MSBP Module: Evaluating Company Equality and Diversity Responses

This report evaluates how companies respond to equality and diversity challenges in the workplace, focusing on Balfour Beatty Plc. It includes an introduction outlining the importance of equality and diversity for business growth and competitiveness. The report details the objectives, which are to understand current issues, evaluate company strategies, and determine the impact of diversity and equality. A project management plan is presented, covering costs, timelines, and communication strategies. It also incorporates tools like Gantt charts and work breakdown structures. The research methodology section discusses qualitative and quantitative methods, primary and secondary data sources, and sampling techniques. Data collection is performed using questionnaires. The report concludes with recommendations and reflections on the findings, aiming to provide insights into effective strategies for promoting equality and diversity in the workplace.

MSBP
Table of Contents

Topic:“To evaluate the response of companies towards current issues of equality and diversity in
the workplace.”................................................................................................................................1
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
LO 1.................................................................................................................................................1
P1) Objectives towards which research is conducted.............................................................1
P2) Plan for implementing project.........................................................................................2
P3) Tools of Project management .........................................................................................4
LO 2.................................................................................................................................................6
P4) Different methods of research.........................................................................................6
LO 3.................................................................................................................................................9
P5) Analysing data by utilising tools......................................................................................9
P6) Specific Recommendations............................................................................................17
LO 4...............................................................................................................................................17
P7) Reflection.......................................................................................................................17
CONCLUSION .............................................................................................................................18
REFERENCES .............................................................................................................................19
APPENDIX I.................................................................................................................................21
APPENDIX II................................................................................................................................23
Template for Performance Review to be attached with the report by the learner:........................23

Topic:“To evaluate the response of companies towards current challenges of
diversity and equality at the premises of organisation or workplace.”
INTRODUCTION
Diversity mainly represent the presence of distinct employees and staff who are coming
from different inheritance and having different features, characteristics, knowledge and skill. The
concept of equality aim at ensuring same or equal opportunities at workplace without any
discrimination on the basis of their sex, colour, nation, culture or family background. Proper
governance of both equality and diversity is necessary in an organisation to impede productivity
and business growth(Vuorinen and Martinsuo, 2018). This research report is based on Beatty Plc
which is leading international construction and infrastructure development institution of UK
having its headquarter in London (TCI Top 100 Construction Companies 2018, 2018).
In this report background and purpose of the report and its main objectives are included.
A project management plan to monitor and complete objectives and aims of research is also
included which consists different aspects of research. Beside this a WBS and Gantt chart is also
there for providing stages and time frames for its completion. In addition to this, research
mythologies is also included with proper use of techniques for analysing data is collected. At
last, reflection and recommendation also form a part of this research report.
LO 1
P1) Objectives towards which research is conducted
Background and purpose
For every organisation is necessary to maintain and effectively mange both equality and
diversity in its organisation, so that productivity, opportunity and competitiveness of the
organisation can be enhanced through providing same opportunities to all staff irrespective of
any discrimination at workplace (Woliński and Bala, 2018). Thus, with the purpose of evaluating
how companies act towards managing this concept of equality and diversity following a research
is conducted on Balfour Beatty Plc that is multinational infrastructure and construction
organisation of United Kingdom.
Balfour Beatty Plc is an international company that is working across Canada, Ireland,
United Kingdom, United states and in some parts of south Asia. On the basis of its turnover and
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profit Balfour Beatty is a construction contractor of UK providing infrastructure investments,
construction services and support services and to its clients as well as customers. Balfour Beatty
is a operating in a construction industry which is considered as male dominated thus, it also
facing many issues related with equity and diversity at workplace which include gender pay gap,
sexual harassment and other discrimination. For effectively analysing that how Balfour Beatty is
responding to issue of equality and diversity to maintain its leading position and competitiveness
in market following research is conducted. The aim and objectives of this report are provided
below:
Aim
The main aim of this project report that is conducted on Balfour Beatty Plc is, “To
evaluate response of Balfour Beatty Plc towards current challenges of equality and diversity in
the premises and workplace of organisations.”
Objectives
Main objectives or targets of conducting this research on Balfour Beatty Plc are:
 To get an understanding about the current issues of equality and diversity in the
workplace.
 To evaluate the response made and strategies formulated by organisations to handle and
cope with current issue of diversity and equality in workplace (Haughey, 2018). To determine the various positive and negative impact that are created by diversity and
equality in workplace of Balfour Beatty Plc.
