BTEC Research Project: Equality and Diversity in the Workplace at M&S

This research project delves into the crucial topic of equality and diversity within the workplace, utilizing Marks & Spencer as a case study. The project begins with an introduction that provides the background, the organization overview, research aims and objectives, rationale, and research questions. Chapter 2 provides a comprehensive literature review exploring the significance of cultural diversity and its effective management strategies. Chapter 3 focuses on the research methodology employed, outlining the research philosophy and approach. Chapter 4 presents the data analysis and interpretation of findings. Chapter 5 presents the research findings, communication with stakeholders. The project also includes a reflection on the research process, evaluating the effectiveness of the methodology and exploring alternative approaches. The project concludes with a list of references and supporting appendices, including the research proposal and ethics approval forms. The study aims to determine the importance of managing cultural diversity for the success of Marks & Spencer, study the strategies that can be adopted, and identify the issues faced in managing cultural diversity.

Research project
Table of Contents

Research topic: Equality and diversity in the workplace. A case study on Marks & Spencer........1
Chapter 1: Introduction....................................................................................................................1
Background of research..........................................................................................................1
Overview of selected organisation.........................................................................................1
Research aim and objective....................................................................................................1
Rational for research...............................................................................................................2
Research Questions................................................................................................................2
Chapter 2: Literature review............................................................................................................2
Chapter 3: Research methodology...................................................................................................5
Chapter 4: Data analysis and Interpretation.....................................................................................9
Chapter 5: Research findings and stakeholders.............................................................................14
Research findings.................................................................................................................14
Communication with stakeholders.......................................................................................15
Chapter 6: Reflection.....................................................................................................................15
On effectiveness of current research....................................................................................15
On alternative research methodology...................................................................................15
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................15
Appendix I: Research Proposal Form............................................................................................17
Appendix II : Research Ethics approval form................................................................................23

Research topic: Equality and diversity in the workplace. A case study on
Marks & Spencer.
Chapter 1: Introduction
Background of research
With rapid growth and expansion of business organisation across various economies and
nations due to globalisation and advancement in technology thus, concept of workplace diversity
is also enhancing which has caused and lead to significant importance for managing equality and
diversity (Danso, 2018). Proper management of equality and diversity is necessary for an
organisation to ensure better workplace environment and to maintain efficiency and productivity
level of employees. Thus, following research work is based on the topic of equality and diversity
at workplace together with the strategies to effectively manage diversity at workplace.
Overview of selected organisation
The organisation selected for current research work is Marks and Spencer which is one the
major British multinational retailer having its headquarters in Westminster, London. This
organisation mainly deals in and having specialisation in selling clothes, home products and
other food products (Lozano and Escrich, 2017). Thus, being a multinational organisation it is
essential for this organisation to manage equality and diversity at its workplace to maintain and
enhance skills and creativity of its staff together with overall performance and success of
organisation.
Research aim and objective
Aim
The main aim of this research is, “To study the importance of managing cultural diversity
for success of an organisation.”
Research Objectives
The main objectives of this research project conducted Marks and Spencer are stated as
follows:
• To determine the significance of managing cultural diversity for an organisation like
Marks & Spencer.
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• To study the various strategies that Marks& Spencer can adopt to manage cultural
diversity (Li and et. al., 2017).
• To identify the various issues that company face in managing cultural diversity.
Rational for research
The selection of current research topic is fully rationale from view point of an organisation
as it facilitates better understanding about concept of equality and diversity and also lead to study
of the various strategies that can be adopted to manage cultural diversity. Thus, it is crucial and
helpful for companies as it facilitates a more effective way to motivate employees and create a
positive workplace environment to enhance efficiency and productivity level. Further, the current
research is also vital from view point of researcher as led to enhancement in managerial skills
and also meets its educational and academic purpose for better professional career in future.
Research Questions
 What are the significance of managing cultural diversity for an organisation like Marks &
Spencer?
 What are the various strategies that Marks& Spencer can adopt to manage cultural
diversity?
 What are the possible issues that company face in managing cultural diversity?
Chapter 2: Literature review
A literature review is a kind of reviewing article through some sort of scholarly paper
which present the current knowledge where it includes the substantive facts and findings,
theoretical as well as methodology contribution on a specific topic of research which it also helps
to considering the nature and significance of research (Civitillo, Juang and Schachner, 2018). It
represent literature review may be included as part of a peer reviewed journal article presenting
the new research, as this literature review is considered the cultural diversity and its significance
as well as the manage the structure of Marks and Spencer’s company.
