Managing Equality and Diversity in Business: A Project Report

This report examines the management of equality and diversity within organizations, using Aston Martin Lagonda as a case study. It begins with an introduction outlining the significance of equality and diversity in the modern business environment, emphasizing the need for organizations to address discrimination and foster an inclusive workplace. The report's aims and objectives are clearly defined, focusing on understanding organizational policies and responses to diversity challenges. A detailed project management plan is presented, covering costs, quality, time, risk, communication, and resources. The report then incorporates a work breakdown structure (WBS) and a Gantt chart to illustrate project tasks and timelines. The research methodology section outlines the use of both quantitative and qualitative research methods, including data collection sources, sampling techniques, and data analysis approaches. The findings are then analyzed, and recommendations are provided to improve equality and diversity practices within organizations. The report concludes with a reflection on the research process and its implications.

Managing a Successful
Business Project
Table of Contents
Title: “To evaluate or determine the possible policies and responses that are taken and made by
an organisation to manage the idea increasing of equality and diversity.”
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
LO1..................................................................................................................................................3
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P1) Aim and objectives for the project...................................................................................3
P2) Project management plan.................................................................................................5
P3) Work breakdown structure and Gantt chart ....................................................................6
LO2..................................................................................................................................................9
P4) Research methodology ....................................................................................................9
LO3................................................................................................................................................12
P5) Analysis of data and findings ........................................................................................12
P6) Recommendations..........................................................................................................19
LO 4...............................................................................................................................................19
P7) Reflection.......................................................................................................................19
CONCLUSION .............................................................................................................................20
REFERENCES .............................................................................................................................21
APPENDIX I.................................................................................................................................23
APPENDIX II................................................................................................................................25
Template for Performance Review to be attached with the report by the learner:........................25
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Title: “To evaluate or determine the possible policies and responses that are
taken and made by an organisation to create awareness about increasing
equality and diversity.”
INTRODUCTION
Management of a firm is a crucial task which require timely research and strategy
formulation to effectively meet or respond on various issues and problems for successful and
smooth operation of an organisations. In current business environment concept of equality and
diversity is becoming vital and every organisation need to properly manage and establish a
balance between them so that all kind of discrimination and biasness can be removed from
workplace to provide equal opportunity to all individuals (Abdullah and Foo, 2019). The main
aim of managing equality and diversity is to enhance creativity and productivity of organisation
through maintaining a healthier atmosphere at workplace.
For effective execution and properly conducting this research on equality and diversity
the selected or chosen organisation is Aston Martin Lagonda which is world’s first and only
independent luxury group of manufacturer of cars from more than 100 years. Its headquarter is in
Warwickshire, England, United Kingdom and having specialization and excellence in designing
and manufacturing automotive across the boundaries of world. In this report detail about main
aim and objectives of research are included. Beside this a project management plan is also there
along with Gantt chart and WBS to meet the desired objectives. Further use of various research
mythology and other tolls are also made for collection and analysis of data. At last,
recommendations and reflection of research is also a part of this research.
LO1
P1) Aim and objectives for the project
Background and purpose
Aston martin is a famous and well know British multinational brand of luxury cars and
specialised automotive. This organisations is having an experience of more than 100 years which
was established and founded in 1913 in England, UK (Buttrick, 2018). Aston martin is a large
organisation employing thousands of employees across the world thus, it become necessary for
mangers and leaders of Aston martin to properly respond and handle the issues of diversity and
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equality in its organisation. The main aim of equality is removing all kind of discrimination and
biasness from the organisation and ensuring access to same opportunity and treatment at
workplace to create a healthier and more effective atmosphere at workplace. On the other hand
diversity is a concept that deals with differences among people and various groups and aim at
placing a positive value between those differences and issues to create and develop an inclusive
and comprehensive workforce. The automotive sector is considered male dominated thus, the
most commonly scene discrimination in Aston martin is sexual discrimination or genders pay.
Thus, to get a better understating about concept of equality and diversity at workplace of Aston
martin and other big organisation this, research is conducted (Christian, 2019). The aim and
objectives of this research are provided below:
Aim
The main intend or purpose of this research conducted on Aston martin is, “ to get the
knowledge and understanding about the responses and policies made by various companies to
counter or handle the impact or issue of equality and diversity which is currently prevailing at
the their workplace”.
Objectives
The main objective or proposes behind conducting this research on Aston martin is as
follows:
 To get a better understanding and knowledge about the current or burning concept of
equality and diversity.
