HND Business Research Project: Gender Equality at Unilever Plc

This research project examines gender equality within Unilever Plc, focusing on the role of leadership and management. The project begins with an introduction to the topic and outlines research questions and objectives. A Gantt chart is included to illustrate the project timeline, followed by a literature review that explores existing research on gender equality. The methodology section details the data collection methods, including the use of questionnaires and both primary and secondary data sources. Anticipated outcomes are presented, and the data analysis section provides an overview of the techniques used to interpret the quantitative data, including frequency distribution analysis and the use of MS Excel for creating graphs. The research findings are then presented, followed by a conclusion, recommendations, and a reflection on the research process. The report concludes with a list of references and an appendix containing the questionnaire used in the study.

Research Project
(Equality and diversity in the
workplace)

Table of Contents
Introduction/Background to the research .......................................................................................1
Research Question (s)/Hypothesis ..................................................................................................2
Research Aim and Objectives .........................................................................................................3
Gantt Chart ......................................................................................................................................4
Limitation of the study: ...................................................................................................................6
Literature Review ............................................................................................................................7
Research Methodology....................................................................................................................8
Anticipated outcome .......................................................................................................................9
Data analysis .................................................................................................................................10
........................................................................................................................................................19
Research Findings .........................................................................................................................20
Conclusion and Recommendations ...............................................................................................23
Reflection ......................................................................................................................................24
REFERENCES .............................................................................................................................25
Appendix .......................................................................................................................................26
Questionnaire............................................................................................................................26
.......................................................................................................................................................27

Introduction/Background to the research
Equality introduces as a fair treatment of all employees regardless of their disability,
nationality, age, sexual orientation, nationality etc. Diversity means having unlink or distinct
components. Within a workplace diversity refers as employing group of person who may be not
same from each other and also have diverse background for this gender equality is a chosen topic
of equality and diversity that have direct impact on management and leadership of an
organization ( Schuh, S. C. And et. al., 2014). For this project Unilever Plc is chosen British-
dutch transnational consumer goods organization. Along with this, in order to promote gender
equality at workplace, leadership and management plays an important role by providing accurate
guidance, managing workplace discrimination etc. These are consider major roles played by
leadership and management at workplace of company. As it support an enterprise in
improvement of its business success and growth.

Research Question (s)/Hypothesis
 What are the main role of management and leadership in promoting of gender equality at
workplace?
 What are the importance of gender equality over growth and productivity of Unilever
Plc?
 What are the several ways through which Unilever Plc can promote gender quality at
workplace?

Research Aim and Objectives
Research aim
Main aim of this project is “To determine the contribution of gender equality in
management and leadership of an organization”. A study on Unilever Plc.
Research Objectives
 To identify the role of management and leader in promoting of gender equality at
workplace.
 To determine the importance of gender equality on growth and productivity of Unilever
Plc.
 To find out several ways through which Unilever Plc can promote gender quality at
workplace.

Gantt Chart
It is a graphical tool that support investigator in identifying of starting and ending time
period for research completion. In this chart, different number of tools have been included that
are useful for investigator in completion of full project within a lesser and given time period
( Van den Brink and Benschop, 2014). There are some activities that are shown as under in
graphical way:

Limitation of the study:
There are certain limitations that may be face by researcher while doing research project.
These limitations are related with the insufficient time, inaccurate amount of capital, indecent
behaviour from respondents side etc. All these are major limitations that may impact on
researcher while completing full project. Along with this, improper behaviour of respondents is
major issue that would face by investigator in data analysis part. In this, respondents are not
agree with the available options that creates more difficulties for them in findings of appropriate
results. In order to deal with such issues, researcher will 1 open-ended questions and also
develop some options where they are free in providing of their view about the project ( Elling,
Hovden and Knoppers, 2018).

