Project Report: Managing Equality and Diversity at Marks & Spencer

This report examines the issues and challenges of equality and diversity in the workplace, using Marks and Spencer as a case study. The project defines aims and objectives, develops a project management plan covering cost, scope, time, quality, communication, risk, and resources. It includes a work breakdown structure and a Gantt chart for project timelines. The research employs both quantitative (questionnaire) and qualitative methods to gather data. The findings are presented using data analysis, interpreting responses related to awareness, importance, potential issues, and proposed measures. The report provides recommendations based on the research and includes reflections and limitations of the study.

Managing a Successful
Business Project

INTRODUCTION
In every organisation it is necessary for a management to develop as well as maintain
equality and diversity because through it they able to create and maintain proper working
environment (Alcock and et. al., 2016). Through this a company able to gain various benefits
such as employees feel motivated, firm attain goal easily, relationship will developed with
stakeholders and so on. Organisation taken in this report is Marks and Spencer which is a public
limited firm which is conducting its business at retail industry. It is founded by Michael Marks
and Thomas Spencer in 1884, its headquarter is located at London, United Kingdom. Topics
which are explained in this report are related to evaluation and analysis of aims as well as
objective that based on respective company. This will also include project management plant,
work breakdown structure, Gantt Chart, questionnaire, data analysis, recommendation, reflection
and limitation based on research theme.
TASK 1
P1 Devise project aims and objectives for a chosen scenario.
Project Aim:-
“To identify issues and challenges that may arise out of equality and diversity in the
workplace and what measures could be taken to resolve them. A study on Marks and Spencer”
Project Objective:-
 To analyse the concept of equality and diversity at workplace.
 To identify issues and challenges that may arise due to lack of equality and diversity in an
organisation.
 To determine the measures which could be taken in order to resolve issues that can arise
due to out of equality and diversity.
P2 Produce a project management plan that covers aspects of cost, scope, time, quality,
communication, risk and resources.
Project Title What issues and challenges may arise out of equality and diversity
in the workplace and what measures could be taken to resolve
them?
Project Plan

Company Name Marks and Spencer
Cost It refers to fund or capital that needed by project manager for
conducting investigation in impressive mode (Algera and Lips,
2012). In context of respective investigation, project manager will
needed approx 20 K Euro.
Scope The scope of conducting this research is to identify issues and
challenges which may arise at workplace if their will no equality
and diversity. Through this researcher can create proper as well as
effectual strategies for companies in order resolve issues.
Time It define as time period that is needed by a research manager for
conducting investigation in impressive style for attaining proper
outcome. In context of this research researcher required near by
six months for conducting this investigation properly and
successfully.
Quality It consider as quality of products, services, work and process
which are done by a company in order to conduct accomplish
activity effectively for attaining outcome (Amstutz, 2015). In
context of this research, for maintaining standard quality of
research, investigator will adopt several factors such as train team
members, enhance awareness, adopt proper sources and resources
and so on.
Communication It consider as method that is adopted by an organisation or person
for communicating about any topic or message. Here for
conducting effective communication researcher will adopt
different method such as conduct meeting, use social media and so
on.
Risk It is define as hurdle or risk which are include while conducting
any work. Here in respect of this research, risk which are incurred
in this are inappropriate responses of respondents, unskilled or

inexperienced team members, limited time and funds and so on.
Resources It refers to factors which are required by a company or an
individual in order to conduct any work or task in effective
manner. In respect of this research resources which are required
by project manager are funds, time, skilled team members etc.
P3 Produce a work breakdown structure and a Gantt chart to provide time frames and stages for
completion.
Work breakdown structure:
It is define as project management tool and system engineering method in which
researcher of a project will divide whole work into small section or portion (Boström, 2012).
This is so because through it researcher and team both able to conduct work more effectively and
properly that will leads to attainment of goal as well as target.
Gantt Chart:
It is consider as a type of bar chart that will define about the project schedule from the
starting to the end of the research. Through this project manager able to conduct its work
according to the schedule, which will enhance chance of accomplishment of work in proper or
given time duration.

TASK 2
P4 Carry out small-scale research by applying qualitative and quantitative research methods
appropriate for meeting project aims and objectives.
Quantitative research
It is define as method which is adopted by a researcher in order to collect statistical,
numerical or mathematical data related to the theme. For this researcher may adopt various
sources such as questionnaire, survey, polls and so on. Along with this, they can also adopt
computational techniques which help in collecting respective type of information and data.
Qualitative research
It is consider as main exploratory research, which is used by project manager in order to
develop understanding related to the underlying motivations, opinions, factors and reasons
(Botkin, Elmandjra and Malitza, 2014). For collecting this type of data project manager may
adopt several techniques such as focus group, individual interview, group discussion and so on.
In respect of respective research researcher will adopt quantitative research method and
for this they are developing questionnaire. This is so because through it they able to collect more
authenticate data and information related to research.
Primary method
It refers to those data which are collected by researcher by themselves and for this they
use different methods such as observation, survey, questionnaire, experiments and so on. This
method of gathering data is more time as well as fund taking. But data collected through
respective method are original and unique which are more capable to resolve issues.
Secondary method
These data or information are already present, these are basically not original or unique
data. Methods which can adopted by project manager are internet, books, journals, government
records and others sources (Coleman, Deutsch and Marcus, 2014). These are less time as well as
cost taking. But these data or information are less reliable and it will be less chance that research
find data according to particular theme.
Here, project manager of respective research will adopt primary method for collecting
more authenticate as well as reliable data and information related to the research topic or theme.
Sampling and sample size