Question Tag
 What to you understand by current issues of equality and diversity in the workplace?
 What are some possible response and strategies formulated by organisations to handle
and cope with existing issue of equality and diversity in the workplace?
 What are the various positive and negative impact that are created by equality and
diversity in the workplace of Balfour Beatty Plc ?
P2) Plan for implementing project
It is written framework that is prepared by a researcher or manger to properly schedule
its research through properly planning for every phase and step of research and also facilitates
effective execution, monitoring and controlling of different aspects of research (Brewer and
Dittman, 2018). Thus, project management plan is a tool used for timely completing a research
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or project to achieve the aims and objectives of research. The various aspects included in project
management plan are explained below in context with this research:
Cost- This aspect reflects the amount of money needed to meet the various expenses and
disbursal of a research (Varajão, 2018). After proper analysis of current market rates and
scenario, following estimates are made regarding the cost of research.
Forecasted Budget
Particulars Amount
Promotion expenses £100
Cost incurred in technology £150
Other Expenses £120
Total Cost £370
Thus, £370 are needed for meeting expenses of this research.
Time- This aspect represents the duration and Timeframes in which the research or task
needs to be completed. The expected time duration required for this research to achieve the
desired level of objectives and retargets is 3 months which is starting from 1st October 2018 and
completing on 22 January 2019.
Quality- This factor focuses on the quality of methods and techniques used to collect and
analysis the data. Utilisation of quantitative and qualitative research ways are conducted to
maintain the quality of data so that most reliable and authentic data can be collected.
Communication Plan-a communication plan is basically a policy driven approach that is
used by an research to provide stakeholders all the relevant information for effective decision
making. This plan also includes information regarding to whom should the findings of research
should be communicated and which communication channels are used to deliver that
information. Following communication plan is made for this research work:
Objective: The objective of this is to have effective communication channels
so that data and information can be transferred easily within the
teams and staff to reduce the chances of confusion and chaos.
Target audience The target audience for this communication plan are the
stakeholder and related party of Balfour Beatty Plc which
includes its directors, top authority, mangers, customer,
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employees, etc.
When: Maintain effective communication with employees during the
research and providing information to stakeholders at the end of
research to communicate the findings.
Method of communication: Use of both formal and informal channels of communication are
made to have proper transfer the information and to maintain the
transparency and bonding between team and employees while
conducting this research.
Risk- This aspect is an indicator of various issues and problems that can be faced by an
individual or researcher while performing the research. The various risk which can create barrier
in this research are related with lack of resources and insufficient time duration thus, use of
various timeframes and statistical tools are made to handle these risks.
Resources- In this factor of project management plan all the tools assets and mechanism
used for effectively conducting a research is included. For this properly performing this research
use of different resource and assets are made which include, financial resource, human resources
and statistical tools and techniques.
Scope- This factor shows the possibility of success of a research (Wan, Saade and Wang,
2019). Best efforts are made by researcher for the purpose of meeting overall aims and purposes
of project and use of effective techniques and tools are also made, thus scope fir success of this
research are quite high.
P3) Tools of Project management
Gantt chart- Use of such tool is made to get a graphical presentation of all task of project
so that activities can be schedule properly. It is also helpful in detecting bottlenecks and other
wasteful activities through providing a more clear presentation of all activities thus, ensure
effective and efficient completion of research (Maylor and Turkulainen, 2019).
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Work breakdown structure- Use if WBS structure is made to break or divide a project
into smaller segments or task. It provide a hierarchy structure which clearly depicts the
information about cost and time of an task which lead to effective control. Use of WBS is also
remove the chances of duplication and ambiguities of task thus lead to effective completion of
research (Nisula and Pekkola, 2018).
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LO 2
P4) Different methods of research
Research mythology provide a set of action or specifies procedures and techniques which
are utilised by project manager for identifying, selecting, process and analysing information or
data related with a particular topic (Dwyer and Hopwood, 2019). Use of research methodologies
enhance the validity and reliability of research through making use of different research method
which are described below:
Qualitative Research Method- It is method under which efforts are made to collect
in depth information about human behaviour and perspective of individuals. The data
collected through making use of Qualitative research methods are mainly subjective in
nature thus, it is not easy to present this information inform of charts and tables. The
techniques used for data collection under this method includes deep interview, surveys,
experiments, group discussion, etc.