Literature Review
This is a systematic process that support researcher in gathering of secondary information
regrading the current investigation. This section support researcher in addressing and dealing
with each objectives of study in systematic manner ( Bolman and Deal, 2017).
Role of management and leadership in promoting of gender equality at workplace.
According to Wilson, 2017, Gender equality within an enterprise introduces to the
activity as it is imperative to the accomplishment of healthy lived as well as well-being for
entire employees. Manager and leader of an organisation have to play positive role in
promoting gender equality at working area. As they provide proper guideline, manage each
activities of business, motivating employees and many other. All these are consider major
role of leadership and management within a workplace.
The importance of gender equality on growth and productivity of Unilever Plc.
According to Bolman and Deal, (2017), One of the main purpose of gender equality
at workplace is to achieve equal outcomes for everyone whether they are men and also
women working at same ground. This can be essential in enhancing productivity and
performance level of workers that directly contributes in maintaining long lasting
relationship with workforce for longer time.
Several ways through which Unilever Plc can promote gender quality at workplace.
As per the view presented by Paustian-Underdahl, Walker and Woehr, 2014, There
re various ways through which Unilever Plc can easily promote gender equality at working
place. These are Altering Hiring Practices to increase diversity, Equal Pay, Prioritizing Work-life
Balance, Strict and Effective Policies against Harassment and Workplace Offence etc. These are
consider more effective and essential ways for an organisation to use and promote gender
equality at workplace.

Research Methodology
It is significant part of the project because it support in collection of accurate and valid
data about the field of study. Under this section of project, different useful methods and
techniques have been included which are described as below:
Data collection: There are basically two types of data collection methods which are
primary and secondary. Both methods of data collection are important for current study as it
helps researcher by providing valid and detailed data regrading the research. In order to collect
primary data, questionnaire is used because it give information in reliable and quantitative form.
In case of secondary methods, various sources will be available for investigator which are
magazines, books, publication research and many other ( Terjesen, Aguilera and Lorenz, 2015).
Thus, primary and secondary source of data collection are useful and valuable for current
investigation.
Types of investigation: This section of methodology have two different types such as
qualitative and quantitative. For performing current investigation, quantitative research will be
applied because it support investigator in accumulating of data or information in quantitative
manner. Another purpose for selecting this method as it save cost and time of investigator.
Qualitative is another study that is not useful within a research because it consume more time of
researcher.
Sampling techniques: Within an investigation, probability type of sampling will be going
to applied. As it support researcher in selection of sample size on random basis. By using this
method of sampling 40 employees of Unilever Plc will be selected. As compare to non
probability sampling, probability sampling is more useful as it not take more time and resources
of company or investigator ( Peachey and et. al., 2015).

Anticipated outcome
Main purpose and aim of this project is to determine the contribution of leader and
manager in promotion of gender equality at workplace. For accomplishing this aim, researcher
require to use quantitative research as it support them by providing valid and reliable information
regarding the importance of leadership and management in managing gender equality at
workplace.

Data analysis
Data analysis is the effective or systematic process of evaluating data about the specific
field of study. This part of the research report helps investigator in evaluating of qualitative or
quantitative information regarding the title. Current research project is based on quantitative data
and for analysing or evaluating quantitative data, frequency distribution analysis will be followed
by researcher as an analytical tool. In this technique, researcher will require to making frequency
distribution table and then distributing entire table in single table according to the research
questions ( Kalpazidou Schmidt and Cacace, 2019). Therefore, this technique will be more
useful for researcher in evaluating of quantitative data in less time period. Ms-Excel will also
applying by researcher for making an effective graphs according to the each questions presented
in questionnaire. Therefore, frequency distribution table and research findings will be presented
as below:
Q1) Are you aware regarding the significance of gender equality in context of
Unilever Plc.
Frequency
a) Yes 30
b) No 10
Q2) Does gender equality helps Unilever Plc by eliminating the issue of gender
based discrimination within the workplace?
Frequency
a) Strongly Agree 25
b) Agree 10
c) Disagree 3
d) Strongly disagree 2
Q3) as per your opinion, what are the importance of leadership and
management within a workplace of Unilever Plc?
Frequency
a) Building Employee morale 16
b) Promote business growth 14
c) Provide appropriate guidance to employees 10