Research Report: Managing Gender Equality at Hennes & Mauritz

This research report investigates the significance of managing gender equality in enhancing employee engagement within the business environment, using Hennes & Mauritz (H&M) as a case study. The report begins with an introduction outlining the research proposal, aims, objectives, and questions. It then reviews the literature on gender equality in business, the importance of managing it for H&M's performance, and the ways to improve employee engagement. The methodology section details the research approach, sampling, and data analysis methods, including the use of questionnaires and thematic analysis. The data collection and analysis chapter presents the findings from the questionnaire, followed by a discussion of the themes. The report concludes with recommendations for H&M to gain a competitive advantage. The appendices include the proposal form, research ethics approval form and the questionnaire used for data collection.

Research Project

Table of Contents
Title:.................................................................................................................................................1
Chapter 1: Introduction....................................................................................................................1
1.1 Research Proposal..................................................................................................................1
Reason for Choosing the Research..............................................................................................2
Chapter 2: Literature Review...........................................................................................................2
2.1 Introduction............................................................................................................................2
2.2 Literature Review..................................................................................................................2
The concept of gender equality in the context of business..........................................................2
The importance of managing gender equality for developing the performance of Hennes &
Mauritz.........................................................................................................................................3
The ways which are significant for Hennes & Mauritz in improvising the engagement of
employees at workplace...............................................................................................................3
Chapter 3: Research Methodology..................................................................................................4
3.1 Research Approach................................................................................................................4
3.2 Research Methodologies........................................................................................................4
Chapter 4: Data Collection and Data Analysis................................................................................5
4.1 Data Collection......................................................................................................................5
4.2 Data Analysis, presentation and discussion...........................................................................7
Chapter 5: Conclusion and Recommendation...............................................................................15
5.1 Conclusion...........................................................................................................................15
5.2 Recommendation.................................................................................................................15
Chapter 6: Personal Reflective Statement.....................................................................................15
6.1 Reflect on the research Methods..........................................................................................15
6.2 Consideration of Research Methods that could have been used..........................................16
6.3 Area for further Research....................................................................................................16
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................17
Appendix........................................................................................................................................19
Proposal Form................................................................................................................................19
Research Ethics Approval Form.................................................................................................23

Title:
Managing gender equality in a workplace.
Chapter 1: Introduction
1.1 Research Proposal
Research Project Description
The present study aim to determine the potential importance of assisting gender
equivalence in developing the engagement of workers at work place. Therefore, this is a wide
area of investigation that making value for an organisation to manage equality at work place
(Ahern and Clarke, 2013). Gender equality is recognised to be a potential conflict that is requires
to be considered through enterprises as to enhance the engagement of employees at work place,
thus equality may encourage individual to work with more coordination and collaboration, which
in turns in generating value for the business in attaining higher advancement. In this present
exploration the over all study is based on the study of Hennes & Mauritz, thus it is a large
Swedish multinational and branded clothing retail business which is mainly famous for its
effective pattern clothing for men, women, teenagers and children. The business was established
in the year of 1947 with the potential efforts of Erling Persson. The base office of the firm is in
Stockholm, Sweden. The company H&M has around 126376 employees who are working for the
company by their located stores in all over the globe (Gürtürk and Hahn, 2016). The key concern
of he business is to maintain equality among their employees in respect to improving the
appointment of their workers within organisational environment.
Research Aim and Objectives
Research Aim
To analyse the significance of managing gender equality in improvising the engagement
of employees at workplace. A case study on Hennes & Mauritz.
Research Objectives
 To understand the concept of gender equality in the context of business
 To explore idea about the importance of managing gender equality for developing the
performance of Hennes & Mauritz. To determine the ways which are significant for Hennes & Mauritz in improvising the
engagement of employees at workplace.
1

