Research Project: Evaluating Equality and Diversity at M&S

This research project, conducted on Marks & Spencer, evaluates the concept of equality and diversity in the workplace. The project includes an introduction outlining the research description, aims, objectives, and rationale, alongside a discussion of activities and timescales. A comprehensive literature review explores the importance of managing equality and diversity, the impact of gender equality on organizational growth, and strategies for managing gender equality. The methodology section details the research philosophy, approach, and methods, including data collection sources, sampling techniques, and the use of questionnaires. Data collection and analysis are presented, followed by conclusions and recommendations. A personal reflective statement assesses the research methods used, alternative methods, and areas for further research. The research aims to study the impact of gender equality in leadership and management on organizational growth, the importance of managing equality and diversity, and strategies that can be adopted by M&S to manage gender equality in the workplace.

Research Project
Table of Contents
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Topic: “ To evaluate the concept of Equality and diversity in the workplace”. A research project
conducted on Marks & Spencer.......................................................................................................1
Chapter 1 Introduction.....................................................................................................................1
1.1) Research project description...........................................................................................1
1.2) Research aim and objectives...........................................................................................1
1.3) Reasons for choosing this research project.....................................................................2
1.4) Activities and timescales................................................................................................2
Chapter 2: Literature review............................................................................................................3
Introduction............................................................................................................................3
Importance of managing equality and diversity.....................................................................3
Impact of gender equality on organizational growth..............................................................4
Strategies to manage gender equality.....................................................................................4
Chapter 3: Methodology..................................................................................................................5
Chapter 4 Data Collection and Analysis..........................................................................................7
4.1) Data collection................................................................................................................7
4.2) Data analysis, presentation and discussion.....................................................................8
Chapter 5: Conclusions and Recommendations............................................................................15
5.1) Conclusions...................................................................................................................15
5.2) Recommendations.........................................................................................................16
Chapter 6: Personal Reflective Statement......................................................................................16
6.1) Reflect on the research methods used in your project...................................................16
6.2) Consider research methods that could have been used.................................................16
6.3) Areas for further research..............................................................................................17
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................18
Appendices.....................................................................................................................................19
1.1)Research Proposal Form................................................................................................19
1.2) Research Ethics Approval Form...................................................................................24
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Topic: “ To evaluate the concept of Equality and diversity in the workplace”.
A research project conducted on Marks & Spencer.
Chapter 1 Introduction
1.1) Research project description
In today’s world with rapid expansion of organisation at diversified place and in different
economies the issue and challenges related with equality and diversity are faced by all
organisation that effects and hamper the performance of organisation, thus proper steps are need
by companies to effectively manage equality at its workplace and focus on providing a
discrimination free atmosphere to its employees (Daly, 2019). Marks & Spencer is one of the
major British multinational retail organisation having it’s headquarter in London. This
organisation is growing and expanding with a rapid speed thus, facing issues related with gender
inequality and diversity that is hampering performance and morale of its employees. Therefore,
the current research is focused on evaluation of concept of equality and diversity to have better
understanding about its implication on performance of employees together with determination of
possible strategies that can be adapted by organisation to manage gender equality in its
organisation.
1.2) Research aim and objectives
The aim of this research work is, “To study the impact of gender equality in leadership and
management on growth of an organisation.”
Research Objective
The main objectives behind conducting this research project on Marks & Spencer are
stated below:
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 To study the importance of managing equality and diversity for an organization.
 To study the impact of gender equality in leadership and management on growth of
organization (Van der Vleuten, 2016).
 To study the strategies that can be adopt by M&S to manage gender equality at
workplace.
Research Question
 What are the importance of managing equality and diversity for an organization?
 What impact or influence is created by of gender equality in leadership and management
on growth of organization?
 What are the possible strategies that can be adopt by M&S to manage gender equality at
workplace
1.3) Reasons for choosing this research project
The main reason behind choosing this current research topic is that with increase in
globalisation and expansion of organisation at diversified places the issues of managing equality
and diversity has increased thus, it become necessary for all organisation to understand the
importance of managing equality at its workplace to ensure better growth and development of
organisation. Thus, the selection the current research topic is suitable and justifiable as it
facilitates better information about the importance of gender equality in organisation together
with the strategies that facilitates better management of equality and diversity in organisation.
Beside this, the educational and academic background is also a reason for selection of this
research topic as fulfil the academic criteria of researcher and also lead to improvement in
knowledge and skills together with providing better information to other scholars.
