Evaluating Diversity and Inclusion Strategies: Lee Cooper Case Study

This report, based on a student's project, evaluates strategies for fostering a diverse and inclusive workforce, using Lee Cooper as a case study. The assignment explores the aims, objectives, and project management plan, including cost analysis, scope, and timelines. It delves into research methods, employing both quantitative (questionnaires) and qualitative (interviews) approaches. Data analysis utilizes a thematic approach, examining key themes related to the importance of diversity management, benefits of workplace inclusion, and the implications of the Equality Act 2010. The findings are presented through analysis of questionnaire responses and interview insights, leading to recommendations for Lee Cooper. The report includes a reflection on the project and a conclusion summarizing the key findings and implications. The report is contributed by a student and is published on Desklib, a platform providing all the necessary AI-based study tools for students.

Managing a Successful
Business project

Table of Contents
Title: “To evaluate strategies that facilitates diverse and inclusive workforce”. A case study on
Lee cooper. ......................................................................................................................................1
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................1
LO 1 ................................................................................................................................................1
P1) Aims and objective .........................................................................................................1
P2) Project management plan ................................................................................................2
P3) WBS and Gantt Chart .....................................................................................................3
LO 2.................................................................................................................................................5
P4) Research methods............................................................................................................5
LO 3.................................................................................................................................................7
P5) Analyse and interpretation of data...................................................................................7
P6) Recommendations..........................................................................................................11
LO 4 ..............................................................................................................................................11
P7) Reflection.......................................................................................................................11
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................12
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................13
Appendix 1: Project Logbook Template.......................................................................................14
Appendix 2.....................................................................................................................................16

Title: “To evaluate strategies that facilitates diverse and inclusive workforce”.
A case study on Lee cooper.
INTRODUCTION
The concept of diversity is associate with demographic difference among the employees
of an organisation on the basis of their of age, gender, disability, race, religion, belief. In order to
have better bonding and coordination at workplace every organisation needs to focus on
management of diversity and equality in order to tackle workplace inequality and build a more
inclusive manpower (Al-Jenaibi, 2017). This assignment is based on Lee cooper brand that is a
well known clothing company and has also started dealing in sportswear and having its
headquarter London, England, UK. This assignment includes discussion on the topic of equality
and diversity together with aims and objective of research project. A discussion on various
project management plan and other tools is also made to meet the time frames. Beside this, a
small scale research is also included in this report along with its evaluation and analysis. At last,
valid conclusion, recommendation and reflection also form part of this assignment.
LO 1
P1) Aims and objective
The concept of equality and diversity is becoming important and crucial for all
organisation in order to achieve the objective of higher business performance and more efficient
and motivated workforce (Allaoui, Bourgault and Pellerin, 2019). Lee Cooper brand is a famous
brand that is operating worldwide and dealing in many items that includes denim jeans, jackets,
workwear and footwear. This was established in 1908 in premises of Middlesex street London
and soon become a popular brand and spread its branches across the world. As Lee cooper is
operating at international level thus, it become necessary for this organisation to have proper
management of equality and diversity to have more to build an inclusive workforce. Thus, the
main aim and objective of thus research conducted on Lee Coopers are as follows:
Aim
The main aim of this research work and project is. “ To evaluate the various strategies
and initiatives that can be put by a company inn order to develop a diverse and inclusive
workforce.”
1

