Managing Diversity in Workplace: A Unilever Case Study Report

This report examines the promotion and execution of equality and diversity within the workplace, using Unilever PLC as a case study. The project begins with defining aims, objectives, and research questions, followed by a project management plan covering costs, scope, time, quality, communication, resources, and risk assessment. A work breakdown structure and Gantt chart are provided for task organization and scheduling. The research employs both qualitative and quantitative methods, including questionnaires and sampling, to gather data. Data analysis and interpretation are presented, leading to actionable recommendations for enhancing equality and diversity. The report concludes with a reflection on the research process and the value of the findings, along with a project log book and performance review. The report covers the concept of equality and diversity, challenges in maintaining it, and different ways to promote and implement it within the organization, including an analysis of the impact on the company's performance and employee satisfaction.

Equality and diversity in the
workplace
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Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................4
Task 1...............................................................................................................................................4
P1 Project aims, objectives and questions...................................................................................4
P2 Project management plan including communication, risk, cost, time, quality, scope and
resources......................................................................................................................................5
P3 Work breakdown structure and Gantt chart to give timeframes and completion stages........6
Task 2...............................................................................................................................................8
P4 Qualitative and quantitative research methods to meet project aim and objectives...............8
Task 3.............................................................................................................................................10
P5 Data analysis and interpretation...........................................................................................10
P6 Recommendations as a result of data analysis to draw meaningful conclusions.................13
Task 4.............................................................................................................................................14
P7 Reflection on value of undertaking research to mitigate stated objectives and own
performance and learning..........................................................................................................14
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................14
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................15
APPENDIX....................................................................................................................................16
Project log book.........................................................................................................................16
Performance Review..................................................................................................................17
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INTRODUCTION
Equality is associated with treating all the individuals equally in workplace and diversity is
related to having people with diverse backgrounds in organisation. Maintaining equality and
diversity is the key to success of a company. For promoting and maintaining equality, there are
different ways that can be adopted by an organisation (Basak, and Khanna, 2017). In this report,
the selected organisation is Unilever PLC which is a leading transnational consumer goods
company that offer different products to customers. This report covers aim, objectives and
research solutions along with project management plan that consists of different aspects of
project. Different research methods are also discussed and data analysis and interpretation is
done. At last, recommendations are provided to promote equality and diversity and reflection is
given on the overall experience of performing research.
Task 1
P1 Project aims, objectives and questions
Research aim:
Aim of project is "To determine the ways to promote and execute equality and diversity
in work place. A case study on Unilever plc."
Research Objectives:
 To understand equality and diversity in workplace concept.
 To identify challenges of maintaining diversity in workplace.
 To ascertain different ways to promote and implement equality and diversity in
organisation.
Research Questions:
 What is the concept equality and diversity in workplace?
 What are the challenges of maintaining diversity in workplace?
 What are the different ways to promote and implement equality and diversity in
organisation?
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P2 Project management plan including communication, risk, cost, time, quality, scope and
resources
Project management plan is a formal document which involves all the details about project
and its phases which helps the manager to manage and control it appropriately. various aspects
are considered in the project management plan which are mentioned below:
Cost: it is the amount which is required to successfully complete a project and get desired
outcomes. The cost associated with this project and its successful completion is 400 pounds. This
amount is required to successfully complete the project (Crane and Matten, 2016).
Scope: it includes each and every aspect related to project which determines its future value.
The project has wider scope as it helps manager in determining different ways to promote and
execute equality and diversity in workplace. This helps organisation in developing a competitive
workplace.
Time: it is related to the initiation and completion time period of project. The project of
promoting equality and diversity in workplace needs four weeks for its successful completion.
Each activity of project has a specified time for its completion.
Quality: this is a crucial attribute of project that helps in ascertaining accuracy of the
outcomes getting from this project. The quality of project is ensured by the manager by using
appropriate methods for collecting and analyzing data.
Communication: it is very necessary to communicate crucial information about project to
other members of team. For exchanging the information, the project manager use tools like
emails, messages and mobile phones so that all the necessary information can be conveyed
effectively.
Resources: for ensuring that each task of project is carry out effectively, having adequate
amount of resources is very necessary. For successful initiation and completion of this project,
all the types of resources like human, financial, physical and technological resources are required
to ensure quality of project and validity of outcomes (Drews and Van den Bergh, 2016).
Risk: there are some risks relate to research project that needs to consider by project
manager to ensure successful completion of project. In this, lack of financial resource and time
are primary risks which may hamper project quality.
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P3 Work breakdown structure and Gantt chart to give timeframes and completion stages
Work Breakdown Structure:
The act of dividing work into smaller tasks to ensure its effective completion is done
through work breakdown structure (Flick, 2015). It is a tool that help project manager to divide
and organize work in manageable parts. The work breakdown structure of this project is as
follows:
Gantt Chart:
The graphical representation of each activity that shows project schedule is done through
Gantt chart (Glukhov, Ilin, and Levina, 2015). It is the tool that project manager uses for
planning and scheduling of task or activities associated with project. Gantt chart in relation to
this project is mentioned below:
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Task 2
P4 Qualitative and quantitative research methods to meet project aim and objectives
At the time of performing research, project manager makes use of different methods so that
all the activities associated with project can be carry out effectively and systematically. some of
the methods which are used in relation to this research are mentioned below:
Primary research: this research method includes collection of fresh data which is never
used by anyone before. The sources that can be used for collection of first hand data includes
questionnaire, survey, interviews etc.
