A Study of Equality and Diversity in the Workplace: Marks and Spencer

This research project investigates gender discrimination and its effects on the overall performance at Marks and Spencer. The report includes an executive summary, literature review, and detailed research methodology using a positivism philosophy and a deductive approach with quantitative research methods. The study examines the conceptual framework of diversity and equality, the impacts of gender discrimination on productivity, challenges faced by the company, and strategies to eliminate discrimination. Data analysis and interpretations are provided, leading to conclusions and recommendations for improvement, alongside a reflection on the researcher's experience. The project aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of gender discrimination's impact and suggest actionable strategies for fostering a more equitable and productive workplace at Marks and Spencer.

Unit 11–Research
Project

Executive summary
Main purpose behind doing this research project is to identify the discrimination and their
impacts on over all performance at the workplace of Marks and Spencer. This involves aims,
objectives and rationale of research. Along with this, literature review has been done by
researcher with the help of primary and secondary data.. Under research methodology, researcher
followed number of research methods which are positivism philosophy, deductive approach,
quantitative research etc. Conclusion has been done by summarising entire information of report
in briefly. Under recommendation section, some suggestions were given to the company that are
related with the research topic. In last, reflection completed by researcher by identifying
experience in relation to particular project.

Table of Contents
Executive summary..........................................................................................................................2
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
Research aim................................................................................................................................1
LITERATURE REVIEW................................................................................................................2
Research Methodology ...................................................................................................................5
Data analysis and interpretations.....................................................................................................7
RESEARCH OUTCOME..............................................................................................................17
Conclusion and Recommendation.................................................................................................18
Reflection ......................................................................................................................................18
REFERENCE.................................................................................................................................20

INTRODUCTION
Research is the process and activity of creation and systematic work that helps to
understand what should be done and how that can help to work properly and complete task. This
can be explained as creation of new knowledge, concept, and methodologies which are uses to
conduct proper understanding and manage all workings (Ravazzani, 2016). The research is about
Equality and Diversity in the workplace that states how an employer should behave with their
employees and how they get satisfaction. The topic discussed in report is Gender Discrimination
that means there is discrimination between male, female, lesbian, and other people as they also
have right to work equally and get opportunities. Marks and Spencer is selected organization that
is Major British multinational retailer in England, founded in 1884 by Steve Rowe for the
purpose of running their business and make feeling good to all employees. This report covers
literature review, methodology and data collection, data analysis and interpretations, research
outcomes and recommendations.
Research Topic
A study of equality and diversity at the workplace
Research Title
A study of equality and diversity at the workplace - Marks and Spencer.
Research aim
“To critically analysis the impact of Gender Discrimination on the performance of
organization”. A study of Marks and Spencer.
Research objectives:
 To study about concept of diversity and equality at a workplace.
 To examine the impact of Gender discrimination on organizational productivity.
 To identify the main challenges faced by Marks and Spencer because of Gender
discrimination.
 To examine the strategies that can be used to eliminate the gender discrimination for
improving organizational performance.
Research Question
 What is the conceptual framework of diversity and equality at a workplace?
1

 What are the impacts of Gender discrimination on organizational productivity?
 What are the main challenges that are facing Mark and Spencer because of Gender
discrimination ?
 What are the strategies that uses to eliminate the gender discrimination for improving
business performance.
Rationale
The investigation is based on discrimination between employees are male, female,
lesbian and other types of people who wants to work in organization but due to discrimination
they feel dissatisfaction. This is important for all organization that their employees are satisfied
and they works properly by getting equal opportunities. The gender gap defined as activity that
make difference in pay gap of male and female who are working in organization. Through this
study, investigator increase their understanding and skills in particular area (Osborne and
Hammoud, 2017). This will help to increase the knowledge how to satisfied the people and
manage the all functions as well as activities. This is important for researcher to conduct the
proper analysis by considering all information and data analysis that helps to get the expected
outcomes.
LITERATURE REVIEW
Literature Review can be explained as core part of research which states by researcher by
conducting the research. This part is useful for a person who gather the information by using
different sources and complete the study. The present research is all about gender discrimination
at workplace where it affects the whole performance of organization (Parry and McCarthy, eds.,
2017). The main purpose of research is to recognize gaps and conflicts in past research so that
better solution can be found in analysis. It has been seen that an employer is behaving with all
employees differently because of different sex that make feel them dissatisfaction and employees
does not work properly. Literature gap is defined as current study of discrimination that are
facing by employees while working in organization. This research will support the researcher to
achieve the research aim and objectives in effective ways. The explanation is described below:
What is the conceptual framework of diversity and equality at a workplace?
According to Powell (2018), Equality and diversity is the main practices that is needed
at workplace in order to make feel good to people and complete the goals. The meaning of
2

