A Study on Managing Cultural Diversity in the Workplace at Waitrose

This research project investigates the management of cultural diversity in the workplace, using Waitrose as a case study. The study begins with an abstract, table of contents, and an introduction that outlines the background, aims, and objectives. It then delves into the significance of workplace diversity, exploring its meaning, benefits, and challenges, alongside effective strategies for managing it. The project includes a comprehensive literature review covering topics such as the definition of workplace diversity, benefits of employing a diverse workforce, challenges in promoting diversity, effective management strategies, and recommendations for addressing diversity-related problems. The research methodology is described, followed by detailed findings and analysis. The project concludes with recommendations and reflections, and provides a list of references. The project aims to analyze ways of managing cultural diversity, addressing issues of equality, and providing insights into how companies can promote a diverse and inclusive work environment.

Research Project

ABSTRACT
In this study it has shown importance of developing aims and objectives on which basis,
researcher develops project and perform further steps. It has also covered all steps of research
methodologies like the type of research, philosophies, approaches, data collection and data
analysis tool for making the project more efficient. It has also shown that different people have
different views and most commonly known that the company is promoting and managing
workplace diversity because by doing this it gets competitive advantages and also decrease
labour turnover.

Table of Contents
ABSTRACT.....................................................................................................................................2
TOPIC: Managing cultural diversity in workplace..........................................................................1
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
Background of the study.........................................................................................................1
Aims and Objectives........................................................................................................................2
Significance............................................................................................................................2
Theme 1: Meaning of workplace diversity.............................................................................3
Theme 2: Benefits of employing diverse workforce..............................................................4
Theme 3: Challenges during promoting workplace diversity................................................4
Theme 4: Effective strategies of managing cultural diversity................................................5
Theme 5: Recommendations of solving problems related to workplace diversity................6
Research Methodology..................................................................................................................10
Findings and Analysis:...................................................................................................................13
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................23
Recommendations:.........................................................................................................................23
Reflection.......................................................................................................................................23
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................25