Research Questions
 What is the concept of gender equality in the context of business?
 What is the importance of managing gender equality for developing the performance of
Hennes & Mauritz?
 What are the ways that are significant for Hennes & Mauritz in improvising the
engagement of employees at workplace?
Reason for Choosing the Research
The investigation into primary recognition is encompasses on analysing the significance of
managing gender equality in improvising the engagement of workers within the business
environment. Therefore, the scope of study is so wide as the recognised area of investigation is a
significant issue which for the most part has more extensive impact over the activities and
movement of the business (Janssens and Zanoni, 2014). The another key purpose behind this
examination is the individual enthusiasm of the researcher as the analyst needs to investigate
their own insight and abilities with respect to this particular examination territory.
Chapter 2: Literature Review
2.1 Introduction
A literature review is characterized to be the most basic zone of an examination as it is
successful in exploring knowledge regarding a specific area with the recognition of suitable data
and information (Kulik, 2014). Therefore, in this current examination territory dependent on
dissecting the noteworthiness of overseeing gender equality in developing the engagement of
employees at working environment, data is fundamentally accumulated through optional sources
like books, diaries, distributed articles, etc..
2.2 Literature Review
The concept of gender equality in the context of business
From the views analysis of Letizia Mencarini. 2014, gender equality is mainly determined
as the fairness treatment for both men and women as per their respective needs and desires. In
addition to this gender equality is defined as the belief both men and women needs to gain equal
treatment. In the context of an organisation, it is fundamental for the businesses to render
equality to their employees and should not be discriminated in against because of their gender
difference, thus each individual has a the same right to get similar respect and cognition. In this
2

serious business period the key rationale of every little just as enormous business is to achieving
higher development and achievement by means of ad libbing the commitment of representatives,
Therefore, managing equality among employees is essential for the business to attaining higher
growth and success (Tatli and Özbilgin, 2012).
The importance of managing gender equality for developing the performance of Hennes &
Mauritz.
According to the opinion analysis of Cailin S. Stamarski and Leanne S. Son Hing, 2015,
gender equality is defined as a business is a convoluted process which can be seen in business
construction, processes and practises. Hennes & Mauritz is a large fashion clothing store which
is mainly famous for its high quality products, Thus the major concern of the firm is to managing
equality at workplace for the purpose of enhancing the In this serious business time the key
intention of every little just as enormous business is to accomplishing higher development and
achievement by means of ad libbing the commitment of workers,, in which some are like
Increase in profitability, Effective working environment, Appropriate communication channel
and so on. Thus, Equality management at workplace is powerful in building up the productivity
of the business as it is effective in accomplishing higher development and accomplishment at
commercial center (Guillaume and et. al., 2013). There all the key advantages that are basically
picked up by the organizations to pick up development and achievement.
The ways which are significant for Hennes & Mauritz in improvising the engagement of
employees at workplace.
Employees and workers are the key resource of the business and the development and
advancement of business depends on the commitment of representatives at work environment..
Therefore, business are concern over enhancing the performance of the business with developing
the engagement of employees at workplace. H&M is a large fashion hub which is in-consist over
the idea of becoming the international brand via making effective business operations and for
this it is required for the business to develop the engagement of employees at workplace (Olsen
and Martins, 2012). There are assorted ways like Altering Hiring Practices to increase diversity,
Equal Pay to employees, Prioritizing Work-life Balance, Effective policy implementation that
supports the right of employees at workplace. These are the key ways that are effective for H&M
to gain higher profitability and progression.
3

Chapter 3: Research Methodology
An investigation methodology is refers as the path by that investigator is requires to
execute their evaluation, thus it is a path which is valuable in implementing the whole
investigation in significant way via the selection of suitable methods and tools. In the present
investigation analysis based on determining centrality of overseeing gender equality in ad libbing
the commitment of representatives at work environment, reasonable choice of strategies depend
on examiner, Thus an examination is either subjective or quantitative in nature. Along these
lines, with regards to this present exploration quantitative analysis is being applied as it is
significant is directing the exploration in right manner with the accumulating of information in
facts and figures by observing the opinion of others (Singh, Winkel and Selvarajan, 2013).
3.1 Research Approach
This segment of exploration is for the most part hand-off upon deductive and inductive
examination approach as the decision depends on the information that are amassed to help an
examination in right way. In the current examination work, , inductive research approach has
been chose to be taken into consideration by the researcher as it is most relevant tool for
quantitative analysis and helps the study in developing theirs and hypothesis that are significant
for a study (Ocloo and Matthews, 2016).
3.2 Research Methodologies
Sampling: This section mainly recognised to be the reason of selecting the suitable groups or
people to gathering suitable data in relation to a special study aspect. This area is encompasses
over probabilistic and non-probabilistic sampling technique. Hence, in the context of this
existing investigation work, sample is being actualised by random sampling method through
probabilistic tool, therefore, it is the best way to gather information about a study area. The
sample size for this analysis is 30, as it is enough to gather valuable data (Ellemers and et. al.,
2012).
Data Analysis: For undertaking the existing research area information has been actualised by
choosing thematic evaluation as it is well suited for survey as in this themes are build on the
questions of questionnaire.
Cost, Access and ethical consideration
4