equality is all people should be treated equally without judgement made on the bases of
stereotypes. An employer of organization should have clear understanding that their all
employees are equal and they should get equal opportunity that can help to attain the potentiality.
Diversity means to provide the equal rights and authority to all employees who are working in an
organization so that they feel good and work properly. In relation to Marks and Spencer, equality
and diversity is important for their workplace as they are enough skilled and knowledgeable who
works collectively by understanding the goals of organization. Different gender of people are
working in organization who are feeling discrimination that has affected the organizational
performance and profitability. The management should be follow all rules and regulation in
relation to equality and diversity that can help to make feel good and satisfaction that can
increase the organizational performance and profitability.
What are the impacts of Gender discrimination on organizational productivity?
According to Riccucci (2018), Gender Discrimination is defined as unjustified treatment
between people on the basis of male, female, Bisexual, transgender, lesbian and other people that
are ready to work in an organization. This is affecting the organizational performance and
productivity in case of employer is behaving differently with working staff. Gender
discrimination is negative activity and it has only negative impacts on the over all performance
of organization as well as employees. If an employer is not behaving or responding their staff
properly then they cannot works effectively. Thus, discrimination among employees have
negative impacts on business performance. In relation to Marks and Spencer, employer is
discriminating between employees who are working that create the negative impacts as reduce
the trust of people, lack of sharing information, and not working improperly that affected the
organizational performance negatively. The employers is not providing equal opportunities to all
staff that shows low level of engagement in organizational activities as resulting non
accomplishment of organizational goals. Thus, it explained that gender discrimination is
impacting on organization negatively and reduced the overall productivity.
What are the main challenges that are facing Mark and Spencer because of Gender
discrimination ?
According to Roberson (2019), Challenges are defined as problems that arises while
working in organization and affected the business performance. This is needed for all to find out
3

the issues and reason due to which organization is not performing well. Gender discrimination is
the main challenge that are arising between male females at the workplace which affected the
organizational performance. In relation to Marks and Spencer, employer is discriminating with
their staff that demotivate them and not working effectively. The selected organization is facing
many challenges due to discrimination such as job dissatisfaction, lack of employees
engagement, not accepting new technology or changes, lower sales of products and higher
competition that affected the organizational performance adversely. The employer of selected
organization is sharing all business related information with few employees and shows the
discrimination among them that create the feeling of dissatisfaction. The employees are not ready
to accept the changes in their working and also providing different wages to working people is
creating the challenge of facing higher competition and lower profitability.
What are the strategies that uses to eliminate the gender discrimination for improving business
performance.
As per opinion of Barak (2016), Strategies are the planning which are formulated by top
authority in order to reducing the challenges and managing all organizational performance. In
other words, strategy is the solution and regulation that needs to found by understanding
problems and managing all conflicts. This is important for employers that what their employees
wants and how they can be motivate so kind of opportunities and task provides to them which
can help provide satisfaction. In relation to Marks and Spencer, management are responsible for
managing the stress between employees due to gender discrimination and maintaining a positive
culture that can help to increase the business performance. The strategies that will be used by
management of selected organization to eliminate the gender discrimination:
Treat everyone equal and with respect: The management of workplace should be treat
their all employees whether male, female and other equality and respectfully. The information
should be share with all and training needs to be provided that can help to make feel them good
and get ready to work properly by accepting changes.
Equal pay: The employees who are working in organization and performing well is
required to pay equally that motivates them to manage the all functions and business activities.
4

