Analysis of Gender Pay Gap Impact on Apple Inc. Employee Performance

This project delves into the critical issue of the gender pay gap within Apple Inc., examining its impact on employee performance and organizational productivity. The project begins with an introduction outlining the significance of equality and diversity in the workplace, followed by the project's aims, objectives, and research questions. A comprehensive literature review establishes the concept of the gender pay gap, its causes, and its negative consequences, such as reduced employee motivation and declining organizational performance. The project then presents a detailed project management plan, covering aspects of cost, scope, time, quality, communication, risk, and resources. A work breakdown structure and Gantt chart provide a clear timeline and stages for project completion. Primary research is conducted using a questionnaire distributed to Apple Inc. employees, and secondary research incorporates journal articles and other relevant sources. The findings are presented using appropriate tools and techniques, including data analysis and interpretation. Finally, the project offers recommendations for Apple Inc. to address the gender pay gap and improve workplace equality, along with a reflection on the project's value and personal learning outcomes.

Managing a Successful
Business Project

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................3
P1: Devise project aims and objectives for a chosen scenario...............................................3
P2: Produce a project management plan that covers aspects of cost, scope, time, quality,
communication, risk and resources........................................................................................4
P3: Produce a work breakdown structure and a Gantt Chart to provide time frames and stages
for completion........................................................................................................................6
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................7
P4: Carry out small-scale research applying primary and secondary methods appropriate for
meeting project aims and objectives.......................................................................................7
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................9
P5: Present findings and data using appropriate tools and techniques...................................9
P6: Communicate appropriate recommendations as a result of findings and data analysis to
draw valid and meaningful conclusions...............................................................................14
TASK 4..........................................................................................................................................14
P7: Reflect on the value of undertaking the project to meet stated objectives and own learning
and performance...................................................................................................................14
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................14
REFERENCES .............................................................................................................................16
APPENDIX I................................................................................................................................17

INTRODUCTION
Managing a business project is one of the critical task that is performed by owner in
order to attain aims and objectives of company. Equality and diversity is a wider aspect on
which productivity and performance of an organisation depends (Armstrong, Landers and
Collmus, 2016). This project is based on Apple Inc. which is a multinational technology
company of America that design, develop and sell computer software, online services and
consumer electronics. This report covers aim and objectives, project management plan along
with work breakdown structure and gantt chart. Apart from this, it includes primary and
secondary research on the topic. A questionnaire is prepared and data analysis is conducted in for
drawing valid conclusion of project. At last, recommendations are provided and reflection is
included on own learning in this report.
TASK 1
P1: Devise project aims and objectives for a chosen scenario
Equality and diversity are the crucial aspects of an organisation which are related to
treating each individual equally and maintaining diverse workforce within organisation.
Managing equality and diversity in workplace is a big challenge for companies in today's
competitive market (Basak and Khanna, 2017). As the values and beliefs of each individual are
different, firms face difficulties in maintaining workplace equality. This topic on which this
report is based is “Issues of Equality and Diversity in Workplace”. For this project, the aim and
objectives are as follows:
Aim of project:
“To analyse the impact of Gender Pay Gap on performance and productivity of
employees and organisation. A case study on Apple Inc.”
Objectives of project:
 To understand the concept of Gender Pay Gap.
 To determine the negative impact that gender pay gap have upon performance and
productivity of firm and its employees.
 To ascertain different strategies that Apple can use to close gender pay gap.
Research Questions:
 What is the concept of Gender Pay Gap?

 What are the negative impacts that gender pay gap have upon performance and
productivity of firm and its employees?
 What are the different strategies that Apple could use to close gender pay gap?
Literature Review:
Concept of Gender pay gap:
Gender pay gap is one of the complex issue in current business environment. It refers to
the average difference between earnings or remuneration for women and man who are working.
Generally women are paid less in comparison to man. The difference in pay reduces the lifetime
earnings of women and also impacts their pension. As per the view point of Charlotte
Gascoigne, 2019, the main causes of wage gap includes more senior role for man than women,
unequally shared part time roles and caring responsibilities, discrimination and bias, motherhood,
industry sector etc. (The real reasons behind the gender pay gap, 2019).
Negative impacts that gender pay gap:
As per the view of Tamara Phillips, 2019, gender pay gap influence the performance,
culture of workplace and bottom line of organisation (The Real-World Impact of Gender Pay
Gaps,2019). Female workers are likely to feel undervalued and underappreciated as compare to
men in the same organisation. This reduces the motivation level of female employees which in
turn impacts their productivity and leads to decline in the performance of organisation.
Strategies that Apple can use to close gender pay gap:
In order to close the wage gap and improve pay equity, apple can use various strategies
such as increasing ratio of female employees within firm, providing equal opportunities to all
people working in the organisation and bringing transparency in wage policy etc. All these will
help company in reducing the gender wage gap within firm and improving its productivity and
performance.
P2: Produce a project management plan that covers aspects of cost, scope, time, quality,
communication, risk and resources
Project management plan can be defined as the document that organisation use to
describe each stage of project (Durlak, 2015). This plan includes various aspects of project such
as time, quality, cost, scope, resources, risk and communication. In context of this particular
project, project management plan is mentioned below:
Cost This aspect is associated with cost that is incurred by researcher in