Before the implementation of an investigation it is important for a researcher is to consider
cost, access and ethics at their priority as it is effective for the investigator to go ahead in a right
direction. Investigator requires to follow the morals in the manner of providing consent, ensuring
participants about the safety, managing confidentiality of information etc. In addition to this,
researcher also manage cost and capital for the effective implementation of research activities
and also gather information through the most authentic areas to justify the issue in actual manner
(Gay, 2013).
Chapter 4: Data Collection and Data Analysis
4.1 Data Collection
This area of investigation is categorised among primary and secondary aspects, in this
existing investigation area, both the techniques are significant to gather valuable information.
Secondary analysis is imperative in executing theoretical area through the recognition of books,
writing, published articles etc. On the opposite side, primary investigation is effective in
gathering suitable data as in this survey is mainly taken place which is executed via the support
of questionnaire (Valls and Kyriakides, 2013).
Questionnaire
Name:
Age:
Gender:
Email:
Q1) Do you have a suitable acknowledgement concerning the idea of sexual orientation balance
with regards to business?
Yes
No
Q2) Do you think that, it is important for a business to manage gender equality in improvising
the engagement of employees at workplace?
Yes
No
Q3) According to you, what are the key importance of managing gender equality in an
organisation?
5

Improve labour environment
Reduce absenteeism
Reduction in Salary Gap
Increase in productivity
Q4) According to you, what key benefits are gained by Hennes & Mauritz through managing
gender equality at workplace?
Improve business performance
Equal opportunity distribution
Effective working environment
Effective communication channel
Q5) As per your view, which kind of impact does gender equality has over the operations and
progression of Hennes & Mauritz?
Positive
Neutral
Negative
Q6) According to you, what key barriers are faced by Hennes & Mauritz in managing equality
at workplace?
Gender Stereotypes
Lack of flexible work practice
Unconscious bias.
Q7) According to you, what are the key ways that are significant for Hennes & Mauritz in
improvising the engagement of employees at workplace?
Altering Hiring Practices to increase diversity
Equal Pay
Prioritizing Work-life Balance
Effective policy implementation
Q8) Do you think that, managing equality is effective for Hennes & Mauritz in ehnacing the
engagement of employees at work place?
Yes
No
Q9) Provide recommendation to Hennes & Mauritz to gain higher competitive advantage at
6

market place.
7

4.2 Data Analysis, presentation and discussion
Thematic Analysis
Theme 1) Individual have a proper acknowledgement with respect to the idea of sex equity with
regards to business.
Q1) Do you have an suitable idea in relation to the concept of gender equality in
the context of business?
Frequency
Yes 28
No 2
Interpretation:
From to the detailed evaluation of the dissertation it has been evaluated that, 28 out of 30
people are having appropriate recognition in regards to the area of gender equality and remaining
people are having idea about the same as they are not really aware about this.
8

Theme 2) It is basically important for a business to manage gender equality in improvising the
engagement of employees at workplace.
Q2) Do you think that, it is important for a business to manage gender equality in
improvising the engagement of employees at workplace?
Frequency
Yes 29
No 1
Interpretation:
The previously mentioned chart expressed that, 29 out of 30 individuals are in favor with
the explanation that, it is significant for a business to oversee sex uniformity in improving the
commitment of workers. Subsequently, left over individuals are not in favour with the
equivalent.
9