TOPIC: Managing cultural diversity in workplace.
INTRODUCTION
Equality and diversity is a broad term that ensure that everybody should be given an
equal opportunity and not be treated differently on the basis of age, gender qualifications etc
(Al-Jenaibi, 2017. If company does not provide equal opportunities and does not treat them in an
effective manner then it lowers their morale and de-motivates them. Discrimination on the basis
of culture and ethnicity can create several problems for companies as it can increase employees’
turnover rate, lack of motivation among employees, lack of innovation and creativity within an
organization and poor productivity and sales as well. Because de-motivated employees or those
employees who experienced discriminated at their workplace they are less likely to support
companies in accomplishing their goals which limits innovation and creativity in an
organization.
Background of the study
This study is going to show the importance of research methodologies that consists of
several elements like its types, approaches and philosophies. This present study is based on
Waitrose which is well known brand of supermarkets. It sells groceries as part of Britain’s
largest employee-owned retailer. This retailer was found in the year of 1904 by Wallace Waite.
It will discuss all important aspects related to workplace diversity as well as discrimination on
the basis of cultures which can have several negative effects on performance of company. By
making an effective use of views of authors and literature it will help out to researcher in
providing all answers related to workplace diversity as well as discrimination and their effects. It
will identify benefits which companies can have by promoting diversity as well as equality at
workplace in all bases or by providing fair treatment to all employees. Further, it will also
discuss some problems which companies often face while planning as well as implementing
diversity at workplace such as resistance of employees, languages problems and others. Lastly it
will show ways by which companies can promote equality and employ diverse workforce within
organization in an effective manner and it is one of the main reasons of conducting research on
this topic.
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Aims and Objectives
Aim:
“ To analyse some ways of managing cultural diversity at workplace by overcoming all
issues related to diversity and equality. A case study of Waitrose.”
Objectives:
 To identify the meaning and broad concept of workplace diversity.
 To explore some benefits of employing diverse workforces for Waitrose.
 To identify some challenges that occur at workplace during promoting workplace
diversity.
 To identify effective strategies of managing cultural diversity and equality at
Waitrose.
 To recommend some ways of promoting equality and diversity at workplace.
Research Questions:
 What is the actual concept of the term workplace diversity?
 Which types of benefits Waitrose can get by employing diverse workforces?
 What problems occur in managing workplace diversity and equality?
 Which strategies can help Waitrose in solving problems related to cultural diversity and
equality?
 What are some recommendations of promoting an effective diversity at workplace.
Significance
In the context of equality and diversity it can be said that it is one of the common and
important topic which not only help companies in taking advantages but can allow to all in
accomplishing their goals and making themselves able to increase values. Diversity and equality
means providing equal and fair treatment to all people whether they are black, white, males,
females and others. When all people at workplace and all places are being given fair and equal
opportunities then it makes them feel valued and motivated (Dhanani, Beus and Joseph, 2018).
They are more likely to focus on their work and being loyal towards others. So, by conducting
research on this topic like workplace diversity on the basis of culture and valuing each others’
beliefs and each others, they can also improve relation. Improved relation allows people to help
each others in their work which reduces errors and eventually help companies in accomplishing
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their goals. So, by conducting research on this topic, researcher can help companies in
improving their image, bringing innovation and can also make all employees feel valued at
workplace.
Rationale:
Diversity and equality is an important topic which can give several advantages to the
company if it promotes it in an effective way. It is a broad term and interesting topic because it
can be beneficial not only at professional and academic level as well as can be helpful at
personal and at all level. So, personal interest and usefulness at all level of this topic is the main
reason of selection. By identifying challenges, importance and strategies to overcome challenges
related to workplace diversity, an organization can accomplish it's all goals.
LITERATURE REVIEW
Theme 1: Meaning of workplace diversity
Zanoni and Janssens, (2015) Workplace diversity means respecting values and beliefs of
each other’s providing equal or fair treatment to people with different cultures and ethnicity.
There are several companies who employ different cultures of employees and when they provide
equal treatment and opportunities on the basis of performance not on the basis of culture then it
is known as workplace diversity. Having diversified employees at one place like males, females,
black employees, white employees, all age group of people are also considered workplace
diversity. On the other hand, those companies who do not provide equal treatment to employees
with different cultures are known as workplace discrimination.
On the other hand, Barak, (2016) stated that When employees of different cultures get
opportunities to apply in any organization for employment and when they are being treated in an
equal manner as like local employees then those companies are known as diverse companies and
this treatment at workplace is known as workplace diversity and equality. It has several benefits
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for both employees and employers as taking competitive advantages, bringing innovation,
creativity, learning new things and improving overall performance.
Theme 2: Benefits of employing diverse workforce
According to the Knights and Omanović, (2016) by managing workplace diversity and
employing diverse workforce within an organization, company can become the market leader.
For example: If an organization have employees with different cultures and allow them to work
with collaboration and in a team then it can help them out in bringing innovation and creativity.
When employees discuss on same topic then they try to put extra efforts in it and help
companies in taking competitive advantages. Customers when they get unique features or
innovative products then they are more likely to buy products and also help company in
promoting their goods by words of mouth. It can also be said that when employees work in a
team then they help each others which reduces their errors and lead improved productivity and
effective quality of products. It can also help in attracting customers to the great extent. So, it
can be said that by employing diverse workforce company can increase sales and image as well.
For more supporting this view, Harker, (2016) stated that by employing diverse
workforce company can make its working environment effective and competitive. People prefer
to work with companies who does not discriminate their employees on the basis of cultures and
others. It makes them feel valued by which they stay with the company for the long run and