Secondary research: when the already published data is collected on any topic then it is
termed as secondary research (Huntington, 2018). In this, second hand data is gathered by using
sources like books, newspapers, journals, educational institutions, libraries, government records,
articles etc.
For this project, the manager makes use of primary research method for collecting data
which is completely new so that valid and accurate outcomes of research can be drawn. For
collecting the data, researcher make use of questionnaire tool that includes some questions which
required to be answered by respondents.
Qualitative research: this is the technique in which non numerical information is collected
by project manager by understanding underlying reasons and views. For collecting detailed
information on topic, this method is appropriate to be used by researcher.
Quantitative research: all the numerical form of data and information is collected by
quantitative research technique. it helps project manager in performing systematic investigation
to fit diverse perspectives of people in predetermined response categories.
This project makes use of quantitative research method for collecting numerical data over
the topic, i.e., promoting equality and diversity in workplace. The reason of selecting this method
is that it supports researcher in ensuring accuracy of data so that reliable and valid outcomes are
drawn (Jeske and Shultz, 2016).
Sampling: it is the process of taking out preset number of observations from large
population. Non probability and probability sampling types are used to select sample size. This
project makes use of probability sampling in which random sampling technique is used to select
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number of observers from overall population. For collecting data, the sample size is 30 who are
the company's stakeholders.
Questionnaire: the tool that involves some questions regarding topic is termed as
questionnaire (Nasurdin, Ahmad and Tan, 2015). For collecting data on the topic "to determine
the ways of promoting and implementing equality and diversity in workplace. A case study on
Unilever plc" is mentioned below:
QUESTIONNAIRE
Name:
Age:
Gender:
Add:
Mail ID:
Q 1) Are you aware of equality and diversity in workplace concept?
a) Yes
b) No
Q 2) What is the significance of promoting workplace equality and diversity?
a) Improved performance
b) Healthy Workplace Culture
c) Motivated Workforce
Q 3) Which challenge does Unilever face the most in managing workplace
equality and diversity?
a) Resistance to Change
b) Conflicting working styles
c) Ethnic & Cultural Differences
Q 4) How Unilever can execute and promote equality and diversity in
workplace?
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a) Providing training on diversity awareness
b) Promote collaborative working
c) Communicate diversity policies
Q 5) How promoting equality and diversity in workplace impacts on performance of
Unilever plc?
a) Positively
b) Negatively
c) Neither positively nor negatively
Q 6) According to you, in what terms does Unilever gets benefit from maintaining
equality and diversity in workplace?
a) Improved productivity
b) Increased engagement of employees
c) Gain competitive advantage over rivals
d) Motivated employee base
e) Promotes creativity and innovation
Q 7) As per your opinion, what is the impact on employees if they are treated
unequally by their employer?
a) Decreased motivation
b) Decline in productivity and performance
c) Leads to stress
d) develops a sense of dissatisfaction
Q 8) According to you, to what extent the existing policies of Unilever plc are effective
in maintaining equality and diversity in workplace?
a) Highly effective
b) Effective
c) Neither effective, nor ineffective
d) Ineffective
e) Highly ineffective
Q 9) Suggest another way to promote equality and diversity in Unilever plc
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
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Task 3
P5 Data analysis and interpretation
Theme 1: Awareness of equality and diversity concept
Q1) Are you aware of equality and diversity in workplace
concept?
Frequency
a) Yes 26
b) No 4
Interpretation: According to the above graph, it is interpreted that 26 out of 30 people
are aware of equality and diversity concept and remaining four are not aware about it.
Theme 2: Benefits of promoting workplace equality and diversity
Q2) What is the significance of promoting workplace equality
and diversity?
Frequency
a) Improved performance 11
b) Healthy Workplace Culture 9
c) Motivated Workforce 10
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Interpretation: According to the above chart, it can be interpreted that 11 out of 30
people said that the significance of promoting workplace equality and diversity is improved
performance, nine said that healthy workplace culture is benefit and remaining 10 said that
motivated workforce is the benefit.
Theme 3: Challenge that Unilever face in managing workplace equality and diversity
Q3) Which challenge does Unilever face the most in managing
workplace equality and diversity?
Frequency
a) Resistance to Change 8
b) Conflicting working styles 10
c) Ethnic & Cultural Differences 12
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Interpretation: As per the chart, it can be said that according to 8 out of 30 respondents,
resistance to change is the challenge that organisation face in maintaining equality and diversity,
according to 10 people conflicting working style is the challenge and the remaining said that
ethnic and cultural differences is challenge.
Theme 4: The way to execute and promote equality and diversity in workplace
Q4) How Unilever can execute and promote equality and
diversity in workplace?
Frequency
a) Providing training on diversity awareness 9
b) Promote collaborative working 13
c) Communicate diversity policies 8
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