A Business Project Analyzing Gender Pay Gap at Mark and Spencer

This project examines the issues of equality and diversity, specifically focusing on the gender pay gap at Mark and Spencer. The assignment begins by establishing the aims and objectives, which include understanding the gender pay gap, the problems it causes for M&S, and potential solutions. It then details the project management plan, covering scope, communication, risk assessment, resource allocation, cost analysis, and time management using Gantt charts and Work Breakdown Structures. The research employs both qualitative and quantitative methods, utilizing questionnaires to gather primary data from 40 respondents. The project interprets the research data using various tools and techniques, presenting findings on awareness of gender pay gaps, equality, and diversity, and the perceived impact of these issues on M&S's operations. The project concludes with recommendations for addressing gender pay gaps and promoting equality and diversity within the company, supported by a reflection on the overall research process.

Managing A
Successful
Business Project

Table of Contents
TITLE:.............................................................................................................................................1
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
LO 1.................................................................................................................................................1
P1) Formulate aims and objective of the project. ..................................................................1
P2) Prepare project management plan by including scope, communication, risk, cost,
resources, time and quality.....................................................................................................2
P3) Explain Gantt Chart and Work Break Down structure....................................................3
LO 2.................................................................................................................................................5
P4) Carry out small scale research by applying qualitative and quantitative method to attain
aims and objectives.................................................................................................................5
LO 3.................................................................................................................................................6
P5) Interpretate research data by using best tools and techniques.........................................6
P6) Suggest recommendation...............................................................................................12
LO 4...............................................................................................................................................12
P7) Reflection.......................................................................................................................12
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................13
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................14
APPENDIX I.................................................................................................................................15
APPENDIX_II..............................................................................................................................18

