Managing Diversity and Equality in Business: M&S Project

This project report investigates strategies for maintaining diversity and equality within Marks & Spencer (M&S), a UK-based multinational firm. The project begins by establishing aims and objectives, followed by the development of a project management plan that encompasses aspects of time, cost, quality, scope, resources, communication, and risk. A Gantt chart and Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) are created to visualize the project's timeline and stages. The research employs both quantitative and qualitative methods, including questionnaires, to gather primary and secondary data. The analysis includes the examination of research reliability and accuracy. The report then analyzes the collected data, providing recommendations for meaningful conclusions. The project reflects on the importance of project management and quality research in meeting stated objectives, offering insights into the values of research and the student's own learning and performance. The research also includes a questionnaire with both quantitative and qualitative questions to gather insights from 50 respondents.

MANAGING A
SUCCESSFUL
BUSINESS PROJECT

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
P1 Create appropriate aims and objectives for the the project according to the selected topic. .1
P2 Develop a systematic project management plan which includes aspects of time, cost,
quality, scope, resources, communication and risk.....................................................................2
P3 Formulate a Gantt chart and work break down structure to acknowledge the stages and
time frame for project completion...............................................................................................2
M1 Prepare a comprehensive project management plan, project and milestone schedule to
accomplish aims and objective of project ..................................................................................4
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................4
P4 Perform a small scale research by using quantitative and qualitative research methods to
fulfil project objectives and aims................................................................................................4
M2 Analyse reliability and accuracy of various research methods used in research .................7
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................7
P5 Carry out analysis of research and collected data by using proper techniques and tools......7
P6 Provide desired recommendations about data and research analysis to carry out meaningful
and valid conclusion..................................................................................................................12
M3 Analyse the selection of appropriate techniques and tools for authenticity. Also, justify
recommendations......................................................................................................................13
TASK 4..........................................................................................................................................13
P7 Reflect upon values of research undertaking to achieve desired objectives and own
performance & learning............................................................................................................13
M4 Analyse the importance of project management process and quality research in meeting
stated objectives........................................................................................................................14
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................14
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................15

Title: To acknowledge the initiatives and strategies that will benefits an organisation in building
diversity and equality at workplace
INTRODUCTION
Equality at workplace is defined as offering equal benefits and opportunities to the people
so that they can perform their organisational work in a proper manner. Diversity is related with
inclusion of employees from different backgrounds, races, nationalities and culture. These
aspects will benefits a company in accommodating diverse talent due to which gaining of
competitive advantage will be easier (Ashe and Nazroo, 2017). This project report is based on
M&S, a UK based multinational firm which provide home products, food items and cloths to
their customers. This assignment will cover about aims and objectives of project and a project
management plan so that project activities can be carried out properly. Other than this, Gantt
chart and WBS will be created to identify timeline for project. Data analysis will be performed to
acknowledge the reliability and accuracy of collected data. At last, reflection on own learning
and performance will be carried out.
TASK 1
P1 Create appropriate aims and objectives for the the project according to the selected topic
Aim: Major aim for carrying out this research is to prepare strategies for maintaining
diversity and equality within firm to improvise the overall performance of company. A study on
M&S.
Objectives:
 To formulate an understanding of term diversity and equality in relation with a business
organisation.
 To understand the influence of equality and diversity on the working performance of
M&S.
 To acknowledge the strategies for M&S in maintaining aspects of diversity and equality
in working premises.
 To identify the measures that benefits a firm in reducing the problem linked with E&D in
an organisation.
Questions:
1

 What do you mean by the term diversity and equality in relation with a business
organisation?
 What is the influence of equality and diversity on the working performance of M&S?
 What can be potential strategies for M&S in maintaining aspects of diversity and equality
in working premises?
 What measures can be adopted by a firm in reducing the problem linked with E&D in an
organisation?
P2 Develop a systematic project management plan which includes aspects of time, cost, quality,
scope, resources, communication and risk
Project management plan is a formal document that involves information of different
phases concerned with a single project. A proper plan involves information associated with
resources, time, quality, cost etc. so that project of M&S can be accomplished properly.
 Cost: Cost can be anything that is evaluated in monetary terms. In case of M&S,
estimated cost of project is 5000 pounds. Under this amount, recruitment and training
of employees can be carried out. In case of research, estimated cost is 100 pounds.
Researcher is needed to perform all activities under this amount only.
 Quality: To enhance the quality of project, manager in M&S is needed to treat
employees from different background in equal manner. Quality of research can be
improvised by using tools like Questionnaire, interviews etc. By this, all the work of
research will be performed in standardised manner (Boekhorst, 2015).
 Scope: In case of project, scope for M&S is very broad as this project will help in
preparing strategies by which workforce can be retained for maximum time. For research,
scope is wide as leader will learn new ideas and concepts about maintaining D&E within
organisation.
 Time: In order to accomplish this project, estimated time period is 10 weeks. In case of
research, investigator needs a time of almost 5 weeks.
 Resources: Major resources which are required by project manager to work on this
project is capital, employees, technology, internet etc. In case of researcher, required
resources are internet, books, money, mobile phone etc.
2

