Analysis of Equality and Diversity for Work-Life Balance at M&S

This research project investigates the impact of equality and diversity on work-life balance, focusing on the context of Marks and Spencer. The study employs both primary and secondary data collection methods, including a questionnaire to gather quantitative data from employees. Data analysis is performed using frequency distribution analysis to interpret the responses and identify key trends. The research explores employee knowledge of the relationship between equality and diversity and motivation, challenges related to lack of diversity, and the importance of work-life balance. The findings are presented through tables, graphs, and interpretations, highlighting areas such as promoting work-life balance, challenges faced, and the advantages of fostering equality and diversity. The report concludes with recommendations for Marks and Spencer to improve work-life balance, retain talent, and enhance overall workplace dynamics.

Research Project (Part 2)
(To analyse the impact of Equality and
Diversity on work-life balance in order to
provide enriched experiences to
employees.”)
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Table of Contents
Data collection and analysis .............................................................................................3
Apply appropriate analytical tools, analyse research findings and data........................5
Research findings and data ..........................................................................................7
Merits, limitations and pitfalls of approaches to data collection and analysis..............19
Research methodologies and process ........................................................................21
Communicate the outcomes of a research project to identified stakeholders.................22
Discussion ...................................................................................................................23
Conclusion....................................................................................................................24
Recommendations.......................................................................................................24
Area of further research ..............................................................................................25
Reflection ......................................................................................................................25
REFERENCES ...............................................................................................................27
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Data collection and analysis
Primary and secondary are two types of data collection methods that facilitate
investigator in conducting of any type of investigation in systematic manner. In order to
gather secondary information, there are number of secondary sources including books,
articles, journals and many other sources relevant to the topic. For collecting primary
information, questionnaire will be applied. Therefore, all these are important and
valuable for doing current investigation on equality and diversity (Mackey and Gass,
2015). There are some appropriate methods that will be needed for conducting primary
and secondary research in systematic manner. These methods will be explained as
below:
Cost: This is an important and useful factor that will be needed by researcher while
doing present investigation. There are different activities that will required for completing
this investigation, these are development of aim and objectives, using of secondary
sources, using of appropriate methodologies etc. These are main activities and for this,
researcher will require proper amount of cost. For these activities, around £1100 cost
will be required by researcher. There are also some factors that also take amount of
cost such as transportation cost, internet cost etc.
Access: This is important for researcher to have proper access of collecting primary
and secondary information about the topic (McCusker and Gunaydin, 2015). In case of
primary research, investigator must have access for collecting information about the
equality and diversity to the employees of M&S. In case of secondary research,
investigator has full access to use business website and many other secondary sources
i.e. books, journals etc. Therefore, access is important for conducing both primary and
secondary research in systematic manner.
Ethical issues: This is essential for researcher to follow research ethics while
conducting primary as well as secondary research. There are several principles of
research ethics that should be following within a current study. These principles of
research ethics are: (a) acquire educated assent from potential exploration members;
(b) limit the danger of damage to members; (c) secure their namelessness and secrecy;
(d) try not to utilize beguiling practices; and (e) give members the option to pull out. All
these are important and useful for investigator to follow and complete full research in
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ethical and systematic manner. This will help them in accomplishment of research aim
and objectives successfully (Miller and et. al., 2012).
Questionnaire: This is an important and useful instrument of collecting primary and
quantitative information about the topic (Quinlan and et. al., 2019). Main reason behind
using questionnaire for this research is it help in gathering of reliable and valid
information and also not requires maximum time of investigator. Therefore,
questionnaire of current research will be shown as below:
Questionnaire
Q1 Do you have any knowledge about how equality and diversity is related to
employee motivation at a workplace?
a) Yes
b) No
Q2 What should Marks and Spencer do in order to promote work life balance in the
workplace?
a) Encourage efficient work
b) Allow work from home
c) Allow flexible working hours
Q3 What are the challenges that Marks and Spencer can face due to lack of equality
and diversity in their workplace?
a) Lack of control
b) Poor skilled employees
c) Increased stress level
Q4 According to you, what are the major challenges areas for work-life balances
within M&S?
a) High stress level
b) Lack of resources
c) Unhelpful attitude
Q5 Do you agree that work-life balance important among employees at a workplace?
a) Agree
b) Disagree
Q6 What are the benefits of work-life balance in a workplace?
