Managing Gender Pay Gap: A Case Study on Mercedes Benz Analysis

This report presents a comprehensive analysis of the gender pay gap at Mercedes Benz, structured as a project. The introduction establishes the importance of equality and diversity in the workplace. Task 1 outlines the project's aims and objectives, focusing on the impact of the gender pay gap on employee and organizational productivity, and includes a project management plan with cost, quality, scope, time, communication, risk, and resource considerations, along with a Gantt chart and work breakdown structure. Task 2 details the application of qualitative and quantitative research methods, including primary and secondary research with a focus on the questionnaire used. Task 3 involves analyzing the collected data and research to draw meaningful conclusions and recommendations. Finally, Task 4 reflects on the value of the research in meeting the objectives. The report aims to identify strategies for managing the gender pay gap to enhance organizational proficiency.

Managing a Successful
Business Project

Table of Contents
TOPIC..............................................................................................................................................1
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
P1. Explanation of project aims and objectives......................................................................1
P2.Production of project management plan............................................................................2
P3 Develop a Gantt Chart and Work Breakdown structure...................................................4
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................6
P4 Carry out small-scale research by applying qualitative and quantitative research methods
appropriate for meeting project aims and objectives..............................................................6
TASK 3..........................................................................................................................................10
P5 Analyse research and data using appropriate tools and techniques................................10
P6 Communicate appropriate recommendations as a result of research and data analysis to
draw valid and meaningful conclusions...............................................................................17
TASK 4..........................................................................................................................................18
P7 Reflect on the value of undertaking the research to meet stated objectives and own learning
and performance...................................................................................................................18
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................19
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................20

TOPIC
“ Gender Pay Gap” - Case Study on Mercedes Benz
INTRODUCTION
The concept of equality and diversity plays a vital role within the organisation as it
enable them to accomplish the pre determined goal or objective in an effective manner. Along
with this, due to the adoption of globalisation it motive all form of establishment to invite
diverse workforce inside the working culture with an aim of improving the overall performance
of firm in an effective way (Alexeev and Tapon, 2012). However, the term diversity refer to
those activity which is concern about accepting and respecting diverse culture, gender, sex,
religion, values, norms, beliefs and etc. and on the other hand equality is relate with treating and
providing equal opportunity to every kind of employees and avoiding the factor of discrimination
or partiality. Hence, by the implementation of equality and diversity, it assist establishment to
enhance its overall productivity and also boost the morale of manpower in a positive manner. In
relation to this report, Mercedes Benz has been considered which is a leading and reputed
company in Germany auto-mobile industry. Moreover, for this research, Gender Pay Gap has
been chosen for which researcher identify specific aim, objective, questions, development of
project management plan. Furthermore, implication of various research methodologies, usage of
appropriate tool to analyse the gathered data. Finally, determining relevant suggestion for
enlarging the proficiency of an organisation in an improved way.
TASK 1
P1. Explanation of project aims and objectives
Overview of company
Mercedes Benz is one of the well established and branded global auto- mobile company
which is founded in the year of 1926. It is headquartered at Germany and deals into wide range
of products like auto mobiles, trucks, buses, luxury vehicles and etc.
Research Aim
“To investigate the influence of gender pay gap over organisation and employees overall
productivity”. Case Study on Mercedes Benz
Research Objective
1

 To understand the impact of Gender Pay Gap on the productivity of the employees and
the organisation.
 To analyse various strategies that Mercedes Benz has to implement within the
organisation for managing the influence of Gender Pay Gap.
 To identify different techniques that can facilitate the organisation in managing the
challenges of Gender Pay Gap in terms of overall productivity of the organisation.
Research Questions
 What is the impact of Gender Pay Gap on the productivity of the employees and the
organisation?
 What are various strategies that Mercedes Benz has to implement within the organisation
for managing the influence of Gender Pay Gap?
 What are the different techniques that can facilitate the organisation in managing the
challenges of Gender Pay Gap in terms of overall productivity of the organisation?
P2.Production of project management plan
It is a plan which explain the how a project is performed, controlled and determine so that all the
activities in the project are performed in set order. In the other words, it is a brief summary about
the project and it contains the base of the project as well as other subsidiary management plans.
With the reference of this research projects, the plan include the cost, quality,scope, resource and
time which will address the set objective based on the gender pay gap in the effective ways
(Basow, 1992).
Cost: For conducting this investigation, the cost and fund is required by the researcher to
collect the appropriates information in the market so that research can be completed on time and
in the effective ways. For undertaking this research the investigator will be preparing a budget
with the help of which they can determine the actual cost that they will incur. The estimated cost
for undertaking the project is 200£ and allocation of the cost is given below:
Description Cost
Survey 50£
Equipment for the project 40£
Travel cost 35£
Management cost 75£
2

