HND Business Research Project: Gender Equality at Marks and Spencer

This research project examines the critical role of gender equality in leadership and management, focusing on Marks and Spencer as a case study. The project begins with an introduction outlining the aims and objectives, followed by a literature review that explores existing research on gender equality. The research methodology, including the chosen qualitative approach, inductive approach, interpretivism philosophy, and data collection methods, is detailed. A Gantt chart provides a timeline of the project's progress. The research aims to understand the concept of gender equality, analyze its importance, identify challenges faced by Marks and Spencer, and recommend strategies for promoting equality. The project investigates the concept of gender equality in leadership and management, its significance, challenges faced by companies, and recommendations to promote it.

RESEARCH PROJECT

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
Aims and objectives...............................................................................................................3
LITERATURE REVIEW................................................................................................................4
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY.....................................................................................................5
GANTT CHART.............................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTION
Equality is defined as the providing of all the employees with equal opportunity to grow
in the corporate world. This is majorly because of the reason that if there will not be equality
among the employees then the productivity of company will decrease (Kossek and Buzzanell,
2018). For this it is very necessary for the companies to have equality among the employees on
the basis of gender.
Gender equality in leadership and management is defined as treating both female and
male equivalent at time of deciding of leaders and management committee of the company. the
present research will focus on the gender equality in Marks and Spencer at time of leading and
managing the company. this is a British retailer which specialises in superior quality of clothes,
food and home care products and many other products.
Aims and objectives
Aim
“To investigate the role of gender equality in leadership and management with regards to
equality and diversity at workplace. A study of Marks and Spencer.”
Objectives
 To understand the concept of gender equality in leadership and management.
 To analyse the importance of gender equality in leadership and management with regards
to Marks and Spencer.
 To identify the challenges faced by Marks and Spencer in promoting gender equality in
leadership and management.
 To recommend some strategies for promotion of gender equality in leadership and
management.
Research question
1. What is the concept of gender equality in leadership and management?
2. What is the importance of gender equality in leadership and management?
3. What are the challenges faced by company in managing gender equality in management
and leadership?
4. What are some recommendations which can help company in managing gender equality
in leadership and management?
Rationale

The major reason for selection of this topic is that maintenance of equality is very
necessary for the success of the company. Thus, this topic will help in gaining knowledge
relating to maintenance of gender equality in leadership and management. Another reason for
choosing the topic is the personal interest of the researcher as they want to know about the
strategies which can help the company in maintaining gender equality at time of choosing leaders
and managers.
LITERATURE REVIEW
In the words of Burkinshaw and White, (2019) gender equality in leadership is a concept
which focuses on spreading equality at time of deciding for the management of the company.
The equality here is defined in terms of gender that is male and female. This concept states that
at time of leading and managing the business women must also be considered same and equal to
men. This is majorly pertaining to the fact that both are equal and no discrimination must be
spread among them.
In against of this Kelan and Wratil, (2018) states that managing and maintaining gender
equality within workplace is very important because of the reason that if there will be inequality
then this will impact the productivity of employees. This is majorly because of the reason that if
company will not take care of the female employees then this will demotivate the employees and
they will not work effectively. As per views of Bush, Bell and Middlewood, eds., (2019) another
importance of managing gender equality is that this increases the goodwill of the company. This
is majorly because of the fact that if company will treat males and females equally then this will
build goodwill in market and other people will also like to join the company.
Also, Dashper (2019) articulates that there are many challenges which are encountered by
company at time of promoting gender equality in leadership and management. This is majorly
because of the reason that most of the people have thinking that females are less competent as
compared to males and this thinking restrict male employees to accept females in leading and
managing business. But on other side Henderikse, van Beek and Pouwels, (2017) states that
another major challenge is the difference among the cultures. This is a challenge because
company has employees from diverse cultures and every culture has different say on concept of
gender equality. Thus, this might cause a challenge for company in promoting gender equality.
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Methods Description

Research type Qualitative research will be selected by the
researcher to carry on research because this
will help researcher in gaining the proper
knowledge of gender equality in leadership and
management (Sekaran and Bougie, 2016).
Research approach Inductive approach will be opted by researcher
because of the fact that this approach studies
the pattern and structure of the study and then
draws some conclusion.
Research philosophy Interpretivism philosophy will be used by
researcher in order to complete the research
because this supports the qualitative research to
a great extent (Van de Ven and Poole, 2017).
Data collection For collecting data mix of primary and
secondary will be used researcher because this
will provide more relevant data for the research
topic.
Sampling The sample will be taken of 20 employees of
Marks and Spencer with help of random
sampling method.
Data analysis For analysing data, researcher will use
thematic analysis as this will assist them in
properly interpreting the data with help of
charts and tables (Drawson, Toombs and
Mushquash, 2017).
GANTT CHART
Task Mode Task Name Duration Start Finish Predecessors
Auto
Scheduled
Developing research aim and
objectives 2 days Thu 2/20/20 Fri 2/21/20
Auto brief plan development 3 days Mon 2/24/20 Wed 2/26/20 1

Scheduled
Auto
Scheduled Research methods selection 4 days Thu 2/27/20 Tue 3/3/20 2
Auto
Scheduled Preparing questionnaire 6 days Wed 3/4/20 Wed 3/11/20 3
Auto
Scheduled
Sending questionnaire for data
collection 1 day Thu 3/12/20 Thu 3/12/20 2,4
Auto
Scheduled
Recording data set in a
structured format 5 days Fri 3/13/20 Thu 3/19/20 5
Auto
Scheduled Interpreting gathered data set 6 days Fri 3/20/20 Fri 3/27/20 6
Auto
Scheduled
Concluding findings and
recommending solutions 2 days Mon 3/30/20 Tue 3/31/20 7
Auto
Scheduled Formatting 1 day Wed 4/1/20 Wed 4/1/20 8
Auto
Scheduled Taking feedback 1 day Thu 4/2/20 Thu 4/2/20 9
Auto
Scheduled
Doing changes as per the
feedback provided 1 day Fri 4/3/20 Fri 4/3/20 10
Auto
Scheduled Final submission 1 day Mon 4/6/20 Mon 4/6/20 11

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Burkinshaw, P. and White, K., 2019. Networking and gender equality in academic leadership.
In Women, Business and Leadership. Edward Elgar Publishing.
Bush, T., Bell, L. and Middlewood, D. eds., 2019. Principles of Educational Leadership &
Management. SAGE Publications Limited.
Dashper, K., 2019. Mentoring for gender equality: Supporting female leaders in the hospitality
industry. International Journal of Hospitality Management, p.102397.
Drawson, A.S., Toombs, E. and Mushquash, C.J., 2017. Indigenous research methods: A
systematic review. The International Indigenous Policy Journal. 8(2). p.5.
Henderikse, W., van Beek, A. and Pouwels, B., 2017. THE EFFICACY OF STRATEGIES TO
ELEVATE GENDER EQUALITY IN LEADERSHIP. Gender, Communication, and the
Leadership Gap, p.127.
Kelan, E.K. and Wratil, P., 2018. Post‐heroic leadership, tempered radicalism and senior leaders
as change agents for gender equality. European Management Review. 15(1). pp.5-18.
Kossek, E.E. and Buzzanell, P.M., 2018. Women's career equality and leadership in
organizations: Creating an evidence‐based positive change. Human Resource
Management. 57(4). pp.813-822.
Sekaran, U. and Bougie, R., 2016. Research methods for business: A skill building approach.
John Wiley & Sons.
Van de Ven, A.H. and Poole, M.S., 2017. Field research methods. The Blackwell companion to
organizations, pp.867-888.