M&S Project Report: Initiatives for Workforce Diversity and Inclusion

This report examines the strategies and initiatives employed by Marks & Spencer to cultivate an inclusive and diverse workforce, aiming to enhance overall organizational productivity. It highlights the aims and objectives of promoting equality and diversity within the workplace, addressing challenges arising from cultural differences among employees. The project management plan includes key aspects such as organizational structure, scope, communication, resources, cost, time, quality, and risk management. Data collection methods, both primary (questionnaires) and secondary, are utilized to gather relevant information. The report also incorporates Gantt charts and work breakdown structures for effective project scheduling and management. Ultimately, the analysis and recommendations derived from the research contribute to a meaningful conclusion regarding the value of diversity and inclusion in achieving organizational objectives. Desklib provides a platform to access this and similar solved assignments for students.

Managing A Successful
Business Project

Contents
TITLE:.............................................................................................................................................3
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................3
P1 Aims and objectives..........................................................................................................3
P2 Development of project management plan........................................................................4
P3 Gantt Chart and Work Break down structure....................................................................7
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................8
P4 To conduct small-scale research by implementing primary and secondary methods.......8
TASK 3..........................................................................................................................................10
P5 Data and findings using appropriate tools and techniques.............................................10
P6 Communicate an appropriate recommendation from the findings and data analysis to
generate meaningful conclusion...........................................................................................15
P7 Reflection on the value of project to meet with objectives and learning performance...16
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................17
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................18

TITLE:
“To determine the strategies and initiatives that will help an organisation in building an
inclusive and diverse workforce.” A study report on Marks & Spencer.
INTRODUCTION
Business or organisations are increasing their number of operations and functions to
sustain and retain in market for longer period through conducting an effective research. Majority
of the project are formulated on the basis of research for formulating new and innovative
business ideas. The main aim to conduct a research is to organise and manage all business
projects of organisation successfully. This report is written from perspective of Marks & Spencer
which is a British multi-national retail organisation. It offers clothes, food, home products and
other essential items to customers at global level. In present scenario, organisation is facing
challenges due to several challenges and issue that are raised because of equality and diversity in
workplace (Pleasant, 2017). Further, the report highlights on aims as well as objectives of
organisation and project management plan will also be formulated that cover several essential
aspects including risk and resources. In the last, Small scale research will also focused in
upcoming report through the use of primary and secondary methods.
TASK 1
P1 Aims and objectives
In the global competitive world competition among the organisation is increasing day by day
due to which it is mandatory for all large business houses to formulate there aim according to
international market. M&S operate business among several countries so large number of
employees who belong to different culture are engaged in organisational operations. Therefore,
to improve the overall productivity management promote equality and diversity policy which is
also beneficial for organisation to overcome from the current employment engagement issue by
building an inclusive and diverse workforce. It results all operations are performed by respective
organisation in effective manner.
Aim
“To determine strategy and initiatives which are implemented by organisation for the
development of inclusiveness and diversity of workers for enhancing overall productivity of
organisation.” A study on Marks & Spencer.

Objective
 To increase in the knowledge related with equality in Marks & Spencer.
 To examine all perspective that encourages overall workforce efficiency of the
workforce.
 To ascertain the advantages of building diversity in internal premises of M&S.
 To undertake and study all those strategies which are related with the impact of diverse
workforce in organisation.
Project- The term project refers to the series of task which are designed and completed to
accomplish a specific outcome. A project is majorly concerned to define and develop a set of
particular inputs and outputs which leads Marks and Spencer to accomplish their particular goals.
Moreover, the projects which are designed by management are managed by assignation of large
number of employees.
Project management- It refers to the way that is managed and organised all essential
resources that are required for completing the project in effective manner. Individuals who are
responsible for managing resources are recognises as project manager. In context of Marks &
Spencer management decide their project that work as a procedure which start and end with
goals.
P2 Development of project management plan
Project management plan contain all details which are related with each action and phase of
project in the form of a document. Planning, Executing, monitoring and controlling are the key
aspects of project management plan that are used by the organisation for accomplish its goals
and objectives effective manner. Project management plan also plays a significant role for
ascertaining the project to develop right outcomes in organisation. Moreover, the benefits for
project management plan are as follow:
 It helps to formulate scope, budget and schedule for each phase of project.
 Resources and methods which are related with business must be arranged in sequential
manner.
 The possibilities to accomplish organisational goals and positive outcomes is directly
increased.
All the essential aspects for the project plan that are included communication, cost, time and
many more are mention as follow:

 Organisational structure- To develop the project and accomplish them in accurate
manner it is essential for management to formulate an effective structure. From the
perspective of Marks & Spencer operational as well as functional structure is developed
by management. So it is mandatory for all employees to complete their work according to
the decided structure which assist organisation to overcome from issue of equality and
diversity.
 Scope- The term scope refers to nature of all resources which are utilised in accurate
manner to attain organisational goals and objectives. Scope is more beneficial for
management because it leads management to understand the successful outcomes from
future perspective. This also refers that there are better results are gained by management
by analysing scope of company and its projects. Moreover, project manager enhance and
utilised skill that are related with data and research such as analytical and research skill.
 Communication- In the present scenario, all task and operations which are performed by
organisation are placed at different level. Example- the clothes outlets of M&S are
present at different areas so to manage between them all company is focused to
implement transparent communication channel. From the perspective of researcher it is
also utilised by management to complete work properly as it is essential to generate
proper communication within teammate.
Moreover, adequate information will also be shared by utilising right communication channels
that lead to complete all work in proper manner. Along with this equal opportunity are also
offered by management for making effective and right decisions. Audio conferencing, equal
opportunity, email, chat and format written documents etc. are some effective modes for
communication to conduct all research properly.
 Resources- Research is conducted by organisation effectively and efficiently by utilising
all resources in proper manner. Financial, books, magazine, machine and many more are
most effective resources for organisation that leads to complete all work in proper
manner. But as per existing market conditions human resources are most important
aspects for organisation. This leads management to perform operations with competitive
edge in market. For completing the research laptop and information tools play an
important role to conduct research properly. Books, interview, questionnaire are some
resources that is used for collecting appropriate research. Along with this authentic and

reliable information are utilised by management for completing all research project in
effective manner.
 Communication matrix- This works as an assessment tool which is used by organisation
for implementing right communication structure that help team members who are
involved in project for communicate and share right information with project manager.
This also leads management to develop right framework that is used to delegate
information properly. It also defines that with smooth and desired communication among
parties it is easy for Marks and Spencer and researchers to implement effective strategy
for overcoming from issue of equality and diversity.
 Cost- There is intense competition exist in the retail industry which is impacting on
organisation specifically Marks and Spencer because consumers are concern about the
price of products and services. This also refers that investigator are sufficient in time but
the management of funds is crucial for them. On the other side, management of
organisation are high in funds but due to inappropriate time management it is complex to
decide right price according to cost of organisation. The estimated budget which is
required by organisation for completing research in mention as below:
 Time- So as to make extreme rivalry for others in exceptional serious world specialist
requires 7 weeks to finish the allocated venture adequately. Organization outline
strategies to finish every single assignment in the set cut-off time so that in the set time
period venture gets completed in appropriate way. This assumes a noteworthy job in a
business organization.
 Quality- Information are gathered from essential information assortment strategy for their
examination work. Alongside this subjective methodology is utilized by agent for their
exploration work. It essentially centre around quality which is a positive imprint for the
organization. By doing so enormous clients is pulled in for the undertaking and related
data. Different quality control methods can be utilized by the scientist with the goal that
genuine and solid sources are utilized so as to gather data so the nature of the task can be
expanded. Quality control outline, stream diagram and so forth can be utilized by the
analyst to check the nature of work. Quality control chart work as an effective tool that is
used for maintaining quality of project. With the implement control chart all information

presented by management in a graphical form. This result it is easy for management to
regulate work and its performance for the completion of specific project.
 Risk- Risk is faced by the organisation while completing and performing all of its task
and operations. In context of Marks & Spencer organisation faced various risk that is
directly impacting on organisational goals and objectives. It also refers that due to the
barrier and issue overall performance of company is impacted. Similarly, the present risk
which is faced by management relates with challenges of diversity of workforce. Some of
the current risk factors related with research in mention as follow:
P3 Gantt Chart and Work Break down structure
Gantt chart- The Gantt chart work as an effective bar which is used for illustrating the
schedule for the project. Along with this with implement of Gantt chart it is easy to show and
formulate better activities due to which all task are completed as per schedule. This is utilised by
the project manager to show right information about all task and phase of project to complete
each activity in accurate manner as per decided time period.
Work Breakdown Structure- Work break down structure works as an effective tool for
project management plan which helps for flouting down a project in small components. It is also