TITLE:
“Equality and diversity on business”
INTRODUCTION
In globalized world in order to cope up with competitive advantages it is very important
to work on the issues associated with equality and diversity at work place (Bishu and Alkadry,
2017). There are numerous issues such as , sexual harassment, gender pay gap etc. of equality
and diversity. Top level management is liable to build strategies in order to over come the issues
of equality and diversity the workplace. Mark and Spencer is taken for the completion of the
project. It is a British leading retailer store suited in Westminster, London. This assignment
covers aims and objective of the project. Primary data collection method is used to collect data
from respondents. Gantt Chart and WBS is effectively used in the project to finish the task.
LO 1
P1) Formulate aims and objective of the project.
Background of Mark and Spencer:
Michael Marks and Thomas Spencer are the founders of this successful British retail
store in Westminster, London. Mark and Spencer is recognised in the open market place for it's
high quality home products, clothing and food products (French and Strachan, 2015). There are
1400 stores across 57 countries and are capable in meeting customers needs and wants. However,
910 stores are there in United Kingdom and around 220 are owned by Mark and Spencer while
approx 350 stores franchise Simply Food Store. They are successfully proving other services
such as current accounts, insurance, credit cards, mortgages and so on.
AIMS:
“To understand the steps taken by firm in order to overcome gender pay gap issue
occurred by introducing equality and diversity at the workplace”. A Study report on Mark and
Spencer.
Research objectives:
 To study the concept of gender pay gap.
 To understand the problems faced by M&S because of gender pay gap in the working
premises.
 To measure several ways to overcome gender pay gap issue at workplace of M&S.
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Research questions:
 What do you mean by gender pay gap at workplace?
 Which type of problems are faced by M&S because of gender pay gap in their working
premises?
 Discuss several ways to overcome gender pay gap issue at workplace of M&S?
P2) Prepare project management plan by including scope, communication, risk, cost, resources,
time and quality.
Project management plan (PMP) is a formal document that explains every single stage of
a project (Hebson and Rubery, 2018). It is the core element which need to be performed in order
to attain competitive advantages against rivalry . PMP covers distinguish components such as,
planning, executing, monitoring, controlling and closing.
Scope: The scope of the project is wide as it researcher is investigating on the current
issues of equality and diversity. Gender pay gap is the issue prevailing in a firm for this strategies
are formulated in order to overcome them in the working premises. By making employees aware
why there is gap in their remuneration smooth functioning of the business can be operated.
Risk: By collecting the data from the respondents and managing them properly was the
major risk factor which researcher came across. Along with this convening respondents to reply
the set of questions was quite challenging as they where less interested to answer them.
Researcher were bound with less funds and time due to which in-depth information regarding the
topic was not possible.
Communication: In order to draw meaningful conclusion from the finding researcher
adopted effective communication matrix so that easily information can be transferred. There are
various communication channels used such as, E-mails, face to face communication, mobile
communication channels and so on. Email is the communication channel used by researcher
while conducting the project (Funk and Parker 2018).
Resources: In order to conduct the research activity smoothly various resources like,
finance, human capital etc. are need by researcher. Lack of resources results in unproductive
outcomes. Researcher used all the available resources in optimum manner for best results.
Cost: It is the most important aspect of research because deficiency of funds affect the
functioning of the business. In order to conduct research activity smoothly sufficient funds
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should be there with the team. The estimated amount of $ 700 is need to conduct the activity
effectively and efficiently (Huffman and Reichelt, 2017).
Particulars Amount ($)
Stationery item expenses 100
Travelling expenses 500
Telephone expenses 100
Total $ 700
Time: Researcher requires 7week to complete the task in proper manner. This the
sufficient time for completing the work effectively and efficiently. All the set activities are
attained in the designed time slot which helped to finish the project in the deadline.
Quality: To gain best results as compare to other qualitative approach is used by
researcher in their findings. It helps to provide correct and quality information to the reader so
that they can be bind for longer time duration.
P3) Explain Gantt Chart and Work Break Down structure
Gantt Chart: Henry Gantt was the person who has invented Gantt Chart in the year
1910-1915. This is very effective tool adopted in project management as it showcase project
schedule. On vertical axis task to be performed is listed and in horizontal axis time intervals
while the width of the horizontal bars presents duration of each activity (Kang and Kaplan,
2019). This is used by the researcher has it helps in planning, coordinating and tracking
particular tasks in a project.
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Work Break down structure: WBS in project management stated as breaking down of
complex work into smaller components so that assigned work can be completed in set time
frame. Work break down structure helps in organizing the team work into manageable sections
so that best results can be attained as compare to rivalry.
Mile stone schedule: On week 2 data collection analysis was conducted while on week
3 research methodology was conducted.
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LO 2
P4) Carry out small scale research by applying qualitative and quantitative method to attain aims
and objectives.
Qualitative approach: In this there is no use of graphs, mathematical numbers, pie
charts, diagrams it only focus on quality (Kohout and Singh, 2018). Qualitative approach is easy
to use as there is numerical presentation in the findings. It is cost effective and consume less time
to accumulate quality data for the findings.
Quantitative approach: This particular approach is bit complex in nature. In this
approach more diagram, pie charts, numerical data etc. are used in the presentation. It makes the
project more presentable in nature and readers are able to grab information easily from the data
analysis. It consumes lot of time in demonstrating collected data in the form of images, diagrams
etc.
Mark and Spencer adopts both qualitative and quantitative approach in their research
work in order to provide readers with quality and authentic information.
Primary data collection method:In this researcher are able to gain information which is
fresh and correct as data is directly collected from the respondents. They are not used by other in
their research work as these data are not available on books, journals, magazines, newspaper,
articles and so on. It is the best way to provide reliable and authentic information regarding the
topic to the client. In this case chances of duplication is less and tough bench mark can be set for
others. Some of the examples of primary data collection method are, questionnaire, survey etc.
Secondary data collection method:Here, in this case information is collected from
journals, books, newspaper, articles and so on. In the past days other researcher has also used the
same data for their research topic. By this it reduces the authenticity and excepted results are not
meet (Lewis, 2018 ).
Mark and Spencer uses primary data collection method to collect data for their research
work as it provide fresh information and are not used b y and other researcher in their findings.
40 respondents are taken for the survey.
Questionnaire:
Quantitative Questions:
Q1) Do have understanding regarding gender pay gap?
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a) Yes
b) No
Q2) Are you ware about equality and diversity in an organization?
a) I am aware
b) I am not aware
Q3) Is it essential to study gender pay in Mark and Spencer?
a) Essential
b) Not essential
Q4) Do gender pay gap affect Mark and Spencer day to day operation activity?
a) It affect
b) It does not affect
Q5) Do you think in Mark and Spencer there should be equal pay?
a) Yes
b) It depends
Quantitative questions:
Q6) Mention some the problems related to gender pay gap faced by Mark and Spencer?
Q7) Suggest some of the ways to overcome gender pay gap issue from the working
premises of Mark and Spencer?
Q8) Provide appropriate recommendation for gender pay gap issue occurred by
introducing equality and diversity at Mark and Spencer working premises?
LO 3
P5) Interpretate research data by using best tools and techniques.
Theme 1: Understanding regarding gender pay gap
Q1) Do have understanding regarding gender pay gap? Frequency
a) Yes 33
b) No 7
6

33
7
a) Yes
b) No
Interpretation: From the above diagram it can be concluded that from the sample size of
40 respondents 33 are saying they are aware about gender pay gap while left over 7 people are
denying they are unaware about it.
Theme 2: Aware about equality and diversity in an organization
Q2) Are you aware about equality and diversity in an organization? Frequency
a) I am aware 27
b) I am not aware 13
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27
13
a) I am aware
b) I am not aware
Interpretation: From the sample size of 40 communicator it can be concluded that 27
are agreeing that the are holding knowledge regarding equality and diversity at workplace.
Whereas, renaming are not aware about equity and diversity.
Theme 3: Essential to study gender pay in Mark and Spencer
Q3) Is it essential to study gender pay in Mark and Spencer? Frequency
a) Essential 35
b) Not essential 5
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35
5
a) Essential
b) Not essential
Interpretation: The above showcased image render the summarization that 35 out of 40
are replying that it is essential to study gender pay gap in M&S. However, 5 person are admitting
that it is not mandatory.
Theme 4: Gender pay gap affect Mark and Spencer day to day operation activity
Q4) Do gender pay gap affect Mark and Spencer day to day
operation activity?
Frequency
a) It affect 25
b) It does not affect 15
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25
15
a) It affect
b) It does not affect
Interpretation: From 40 respondents only 25 communicator are agreeing that gender
pay gap is affecting the day to day working of M&S at a large scale. And 15 people are saying
not it not affecting the business activity.
Theme 5: In Mark and Spencer there should be equal pay
Q5) Do you think in Mark and Spencer there should be equal pay? Frequency
a) Yes 28
b) It depends 12
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