a) To determine the importance of managing the cultural diversity of an organization like
Mark Spencer’s
According to the Katie Sawyer, 2018. As the cultural diversity is a existence of the various
about the cultural or ethnic group which relates within the society where, the culture is
demonstrate is lying into values from which the people behavior and attitude are reflected from
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the virtue of culture and the Culture Diversity in the workplace is the outcomes of practices
values, belief and traditions of workforce based on demographic factor such as race age
ethnicity, religion and gender etc. As managing of culture diversity in the context of Mark and
Spencer’s which is London based retail company which endorsed products of textiles and others,
there are some important factor which determine the suitable for managing the culture diversity
are: Create written policies or regulations: A company allows to involves their own practices of
policies which are related to diversity norms into their employee or workforce handbook which
guide to each individual about to behave and gaining of principles and rules in aspects of non
discrimination of laws, the compensation of benefit and pay etc (Koenig and De GuChteneire,
2017). By facilitating the effective training to employees: In organization to work in according
to set of rules and regulation the workforce needs to having sensitive and effective training
which make the better workplace for employees, the training can generates the core values
understands the company mission and vision as well as plan of action. By imposing zero
tolerance policy: In this sort of managing the culture diversity is that after employees gets proper
induction and training related with culture diversity issues, the company needs to set a structure
where employees have not be repeated the mistakes or errors by which company will not be
reliable or not to be acceptable any form of violation. Enhancement of positive thoughts:
Through culture diversity it also driven the gaining of positive though which helps to leads the
accomplishing for organizational goals where it hardly matters to putting or contributing efforts
but it loyalty towards the work is matters where the individual personality judge by superior as
well as the performances (Georgiou, 2017). Innovation: In every organization having a same
background of a particular workforce where they are having the similar ideas or creativity but
due to the proper diversity workforce allows to brings the unique perspective on different
situation arises and allowing with challenges about how to solve the issues as in innovative way
or strategic source of innovative which enhanced the competitive edged. Productivity and
Growth: In diversity driven in the organization where it focuses the improvisation in employee
contribution bring the productivity through the skills and innovative ideas helps to enhance the
effective productivity and the growth is emphasis about the particular organizational body which
enabled the success through the performance driven by employees which it allows the profits
and praises for growth. As above mentioned points are highlighted towards the importance and
managing of culture diversity in the workplace through driven by managerial strategies and other
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factors of behavioral skills which overall can be implement in the Mark and Spencer’s company
to develop the culture diversity into their premises (Tsapenko and Monusova, 2017).
b) To study the various strategies which can adopted by Mark and Spencer’s to manage
the culture diversity:
As per the opinion by the Mic helle Seidel, 2019. By implementation in organization
polices may be refers the culture diversity issues which comprises about the gender, age, Sexual
Harassment, disabilities and religion with the generating of actual goals and enhancement of
equality in opportunity for every workforce who are working in the company. There are some
strategies which helps to driven the idea of culture diversity manage in the context of the Mark
and Spencer’s company are:, Mentioning personal competences: There are some companies
which promotes the diversity to identify the most prominent valuable employee in the
organization where they appreciate the competencies which the employee has contributed for
achieving some sort of target (Kühlmann and Heinz, 2017). The policies which are generates to
employees it contain the different norms which has been identify the organizational growth and
the procedure of compliance driven on the basis of the regulation which company has
implemented. Recruitment andCompliance: The employees are most concerned with seeking for
job through one motive that is having a systematic culture diversity in which the company is
recruiting as per the requirement of company positions vacant through which many candidates
not approach the processing of hiring in the organization when there is not surety about the
salary or culture diversity, some of the organization are seeking for only those workforces who
are having the high potential effectiveness which provides the valuable outcomes towards the
company’s growth, Compliances are the most important part of the culture diversity where it also
a responsibility in which the diversity can implement through it. It allows the work regulatory
laws and other factor laws which allows the allowances provides the benefits for long term
purposes and also generates the work discipline in the premises. By holding people accountable:
Through implies of rules and regulation which highlight the action take against negative
violation or any misbehave such as sexual harassment and any kind of bullying scrutinizing by
the top priorities and allows the immediate action towards the violation happen by consulting
through victims and experts for analyzing the situation after that the punishment is dependable
on the judgment (Verkuyten and Yogeeswaran, 2020). Having a evolve continuation: The role
of diversity is not brings the changes of the corporate culture or not for employee performance
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development but also it allows to make understand the change which has been implement
through culture diversity it leads to attaining the goals as well as it helps to evolve the laws, and
continue to work with workforce in the new diversity having a new rules and regulation.
For above discussion in literature review it is driven the company of Mark and Spencer’s
company where it applies the strategies of culture diversity to manage and significant proceed
through with compliances for enhancing the better work culture within the premises
c) Identify various issues when the company faces to manage to culture diversity.
According to the Andrew Patrick, 2012. The practices of culture diversity at work is
brings the equality and the work discipline towards the betterment of the company long term
period. But due to implementation of effective diversity there is also arises of challenges or
issues which effect the irony of culture diversity in employee and organizational performances,
to overcame from issues of culture diversity is to brings the work equality in the company such
as Mark and Spencer’s where they allows all type ages and male and female workers and they
work with effective coordination and there should not having the caste or other type of
discrimination which increase the violence as well as by enhancing some sort work compliances
which develop the internal structure of organization premises where it would bring the positivity
in employee performance and company’s growth (Maher, 2018).
Chapter 3: Research methodology
A research methodology `which provides the a set of particular process and techniques
which are assorted by researcher or expertise to identify, select the optimum process to rectify
the data information that to related to the topic (Pentassuglia, 2017). This methodology is also
provide the strategies by which data has been gathered and interpetated for reaching the
outcomes and generates the conclusion of the research.