conducting the research. Various costs are associated with this project such
as research & development, training, cost of resources etc. In context of this
specific project, researcher incur around 5000 pounds for its successful
completion.
Scope This aspect depicts the future value of project. The scope of this research is
wide as it assist in improving knowledge of researcher regarding gender pay
gap, its negative impacts and strategies to resolve the issues. This project also
helps the scholars in conducting further investigation on topic (Crane and
Matten, 2016).
Time It is related to the time period which is required to complete this particular
project successfully. It depicts the starting and ending time of project. For
completing this project successfully, around 4 months are required by
researcher.
Quality This aspect is related to quality of research project so that better outcomes
can be gain. For ensuring quality of research, appropriate methods of data
collection are use by researcher.
Communication This aspect includes the way in which information is communicated
regarding research. In context of this project, researcher use emails and
messages for conveying information regarding research.
Risk It is the uncertainty that might be the cause of deviation in project. In context
of this specific project, the main risks are related to time and cost. Lack of
time and cost may delay the completion of project (Harland, 2014).
Resources Resources are necessary for completing the tasks and activities of project in
effective way. For this project, researcher requires technological tools,
human and financial resources etc. to ensure successful completion of project
on time.

P3: Produce a work breakdown structure and a Gantt Chart to provide time frames and stages for
completion
Work Break-down Structure: It is characterised as a deliverable oriented division of
work to be implemented for achieving objectives of project and developing required
deliverables (Glukhov, Ilin and Levina, 2015). WBS of this project is mentioned below:
Gantt Chart: It is the chart that describes schedules of project. It includes horizontal axis
on which time intervals are depicted and vertical axis on which tasks to be performed are listed
(Polonsky and Waller, 2018). Gantt chart for this project is mentioned below:

TASK 2
P4: Carry out small-scale research applying primary and secondary methods appropriate for
meeting project aims and objectives
Primary data collection is the method which is used by investigators to collect fresh data
and the secondary method is utilized to collect second hand data (Russell and Brannan, 2016). In
this project, both primary and secondary methods are used in which primary data is collected
through questionnaire and secondary through journals and articles.
Quantitative research method is utilize to collect numerical data and Qualitative is used
to gather non numerical data on topic. With the help of this, researcher will be able to produce
positive outcome in an effective manner which assist in completing the whole research.
Sampling is the method which is used to select small sample from the large population.
In this, Simple Random sampling method is used and 30 respondents are selected who are the
employees of company.
Questionnaire is prepared to gain responses of respondents on the topic which is
mentioned below:

QUESTIONNAIRE
Name:
Age:
Gender:
Add:
Mail ID:
Q1) Do you have any knowledge about concept of Gender Pay Gap within organisations?
a) Yes
b) No
Q2) As per your opinion, which is the main cause of gender pay gap within Apple?
a) Discrimination and Bias
b) Motherhood
c) Unequally shared roles
d) Undervaluation of women’s work
Q3) According to you, what can be the negative impact that gender pay gap have upon
Apple and its employees?
a) Reducing productivity
b) Declining performance
c) Unhealthy workplace culture
d) Lack of skilled employees
Q4) What can be the benefit for Apple of having equality and closed gender pay gap
within organisation?
a) Strong workplace culture
b) Motivated staff
c) Skilled workforce
d) Competitive edge in market
Q5) According to you, which strategy is the most befitting for Apple in closing gender pay
gap within firm?
a) Bringing transparency in salary

b) Provide equal opportunities
c) Increase female employee ratio
d) Implement pay equality law
Q6) Suggest suitable strategy that helps Apple in maintaining equality at workplace and
closing gender pay gap.
TASK 3
P5: Present findings and data using appropriate tools and techniques
Theme 1: Knowledge about concept of Gender Pay Gap within organisations
Q1) Do you have any knowledge about concept of Gender Pay Gap
within organisations?
Frequency
a) Yes 17
b) No 13
Total 30

a) Yes b) No
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18 17
13
Frequency
Interpretation: As per the above graph, it is interpreted that 17 out of 30 people are
aware of the concept of gender pay gap and the remaining 13 respondents have no knowledge
about this concept.
Theme 2: Main cause of gender pay gap within Apple
Q2) As per your opinion, which is the main cause of gender pay gap
within Apple?
Frequency
a) Discrimination and Bias 10
b) Motherhood 5
c) Unequally shared roles 7
d) Undervaluation of women’s work 8
Total 30

a) Discrimination and Bias
b) Motherhood
c) Unequally shared roles
d) Undervaluation of women’s work
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
10
5
7
8
Frequency
Interpretation: According to above graph, it can be said that as per 10 people among 30,
discrimination and bias is the main cause of gender pay gap. 8 respondents said that
undervaluation of women work is the reason, 7 agreed with unequally shared roles and the
remaining 5 said that motherhood is the cause of gender pay gap.
Theme: 3 Negative impact that gender pay gap have upon Apple and its employees
Q3) According to you, what can be the negative impact that gender
pay gap have upon Apple and its employees?
Frequency
a) Reducing productivity 10
b) Declining performance 7
c) Unhealthy workplace culture 7
d) Lack of skilled employees 6
Total 30

a) Reducing productivity
b) Declining performance
c) Unhealthy workplace culture
d) Lack of skilled employees
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
10
7
7
6
Frequency
Interpretation: As per the above graph, 10 out of 30 respondents said that reducing
productivity of employees and firm is the negative impact of gender pay gap and 7 people said
that declining performance is the influence. According to 7 respondents, unhealthy work culture
and 6 people said that lack of skilled employees is the adverse impact of gender pay gap.
Theme 4: Benefit for Apple of having equality and closed gender pay gap
Q4) What can be the benefit for Apple of having equality and closed
gender pay gap within organisation?
Frequency
a) Strong workplace culture 9
b) Motivated staff 7
c) Skilled workforce 6