Objectives
The objectives of this investigation made on Lee Cooper are stated as follows:
 To study the importance of management of equality and diversity in facilitating success
for an organisation.
 To evaluate the implications of UK laws like Equality act, 2010 in facilitating diversified
and inclusive workforce in Lee Cooper (Bhattacharya, 2016). To identify various types of initiative and strategies that can be put by Lee cooper to
build a diverse and inclusive workforce.
Question Tag
 What important role is lead by management of equality and diversity in facilitating
success for an organisation?
 What are the implications of UK laws like Equality act, 2010 in facilitating diversified
and inclusive workforce in Lee Cooper?
 What are the types of initiative and strategies that can be put by Lee cooper to build a
diverse and inclusive workforce?
P2) Project management plan
It is written document that is prepared by a researcher or manager to have better planning
about various crucial aspects of a research work (Boehm and Dwertmann, 2015). The main
elements and aspects of a project management plan are described below in context of current
research conducted on Lee cooper to ensure timely achievement of desired objectives.
Aspects of cost- This element is associated with all the possible expenses that are needed
for accomplishment of a project in order to obtain various required resources and assets. The
forecasted cost of this research project is provided in following tables:
Aspect of Cost Amount
Data collection £ 50
Travelling £ 45
Analysis of collected data £ 55
Communication £ 40
Other costs £ 30
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Total costs £ 220
Therefore, the total cost and expenses estimated for this research is around £ 220.
Scope- It includes the area of research and its objectives that needs to be achieve by the
research. The scope of this research is quite wide and includes all the aspects related with
equality and diversity thus, helpful in enhance knowledge and skills on research.
Time- It represent the time duration that is required to complete and perform various task
and activities of a research. The expected time required for this research on Lee coopers is 10
weeks.
Quality- In order to maintain the authenticity and reliability of this research use of best
methods of data collection is made that includes both qualitative and quantitative research
method together with a questionnaire and interview. This ensures the maintenance of quality of
research work in order to achieve desired objectives (Cha, Newman and Winch, 2018).
Communication- Use of both formal and informal channels of communication are made
by researcher to communicate its findings with stakeholders and other associated parties together
with use of social media and other online channels.
Risk and resources- Risks are associated with possible barriers and obstacles that include
lack of resources and insufficient time duration for this research project. Beside this, use of
various resources like manpower, financial resources and other technical and statistical resources
are also made (Crane and et. al., 2019).
P3) WBS and Gantt Chart
Work Breakdown structure- Use of this tool is made to have better bifurcation and
allocation of work into various jobs and task. Work breakdown structure is used for current
research to ensure optimum utilisation of resources through properly allocating all work and
resources into groups (Payne, Roden and Simister, 2019).
3

Gantt chart- It is basically a time management tool that ensure completion of a project in
time. Following Gantt chart are prepared for this investigation showing the start and end date of
each activity to accomplish the work on set time frames. Further it also brings clarity and
transparency in research work (Pramanik, Mondal and Haldar, 2019).
4

Monitoring and control- Proper control measures are set by researcher in order to have
proper check and monitoring on performance and efficiency of its group members, in order to
ensure timely completion of work.
LO 2
P4) Research methods
Use of various research methods and tools are made by a research in order to conduct a
research in effective manner that includes collection of reliable data together with with its
effective analysis and presentation (Shuen, 2018). A discussion about these research method and
sources of data collection is provided below together with selection of suitable methods of
current research along with its justification.
Research method
There are two main methods of research i.e. quantitative and qualitative. To ensure
effectiveness and viability of this research work use of both the methods are made, a justification
of which is provided below:
Quantitative- Use of this method ensures collection of data in numeric terms that lead to
better presentation of research findings through use of bar charts, graphs and frequency table to
5

present results in a more effective way. Use of questionnaire is made for this research in order to
collect data through quantitative research method (Zimmermann, Raisch, and Cardinal, 2018).
Qualitative- Use of this method lead to collection of data in theoretical form that
facilitates in-depth and better insight in behaviour and attitude of responders thus, provide wider
scope to make more relevant conclusion. Qualitative research method includes use of interview
to collect information for this research project conducted on Lee Cooper.
Source of data collection
For this research work use of both the sources of data collection i.e. primary and
secondary data is made a description and justification of which is provided below:
Primary source- It ensure collection of authentic data directly from the respondents to
maintain the reliability and authenticity of research. For collection of data from primary sources
use of questionnaire and interview is made for current research (Al-Jenaibi, 2017).
Secondary sources- It includes collection of data from some past records, documents or
online journal and articles, thus yield support and assistance for primary collection.
Sampling method
Use of this process is made to maintain the efficiency of research and also ensures timely
completion of work through facilitating selection of small size sample from vast population in
order to reach a conclusion in less time and with optimum use of resources (Allaoui, Bourgault
and Pellerin, 2019). Use of probability sampling is made to chose a sample size of 20 individuals
from employees of Lee Cooper. Use of following questionnaire is made to collect data form
these respondents on the topic of equality and diversity.
Questionnaire- It is written document and a tool used data collection through quantitative
research method that contain a set of questions related with research topic (Bhattacharya, 2016).
Questionnaire
Q1) Do you agree with the fact that, important role is lead by management of equality and
diversity in facilitating success for an organisation?
a) Agree
b) Disagree
Q2) What are the possible benefits that are lead by creation of workplace diversity and
6