used for simplifying execution of project into managerial small areas. This is also helping the
organisation for organising and managerial projects in proper manner. Along with this by
utilising the work break down structure an organisation assign all responsibilities in proper
manner that estimate time, cost and risk aspect properly for completing project as per desired
outcomes.
TASK 2
P4 To conduct small-scale research by implementing primary and secondary methods
Qualitative approach- An investigator implement qualitative approach to complete there
work as per findings that is related with quality work. It helps to generate meaningful
information by using minimum and accurate mathematical figures.
Quantitative approach- This is used by the management of Marks & Spencer for
completing all research with design right structure, graphs, diagrams, chart etc. It is used by
management for demonstrating information in simple and attractive manner (Pharr and Putnam,
2018).
Primary method for data collection- Survey, sampling and to gain information directly
from respondents are some effective sources of primary research. All the information which is
collected through primary method is update and fresh that aids researcher to generate effective
conclusion from research.
Secondary method- This method is used by organisation for completing all research in
minimum time period. The secondary data which manage by company refers to accomplishment

of task as per operations that concern for managing right findings from already resources
(O’SULLIVAN1a and KEARNEY, 2018).
From the perspective of Marks and Spencer primary source of data is used by the organisation
for accumulating right and effective results.
Questionnaire
Quantitative question
Q1) Are employees aware about current knowledge that is related with phenomena of equality
and diversity in Marks & Spencer?
A) Yes
B) No
Q2) Is it easy to implement new equality and diversity related policies among all departments?
A) Yes
B) No
Q3) What aspect will be generated by Tesco after implement of new policy and strategy positive
or negative?
A) Positive
B) Negative
Q4) Which strategy is more beneficial for organisation to formulate better diverse and inclusive
workforce?
A) By generate mentorship program
B) Through formulating diversity workplace policy
C) Educating the managers
Q5) Productivity and performance of the organisation is impacted or not by generating inclusive
and diverse workforce?
A) Yes
B) No
Q6) Does equality and diversity workforce leads employees and management to accomplish their
desired outcomes?
A) Yes
B) No
C) Not possible

Q7) What advantages are gained by Marks & Spencer by implement strategy that build diverse
and equality workforce?
Q8) Which challenges are faced by organisation at the time of implementing policy related with
equality and diversity?
TASK 3
P5 Data and findings using appropriate tools and techniques
Q1) Are employees aware about current knowledge that is related with
phenomena of equality and diversity in Marks & Spencer?
Frequency
C) Yes 22
D) No 18
Q2) Is it easy to implement new equality and diversity related policies
among all departments?
Frequency
C) Yes 30
D) No 10
Q3) What aspect will be generated by Tesco after implement of new policy
and strategy positive or negative?
Frequency
C) Positive 20
D) Negative 20
Q4) Which strategy is more beneficial for organisation to formulate better
diverse and inclusive workforce?
Frequency
D) By generate mentorship program 15
E) Through formulating diversity workplace policy 15
F) Educating the managers 10
Q5) Productivity and performance of the organisation is impacted or not by
generating inclusive and diverse workforce?
Frequency
C) Yes 15
D) No 25
Q6) Does equality and diversity workforce leads employees and
management to accomplish their desired outcomes?
Frequency
D) Yes 10

E) No 10
F) Not possible 20
Q7) What advantages are gained by Marks & Spencer by implement
strategy that build diverse and equality workforce?
Q8) Which challenges are faced by organisation at the time of
implementing policy related with equality and diversity?
Q1) Are employees aware about current knowledge that is related with
phenomena of equality and diversity in Marks & Spencer?
Frequency
A) Yes 22
B) No 18
Interpretation- Most of the employees who are engage in the operations of Marks & Spencer are
aware about organisational work and policies which are implemented by management. This also
refers that the new policy is develop for welfare of employees so employees support to formulate
policies in effective manner.
Q2) Is it easy to implement new equality and diversity related policies among
all departments?
Frequency
A) Yes 30
B) No 10

Interpretation- The new policy which are formulated is used to generate better results by
implementing right actions. Like, with develop of new strategy it is easy for management to
complete all task that is concern for employees. This also generates long term results for
company for implementing right resutls.
Q3) What aspect will be generated by Tesco after implement of new policy
and strategy positive or negative?
Frequency
A) Positive 20
B) Negative 20