 Risk: In context with project, main risks are less interest of workers, inefficiency of
employers, mismanagement of time, lack of capital and technology. For research, major
risks are lack of money, internet and time (Cottrill, Denise Lopez and Hoffman, 2014).
 Communication: Project manager can interact with team members by using video call,
web services, voice call, e-mails, SMS etc. From researcher's perspective, main
communication tools are phone, internet, SMS, questionnaire etc.
P3 Formulate a Gantt chart and work break down structure to acknowledge the stages and time
frame for project completion
WBS: It is a systematic process which helps an organisation in performing business
projects in a timely and prioritised way. WBS is a project deliverable that helps a firm in
bifurcating the project into small section so that all the work can be accomplished into timely
manner.
Gantt chart: It is a graphic picture in which different tasks and activities associated with
a project are described in brief. This chart has two axis on which activities for a project and time
needed to complete that activity is mentioned. This chart will help M&S in acknowledging the
time period to accomplish their project objectives and aims (Durlak, 2015).
3

M1 Prepare a comprehensive project management plan, project and milestone schedule to
accomplish aims and objective of project
A project management plan benefits in developing researcher knowledge for a
specific topic or investigation. With the help of project management, evaluation and
monitoring of project activities can be carried out efficiently. A PMP involves scope, risk,
time, cost, size, communication, resources etc. All of these elements benefits a company in
achieving higher project productivity (Glatthorn and et. al., 2018). Also, PMP allows an
investigator to coordinate activities in reliable manner due to which high profits can be
earned easily.
TASK 2
P4 Perform a small scale research by using quantitative and qualitative research methods to fulfil
project objectives and aims
Research methodology is a systematic technique which is used to process, select, identify
or analyse an information about a specific project or topic. In case of research, main methods are
qualitative and quantitative research methods which are stated below:
 Qualitative research: This research procedure is based on inquiry. This kind of research
method helps in gaining deep knowledge about the problems in their natural form. This
method is non-statistical in nature. This research can be performed with the help of focus
groups, case study research, ethnographic research etc.
4

 Quantitative research: This is a structured procedure to collect data. This method uses
statistical and computational processes to conclude meaningful conclusions. This kind of
research involves close ended questions and can be performed by using questionnaire,
online surveys, interviews (Glukhov, Ilin and Levina, 2015).
 Primary research method: In this research, information and data is gathered for the first
time due to which it is very time consuming and costly research. To perform this
research, an investigator can collect data through interviews, observations, questionnaire,
surveys etc.
 Secondary research method: This research method is very common and include
collection of information which is already published on some book or internet. This type
of research requires less time and researcher can take the help of internet, magazines,
journals, books and government publications to collect data.
In order to perform this research, both qualitative and quantitative approach will be used
so that required information can be collected through different means. Also, both primary and
secondary methods are used to collect data. In order to collect primary data, a questionnaire will
be prepared. To collect secondary data, internet will be used by investigator (Healy and
Oikelome, 2017).
Sampling approach
Sampling is referred as selection of a particular group which will represent entire
population. In general, there exist two kinds of sampling approaches i.e. probabilistic sampling
and non-probabilistic sampling. In probabilistic sampling, each of the respondent have same
opportunity to share their opinions whereas in non-probabilistic sampling, there is not guarantee
that teach individual will be an equal part of sample (Hewins-Maroney and Williams, 2013). In
case of this research project, researcher is going to use probabilistic sampling. Under this
sampling approach, researcher is going to select the respondents on random basis.
Primary data sample size
To fill this questionnaire, 50 candidates will be selected on random basis out of entire
population. These 50 people will be of different regions so that perception of diverse individuals
will be collected.
5