Quantitative Research Method- Under this method of research mythologises
numerical or denotative data is collected with the help of tools like polls, questionnaire, etc.
This data is in arithmetical form thus, can be easily get converted into various types of
charts, graphs and table (Soronen, 2018).
For formulation of this research both the methods are utilised. Qualitative research
method facilitates a in-depth and adequate data regarding the topic and perceptive of
respondents while quantitative research method ensures effective presentation of data.
Source of data
There are two main origin of data and information that are elaborated as follows-
Primary source- First hand information is provided by this sources or raw data which is
collected through making own efforts of research and provide most authentic and reliable source
of data. Data from primary source are collected through making use of interviews, questionnaire,
etc.
Secondary data- This source provide assess to already stored data which was collected
by any other researcher at past time for conducting past research. Data from secondary source
can be collected through books, literature, journal past records and documents, online website,
etc (Plewa, Rampersad, and Ho, 2019).
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For this research data is collected from primary source though making use of
Questionnaire so that most reliable and authentic data can be collected for effective decision
making.
Sampling- It is process of selection or choosing a pre determined observation or unit
from a large population on the basis of common feature or characteristic with the purpose of
making effective analysis for decision making in short period of time. Mainly used sampling
methods are:
Random sampling- Under this method of sampling every individual observation has
equivalent chance or probability of getting hand-picked for further research (Etemad and
Dulude, 2018).
Non random sampling- It is also known as non probability sampling where choice of
observation is based on some other factors other than random chance like convenience, prior
experience, knowledge or judgement of researcher.
Non random sampling method is selected for this research as it made as research is more
cost effective and less time consuming also facilitates better research outcomes. A sample of 30
respondents is selected from stakeholders of Balfour Beatty Plc which includes its staff, team
members, business partners, directors and other related individuals. Use of questionnaire is made
to evaluate the opinion and viewpoints of respondents on the topic Equality and diversity.
Questionnaire is a written document that contain a set of questions for analysing behaviour and
perceptive of individuals.
Questionnaire
Q1) Are you having awareness about the current issues of equality and diversity in
workforce?
a) Yes
b) No
Q2) What are the possible reason which has lead to an increase in issues of equality and
diversity at workplace?
a) Male dominance in society
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b) Expansion of business operations
c) Ineffective equality policies
Q3) Which is the main form of discrimination that are mainly found at workplace of an
organisation?
a) Sexual discrimination
b) Pay gap
c) Other mental harassment
Q4) Do you agree with the fact that male dominance in construction industry is a reason
behind increasing sexual discrimination in Balfour Beatty Plc?
a) Agree
b) Disagree
Q5) What issues are created by increasing equality and diversity at workplace of Balfour
Beatty Plc?
a) increase in conflicts
b) lack of coordination
c) ineffective communication (language)
Q6) What possible responses or actions that can be taken by Balfour Beatty Plc to cope
with the current issue of equality and diversity in the workplace.
a) Trough recognizing different types of diversity
b) Through providing training for redefining discrimination
Q7) what are the various strategies that can be adopted by Balfour Beatty Plc for
handling the issues of equality and diversity in the workplace?
a) Formation of inclusive council
b) Use of participative leadership style
c) Both a and b
Q8) What are the positive impacts of effectively managing equality and diversity at
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workplace for an organisation?
a) Improve productivity
b) Better growth opportunity
c) Enhance competitiveness
d) all of the above
Q9) What possible implication can be faced by Balfour Beatty Plc in absence of equality
and diversity at workplace?
a) Lack of creativity
b) Reduction in moral of employees
Q10) What practises can be adopted by Balfour Beatty Plc to cope with the current issue
of diversity and equality at its workplace?
A) Through implementing effective communication
b) Unbiased HR practices
c) Strict action against discrimination
Q11) How is the overall outcome and impact of equality and diversity for Balfour Beatty
Plc?
a) Favourable
b) Unfavourable
Q12) What perspective you are having regarding male dominance and sexual
discrimination in a construction industry?
Q13) What are the possible changes that can be made by Balfour Beatty Plc in its
leadership and management styles to effectively respond on the current issues of equality
and diversity?
Q14) What is the most common types of diversities that are found in an organisation?
Q15) Any further recommendation for Balfour Beatty Plc?
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