 To evaluate or determine the different ways, responses and policies which are taken and
adopted by firms like Aston Martin to effectively handle and mange the current issues
and challenges which are created at their workplace because of enhancement in equality
and diversity (Doyle, 2019). To understand the importance of efficient administration of diversity and equality in
impeding and increasing business growth and productivity of Aston Martin.
Research Questions
 What is meant by the current or burning concept of equality and diversity?
 What are the various ways, responses and policies which are taken and adopted by firms
like Aston Martin to effectively handle and mange the current issues and challenge which
are created at their workplace because of enhancement in equality and diversity?
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 How important role is played by efficient management of equality and diversity in
impeding and increasing business growth and productivity of Aston Martin?
P2) Project management plan
A project management plan is created or developed through a manger or researcher
which is an approved and formal document that defines the way of execution, monitoring, and
controlling of a project. It basically provides a concise or a detailed document that include
subsidiary management plans, baselines and other important planning documents (Gechman,
2019). The main aim of this document is to provide and define the detail approach for project
team so that important information and guidance regarding the project can be easily delivered.
The main components of elements included in Project management plan are provided below:
Cost- This aspect of project management plan provide the information about the expected
expenses or amount paid for accruing and meeting the necessary expanses for getting all the
necessary assets and tools for accomplishment of a research or project. The cost of this research
is estimated after due concern with all team members regarding the possible expenses and an
analysis of market prices is also made. The distribution or allocation of cost and expenses made
for various aspects is provided below:
Forecasted Budget
Particulars Amount
Promotion expenses £100
Cost incurred in technology £120
Other Expenses £80
Total Cost £300
Quality- This factor of project management is related with maintenance of quality of
research through making best possible efforts for collection of a trustworthy and authentic data
(Huovinen, 2019). With respect to this research, the data is collected through making use of
various research methods to ensure the collection of a valid and reliable data so that objectives of
research can be attained.
Time- This element of research is mainly concerned with duration or time span required
for meeting the desired targets and objectives of research. To maintain the effectiveness and
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efficiency in research is necessary for success of any project and for timely decision making. The
expected time period required for completion and effective execution of this research is around
7-8 weeks.
Risk- This factor is mainly associated with the various challenges and threats that can
lead to barriers and obstacles in completion of a research. With respect to this particular research
the involved or anticipated risk involved is related with lack of resources and other assets
including the risk of chaos and inefficiency among team members which can create delay in
research work.
Communication- This factor or aspect of project management plan is associated with
transfer of information and other relevant views and opinion among team members. A research
cannot achieve its targets unit till effective communication is established among employees and
other team members (Islam, 2019). Proper channels of communication are established to ensure
the proper exchange of information and knowledge. Further use of both formal and informal
means of communication is used by researcher to achieve the targets of research.
Resource- The main concern of this element of project management plan is with the
procurement and effective management of all assets and resources required for research. The
various resources needed for this research include efficient amount of human resource, adequate
financial resources to meet expenses and various statistical tools and techniques are also needed
for collection and analysis of data.
Scope- This element of project management is mainly related with the chances and
probability of success or failure of a research and also includes the future scope and validity of
research in meeting the current objectives and facilitating effective decision making. The scope
for this particular or specific research is quite high as use of best research mythology and other
methods is made to keep up and maintain the authenticity and validity of data and research
(Kerzner, 2019). This research is also useful from point of view of researcher as it ensure
improvement in personal skills and also leads to better opportunity in future.
P3) Work breakdown structure and Gantt chart
The two most important project management tool used for execution of all stages and
completion of research within specified timeframes are provided below:
Work breakdown structure
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Use of this tool is made for this research to decompose or divided a complex work into
small chunks to achieve the efficiency in work. It provide a more clear structure and presentation
of all work thus, provide a guidance for team member to accomplish their work properly and
time (Liao and Teo, 2019). WBS also ensure completion of work with minimum cost and reduce
wastage of resources through eliminating duplication of work and tasks thus, lead to achievement
of objectives through maintaining efficiency and effectiveness in research.
Gantt chart
It is basically a diagram which provide better graphical presentation of various tasks and
steps of a research thus, facilitates transparency and simplicity in research. Gantt chart is useful
for a research as it provide time intervals for each task which lead to better understanding of
staring and ending of a task and also lead to completion of a work on time through identifying
and removing bottlenecks from various tasks and activities (Lin, Jalleh and Huang, 2019).
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LO2
P4) Research methodology
It is basically used for selection of most suitable research method for conducting a research
and meeting its requirement and objectives. The two main types of research method which are
used for collection of collection and effective presentation of data are provided below:
Quantitative Research Method- Use of this method is made for collecting data in
numerical terms and to get a perception of individuals about a topic which facilitates easy
presentation of statistical data (Peters, Stanko and Merrett, 2019) . Under this method use of
questionnaire, polls, surveys, etc are made.