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a) Enhanced productivity of employees
b) Increased job satisfaction
c) Growth of the company
d) Reduction in the levels of stress
Q7 Does Marks and Spencer takes any initiative to manage work life of its
employees?
a) Yes
b) No
Q8 How can Marks and Spencer overcome challenges which are raised due to lack of
equality and diversity in workplace?
a) Provide effective training
b) Establish boundaries
c) Arrange team outings
Q9 Does equality and diversity Facilitate M&S in retaining of talented and diverse
workforce?
a) Yes
b) No
Q10 What are the major advantages of promoting equality and diversity in the
workplace of M&S?
a) Increased creativity and innovation
b) Reduced employee turnover
c) Improved productivity
d) Enhanced work-life balance
Q11) Is encouraging work-life balance assist M&S in accomplishment of competitive
advantages?
a) Yes
b) No
Q12 Provide any recommendations to the M&S in promoting of work-life balance
among employees at workplace.
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Apply appropriate analytical tools, analyse research findings and data.
This is a part of data analysis that facilitate investigator in evaluating of qualitative or
quantitative information regarding the specific field of study. For current investigation,
quantitative data was gathered from questionnaire that is effective for researcher in
attainment of aim and objectives of the current investigation. In order to analysis
quantitative information, there will be requirement of using analytical tool. According to
the research, frequency distribution analysis as an analytical tool will be used by
researcher. This is an effective tool of gathering quantitative informant because it not
takes maximum time and also provides valid outcomes. For using this analytical tool,
researcher will be requiring for making frequency distribution table (Riedl, Davis and
Hevner, 2014). This table includes questions along with their frequency. As it facilitate in
evaluating of quantitative data within less period of time. Frequency distribution table of
present study will be shown as below:
Frequency distribution table
Q1 Do you have any knowledge about how equality and diversity
is related to employee motivation at a workplace?
Frequency
a) Yes 18
b) No 7
Q2 What should Marks and Spencer do in order to promote work
life balance in the workplace?
Frequency
a) Encourage efficient work 8
b) Allow work from home 7
c) Allow flexible working hours 10
Q3 What are the challenges that Marks and Spencer can face
due to lack of equality and diversity in their workplace?
Frequency
a) Lack of control 5
b) Poor skilled employees 12
c) Increased stress level 8
Q4 According to you, what are the major challenges areas for
work-life balances within M&S?
Frequency
a) High stress level 7
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b) Lack of resources 8
c) Unhelpful attitude 10
Q5 Do you agree that work-life balance important among
employees at a workplace?
Frequency
a) Agree 15
b) Disagree 10
Q6 What are the benefits of work-life balance in a workplace? Frequency
a) Enhanced productivity of employees 7
b) Increased job satisfaction 9
c) Growth of the company 6
d) Reduction in the levels of stress 4
Q7 Does Marks and Spencer takes any initiative to manage work
life of its employees?
Frequency
a) Yes 17
b) No 8
Q8 How can Marks and Spencer overcome challenges which are
raised due to lack of equality and diversity in workplace?
Frequency
a) Provide effective training 8
b) Establish boundaries 7
c) Arrange team outings 10
Q9 Does equality and diversity Facilitate M&S in retaining of
talented and diverse workforce?
Frequency
a) Yes 20
b) No 5
Q10 What are the major advantages of promoting equality and
diversity in the workplace of M&S?
Frequency
a) Increased creativity and innovation 6
b) Reduced employee turnover 9
c) Improved productivity 10
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Q11) Is encouraging work-life balance assist M&S in
accomplishment of competitive advantages?
