An Investigation into Workplace Diversity at Asda: Research Proposal

This research proposal investigates the management of cultural diversity in the workplace, using Asda Plc as a case study. It aims to identify the negative impacts of workplace discrimination on employee performance, focusing on establishing equality and diversity, balancing work and family life, implementing gender equality policies, and developing proper diversity. The research will explore literature sources, including Vickers (2016) and Khaitan (2015), to support its objectives and address gaps in existing research. The methodology includes both primary (surveys, interviews) and secondary research, employing a random sampling method among 20 Asda employees. The research will follow an interpretivist philosophy, with a focus on qualitative data analysis and a time horizon of nine weeks. The proposal outlines the research strategy, data collection methods, and potential limitations, with a Gantt chart detailing the project schedule and milestones. The research seeks to provide strategies and planning for Asda to manage its diversity and equality policies effectively, focusing on overcoming barriers and fostering an inclusive workplace.

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Research Proposal Form
Proposed Title: An investigation into Managing Cultural Diversity in the Workplace-A Case Study Asda
Plc
Section One: Title, objective, responsibilities
Title: Managing Equality and Cultural Diversity in the workplace at Asda.
Aim:
“To identify negative effects which workplace discrimination have on performance of
employees”. A case study on ASDA.
Research Objectives
● To explore ways of establishing equality and diversity between the workers of the organization.
● To identify importance of maintaining balance between the family life and work life and its
effects on performance.
● To implement gender equality policy at workplace and their effectiveness on Asda Company.
● To explore reasons and ways of developing proper diversity at the workplace.
● To recommend some effective strategies for developing the diversity and equality in the business.
Responsibility
 Employees should not discriminate the employees against their religion.
 Developing the equal opportunities for employees.
 Company should treat the employees with dignity and respect.
Section Two: Reasons for choosing this research project
Reasons for choosing the project
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The importance behind choosing this subject is to ensure about everyone that has access to the same fair treatment
as well as opportunities. If Asda company actively promote the diversity and equality at the workplace so the
business will thrive and background of all people can come together for achieving the success of the business.
This project is also helpful for the company to focus on the other subjects for making the process of the business run
smooth. This could be depended on the issues of communication, hostility, many opinions, challenges of diversity
implementation and also retain the bad talents. The personal interest for studying this topic is to make aware the
individuals for varying religion, gender, age, race, sexual orientation, education as well as ethnicity. The future
plan for studying this subject is to make the activities of company smooth without creating any kind of conflicts in
the organization. For managing the diversity at workplace individuals should focus on preventing and identify the
unconscious bias, put equality policies at workplace, mind the language, use the criteria of objects and proactive
skills.
Section Three: Literature sources searched
Use of key literature sources to support your research question, objective or hypothesis:
Literature review
According to Vickers (2016), equality and diversity defines as promoting the equal opportunities for all employees
through the diversity and giving chance to each individual for achieving their potential targets. The diversity and
quality policy should be free from discrimination as well as prejudice of equality and diversity. The equality and
diversity policy is also affected by many types of workplace discrimination. Age Discrimination involves the
treating of the employees or applicant less favorably because of their age. This kind of discrimination increases the
challenges of the business to grow in the company. Gender Discrimination at workplace occurs whenever the
individuals of Asda company are treated as differently and affect the anything from the decision of hiring
promotions. Sexual harassment is known as the form of gender discrimination that covered the find law of sexual
harassment section. Religious discrimination is related with the employment where employees differentiate in an
organization because of their belief, practices, religion.
As per Khaitan (2015), for better know this policy there are many theories and model available. Cognitive Theory
is beneficial for Asda company to know about the behavior of the employees. This theory diversity has been defines
as the differences in information and perspectives of the processing styles. It is not predicted by the factors like
ethnicity, gender and age. Organizational Culture Theory emphasizes that culture is the set of the values ofgroup of
people and organization. The culturally diverse workers have different thoughts, opinions, norms, belief, values,
customers, tradition as well as trends.
According to Ayón (2015), there are many factors which are related with the culture discrimination at workplace. It
includes race, age, gender, national origin, marital status, disability or religion. These factors also create the many
problems related with problem of language, problem of quality and the problem of targeting the different groups in
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different ways. According to the research on Asda company it shows that experiencing of the workplace
discrimination as well as stress resulting from discrimination are related with negative organization cultureand
outcomes of employees. This includes low satisfaction of job, commitment of organizational, reducing the
performance of job, decreasing in the employees helping behavior and increased the employee’s turnover.
In the opinion of Halim and Riding (2018), for mitigating the changes of workplace diversity and equality. Asda
company should focus on these points such as create the diverse workplace, provide the inclusion and diversity
training to employees, have the policy of anti-discrimination at the workplace, build the effective team, build the
strong communication between employees and encourage the interaction level of employees.
Gap in Literature
There are many issues that have been faced during the literature review. The limitation of this research is
it hard to collect all information from the articles and books.
Research questions:
Barriers using of diversity policy at workplace?