Qualitative Research Method- This method is used to get a detailed and in depth
information about the attitude, nature and behaviour of respondent. This is a time consuming
process and it is difficult to convert a subjective or theoretical data into tables or chart. Use
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of in depth interview, observations and experiments are common for collection of data
through this method (Polonsky and Waller, 2018) .
For this specific research use of both quantitative and qualitative resrch is made. 8
close ended questions are there in questionnaire which is a part of Quantitative resrch
method and lead to effective presentation of data. Along with this 2 close ended questions
are also there which is a part of Qualitative research method to get an in-depth perception
and opinion of respondents.
Sources of data
There are two main sources or origin of data which are as follows:
Primary source- Provides unused and first hand data related with current resrch. Data
is collected through personal efforts of researcher by means of interview, questionnaire, etc.
Thus, it is a time consuming process (Rachlin, 2019) .
Secondary data- It is a pre stored or old data collected or gathered by some another
researcher or investigator for any old research. This data can be easily collected or gathered
from old books, literature, records, documents, online website, etc.
Sampling- It is a method or process used by researcher to select or chose pre decided
number of observation or units from a vast population to conduct the research more
efficiently within minimum time span (Rapp, 2019) . For this particular research use of
Random sampling is made by researcher to reduce the chances of biasness in research.
A sample of 25 respondents is chosen from stakeholders of Aston martin which
includes its mangers, directors, partners, employees, customers and all other related party to
understand their view on concept of Equality and diversity. For this purpose use of a
questionnaire is made which is a set or collection of number of questions facilities a easy
way for collection of opinion of respondents.
Questionnaire
Q1) Do you have any perception or idea about the current burning concept of equality and
diversity?
a) Yes
b) No
Q2) What are the possible main reason or causes behind the increasing equality and
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diversity at the workplace or business premises of an organisations?
a) Male dominance in society or particular sector
b) Rapid expansion of firm beyond the boundaries of nation.
c) Search for cheap labour
Q3) Is male dominance in manufacturing or automotive sector is the biggest or main
reason behind the gender pay gap and sexual discrimination in Aston Martin?
a) Agree
b) Disagree
Q4) What are the main issues and challenges that are being faced by Aston martin due to
enhancement in diversity and equality at its workplace?
a) Chaos and conflicts among employees
b) Lack of coordination
c) Cultural and other barriers and differences
Q5) Which is the foremost or best strategy and policy that can taken and adopted by firms
like Aston Martin to effectively handle and mange the current issues and challenges which
are created at their workplace because of enhancement in equality and diversity?
a) Unbiased HR prcatises
b) Reduction in favouritism
c) Formation of inclusive council
d) Effective diversity training
Q6) Why it is necessary for an organisation like Aston martin to maintain a balance and
coordination in equality and diversity at workplace?
a) To create a comprehensive and inclusive workforce
b) Facilitates better efficiency
c) Enhance productivity
d) Open doors for new opportunity
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Q7) What are the positive impact and benefits of having equality and diversity at
workplace?
a) Increase in creativity level of organisation
b) Uplift moral of employees
Q8) What will be the overall implication or effect of management and development of
equality and diversity at workforce of Aston martin through its manager and leaders?
a) Favourable
b) Unfavourable
Q9) What important role is played by efficient management of equality and diversity in
impeding and increasing business growth and productivity of Aston Martin?
Q10) How Aston martin can effectively respond for reducing the issue of sexual
discrimination, gender pay gap and other form of mental harassment created by equality
and diversity within its premises and workplace?
Q11) Any further recommendation or suggestion for Aston martin?
LO3
P5) Analysis of data and findings
For the purpose of analysis of collected data use of thematic approach is made a description
of which is provided below:
Theme 1: Perception or idea about the current burning concept of equality and diversity?
Q1) Do you have any perception or idea about the current burning
concept of equality and diversity?
Frequency
a) Yes 22
b) No 3
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(Source: Data analysis, 2019)
Interpretation
The above diagram is reflecting that out of 25 respondents, 22 individuals are having
perception about the current burning concept of equality and diversity while 3 are ignorant from
this fact.
Theme 2: The possible main reason or causes behind the increasing equality and diversity
at the workplace or business premises of an organisations
Q2) What are the possible main reason or causes behind the
increasing equality and diversity at the workplace or business
premises of an organisations?
Frequency
a) Male dominance in society or particular sector 15
b) Rapid expansion of firm beyond the boundaries of nation. 5
c) Search for cheap labour 5
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