Research Project: Gender Equality in Leadership and Management

This research project investigates the importance of gender equality in leadership and management, focusing on a case study within Sainsbury's. The study explores gender-based discrimination, its impact on employee performance, and strategies for promoting equality within an organizational culture. The research includes a literature review on the topic, detailing the problems of promoting gender equality, such as employee resistance and turnover. The methodology involves qualitative research, employing an exploratory research design, and collecting data through questionnaires. Findings reveal employee perceptions on leadership styles, the effects of workplace discrimination, and internal factors affecting diversity promotion. The project concludes with interpretations of the data, highlighting the significance of gender equality in fostering a positive work environment and improving brand image. The report also includes recommendations for promoting gender equality and references for further study.

Research Project
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Table of Contents
TITLE: To identify importance of gender equality in leadership and management........................3
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
Background of the study..............................................................................................................3
Aim & Objectives........................................................................................................................3
Objective......................................................................................................................................3
Research questions.......................................................................................................................3
Limitation of the study.................................................................................................................4
Gantt Chart...................................................................................................................................4
Literature Review.............................................................................................................................5
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY.....................................................................................................7
Research Findings............................................................................................................................9
Reflection...................................................................................................................................13
Recommendation.......................................................................................................................14
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................14
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................16
APPENDIXES...............................................................................................................................18
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TITLE: To identify importance of gender equality in leadership and
management
INTRODUCTION
Gender equality refers a fair treatment which are being given by organizations to its all
employees whether they are male or female (Stoet and Geary, 2018). It plays an important role as
it helps company in making working environment productive, friendly and conflicts free.
Background of the study
This study is going to show importance of promoting gender equality at workplace with
critic reviews of authors. Further it will also discuss some problems occur at the time of
promoting equality as well as ways of removing negative impact and promoting it in efficient
manner.
Aim & Objectives
Aim
“ To identify importance of gender equality in leadership and management. A case study on
Sainsbury's”.
Objective
1. To develop understanding about gender based discrimination with in the work place.
2. To analyse problems occur while promoting gender equality in workplace.
3. To evaluate the impact of gender based discrimination on the employee performance.
4. What are the ways to promote Gender Equality in culture of organization.
5. To identify benefits of promoting gender equality in an organization.
Research questions
1. What is gender based discrimination with in an organization?
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2. What are the problem that occurs while promoting gender equality with in the workplace?
3. What is the impact of gender based discrimination on the employee performance?
4. How Gender Equality can be promoted in organization culture?
5. What are the benefits of promoting gender quality in the organization?
Limitation of the study
Getting relevant informations was one of the main challenges in conducting this research.
Lack of skilled workforce was one of the main problem and limitation which created some
barriers in making this project successful on the time. It was one of the main problem because
employees are considered as one of the most important resources and are responsible for growth
of the company. So, lack of skilled workforce can create several problems as well decrease
quality of products and performance.
Gantt Chart
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Literature Review
Literature is a secondary data by which in depth informations can be achieved by
researcher to make its project successful.
Understanding about gender based discrimination
As per the view of Wang and et.al., (2020) gender based discrimination refers an unfair
treatment or behaviours which are being done by employers only because of gender or sex. There
are several organizations who do not treat fairly to female as compare to male or male are being
given more opportunities than male and this discrimination is called gender based discrimination.
In addition, Slater and et.al., (2017) stated that gender based discrimination can be
occurred by different ways such as direct, indirect, harassment and victimization. Employers
believe that males have more physical and metal strengths than male and this thinking leads
gender discrimination.
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Problems occur while promoting gender equality
Developing gender equality can be beneficial for employers and employees but there are
several problems occur while promoting. As per the Boschini, (2018) the main problem is
resistance of employees. There are several male employees in organizations who believe that
female cannot perform activities as like them so, they resist.
On the other hand, Fraile and Gomez, (2017) stated that retention of female employees is one of
the main factor which creates problems for employers. It is believed that number of employees
who leave organizations are female more than males. Giving equal rights to female can be
sometimes problematic due to this reason.
Impacts of gender based discrimination on the employee performance
Gender based discrimination impacts on employees as well as overall productivity of the
company to the great extent. According to the Sanyang and Othman, (2019) gender based
discrimination become the reason of workplace conflict. If employers give more opportunities to
male employees as compare to female then it decreases their morale. It also decreases
relationship of female employees with the company and lead workplace conflicts.
