UK College Business Project: Equality and Diversity at Marks & Spencer

This project, titled "Managing a Successful Business Project: Equality and Diversity Analysis," examines the impact of workplace equality and diversity on organizational performance, using Marks & Spencer as a case study. The project includes an introduction outlining aims and objectives, followed by a detailed project management plan covering cost, scope, time, quality, communication, and risk. A work breakdown structure and Gantt chart are provided to illustrate project timelines. The research methodology section details the research type (qualitative), approach (inductive), philosophy (interpretivism), and design. Sampling techniques and data collection methods (primary) are described. Data analysis employs thematic analysis of survey responses to assess employee perceptions of M&S's equality and diversity practices. Findings reveal employee perspectives on M&S's commitment to equality and diversity, training programs, and the overall workplace environment. The conclusion summarizes key insights, and recommendations are provided to enhance equality and diversity initiatives within the organization. The project also includes a reflective section and a comprehensive list of references.

Managing A Successful
Business Project

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................4
P 1 Aims and objectives ..............................................................................................................4
P 2 Project management plan.......................................................................................................5
P 3 Work breakdown structure and Gantt chart...........................................................................5
P 4 Research methodology...........................................................................................................6
P5. Data Analysis.......................................................................................................................10
Finding.......................................................................................................................................18
P 6 Conclusion and Recommendations......................................................................................19
P 7 Reflection.............................................................................................................................21
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................22

INTRODUCTION
P 1 Aims and objectives
Background:
Equality and diversity refers to the promotion of equal opportunities for employees with
the helps of diversity that means giving chance to all people to meet their goals without any kind
of discrimination (Young, 2016). Company will ensure that all people in their business operation
have an equal opportunity and they did not get discriminated on the basis of their colour, race,
age, gender, religion etc.
Aims:
To analyse workplace equality and diversity and their impact on performance of
organisation: A case study on Marks & Spencer.
Objectives:
 To understand the workplace equality and diversity.
 To assess the impact of diversity on the performance of organisation. To evaluate the role of equality policy on the issues of organisation.
Literature review:
As per the view of ______ equality and diversity in workplace is explained as each and
every people in the organisation assess the same opportunity and fairly treated by the company.
Organisation has the ability to compete in the competitive market if there employees are properly
diverse (Trojanowska and Dostatni, 2017). It states that all the people working in organisation
have equal opportunity to take the chance towards growth. Company is not discriminating them
with their characteristics because it will decrease their morale.
As stated by _________ equal opportunities to all the people working in the organisation
are termed as equality and diversity in organisation. Discrimination against gender, disability,
religion, beliefs, race and age of persons is not allowed in business environment. Company
ensure that people can not be treated differently and less favourably in the business environment.
The focus of diversity is to provide respect, recognise and value to individual which promote
effective and efficient culture in organisation. Equality and diversity can ensure that all the plans,
policies and procedure of company will not discriminate the employees (Sutrisna, Ramanayaka
and Goulding, 2018). This process can increases the moral of employees and takes them towards
the success and growth of business.

P 2 Project management plan
Cost:
Resources Amount (€)
Internet 1500
Books 2000
Data collection and analysis 1500
Total 5000
Scope:
The project is useful for growth and success of organisation in future because equal
opportunity given to the workers will makes them effective. Performance of employees are also
improves because they get motivated when they receive equal treatment in the workplace.
Time:
The projects will be completed in 5 months.
Quality:
It is essential for researcher to maintain the quality of research which can be maintained
by focusing on the aims and objectives of the research. Also, researcher should proper tools and
techniques of conducting research.
Communication:
There is need of proper communication while collecting the data and information about
the research. Effective communication is required between the team members.
Risk:
Risk which is faced by researcher at the time of research are it takes extra time for
completion of research effectively (Rahman, Zaki and Husain, 2019). The budget which is
required in this research can exceed from the expected amount.
Resources:
For effective conducting the research there is need of different resources such as internet,
books and experts which provides various information and related to the topic that makes the
research effective.
P 3 Work breakdown structure and Gantt chart
Gantt Chart:

Basis 1 month 2 month 3 month 4 month 5 month
Aims and
objectives
Literature
review
Research
methods
Data
collection
Data analysis
Conclusion
Work breakdown structure:
P 4 Research methodology.
Research type:
Illustration 1: Work breakdown structure for research project, 2014

It refers to the systematic and logical searching of effective and useful information which
is related to the topic (Mohamed, and et.al., 2017). It increases the knowledge and understanding
which helps to attain effective results of the research. There are two types of research which are
described below:
Qualitative: It involves meaning, concepts, symbols, characteristics and description to
gather the information and data. It is a market research method which is used to obtain the data
with the help of conversational and open-ended communication.
Quantitative: Data and information which produced that will be in the form of numerical
and they are analysed and evaluated with the use of statistical and mathematical methods. This
research involves the statistical techniques to get the result effective.
For conducting this research the researcher uses the qualitative method to gather the
information about the different aspects of equality and diversity. With the helps of this research
the researcher will get the detailed information about the topic.
Research approach:
It is a proper plan and procedure which includes different steps of broad assumptions to
the detailed methods of data analysis, data collection and interpretation. This approach have
three types which are described below:
Inductive: This research is starts with different theories and observations which
proposed towards the process of research (Mohajan, 2018). It involves the detailed observations
and measurement which helps to develop some general theories and conclusion.
Deductive: In this research there are the theories and development of hypotheses from
the theory, and finally the data is collected and evaluated for testing of theses hypotheses.
Abductive: It refers to the form of logical inferences then it will start with the
observations that will helps top identify the simple explanation of observations.
While conducting the research the researcher uses the inductive approach because it
provides the information with specific observations and measurement.
Research philosophy:
It deals with the nature, source and development of knowledge which collects the
information about the phenomenon. The researcher are engaged in creation of knowledge and
understanding. Research philosophy have three types that are explained below:

interpretivism: This type of research philosophy is based on the natural approach of
collecting information and data (Hopkin, 2018). This is a qualitative approach with the use of
different methods like observations of participants and unstructured interviews.
Positivism: This is quantitative method which involves social surveys, specific statistics
and effective questionnaires due to their effective representatives. It focuses on the social facts
which shapes action of the person.
Realism: This method is based on the idea of independence of real factors from the mind
of individuals. This philosophy is based on different assumptions of scientific approach for the
development of understanding and knowledge.
Research design:
It refers to the framework of different methods and techniques which is used in the
process of research by the researcher. Design explains the type and sub type of topic in
conducting the research.
Descriptive: This method is a scientific method in which observe and describe the
behaviour of subject without affecting. It gives the information in both qualitative and
quantitative way.
Exploratory: This design of research is used to identify the problems which is not
clearly describe. It is used to understand effectively the existing problems but it did not give
conclusive results.
Causal: It is also defined as the exploratory research which is conducted in find the
extent and nature of causes effect relationship. This research is used to evaluate the impact of
changes on different processes.
Sampling:
This process is used in statistical analysis in which observations are taken from large
populations. This method is used to collect a sample from large people which depends on
different types of analysis which is performed (Fletcher, 2017). Methods include-
Probability: This technique of sampling explains that sample is taken from large number
of populations are choose by using the method which is based on different theory of probability.
Non probability: Sample are collected in the process that does not give equal chances to
all the people to get selected. It does not involve random selection of sampling.