1.4) Activities and timescales
To organise all the activities and task of research use of Gantt chart is made for current
investigation. It facilitates more transparency and clarity in research work through ensuring
systematic and more practical presentation of all research activities (Verloo, 2018) . Following
Gantt chart is prepared by investigator for current research to ensure timely completion of work
through eliminating chances of chaos and confusion.
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Chapter 2: Literature review
Introduction
This part provides large amount of information to address research objectives, by
summarising viewpoints of various researchers. For this purpose, a number of articles and books
are explored from internet and other secondary resources, based on chosen topic. In context with
present topic, as it is based on importance and impact of gender equality, therefore, it can be
analysed in following way –
Importance of managing equality and diversity
As per views of Martinsson and Griffin, 2016, it has been evaluated that today in order to
operate business successfully, both national and multinational organizations are required to
introduce diverse workforce. For this purpose, hiring workers from different background,
religion, gender and more, will help in developing diversity at workplace (Why is diversity in the
workplace important?, 2020). In context with M&S, as this retail firm operates business at
worldwide level, therefore, diverse workforce helps in understanding customers more efficiently.
Along with this, employees of different-different background, also aid respective firm in break
down language barriers, through which needs and demands of customers can be determined.
Furthermore, providing equality to workers especially as per gender basis, also aid managers of
M&S in increasing employee satisfaction. In this regard, gender equality can be introduced by
employing more females and given them leadership or management position at workplace. It will
help in boosting morale of female staff as well as, improve organizational image also.
Impact of gender equality on organizational growth
According to different viewpoint of Blankenship and Kubicek, 2018, it has been
articulated that increasing diversity and gender equality at workplace, impact on organization in
both negative and positive manner. Here, giving equal opportunity to female staff to gain high
position as management and leadership, will help a firm in increasing creativity at workplace. In
context with M&S, this would help in enhancing women’s role at workplace. Having a women’s
presence in leadership and management position, also aid to get high employee engagement,
with a stronger commitment of workers to contribute best efforts and performance, to meet
customer satisfaction (Female leadership: The impact on organization, 2018). This would also
help in increasing productivity of workers when they feel equality at workplace, regardless of
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their sex, age, race or more. But it may also lead to arise a number of issues, by creating gender
equality at workplace, because due to male counterparts or gender stereotypes, male staff mostly
do not accept to work under guidance of females or support them to complete a task. Along with
this, as male workers mostly regarded as of higher value, so, such kind of asymmetrical situation
also may lead violence against women. It includes sexual harassment, unequal wages because it
is generally think that females are less capable then men, in contribution of efforts (Ross and
Padovani, 2016).
Strategies to manage gender equality
Through different perspectives of Arvind Rongala (2019), it has been evaluated that as
developing diversity and gender equality becomes to be essential for each and every
organization. Therefore, to promote it successfully, it is also necessary to develop better
strategies for the same, so that negative influence of same for business growth can be reduced (6
Ways to Promote Gender Equality at Workplace, 2019). Therefore, ways through which
management of M&S can incorporate gender equality and overcome from its issues, are given as
below –
 Reducing wage pay gap: For promoting gender equality, it is foremost duty of managers
of M&S to ensure that both men and women who are on same place, get equal pay. This
would help in reducing chance of conflicts as well as manage diversity efficiently.
 Change in recruitment process: To develop and manage diversity, it is essential to
make changes in hiring process first. For this purpose, including a diverse panel, having
fair and justified compensation practices and more, need to be included in job
description.
 Provide leadership role to both men and women: Placing both men and women on
leadership or management position, will help in reducing chance of conflicts as well as
increasing employee engagement at workplace (Kabeer, 2016).
 Priorities’ work-life balance: Giving flexibility in working hours will help women to
perform their roles and responsibility, as well as balancing their work-life prioritize in
desired way.
 Compliance laws: Making strict policies against discrimination by compliance laws like
Equality Act 2010, will help in reducing sexual harassment or any kind of violence
against women and managing gender diversity effectively.
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 Develop an inclusive and open-minded atmosphere: By developing inclusive
environment, where each man and women have to work collaboratively will help in
managing diversity more easily (Melnick, 2018).
Chapter 3: Methodology
Research methods and methodologies refers to that tools and process that assist an
individual to gather information and interpret the data related to a particular topic. It provides
brief information about the methods that are used in term of collecting information.
Research philosophy- This system offer the belief so that how the information is gathered
and it is utilised by the surveyor in accordant to analysis. There are two forms of philosophy in
research like positivism and interpretivism. With the help of positivism, a person can gather
scientific information where interpretivism helps in gathering subjective information. In exiting
research document, the person will use positivism philosophy to collect scientific ad practical
information.