On the other hand, Flabbi and et.al., (2019) said that increasing rate of turnover is one of
the main negative outcome of gender based discrimination. Those employees who feel
discriminated only because of their gender, they are more likely to leave the company which
impacts on performance of others employees.
Ways to promote Gender Equality
As per the Seguino, (2019) promoting gender equality is important which should be
promoted. The best way of promoting gender based diversity is prioritizing work life balance. It
is stated that female mother employees cannot manage their work and if they are given maternity
leaves then it decreases morale of male employees. So, for supporting female employees in
maintaining their career with life activities, male employees should be given paternity leaves.
Maintaining or prioritizing work life balance is the best way.
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On the other hand, Cullen and Murphy, (2018) that making an effective as well as strict policy
and providing training to all in order to make them aware about importance of gender equality,
this can be promoted. Companies also required to make it compulsory to follow policies by all.
Benefits of promoting gender quality
According to the Bogićević-Milikić, (2019) equality on the basis of gender can foster a
positive work environment which will be beneficial for both employees and employees. If all
employees are being given equal and fair treatment then it will increase their morale and
motivate them. It will reduce workplace conflicts which will directly impacts on working
environment in a positive manner.
Sinha and Verma, (2018) said that by promoting equality, companies can improve its brand
image because it will decrease labour turnover. When employees stay within an organisation for
the long run then it will directly impact on brand of the company.
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research methodology is an important part of the research project as it consists of several
steps such as:
Research Type: Research type refers a form in which data relevant to the topic of the
research is being collected for performing further steps. It can be said that it is an important step
as on this basis, further steps of research such as research philosophy, approaches etc. Qualitative
is a type of research in which data are being collected in words and non-numerical form by
human behaviours (Olson, 2016). On the other hand, in quantitative research type, informations
are being collected in statistics or numbers form.
Research Philosophies: There are 2 types of research philosophy in which data about a
phenomenon is gathered such as positivism and interpretivism. Positivism is all about social
theory which believe that society is the one who shapes individuals as well as their actions can
be explained effectively by social norms. Whereas, interpretivism believes that knowledge of
world is constricted via persons' experience. Researcher will select interpretivism.
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Research approaches: It is a procedure comprises some steps of broad assumptions to
detailed method of collecting, analysing and using informations. Inductive and deductive are 2
approaches in which inductive is all about generating a new theory for increasing knowledge
about the topic. On the other hand, deductive is all about developing hypothesis based on an
existing theory. For this research, scholar will use inductive approach (Chien and Hou, 2018).
Research design: Research design a framework that explains the type of research.
Exploratory and descriptive are main research design in which exploratory helps' researcher in
depth understanding of the main problem for getting effective solutions. Whereas, descriptive
only describe some functions and characteristics of research topic. Exploratory is being used for
this research (Hunter, McCallum and Howes, 2018). One of the main aim of selecting this type is
to help researcher in having detailed informations and understanding of the topic.
Data collection: Data collection is a process of getting informations which can help
researcher in making the project successful on the main topic. There are 2 types of collection of
data such as primary and secondary. In primary type, researcher gets brand-new data by making
an effective use of observations, questionnaire, survey etc. In secondary type, researcher get old
and an exiting informations via: books and journals, articles etc. For this research, researcher will
make an effective use of both sources. In primary, it will use questionnaire and in secondary it
will use literature (Johnston, 2017). In questionnaire, it will select only 30 people with the main
aim to get qualitative informations and making its project successful and ethically. Objective of
using secondary type is to make the project cost-efficient because getting informations via
internet and generating literature is time as well as cost saving.
Data analysis: It also has 2 types of molding or analysing collected data such as:
qualitative and quantitative. Selection of data analysis depend upon the main type as the type of
this research is qualitative so, researcher will use qualitative data analysis.
Sampling: Sampling is a process of selecting target people in the process of data
collection and analysis. Random and non-random are 2 types in which random are being used to
select people randomly. Whereas, non-random is being selected for targeting people on the basis
of some factors. Scholar will use non-random sampling. For this research 30 employees of
Sainsbury's have been selected as a sample.