1. What are the methods to solve diversity issues at workplace?
2. What are the problems which are faced by the employee at workplace?
3. Describe the strategies for implementing diversity policy?
Summary
The main conclusion of the research is to reach on the ultimate goals of research on diversityand equality
policy at workplace. In this research it provided the information about how Asda company should adopt
many strategies and planning to manage its diversity and equalitypolicy at workplace. For this purpose
the research report is indicated that company should focus on overcoming the barriers of organization
culture and traditions to establish the diversity at workplace. The project management plan schedule with
managing the diversity policy in an organization is given in below ( See appendix).
Section Four: Conducting research
Finding research methodology
The entire data which has been collected through observation of business would
connect with the customers, clients, and other group of people as well as
How long this will
take: two-months
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employees.
Primary research:
The data is collected by the researchers on his own is known as the primary research.
This research has been conducting through survey and interviews. There are several
activities which will be performed by researcher in order to gather relevant information
and accomplishing goals such as: understanding the topic, developing main aim and
objectives on which basis they have to perform further functions. After that researcher
identifies the main reason of selecting topic as to which extent it can help compnies,
students and others. After identifying reason, researcher will conduct literature and from
different views of authors, it gathers all information’s related to ivjectives and then
conduct research.
Secondary research: The data which is collected from the other sources like books,
journals, articles and other is called the secondary research. In this part the data has been
collected from office records as well as internet.
Sampling method
The random sampling methods will be applied in this research where the primary
data used in the data collection method. This sampling method will be done
among 20 employees of Asda company. Further for knowing the perspectives of
the employees on managing process of equality and diversity the quantitative
data also will be used.
Milestone one: Completion of comprehensive Literature Review & Research Methodology
Target date (set by tutor): Tues, 12th Oct 2020
Milestone two: Data Collection Analysis and Results of Findings
Target date (set by tutor):Tues, 20th Dec 2020
Milestone Three: Evaluation and Recommendation
Target Date: Tues, 25th Dec 2020
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Gantt chart
Activities Week
1
Week
2
Wee
k 3
Wee
k 4
Wee
k 5
Wee
k 6
Week
7
Week
8
Wee
k 9
Understanding of topic, title,
objectives and responsibilities
Reason for choosing research
project
Literature review
Conducting research
Finding & analysing
Gantt chart
The Gantt chart provided the information about how the company managing the diversity policy at
workplace by setting the business aim and objectives. This is known as the set of schedules and
guidelines of the organization work:
Action plan
Activities Starting date Ending date Duration (in weeks)
Understanding of
topic, title, objectives
and responsibilities
12th October 2020 20 October 2020 1
Reason for choosing
research project
21 October 2020 28 October 2020 1
Literature review 29 October 2020 19 November 2020 3
Conducting research 20 November 2020 4 December 2020 2
Finding & analysing 5 December 2020 19 December 2020 2
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Section Five: Finding and analysis
Research philosophy: Research philosophy is a belief about ways in which data about phenomenon needs to be
collected, analyzed and used. It is being mainly divided into 2 types such as positivism and interpretivism. In
positivism, researcher believes that reality is stable and can be identified by observing objects. But it involves and
requires manipulation of reality with variation in only independent variable. On the other hand, in interpretivism¸
researcher believes that by focusing on subjective interpretation of intervention, reality can be understood. It takes
human interties into consideration and allow researcher in knowing as what people think and why they think so. For
this research, researcher will focus on interpretivism.
Research approaches
A detailed research is done on the topic that helps researcher in understanding different functions that are related to
the research and can helps in accomplishing goals. There are some approaches and theories which can help
researcher in meeting their objectives by gathering relevant information as how discrimination affects performance
of employees and others. Selection of research approaches mainly depends upon the research type as whether it is
qualitative and quantitative. It mainly shows a form in which researcher gather information either in numerical form
or in non numerical. For this research, scholar will focus on gathering data relevant to workplace discrimination by
making use of questionnaire, interviews and observation.
Research strategy: Research strategy is a systematic plan of actions which give direction to researcher as what they
need to do for accomplishing goals. Qualitative and quantitative are 2 researcher strategies which show form in
which data are being gathered by researcher. In qualitative research strategy, scholar collects non numerical data and
in quantitative research strategy they gather numerical data. For this study, researcher will focus on collecting data
in non numerical or words form.
Time horizon: It defines time layer in research. In this element, researcher needs to estimate time in which they can
gather all information and collecting all data at specific point of time makes them able to complete the whole study
in a timely manner. For this researcher, there will be requirement of 9 weeks.
Data collection: It is one of the important elements of research methodology which helps researcher in
accomplishing goals. There are two types of data collection such as primary and secondary. In primary data
collection, researcher gathers brand new data and in secondary data collection they gather second hand data. Some
source of primary data collection include: questionnaire, survey and interview. Internet, books and journals are some
sources of secondary data, For this researcher will focus on both type of data collection.