inclusion within an organisation?
a) Enhance productivity
b) Facilities creativity
c) More compensative strength
Q3) Does implications of UK laws like Equality act, 2010 is facilitating diversified and
inclusive workforce in Lee Cooper?
a) Yes
b) No
Q4) What are the types of initiative and strategies that can be put by Lee cooper to build a
diverse and inclusive workforce?
a) Create employee resource groups
b) Conduct culture events
c) Educate company leadership
d) Effective adoption of Equality act 2010.
Q5) Any further recommendation for Lee cooper to build diverse and inclusive
workforce?
Interview questions
Q1) What perceptive you are having about the concept of equality and inclusive workforce?
Q2) What steps can be taken by leaders and mangers of Lee Cooper to have more diverse and
inclusive workforce?
LO 3
P5) Analyse and interpretation of data
Use of thematic approach of data analysis is made to have better interpretation of
collected data, an explanation of which is provided below:
Theme 1: Important role is lead by management of equality and diversity in facilitating
success for an organisation
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Q1) Do you agree with the fact that, important role is lead by
management of equality and diversity in facilitating success
for an organisation?
Frequency
a) Agree 16
b) Disagree 4
16
4
a) Agree
b) Disagree
Interpretation
It can be analysed that management of equality and diversity is necessary for facilitating
success of an organisation as 16 respondents out of 20 are agreed with this fact while 4
respondents are disagreed with the interrelation of equality and diversity with business success.
Theme 2: Benefits that are lead by creation of workplace diversity and inclusion
Q2) What are the possible benefits that are lead by creation of
workplace diversity and inclusion within an organisation?
Frequency
a) Enhance productivity 7
b) Facilities creativity 7
c) More compensative strength 6
8

7
7
6
a) Enhance productivity
b) Facilities creativity
c) More compensative
strength
Interpretation
Their are various benefits that are lead by workplace diversity and inclusion. On the basis
of above pie chart it can be evaluated that 7 respondents are having a opinion that enhancement
in productivity is the biggest advantage lead by creation of workplace diversity and inclusion
within an organisation while 7 other respondents are in favour of more creativity. Apart from
these, 6 individuals believes that creation of workplace diversity and inclusion within an
organisation yield better competitive strength in business environment.
Theme 3: Implications of UK laws like Equality act, 2010 is facilitating diversified and
inclusive workforce in Lee Cooper
Q3) Does implications of UK laws like Equality act, 2010 is
facilitating diversified and inclusive workforce in Lee Cooper?
Frequency
a) Yes 15
b) No 5
15
5
a) Yes
b) No
Interpretation
9

Their are various laws and acts that are made by government of UK to ensure better
workplace environment that is free from all kind of discrimination. With respect to above pie
chart, it can be analysed that 15 respondents believes that implications of UK laws like Equality
act, 2010 is facilitating diversified and inclusive workforce in Lee Cooper while 5 individauls
disagreed with this fact.
Theme 4: Initiative and strategies that can be put by Lee cooper to build a diverse and
inclusive workforce
Q4) What are the types of initiative and strategies that can be
put by Lee cooper to build a diverse and inclusive workforce?
Frequency
a) Create employee resource groups 5
b) Conduct culture events 6
c) Educate company leadership 4
d) Effective adoption of Equality act 2010. 5
5
6 4
5
a) Create employee resource
groups
b) Conduct culture events
c) Educate company leadership
d) Effective adoption of
Equality act 2010.
Interpretation
Above stated pie chart is showing information about various initiate and strategies that
can be adopted by a Lee cooper to build diverse and inclusive workforce. 5 respondents believes
that creation in employees recourse group is an effective strategy while 6 respondents are in
support of conducting culture event to build diverse and inclusive workforce. Further, 4
responders are in favour of educating company leadership while 5 individuals are favouring
effective adoption of equality act to build a more diverse and inclusive workforce in Lee Cooper.
Interpretation of Interview questions
10