Total 200£
Quality: To have good quality of the project, the investigator can use different types of
tools and techniques such as qualitative and quantitative method of investigation. It will helps in
maintaining good quality of project. Also the data will be gathered from the primary sources i.e.,
from the employees of the company and various relevant secondary sources such as website,
books, journals etc. due to which the authenticity of the research can be ensured.
Time: It is time-frame which is required to completed the given task in the proper ways.
The researcher of this project have determine the 6 months for completing the all the tasks. To
support this the Gantt chart and WBS will be formulated as with this the activities will be
allocated time period within which they have to be completed.
Scope: With the reference of this research, it has a large scope as it is based on the
diversity and equality in the workplace in context of gender pay gap. It will facilitate the
organisation in formulating various policies and strategies so that they can overcome the issue of
gender pay gap on the basis of recommendations provided by the investigator.
Communication: Their are formal as well as informal communication in the research,
effective communication is essential to collect and transfer such information in the research
team (Butler, 2002). The communication will take place between the project managers in the
company with the researcher through emails, interaction via telephone, video conference etc.
Risk: While conducting the investigation there are various different risk associated with
the research such as problem and conflict come across while conducting the investigation in the
process. Also the risk related to this project is of completion of project on time which can be
managed with the help of Gantt chart and WBS and technical risk which can be managed with
the help of various methods of analysis.
Resources: There are various factor which are to be taken care in the research such as
land, labour, machinery and human resource in the projects. In the context of this research,
investigator required internet access, laptop ,various equipment and finance in the human
resource projects. The researcher make best use of human resource in the project so that better
results can be interpreted in the projects.
3

P3 Develop a Gantt Chart and Work Breakdown structure.
Gantt chart: This chart is formed by the various different bars which represent work
activities in the projects. This bar are divide according to the work needs to be performed by the
researcher in the given task and projects (Butler, 2004). In the other words it can be stated that
this chart is used as tool in the project management plan by delegating the work into bars in the
given task. Further this chart helps in giving a time-frame which will be needed to complete the
given activates in the organisation.
4

Work break down structure: While carrying out the research, the investigator divide its
complex work into small work segment which helps in executing the work in the proper ways in
5

the investigation. By using the work break down structure in the investigation so that work can
be done in the effective ways so that desire goals and objectives can be achieved in the
organisation (Denis and et. al., 1999).
TASK 2
P4 Carry out small-scale research by applying qualitative and quantitative research methods
appropriate for meeting project aims and objectives.
Qualitative Research: Qualitative research is an open-ended and non-numerical research
of which answers cannot be yes or no. Prospect have to give their opinion about given topic. This
research is communicational in nature that means researcher have to conduct a small
conversation with prospect. There are several methods of performing qualitative research like
Interview, observation, submergence, open-ended survey, focus groups, unwritten history etc.
Merit of qualitative research is that it helps in identifying consumer's taste. It is a very limber
approach (Denis and et. al., 1997). Demerit of qualitative data is that it is highly subjective in
nature and not statistically calculative. In context of this research, researcher make use of
qualitative approach as it help them to gain in depth information about topic and can make better
solution for identified research problem in an amended manner.
Quantitative Research: Quantitative research refers to the collection of numerical data
from sample universe for the purpose of statistical calculation. Quantitative research is
concerned with quantifiable data like numbers and figures which are mathematically and
6

