all that apply:
Ages 12-16: Young people aged: 17-18 Adults
How will participants be recruited (identified an approached)?
All the managers are hired with the usage of secondary sources i.e.
through formal mail.
Describe the processes you will use to inform participants about what
you are doing:
Email and phone will be utilised to communicate with targeted
respondents regarding filling the questionnaire.
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?
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Email
Studies involving questionnaires: will participants be given the option of
omitting questions that do not wish to answer?
Yes No
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.
Yes No
Will you debrief participants at the end of their participation (i.e give
them a brief explanation of the study)?
Yes No
Will participants be given information about the findings of your study?
(This could be a brief summary of your findings in general)
Yes No
Section 4: Data Storage and Security
Confirm that all personal data will be stored and processed in
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compliance with the Data Protection Act (1998)
Yes No
Who will have access to the data and personal information?
Researcher and supervisor can approach the data.
During the research:
Researcher
Where will the data be stored?
All the acquired data will be stored in computer.
Will mobile devices such as USB storage and laptops be used
Yes No
If Yes, please provide further details:
After the research:
Where will the data be stored? Computer
How long will the data and records be kept for and in what format?
Will data be kept for use by other researchers? Yes 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:
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
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to the following :
 Informed consent.
 Potentially vulnerable participants.
 Sensitive topics
 Risk to participants and /or researchers
 Confidentiality/anonymity
 Disclosures/ limits to confidentiality
 Data storage and security, both during and after the research
(including transfer, sharing, encryption, protection).
 Reporting
 Dissemination and use of your findings.
Section 6: Declaration
I have read, understood and will abide by the institution’s
Research and Ethics Policy: Yes No
I have discussed the ethical issues relating to my research with
my Unit Tutor:
Yes No
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 supervisor and also
attach to the Research Proposal when submitting to Turnitin.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
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