Theme 1: Perceptive about the concept of equality and inclusive workforce
Interpretation:
Maximum number of respondents are having a view point that, equality is a concept that aim at
ensuring fairness and equal opportunity for all employees to build a more positive and healthy
workplace environment. Inclusive workforce is basically associated with the working
environment that values all individual and harness their abilities to enable an organisation to
make effective use of different backgrounds and perspective of a diverse workforce through
facilitating better coordination and interaction.
Theme 2: Steps can be taken by leaders and mangers of Lee Cooper to have more diverse
and inclusive workforce.
Interpretation:
On the basis of this small scale research, it can be interpreted that adoption of unbiased HR
practises together with implementation of more participative leadership and management styles
are the best possible steps that can be taken by leaders and mangers of Lee Cooper to have more
diverse and inclusive workforce.
P6) Recommendations
On the basis of above research project following recommendation can be made for Lee
Cooper to facilitates better management of equality and diversity in order to build an inclusive
workforce. Creation of employee resources group is recommended for Lee Cooper it foster a
diverse, inclusive workplace aligned with organizational mission, goals and objectives
through formation of voluntary group.
 Effective adoption of all provisions of Equality act 2010 is also recommanded for Lee
Cooper as it protect employees and individuals from direct and indirect discrimination in
the workplace that lead to better management of equality and diversity and build an
inclusive workforce.
 Further, unbiased HR practises are also recommanded for Lee Cooper as it ensure
equality and fairness at workplace through ensuring fairness in pay structure and making
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recruitment and selection process more transparent thus, lead to effective management of
equality and diversity in Lee Cooper and build an inclusive workforce.
LO 4
P7) Reflection
This researcher work is a very effective and knowledgable journey for me that enhance
many skills and information. This assignment is based on the concept of equality and diversity
and importance of inclusive workforce thus, developed a better understanding in me about the
various aspects of this topic. Various strategies regarding management and building of equality
and diversity are evaluated by me that is nearness to enhance competitive strength and creativity
of an organisation. Further, various project management plan and tools are used by me to
accomplish this resources that enhance my analytical skills. Beside this, use of Gantt chart
ensures timely completion of this research work together with work breakdown structure to have
better bifurcation of resource. Apart from this, issues associated with lack of resources is also
faced by me together with lack of effective communication among team members. Thus, proper
development of team bonding and implementation of communication channels was made to cope
up with these issues.
CONCLUSION
On the basis of above assignment it can be concluded that every organisation must focus
on workplace diversity and inclusion as it yield many benefits like enhance productivity,
creativity and competitive strength of an organisation. Further, it can be concluded that
compliance of Equality act 2010, ensure elimination of discrimination and biasness at workplace
thus facilitated more inclusive workforce. At last, it can be summarised that various initiative and
strategies like unbiased HR practises, employees resource group, etc. lead to building of
inclusive workforce.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Al-Jenaibi, B., 2017. The scope and impact of workplace diversity in the United Arab Emirates–
A preliminary study. Geografia-Malaysian Journal of Society and Space. 8(1).
Allaoui, S., Bourgault, M. and Pellerin, R., 2019. Dimensions and requirements of collaborative
planning in business transformation projects. The Journal of Modern Project
Management. 7(1).
Bhattacharya, T., 2016. Diversity at Workplace and in Education. In Interrogating Disability in
India (pp. 39-64). Springer, New Delhi.
Boehm, S. A. and Dwertmann, D. J., 2015. Forging a single-edged sword: Facilitating positive
age and disability diversity effects in the workplace through leadership, positive
climates, and HR practices.Work, Aging and Retirement. 1(1). pp.41-63.
Cha, J., Newman, M. and Winch, G., 2018. Revisiting the project management knowledge
framework: Rebalancing the framework to include transformation
projects. International Journal of Managing Projects in Business. 11(4). pp.1026-1043.
Crane, A. and et. al., 2019. Business ethics: Managing corporate citizenship and sustainability in
the age of globalization. Oxford University Press.
Hillson, D., 2019. Capturing Upside Risk: Finding and Managing Opportunities in Projects.
Auerbach Publications.
Johnson, A. B., 2019. Project of IT system for Business accelerator for managing cooperation
between startups and corporates (Doctoral dissertation, Instytut Organizacji Systemów
Produkcyjnych).
Kassen, M., 2018. Adopting and managing open data: Stakeholder perspectives, challenges and
policy recommendations. Aslib Journal of Information Management. 70(5). pp.518-537.
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Kozak-Holland, M. and Procter, C., 2019. Managing Transformation Projects: Tracing Lessons
from the Industrial to the Digital Revolution.
Martinsuo, M. and Hoverfält, P., 2018. Change program management: Toward a capability for
managing value-oriented, integrated multi-project change in its context. International
Journal of Project Management. 36(1). pp.134-146.
Nagorny-Koring, N. C. and Nochta, T., 2018. Managing urban transitions in theory and practice-
The case of the Pioneer Cities and Transition Cities projects. Journal of cleaner
production. 175. pp.60-69.
Payne, J., Roden, E. and Simister, S., 2019. Managing Knowledge in Project Environments.
Routledge.
Pramanik, D., Mondal, S. C. and Haldar, A., 2019. A framework for managing uncertainty in
information system project selection: an intelligent fuzzy approach. International
Journal of Management Science and Engineering Management, pp.1-9.
Shuen, A., 2018. Web 2.0: A Strategy Guide: Business thinking and strategies behind successful
Web 2.0 implementations. O'Reilly Media.
Zimmermann, A., Raisch, S. and Cardinal, L. B., 2018. Managing persistent tensions on the
frontline: A configurational perspective on ambidexterity. Journal of Management
Studies. 55(5). pp.739-769.
Appendix 1: Project Logbook Template
Week 2 Week4 Week 6 Week 8 W
on weekly
asks
have you completed? Aims and objective Project
management plan
Work break down
structure
Gantt chart Researc
ou fulfil task
nts?
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
ou on track and
dlines set?
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
and/or issues
?
ou identify
s with a lack of skills
or undertaking
asks?
Risk associated with
understanding of
topic
I have identified
risk related with
lack of resources
that effected my
skills
Lack of time
management skills
Organisation skills Commu
skills
14