statistically computable. Disadvantages of quantitative research is advantage of qualitative
research and vice versa. Method of executing quantitative research are survey, interview,
questionnaire, schedule and observation. Advantage of quantitative research is that it is easy to
analyse. It is statistically calculable. It is a non biased approach and has a wide reach.
Disadvantages of quantitative research is that it is difficult to draw conclusion from this approach
(Eisenmann, 2002).
Primary Research: Primary research refers to the accumulation of original data from
sample of universe. In primary research, data are collected directly from the prospect. Primary
data are unpublished data that means it cannot be found on any print and electronic information
source. Methods of gathering primary data are interview, survey, questionnaire, schedule and
observation. Benefit of primary research is that it helps in solving problems. Marketer can
accumulate specific data which satisfy their marketing needs. Drawback of primary is that is
very time consuming. Conducting primary research is an expensive activity as researcher have
to bear travelling cost. In relation to this research, investigator utilise primary data method i.e.
preparing questionnaire in order to acquire accurate response from targeted respondents in an
improved way.
Secondary Research: Collection of data that is already gathered by primary researcher is
called secondary research. Researcher collect data from electronic and print information. Data
gathered in secondary research is not original. There are two types of secondary data source one
is internal and another is external (French and Poterba, 1991). Methods of secondary research are
surfing internet , reading books,newspaper and journal. Benefit of secondary research is that is
very cost effective and also it speed up the work because it is a very fast approach.
Disadvantages of secondary research is that information may be outdated. Secondary data may
not be ad hoc to researcher's requirement. Hence, investigator implies this method also for
gathering information from different online sources and also from newspaper or magazines with
an aim of producing reliable report in a prescribed time limit.
Sample size: This component is concern with selecting a group of individual from the
larger number of population. Moreover, it is classified into probability and non- probability
method. Hence, in regard of this research, researcher applies random sampling method that
enable them to give equal chance to all targeted respondents which empower them to express
7

their views in an efficacious mode (Gallo, Phengpis and Swanson, 2008). The sample size which
investigator selects for this reserach report is 30 employees of Mercedes Benz.
Questionnaire
Q1) Are you familiar with the term Equality and Diversity?
a) Yes
b) No
Q2) Do you think that an organisation should practice equality and diversity at
workplace?
a) Yes
b) No
Q3) What are the reason behind occurring Gender Pay Gap issue inside organisation?
a) Unfair wages
b) Gender Discrimination
c) Bias behaviour in allocating the responsibilities
Q4) What are the challenges that Mercedes Benz face while managing Gender Pay Gap at
workplace?
a) Improper coordination among employees
b) Ineffective communication
c) Negative working environment
Q5) What the best possible ways which Mercedes Benz can adopt to tackle the issue of
Gender Pay Gap?
a) Fair decision
b) Equal opportunity
c) Transparency in salary
Q6) Does the practice of Gender Pay Gap support organisation in keep manpower loyal
and productive towards the organisational goal?
a) Agree
b) Disagree
Q7) What are the advantages which Mercedes Benz can acquire from eliminating the
issue of Gender Pay Gap?
8

a) Enrich manpower performance
b) Enhance brand value
c) Improve working culture
Q8) Provide suitable recommendation for Mercedes Benz to handle the issue of Gender
Pay Gap in order to enhance the business and personnel productivity.
Q1) Are you familiar with the term Equality and Diversity? Frequency
a) Yes 25
b) No 5
Q2) Do you think that an organisation should practice equality
and diversity at workplace?
Frequency
a) Yes 20
b) No 10
Q3) What are the reason behind occurring Gender Pay Gap issue
inside organisation?
Frequency
a) Unfair wages 15
b) Gender Discrimination 5
c) Bias behaviour in allocating the responsibilities 10
Q4) What are the challenges that Mercedes Benz face while
managing Gender Pay Gap at workplace?
Frequency
a) Improper coordination among employees 20
b) Ineffective communication 5
c) Negative working environment 5
Q5) What the best possible ways which Mercedes Benz can adopt
to tackle the issue of Gender Pay Gap?
Frequency
a) Fair decision 5
9

b) Equal opportunity 10
c) Transparency in salary 15
Q6) Does the practice of Gender Pay Gap support organisation in
keep manpower loyal and productive towards the organisational
goal?
Frequency
a) Agree 25
b) Disagree 5
Q7) What are the advantages which Mercedes Benz can acquire
from eliminating the issue of Gender Pay Gap?
Frequency
a) Enrich manpower performance 20
b) Enhance brand value 5
c) Improve working culture 5
TASK 3
P5 Analyse research and data using appropriate tools and techniques.
Theme 1: Aware about equality and diversity
Q1) Are you familiar with the term Equality and Diversity? Frequency
a) Yes 25
b) No 5
10