Frequency
a) Yes 22
b) No 3
Research findings and data
This is important and significant for finding the research information in systematic
manner. In this, researcher will be required to make table and graphs with the help of
Ms-Excel. As it facilitate in presenting of information in graphical manner. Question table
along with graphs and interpretation will be defined as below:
Question 1: Knowledge about how equality and diversity is related to employee
motivation at a workplace
Q1 Do you have any knowledge about how equality and diversity
is related to employee motivation at a workplace?
Frequency
a) Yes 18
b) No 7
a) Yes b) No
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
18
7 Frequency
Interpretation: It has been interpreted with the above mentioned graph that most
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of the respondents had idea about the significant of equality and diversity in
improvement of employees motivation. For this statement, 18 respondents said Yes,
whereas remaining 7 participants not had appropriate knowledge about the same.
Question 2: Ways for promoting work life balance in the workplace
Q2 What should Marks and Spencer do in order to promote work
life balance in the workplace?
Frequency
a) Encourage efficient work 8
b) Allow work from home 7
c) Allow flexible working hours 10
a) Encourage efficient work
b) Allow work from home
c) Allow flexible working hours
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
8
7
10
Frequency
Interpretation: There are different ways that are essential for an organisation in
promoting of work-life balance among workers in the workplace. 8 respondents had
idea as encouragement of efficient work is effective because it increase confidence
among employees. 7 respondents had idea as providence of work from home facility is
essential because it reduce the burden among employees. Remaining 10 respondents
had knowledge allowing flexible working hour option is important and significant in
promoting of work-life balance easily.
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Question 3: Challenges that Marks and Spencer can face due to lack of equality
and diversity in their workplace
Q3 What are the challenges that Marks and Spencer can face
due to lack of equality and diversity in their workplace?
Frequency
a) Lack of control 5
b) Poor skilled employees 12
c) Increased stress level 8
a) Lack of control
b) Poor skilled employees
c) Increased stress level
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
5
12
8
Frequency
Interpretation: This graph explained different challenges that may be faced by M&S
due to have lack of equality and diversity. 5 respondents had knowledge as lack of
control is a main challenge because it increased high employee turnover. 12
respondents had appropriate understanding that poor skilled employees is major
challenge because it increase demotivation among other employees and remaining 8
had idea as increased stress level is a main challenge that impact in promoting of work-
life balance.
Question 4: Major challenges areas for work-life balances within M&S
Q4 According to you, what are the major challenges areas for
work-life balances within M&S?
Frequency
10

a) High stress level 7
b) Lack of resources 8
c) Unhelpful attitude 10
a) High stress level b) Lack of resources c) Unhelpful attitude
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
7
8
10
Frequency
Interpretation: There are different areas of work-life balance within a workplace
of M&S. for this statement, 7 out of 25 respondents had knowledge as high stress level
is a main area because there is no possibility of work from home. 8 participants had
idea as lack of resources is main area because providing work-life balance requires
appropriate sources such as working system at home. Remaining 10 participants had
view as unhelpful attitude is a major area because in this some employees are not
helpful in maintaining of work-life balance.
Question 5: Work-life balance important among employees at a workplace or not
Q5 Do you agree that work-life balance important among
employees at a workplace?
Frequency
a) Agree 15
b) Disagree 10
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a) Agree b) Disagree
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16 15
10
Frequency
Interpretation: Above mentioned graph or table interpreted that work life balance is
important and not for employees in the workplace. 15 out of 25 respondents said yes as
it help employees by improving their performance and productivity level that result in
improvement growth and development at workplace. Remaining 10 employees are not
favoured regarding this statement because they said as it increases conflict in other
employees.
Question6: Benefits of work-life balance in a workplace
Q6 What are the benefits of work-life balance in a workplace? Frequency
a) Enhanced productivity of employees 7
b) Increased job satisfaction 9
c) Growth of the company 6
d) Reduction in the levels of stress 4
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