encountered?
barriers did you Specification of aim
and objective
Lack of resources Insufficient time Lack of team
bonding
Lack
commu
did you overcome Through evaluating
various literature and
information about
the topic
Through preparing
Work breakdown
structure
Preparing Gantt
chart
Through selecting
suitable research
method to provided
proper guidance
Use
approac
with pie
e I learnt about
find it useful to
he tasks?
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yse
well have I
?
Tried my best I performed
satisfactory
At satisfactory level Tried my best Up to
level of
did I contribute? My skills and
knowledge
100% of time and
skills
My skills and time Effective knowledge Commu
skills
can I improve on
?
Organisation of
research
Better management
of research
Team bonding Communication
among team
members
Presenta
might this learning
e future?
Enhance my
knowledge
Helpful in planning
of future research.
Helpful in effective
management of time.
Yield better
knowledge about
research method
Enhanc
commu
presenta
s planned for next Completion of work
breakdown structure
Completion of
Gantt chart.
Selection of research
method
Collection of data
and presenation of
data
-
atus to date: On On On On On
s and signature of
15

Appendix 2
Performance Review
 What was the project supposed to accomplish?“To evaluate
strategies that facilitates diverse and inclusive workforce”. A case study on
Lee cooper. Did the project succeed in its aims? How do you know?
Specifically, please outline any evaluation and assessment
undertaken.
Yes, I succeed in project as all the objective and targets are met by me on
time.
 What things do you think worked well and why? Evaluate all aspects
of the project (e.g. initial inception, project activities and project outcomes)
from a range of perspectives.
Planning and management of project worked well through preparation of
project management plan, Gantt chart and WBS.
 What problems emerged during the project and how were they
tackled? Was there timely identification of issues and resolution during the
project process?
Lack of resource and time.
 What did you learn from undertaking the project?
Improved my skills and learnt about concept of equality and diversity.
 How would you rate your performance as Project Manager?
9 out off 10.
 What strengths and weaknesses of your performance did you identify?
Communication skills are my strengths while time management and team
bonding are weakness.
 How will this inform and support your continuous professional
development?
This will support my continuous professional and development as lead to
enhancement in my overall skills and competencies.