Following rules and regulations: The management of Marks and Spencer should be
follow rules and regulations in relation to equality and diversity in which equal opportunity
should be given to all that supports to increase the business performance and profitability.
Research Methodology
To complete any study and research there is need to select the best methodology that can
help to get the expected outcomes. The important thing is methodology is the part of research
that uses by researcher to collect and analysis the information in particular areas. A researchers is
focusing on different methods and activities that are suitable for their study. This can help to
manage the all workings and complete the task (Kulkarni, Boehm and Basu, 2016). The
discussion of various methodologies in relation to present research are defined below:
Research Philosophy – This can be explained as method in which data and informations
are gathered, analysed and be used for the purpose of completing the research. This encompasses
through various philosophies of research approach such as positivist and interpretive. In current
investigation, researcher has been used the positivism philosophy that is valuable for it and
research. It has provided relevant and authentic information which helped to complete the
research (Kossek, Su and Wu, 2017).
Research Approach – The research approach is categorised in to qualitative, quantitative
and mixed that are uses by investigator for performing current study and managing the all
activities. The current research about workplace discrimination, quantitative approach has been
used as it is helpful in collecting numerical and statistical data in less time. The two approach of
research are inductive and deductive. In doing current study, researcher has used deductive
approach that is suitable as it states from where data can be collected and how to arrange them
properly. This helps to provide the best outcomes in less time that supports to get good
outcomes.
Research techniques: Techniques in relation to research is defined as ways of collecting
primary and secondary information regarding specific topic. The researcher is required to select
the best technique which can be used to complete the study by gathering and analysis the
information. The technique of collecting primary informations are observation, modelling,
questionnaire, interview and focus group that can help to manage the all workings. In current
5

study about the Gender discrimination, Questionnaire will be uses by investigator. This
technique helps to get relevant, consistent and valid information without consuming time and
money (Knights and Omanović, 2016).
Data collection methods
Data collection is the process of collecting and analysing the information so that better
results can be obtain in working activities. There are two method of data collection such as
Primary and secondary that are uses by a person in relation to complete their study. This is
important for all people to have clear understanding about source of collecting information that
supports to manage the activities. The researcher has focused on primary and secondary method.
In primary, questionnaire has been used and in secondary magazines, articles, and books are used
that helped to complete the study and maintain good performance in area of researching (Jackson
and Van de Vijver, 2018).
Qualitative and quantitative research
Qualitative and quantitative research are defined as types of research that are recognises
by researcher in their study and collecting data from different sources. For gathering data and
information in relation to gender discrimination and its impacts on organizational performance,
researcher has used quantitative research. In this, researcher has prepared questionnaire to collect
reliable and valid information.
Sampling
Sampling is defined as systematic process which is being used by researcher to select the
respondents randomly from the total population. This is face to face conversation activity that
can help to increase the understanding and preparing a valid report (Hideg and Ferris, 2016).
This involves probability sampling and non-probability sampling that are uses according to
research topic and objectives. In using probability sampling researcher has found 40 respondent
that have selected on randomly basis. This helps to complete the research in short period and
getting the positive outcomes.
Data analysis approach
6

This can be explained as systematic process that are uses to analysing information and
managing all activities. Deductive and inductive are two approaches that are uses to complete the
study and increasing performance. The researcher has used deductive approach in analysing the
data in relation to workplace discrimination that assist how it can be reduce and manage the all
activities (Ellemers and Rink, 2016).
Data analysis and interpretations
Data analysis means collection of information and analysis them that can help to manage
the all activities and getting positive outcomes. As there are various instrument of data collection
such as questionnaire, interview, focus group and observation etc. For current study
questionnaire has being applied that supported to complete the research (Rees and Smith, eds.,
2017). Various questions are explained below:
Questionnaire
Q1) Do you have knowledge regarding gender discrimination at workplace?
a) Yes
b) No
Q2) What are the impacts of gender discrimination on organizational productivity?
a) Positive impact
b) Negative impact
Q3) Does promoting equality and diversity is important for employer and employees to
improve the organizational performance?
a) Yes
b) No
Q4) What are the benefits of managing equality and diversity to Marks and Spencer?
a) Employees become empowered and working effectively
b) Promote innovation
c) Managing all workings
Q5) What are the different basis of diversity that Marks and Spencer can includes at
workplace?
a) Disability
b) Culture
7

c) Gender
Q6) What are challenges Marks and Spencer faced due to gender discrimination?
a) Lack of employees engagement in workings
b) Female staff feels undervalued
c) Reduction in sale and productivity of organization
Q7) Does gender discrimination in Marks and Spencer increases employee turnover?
a) Yes
b) No
Q8) What are the strategies that can be used by Marks and Spencer to eliminate the gender
discrimination at working area?
a) Adhering of legislation in relation to equality and diversity
b) Respecting all employees and speaking openly
c) Provide volunteer initiatives
Q9) What are the alternative ways Marks and Spencer should implement to eliminate the issues
of discrimination at workplace?
a) Providing training and development programme to employees
b) Maintaining equality and diversity at workplace
c) Solving the employee's issues and providing optimum solution
Q10) Give recommendation for the purpose of developing positive culture and diversity
between employees.
Theme 1:
Q1) Do you have knowledge regarding gender discrimination at
workplace?
Frequency
a) Yes 30
b) No 10
8