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Research Findings
Interpretation 1: On the basis of question, it can be said or interpreted that majority of
some employees of Sainsbury's believe that equality plays an important role. By promoting
equality on the basis of gender, their company can take several opportunities. On the other hand,
some employees interpreted that their company cannot make itself beneficial because there are
several employees who do not have adequate experience. Due to lack of skilled workforces and
differences between them, it can create some problems.
Interpretation 2: It can be interpreted on the basis of question and answers given by
employees that leadership styles plays an important role in promotion of equality at workplace. It
is stated that some employees of the company said that their organizations mainly focus on
autocratic style and it is the main reason of discrimination. On the other hand, some said that
their company follow democratic in many of the situation. Whereas, other and rest employees
interpreted that transformational leadership style is being followed by their company by which
all employees get guidance.
Interpretation 3: On the basis of above graph, it can be said that workplace
discrimination creates several problems. Out of total employees of Sainsbury's, some employees
said and believe that workplace discrimination make working environment poor as it increases
workplace conflicts. Whereas, rest employees said that workplace discrimination on the basis of
gender is increasing staff turnover. They also said that employees who feel discriminated they do
not stay within organization and leave it.
Interpretation 4: On the basis of above data, it can be interpreted that there are several
internal factors which bind companies to not to promote diversity at workplace. Some employees
said that, there are several workers who resist company to promote diversity because they
believe that pay and other opportunities should be given to employees on the basis of their skills
and experience. On the other hand, rest said that in organization there are some female
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employees who do not have enough working experience and it is the main reason of workplace
discrimination.
Interpretation 5: It can be said on the basis of above data that discrimination on the
basis of gender create several problems for the company. One of the main problem is decreased
productivity. In this context, some of Sainsbury's employees believe that workplace
discrimination is one of the main reason of decreased productivity of their company. On the
other hand, rest believe that workplace discrimination on the basis of gender does not impacts on
the productivity of the company.
Theme 6: What will you suggest to company to promote diversity in efficient manner?
Interpretation: It can be said that there are several employees of Sainsbury's who believe that
company is responsible for workplace discrimination. In this open-ended question all sample are
being given equal chance to give some recommendations to the company. Some employees said
that company should make effective and strict policy and make it compulsory to follow by
everyone. Some other employees said that company should provide training in order to increase
skills of employees and make them compatible.
Reflection
Through this research work I have learned different things that are important to complete
research with high efficiency. Conducting research on specific topic is difficult process it needs
various operations to keep whole process in proper sequence. I have evaluated gender
discrimination is critical for organization and this is important for them to maintain effective
work culture in organization in order to prevent issues related to discrimination. Through this
research work I have learned various skills like time management, work management and
strategical planning. This was really helpful for me to learn various things that can help the
organization to overcome issues that are related to gender discrimination.
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Recommendation
There are different processes and methods can be used by the organization to improve the
performance of employees by providing them equal opportunities and promotions. Some changes
that can be used by the organization to improve the work place environment and culture of
company. For example in current working of organization in decision making process autocratic
leadership style is used and this thing causing issues in the work pace environment of the
company. This issues can be resolved by implementing democratic leadership in decision
making process they can provide equal opportunities both men and women to grow and develop
with in organization. This problem of gender discrimination also can be prevented by
implementing various processes that can help the organization to reduce the resistance of the
male employees while providing promotion and opportunity to female employees. This is how
discrimination based on gender difference can be prevented.
CONCLUSION
This research report is concluding the importance of diversity and equality for retail
sector organization. In this report various things has been analysed that are related to the topic of
gender discrimination. Brief information of gender equality and gender discrimination has been
provided in the report. Various problems and issues that are related to gender discrimination in
the organization. The impact of issues that are related to gender discrimination also has been
evaluated in the research project. The concept of gender equality and gender discrimination has
been evaluated for the performance of the organization in the market place. There are different
process and methods are used by the organization to improve conditions related to gender
equality with in the work place of company. All these processes used by organization also has
been analysed in order to improve the performance of the employees with in the organization.
The impact of gender discrimination has been studied for the work place environment and
culture of the company. This information has been used to find various solutions that are help
organization to improve the policies and practices of company In order implementing better
work place culture in company. In this research project both primary and secondary data has
been used for the evaluation process. The primary data has been collected n the research process
in order to collect the real time information of the company culture and environment to find basic
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issues that are related to discrimination and secondary data has been studied in the research
process to find effective solutions for problems that are faced by the organization.
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