Questionnaire designing factors
There are different factors which are needed to be kept in mind while designing a
questionnaire. By considering these factors, a researcher can prepare appropriate questionnaire
which will helps in gathering relevant information. Questionnaire for this project is mentioned
below:
Questionnaire
Quantitative questions :
Q1) Do you understand the meaning of terms “equality and diversity” at workplace?
a) Yes
b) No
Q2) Do you think maintaining diversity and equality at M&S will helps in improving
organisational productivity?
a) Agree
b) Disagree
Q3) What are the main drawbacks of maintaining diversity within a business firm?
a) Conflicts in workforce due to ideological difference
b) Reduced employee engagement
Q4) What is the major advantage of diversity and equality at workplace?
a) More tolerance among employees
b) Appropriate working environment
c) Variety of perspectives
Q5) How strategies of equality and diversity maintenance will impact workers in Marks
& Spencer?
a) Leads to enhanced motivation
b) High satisfaction among workers
c) Appropriate working culture
Q6) Do you think diversity and equality in M&S will lead towards high performance and
competitive advantage?
a) Yes
b) No
6

Qualitative Questions
Q7) What are the benefits for M&S in maintaining diversity and equality at their
organisation?
Q8) How equality in an organisation improves performance of employees ?
Q9) Recommend different ways by which diversity at workplace can be implemented......
Qualitative questions
Q1) Do you understand the meaning of terms “equality and
diversity” at workplace?
Frequency
a) Yes 42
b) No 8
Q2) Do you think maintaining diversity and equality at M&S will
helps in improving organisational productivity?
Frequency
a) Agree 35
b) Disagree 15
Q3) What are the main drawbacks of maintaining diversity within
a business firm?
Frequency
a) Conflicts in workforce due to ideological difference 30
b) Reduced employee engagement 20
Q4) What is the major advantage of diversity and equality at
workplace?
Frequency
a) More tolerance among employees 20
b) Appropriate working environment 15
c) Variety of perspectives 15
Q5) How strategies of equality and diversity maintenance will
impact workers in Marks & Spencer?
Frequency
7

a) Leads to enhanced motivation 10
b) High satisfaction among workers 25
c) Appropriate working culture 15
Q6) Do you think diversity and equality in M&S will lead towards
high competitive advantage?
Frequency
a) Yes 45
b) No 5
M2 Analyse reliability and accuracy of various research methods used in research
In accordance with the above carried out study, this has been comprehended that by using
different research methods like qualitative and quantitative research, a researcher can collect
required information in an appropriate manner. By these methods, only accurate information will
be collected as these methods follows a systematic procedures to perform work. In order to make
this research effective, good knowledge and understanding of questionnaire is used and its
practical application is implemented. By this, only right information is collected from
respondents (Klarsfeld and et. al., 2016).
TASK 3
P5 Carry out analysis of research and collected data by using proper techniques and tools
Data analysis is stated as a process to transform, shape and clean the gathered data so that
appropriate business policies can be formulated and right decisions can be taken. Data analysis
will helps in formulation of strategies to implement diversity and equality at workplace. In this
context, thematic data analysis approach is used below:
Theme 1: Understanding the meaning of terms “equality and diversity” at workplace
Q1) Do you understand the meaning of terms “equality and
diversity” at workplace?
Frequency
a) Yes 42
8

b) No 8
Interpretation: From the total of 50 people, 42 respondents agrees that they understand
the term diversity and equality in respect with workplace and organisation. Other 8 people do not
agrees with the fact and feels that they do not have any knowledge about it.
Theme 2: Maintenance of diversity and equality at M&S will helps in improving
organisational productivity
Q2) Do you think maintaining diversity and equality at M&S will
helps in improving organisational productivity?
Frequency
a) Agree 35
b) Disagree 15
9
42
8
a) Yes
b) No

Interpretation: This picture depicts that form the total sum of 50 individuals, 35 people
feel that D&E in M&S will leads to high organisational productivity. Remaining 15 people
disagree with this fact and they believe D&E in company do not leads to high productivity.
Theme 3: Main disadvantage of maintaining diversity in a business firm
Q3) What are the main drawbacks of maintaining diversity within
a business firm?
Frequency
a) Conflicts in workforce due to ideological difference 30
b) Reduced employee engagement 20
10
35
15
a) Agree
b) Disagree