In order to conduct this research, researcher will uses a random sampling technique
which is also known as probability sampling. 10 employees of M&S will be sample size for this
research which will be randomly selected from the organisation to gather information.
Data collection:
Collection of data is a systematic approach to collect and measure the information from
different sources which gives accurate image of interest areas. It enables the respondents to
answer the questions which is relevant, analysis the result and make effective predictions about
probabilities and trends of future.
Primary: Data and information is collected directly by the researcher at the first time are
termed as primary research. This kind of research is done and ensure by researchers that the data
will meets the standard of quality, availability and sampling which is required for questions of
research.
Secondary: This method of data collection refers to the information and data is collected
by some other person (Kumar, 2019). The data is already collected and readily available from
different sources. This data requires low prices as compared to primary data and researcher will
easily obtain the information. It saves time expenses and time of researcher in the process of
research.
For this research, researcher will use primary method of data collection, which will
increase the quality of research and also researcher will be able to gather valid information
(Englund and Graham, 2019). Also, primary research will also help the researcher to sum up the
proper findings of the research.
Data analysis:
It is a process in which logical techniques is applied systematically which describe,
evaluate data and information. It is accurate and appropriate analysis of research findings. This
process will clean transform and model the useful information to create the useful information
for effective decision-making of business.
SPSS: Statistical package for the social science which refers to the set of software
programmes which is used in a single package. This program is used to analyse scientific data
which is related to the social science.
Thematic: This method can help analyss the qualitative data which includes set of texts
like interviews. The researcher of this project can describe the information which is used to find

the common themes such as topics, ideas and patterns of meaning which comes on the repeated
basis.
In this research, researcher will use thematic method for analysing the data, as this will
the researcher to make the proper analysis of data which can even help in developing a proper
findings from it.
P5. Data Analysis
Data analysis refers as the procedure of systematically using logical or statistical tools for
describing, illustrating and evaluating data. It is an essential element for ensuring data integrity
that it is appropriate analysis for the research finding.
Theme 1-M&S has equality and diverse workplace.
Q: 1. Do you think Marks & Spencer has equality and diversity
within workplace?
Frequency
Yes 7
No 2
Not sure 1
Total 10

Yes
No
Not sure
Interpretation: It can be interpreted that out of 10 respondents, 7 have replied with Yes that
there exists a diversity and equality in workplace. The reason behind is that M&S is
multinational company of the UK which have employees belonging to different cultures and
background. Organization always introduces new strategy which improves equality in diverse
employees at workplace. While 2 candidates replied with No, because they think organization
doesn't have good leadership which can improve diversity and equality at workplace. On the
other hand one candidate is not sure about the fact. Based on the majority it can be interpreted
that M&S have diversity and equality in workplace.
Theme 2- Receive training and development program related to dealing with equality and
diversity issues.
Q:2. Do you receive training and developmental programs
related to dealing with equality and diversity issues?
Frequency
Yes 6
No 3
Not sure 1
Total 10

Yes
No
Not sure
Interpretation: From the above table it can be interpreted that 6 out of 10 participants have
argued that they receive training and development programs when there arises any issues on
equality and diversity. As they believe it is really important strategy for maintaining equality and
diversity in a workplace. 3 participants have replied with No, as they feel that there is no role of
training and development programs in dealing with equality and diversity issue as issues can
arise due personal grudges. Only 1 respondent is not sure from the fact, so it can be interpreted
on the basis of majority T&D programs is effective for dealing with equality and diversity issues.
Theme 3-The challenges that faces while working with diverse groups at workplace.
Q:3. What are the challenges that you face while working with
diverse groups at workplace?
Frequency
Communication issues 2
Favouritism or discrimination 1
Conflicts on the basis of cultural differences 1
All of them 6
Total 10

Interpretation: It is interpreted from the table that 6 out of 10 respondent have replied that they
face all challenges while working with diverse group at workplace. The reason behind that each
candidate has their own pride, culture and law which occurs during working with the employees
at workplace. While 2 respondents replied that communication issues are the big challenge that
they face while working with diverse group within workplace. On the other hand one respondent
argued that employee's faces discrimination at workplace while working with diverse group.
Only 1 respondent replied that they face conflict issues while working with other employees. So,
it can be interpreted on the basis of majority that communication issues, discrimination and
conflict etc. are the challenges which candidates face during working with diverse groups within
workplace.
Theme 4- Promotion decisions are taken fairly, without any bias in your company.
Q:4. Do you think promotion decisions are taken fairly, without
any bias in your company?
Frequency
Yes 8
No 2
Not sure 0
Communication issues
Favouritism or discrimination
Conflicts on the basis of cultural differences
All of them
0
2
4
6
Frequency