Data analysis: For making research study successful there is requirement of having analysed and accurate data
because accurate data help researcher in making better decision. There are 2 data analysis tools which helps them
out in analyzing both numerical and non numerical data. For analyzing or making data accurate to non numerical
data, researcher has to use qualitative data analysis tools. For analyzing numerical data they use quantitative data
analysis tools. For this researcher will use qualitative data analysis tool.
Research limitation: Completing research is not an easy task as scholar has to follow all elements in a systematic
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manner. There are some factors which can create some problems. Some research limitation or factors created
problem in completion of research include: lack of financial resources and lack of technical staff.
Summarizing primary research data
In this research the primary research data has been collected through self. This could be depended on the
observations, interview, surveys and ethnographic research.
Analysis of finding
The research found that the primary concern of Asda company is to focus on the equality establishment
between the workers. For doing this Asda company focuses on promoting the diversity and equality areas
in recruitment and working environment. This will helpful for the employees to understand that what the
expectations of the organization from the employees are like treat their colleagues and clients with respect
and dignity.
Discussion the findings
The main concern of Asda companyis to focus on many areas like gender diverse workforce, equality
establishment, strike the balance between family and work life and etc.
Comments and agreement from tutor
Comments (optional):
I confirm that the project is not work which has been or will be submitted for another qualification
and is appropriate.
Agreed: Elena Nicoleta Busoi Date 04.10.2020
Comments and agreement form project proposal checker( IV sampling)
Comments (Optional):
I confirm that the project is appropriate.
Agreed /Disagree: Agree (Name of the IV) Date
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Research Ethics approval form
All students conducting research activity that involves human participants or the use of data collected
form human participants are required to gain ethical approval before commencing their research. Please
answer all relevant questions and note that your form may be returned if incomplete.
For further support and guidance please see your respective Unit Tutor:
Before completing this form, we advise that you discuss your proposed research fully with your unit tutor.
Please complete this form in good time before your research project is due to commence.
Section 1: Basic details:
Project title: An investigation into Managing Cultural Diversity in the Workplace-A Case Study Asda Plc
Student name: Elena Nicoleta Busoi
Student ID number: HE07365
Programme: Research Proposal
College Name: Regent College Wembley
Intended research start date: 12-10-20
Intended research end date: 20-12-20
Section 2 Project summary
Please select all research methods that you plan to use as a part of your project:
 Interviews Yes No
 Questionnaires Yes No
 Observations Yes No
 Use of personal records Yes No
 Data Analysis Yes No
 Action Research Yes No
 Focus Groups Yes No
 Others (Please specify) :
Section 3: Participants
Please answer the following questions, giving full details where necessary.
Will your research involve human participants?
Who are the participants? Tick all that apply:
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Ages 12-16: Young people aged: 17-18 Adults:
How will participants be recruited (identified an approached)?
Through random sampling method for survey and purposive sampling for interview
Describe the processes you will use to inform participants about what you are doing:
Send the electronic mail about the research study and its purpose of conducting it
How will you obtain consent from participants? Will this be written? How will it be made clear to participants that
they may withdraw consent to participate at any time?
Electronic mail
Studies involving questionnaires: will participants be given the option of omitting questions that do not wish to
answer?
Yes No
If no please explain why below and ensure that you cover any ethical issues arising from this
Studies involving observation:
Confirm whether participants will be asked for their informed consent to be observed.
Yes No
Will you debrief participants at the end of their participation (i.e give them a brief explanation of the study)?
Yes No
Will participants be given information about the findings of your study?(This could be a brief summary of your
findings in general)
Yes No
Section 4: Data Storage and Security
Confirm that all personal data will be stored and processed in compliance with the Data Protection Act (1998)
Yes No
Who will have access to the data and personal information?
During the research: Researcher
Where will the data be stored? Personal computer
Will mobile devices such as USB storage and laptops be used
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Yes No
If Yes, please provide further details:
After the research:
Personal computer
Where will the data be stored?
Personal computer
How long will the data and records be kept for and in what format?
Till the project completion and it will be stored in the softcopy format
Will data be kept for use by other researchers? Yes No
Section 5 : Ethical Issues
Are there any particular features of your proposed work, which may raise ethical concerns? If so, please outline how
you will deal with these:
It is important that you demonstrate your awareness of potential risks that may arise because of your research. Please
consider/address all issues that may apply. Ethical concerns may include, but are not limited to the following :
 Informedconsent.
 Potentially vulnerable participants.
 Sensitive topics
 Risk to participants and /or researchers
 Confidentiality/anonymity
 Disclosures/ limits to confidentiality
 Data storage and security, both during and after the research (including transfer, sharing, encryption,
protection).
 Reporting
 Dissemination and use of your findings.
Section 6: Declaration
I have read, understood and will abide by the institution’s Research and Ethics Policy: Yes No
I have discussed the ethical issues relating to my research with my Unit Tutor:
Yes No
I confirm that to the best of my knowledge:
The above information is correct, and this is a full description of the ethical issues that may arise in the course
of my research
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Name: Elena Nicoleta Busoi Date: 04.10.2020
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