Research Philosophy:
It provides a belief towards the ways in which data about the topic or phenomenon should
be gathered and collected through analysis by researcher.
Positivism: It refers the researcher nature to focused on predicting and detailed observing
the outcomes of research as it is a scientific method to mapped the high structured with behavior
and values.
Interpretivism:In this researcher is determining the rich or precious data collection to
generates the better specialization (Roch, Dean and Breidenstein, 2018).
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As for this research there is use of Positivism philosophy to provides the analyzation with
focusing research outcomes on an important aspects.
Research Approaches
It represent the process and planning which is used by researcher in which it includes sort
of steps with assumptions for an effective method of data collection. It contains the two
approaches which are given below:
Deductive:This approach is a selective theory which is obtain by providing hypothesis
for that created theory and finally collecting of data on the basis of hypothesis. The main focus
having to testing the approach from the given data (Wang, Cheng and Leung, 2017).
Inductive: This approach is focuses on the upcoming new generation theory emerging
from the data. It provides a better logical procedure by multiple assumption and premises and
compiled with specific conclusion.
For this research there is assorting of Deductive approach which generates the new
optimum theory through given hypothesis.
Research Method:
Research method facilitates a systematic procedure by which it conducts and meeting
objectives of any research. There are two main types of research method are given below:
Qualitative method: By using of this method which is made by a researcher through
depth and detailed knowledge about the attitude and behavior of respondent with purpose of
research.
Quantitative Method: By using of this method the researcher is keen to looking for the
data in numeric and arithmetic format by which it represent the data with the view of brief
participation but not having role in depth knowledge (Gundara and Jacobs, 2019).
As for this particular research there is a use of Quantitative research data is made as this
provides the statistical framework of data which makes the research objective outcomes.
Sources of data collection:
It formally represent the rising of the data from where it is actually collected. This having
two essential sources are as follow:
Primary Sources:As from this source the data has been gathered where it emphasis the
reliability and authentic as well as scrutinizing from self efforts by researcher.
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Secondary Sources: This source of research is been assort by researcher through other
data which having its existence or collected from the past research (Trautmann, 2018).
As for the above research there is use of both primary and secondary where the self
assessing of data is procced by primary factor while the other data interpretation is evaluaute by
secondary.
Sampling method:
A sampling method is used by researcher where it collected the data information through
larger population. There is use of simple random sampling taking 30 respondent from the
workforce of Mark and Spencer’s.
Questionnaire:
It is a written document structure which complies the group of question related to specific
topic of research or other subjective matter (Danso, 2018). Use of following questionnaire is
made to collect information from 30 respondents from workers of Marks and Spencer.
Questionnaire
Q1) Is it necessary for Marks and Spencer to adopt and make strategies for effective
management of equality and diversity to enhance its performance and productivity?
a) Yes
b) No
Q2) What are the significance of managing cultural diversity for an organisation like
Marks & Spencer?
a) Enhanced productivity
b) Better creativity and performance
c) Higher level of motivation and satisfaction in employees
Q3) Are you agreed with the fact that higher competitive strength and better business
position is also lead by proper management of cultural diversity?
a) Agreed
b) Disagreed
Q4) What are the various strategies that Marks& Spencer can adopt to manage cultural
diversity?
a) Fair recruitment
b) Compliance with law
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c) Strict action and accountability against discrimination
Q5) What are the possible issues that company face in managing cultural diversity?
a) Dynamic nature and behaviour of employees
b) Language and cultural barrier
c) High employee expectation and turnover
Q6) Any further recommendation for Marks and Spencer to manage cultural diversity for
its success?
Gantt Chart:
It is an horizontal bar graph which provides graphical presentation of significance task
and steps related with the research where it generates the transparency and flexibility of research
objective (Lozano and Escrich, 2017).
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Ethical Consideration:
As for this research the data has been collected as well the questionnaire is been made to
assure the workforce of the company that their reviews would be confidential and the research
would not influence any negative impact in aspect of ethical perspective.
Chapter 4: Data analysis and Interpretation
Use of pie charts and frequency table is made for analysis and interpretation of quantitative
data.
Theme 1: Necessary to adopt and make strategies for effective management of equality and
diversity
Q1) Is it necessary for Marks and Spencer to adopt and make
strategies for effective management of equality and diversity to
enhance its performance and productivity?
Frequency
a) Yes 28
b) No 2
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Interpretation
To maintain the motivation level and positive workplace environment that are essential
for better performance and productivity of organisation, effective management of equality and
diversity has become essential as the above the pie chart is depicting that 28 respondents out of
30 are in support of this fact while only 2 participants are there who are not in favour of
necessity of effective management of equality and diversity to enhance its performance and
productivity of Marks and Spencer.
Theme 2: Significance of managing cultural diversity for an organisation
Q2) What are the significance of managing cultural diversity for an
organisation like Marks & Spencer?
Frequency
a) Enhanced productivity 8
b) Better creativity and performance 15
c) Higher level of motivation and satisfaction in employees 7
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