It refers to procedure which is used by researcher in order to predetermined number of
respondents from the large number of population. Here, project manager of respective research
will adopt random sample sampling for deciding respondents of their researcher. Along with this,
research select 30 respondents who will respond questionnaire.
Questionnaire
It is invented by Statistical Society at London in year 1838. This is consider as instrument
which is adopted by researcher and it will include series of questions based on theme of research
(DeNisi, Wilson and Biteman, 2014). Its main objective is to collect more authenticate and
reliable information or data.
Questionnaire
Name:
Gender:
E- mail:
Q1. Do you know about concept of equality and diversity at workplace?
 Yes
 No
Q2. What are the importance of equality and diversity at workplace?
 Motivate employees
 Reduce conflict situation
 Develop relationship along with staffs
 All of the above
Q3. What are the issues which can faced by Marks and Spencer if they not adopt diversity
and equality at workplace?
 Increase conflict
 Demotivated staffs
 Reduction in work quality
 All of the above
Q4. What are the measures that can adopted by Marks and Spencer in order to resolve
issues that can arise due to out of equality and diversity.
 Train Staffs
 Develop proper rules and regulations

 Ensure implementation of ethical practices
Q5. What are ethical practices company may adopt for implementing equality at
workplace?
 Provide equal wage according to work
 Adopt equality Act 2010
 Avoid discrimination
Q6. What are the measures adopted by Marks and Spencer for improving diversity at
workplace?
 Recruit from broader geographical location
 Provide training and development
 Empower and educate company manager
 Develop diversity friendly workplace
Q7. Any suggestion for further improvement..........................................................................
….....................................................................................................................................................
TASK 3
P5 Present findings and data using appropriate tools and techniques.
Theme 1: Concept of equality and diversity at workplace
Q1. Do you know about concept of equality and diversity
at workplace?
Frequency
 Yes 20
 No 10

Interpretation: By analysing above data it can be interpret that n organisation need to conduct
programmes which help them in enhancing awareness about the equality and diversity at
workplace. As per the perspective of 20 respondents out of 30, they know about concept of
equality and diversity at the workplace. But left over 10 respondents didn't know about it. So it is
duty of firm to develop its awareness as well as also implement it at workplace.
Theme 2: Importance of equality and diversity at workplace
Q2. What are the importance of equality and diversity at
workplace?
Frequency
 Motivate employees 7
 Reduce conflict situation 5
 Develop relationship along with staffs 8
 All of the above 10
20
10
Yes
No

Interpretation: According to data collected by researcher it is essential for companies to adopt
diversity and equality at workplace. This is so because through this they able to gain various
benefits such as according to 7 it lead to employee motivation, 5 says that it reduce conflict
situation at the workplace. Along with this, in respect of 8 respondents equality and diversity
lead to development of relationship along with the companies staffs as well as in respect of left
over 10 audiences it will provide all these benefits. So it is necessary to develop their strategies
and plan accordingly by considering equality and diversity factor.
Theme 3: Issues which can faced by Marks and Spencer if they not adopt diversity and
equality at workplace
Q3. What are the issues which can faced by Marks and
Spencer if they not adopt diversity and equality at
workplace?
Frequency
 Increase conflict 6
 Demotivated staffs 7
 Reduction in work quality 8
 All of the above 9
7
5
8
10
Motivate employees
Reduce conflict situation
Develop relationship along with
staffs
All of the above

Interpretation: In respect of data collected by researcher it can be determine that if a company
didn't adopt equality and diversity factors at their workplace then they may face several related
issues and challenges. In respect of 6 respondents it will develop issues related to conflict, 7
people says it will demotivate staffs and in respect of 8 audiences this will lead to decrease in
quality of work. Along with this in respect of left over 9 respondents, all these issues are faced
by organisation when they not adopt equality as well diversity at workplace.
Theme 4: Measures that can adopted by Marks and Spencer in order to resolve issues that
can arise due to out of equality and diversity
Q4. What are the measures that can adopted by Marks
and Spencer in order to resolve issues that can arise due to
out of equality and diversity.
Frequency
 Train Staffs 14
 Develop proper rules and regulations 10
 Ensure implementation of ethical practices 6
6
7
8
9
Increase conflict
Demotivated staffs
Reduction in work quality
All of the above