Research approach- This approach offers a relevant process and consist different
assumptions affiliated to data gathering. There are two kinds of approaches such as inductive and
deductive (Breitenbach and et. al., 2016). Deductive approach is related to hypothesis theories
and offer detailed assumption of information collection. Whereas inductive approach consist
logical activity that offer development of new theory that based in emerging information, in
current research, investigator will use deductive approach to gather information on the basis of
hypothesis.
Research methodology- It mention to those method that are used by a person to gather
intimation and data for the completion of a research project. There two basic form of methods
such as qualitative and quantitative research methods (Agustín, Siim and Borchorst, 2018). In
qualitative method, the researcher collect data which is already accessible where as in
quantitative method, the research gather numerical and stastical information. In this research, the
individual will use qualitative research method as it offer effective and numeric data in
appropriate manner.
Data collection source- It refers to those ways and sources through which a person gathers
information. The main source of data collection is primary and secondary source (Coleman,
2017). In this research, the investigator will use primary source of data collection because it offer
pure and first hand information that is collected with the help of interview, group discussion and
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questionnaire etc. So researcher will use questionnaire as an effective tool of information
gathering. Secondary source help in collecting information that is already available in books,
articles, journals and others.
Sampling- It states to picking up specific number of people form a group and population in
term of gathering information. In this research, the surveyor will use simple random sampling
and select 20 individual in term of Marks & Spencer employees to gather data (Young, 2016).
Questionnaire- It refers to a document that consist a series of question which help in
gathering reliable information for the effective completion of research project. With the help of it
a person can gather information by making direct communication with its selected group of
people by asking a set of questions regarding a particular topic.
Chapter 4 Data Collection and Analysis
4.1) Data collection
For collection of primary data from the respondents use of following questionnaire is
made:
Questionnaire
Name:
Age:
Sex:
Contact No.
Q1) Do you think that managing equality and diversity will really aid M&S in attainment
its high growth and success?
a) Yes
b) No
Q2) According to you, today which aspect forces M&S to develop diversity at workplace?
a) Emerging business at global level
b) Enhancement of organisational capabilities
c) Breaking down the language barrier
Q3) According to you, how gender equality in management and leadership impact on
growth of M&S?
a) Positive
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b) Negative
Q4) What are the positive impact of gender equality in management and leadership on
growth of M&S?
a) Improvement in workplace productivity
b) Increase in employee engagement
c) Increase in organisational capabilities
Q5) According to you, what are the main negative impacts of gender equality in
management and leadership on growth of M&S?
a) Sexual harassment
b) Wage gap
c) Violence against women
Q6) As per your opinion, how negative impact of gender inequality can be reduced by
management of M&S?
a) Reducing wage pay gap
b) Compliance business with laws
c) Prioritise work-life balance
Q7) Do you agree that compliance with laws will reduce gender equality issues at
workplace of M&S?
a) Agree
b) Disagree
Q8) Recommend ways by which management of M&S can implement gender equality to
develop diverse workplace successfully…
4.2) Data analysis, presentation and discussion
Use of thematic approach is made by for analysis and discussion of data and for
presentation use of frequency table and pie chart is made an interpretation of which is provided
below:
Theme 1: Managing equality and diversity will really aid M&S in attainment its high
growth and success
Q1) Do you think that managing equality and diversity will really aid Frequency
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M&S in attainment its high growth and success?
a) Yes 15
b) No 5
Interpretation
It can be observed that managing equality and diversity will really aid M&S in attainment its
high growth and success as 15 respondents out of 20 are in support of this fact while only 5
participants are their which neglect or disagreed with above theme.
Theme 2: Aspect forces M&S to develop diversity at workplace
Q2) According to you, today which aspect forces M&S to develop diversity
at workplace?
Frequency
a) Emerging business at global level 7
b) Enhancement of organisational capabilities 7
c) Breaking down the language barrier 6
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Interpretation
The above chart is reflecting information about the main aspects that forces M&S to develop
diversity at its workplace. It has been observed that 7 respondents are having a thinking that
emerging business at global level is the main factor that lead to development of diversity at
workplace while 7 other participants are in support of enhancement of organisational
capabilities. Further, 6 employees has supported breaking down of language barrier for support
of above theme.
Theme 3: Gender equality in management and leadership impact on growth of M&S
Q3) According to you, how gender equality in management and leadership
impact on growth of M&S?
Frequency
a) Positive 15
b) Negative 5
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