support them in accomplishing their goals by suggesting those ways of improving and
developing business. By doing so, company can make a pool of skilled workforce which can
allow them in taking advantages of all external opportunities.
Theme 3: Challenges during promoting workplace diversity.
As per the view of Brunila and Ylöstalo, (2015) Employees’ resistance is one of the
main problems in promoting diversity. Employees of the local country or the country of the
company feel that by employing diverse workforce or employees of different cultures,
companies are limiting promotional and other opportunities for them. They feel that all
promotional and other opportunities should be given to local employees. So, it is important for
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companies to make them able and understand that promotional and other opportunities are being
given on the basis of performance not on the basis of locality and cultures of employees. Other
main reason by which they resist to employers from employing diverse workforce or employees
of other cultures is language problems Law, Hills and Hau, (2017). Different cultures have
different languages and understanding different languages can be difficult for employees. When
they do not understand languages and messages which employees share then it increases errors
due to miscommunication. These increments in errors in work affect their performance and
productivity. For these errors they blame their colleagues of different cultures which increase
conflicts. Increment in conflicts affect workplace environment in a negative manner to the great
extent. So, it can be said that all these problems are not limited to one as it increases problems
day by day which needs to be solved.
In addition, it can also be stated McParland and Connolly, (2020) that languages and
employees resistance barriers to company also affect performance of the company which can
limit other external opportunities like competitive advantages, attracting customers to the great
extent, poor quality of products etc. So, it is important for Waitrose to focus on this area and
explore some techniques or ways by which it can solve all these problems and make employees
understand that by employing different cultures of employee it will not affect them and it will
help them out in meeting their goals.
Theme 4: Effective strategies of managing cultural diversity
As per the view of Al-Jenaibi, (2017) stated that training is one of the best ways which
not only help employees in improving their productivity but also, companies can also make
themselves beneficial and take competitive advantages. When employees get training then it
increases their knowledge as it is stated that resistance of employees is one of the main problems
which companies face while employing diverse workforce. So, by providing training, employers
can make them aware about importance of employing people of different cultures and how they
can help them and company in improving their image. By making them aware with the help of
providing practical examples in training and development session, employers of companies can
make employees able and agree them to promote diversity. By getting training they can also
work with other employees in an effective manner without hurting and getting hurt which can
improve overall productivity of the company. It is also stated that language problems is also
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main problem as employees face problem while interacting with different cultures of people.
But with an appropriate training and allowing all employees to use one specific language at
workplace but having a little knowledge of all languages, this problem can be solved out.
On the other hand, Price and Nelson, (2018). Team working is the best way of promoting
diversity without having any type of barriers. Resistance of employees to employ diverse
workforce, languages problems and others can be solved out by this way of team working.
Employers require allotting work to employees in a team as per their experience and
qualification. When employees of different cultures work in a team then they are more likely to
interact with each others for solving problems, discussing something and accomplishing
common goals. When they interact with each other’s then they try ti understand human
behaviours’ and feelings of others. While working on a team and for accomplishing share team
goal they help each other’s which improves their relation. Improved relation help them out in
making refreshed at workplace. They tend to share their feelings and forget about different
cultures and compromise rather creating conflicts. So, it can be said that team working is one of
the best ways of making employees aware about importance of having people of different
cultures and eliminating discrimination. It does not only improves their relation and allow them
in understanding importance of diverse workforce but it can also help companies in taking
competitive advantages and becoming the market leader. Because when employees help each
others in their work then it reduces errors and collaboration brings innovation in the company.
By providing innovative and creative products, company can increase customers’ satisfaction
and retention rate.
So, from the above discussed ways it can be said that Waitrose retailer can promote
diversity and equality at their workplace and employ diverse workforce which can improve its
image and allow it to become the market leader as well.
Theme 5: Recommendations of solving problems related to workplace diversity
According to the Thomas, (2015) Employees at workplace work for different reasons
such as for earning money as they want to foster their families some want to increase their
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knowledge or increase skills by working at different stage of companies and some wants to take
promotional opportunities and gain image. So, overall it can be said that employees either have
financial and non financial motivation and needs. For motivating employees towards
accomplishing goals, retaining with the company and allow them to follow all guidelines and
rules implemented by company, it is important to have skilled and motivated employees.
Motivated employee put extra efforts to company to meet their goals and support them at every
stage. So, in this regard it can be said that by identifying needs of employees of different
cultures company can provide either financial or non-financial rewards as motivation.
In financial rewards they can provide bonus, incentives, performance appraisal and
salary increment on the basis of performance and by entitling employees with different tags.
Whereas, in non financial type, company can provide promotional opportunities, appreciation,
celebration of success of employees and others. All these ways can help company in
encouraging employees to follow all policies and guidelines and understand companies of
employing different cultures or diverse workforce in their company.
Whereas, Greene, (2018) said By implementing open door policy, employers can make
employees feel that they are important resources and employers are concerned with their queries
and problems. In an open door policy, employees are allow going and talking to manager or
employees and can seek for solutions. When employers give them appropriate solutions in a
timely manner then it makes them feel valued and become engaged with the company. Engaged
employees are more likely to support company in accomplishing their goal s as well as
understand human behaviours and feelings of colleagues.
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