Managing Equality and Diversity Challenges in the Workplace: M&S

This project delves into the critical aspects of managing equality and diversity within the workplace, using Marks & Spencer (M&S) as a case study. The project begins by defining the aim and objectives, which involve evaluating challenges and proposing effective measures to overcome them. It then constructs a detailed project management plan, covering crucial factors like cost, scope, time, quality, communication, and risk management. A Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) and Gantt chart are developed to ensure efficient time management and task allocation. The research methodology incorporates both qualitative and quantitative research methods, including questionnaires, to gather data and insights. Furthermore, the project reflects on the learning outcomes, highlighting the importance of equality and diversity for both individuals and organizations. The report concludes by summarizing key findings and offering recommendations for fostering a more inclusive and equitable work environment. Finally, a performance review is included to assess the project's success, addressing its aims, outcomes, and any challenges encountered during its execution.

Managing a successful
business project

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................................................4
TASK 1.......................................................................................................................................................4
P1 Devise project aim and objectives......................................................................................................4
P2 Build project management plan by covering different factors............................................................4
P3 Produce a WBS and Gantt chart to provide time frame......................................................................6
TASK 2.......................................................................................................................................................7
P4 Carry out small scale research by using different methods for achieving business objectives............7
TASK 3.......................................................................................................................................................8
Covered in PPT.......................................................................................................................................8
TASK 4.......................................................................................................................................................8
P7 Reflection...........................................................................................................................................8
Conclusion...................................................................................................................................................9
References.................................................................................................................................................11
Performance Review.............................................................................................................................12

INTRODUCTION
For every organization it is very much important to maintain equality and diversity with
in the workplace as it provides one of best working environment in which each and every
individual can give one of their best efforts (Bass and Haxby, 2019). With the help of it
organization can gain the motivation, productivity and build strong relationship with them for
gaining desirable outcomes from them. Respective report is based on the Marks and Spencer
conducted business activities of retail sector. Respective report provides differ kinds of aspects
that are aim and objective regarding equality and diversity in order to pace towards in definite
direction. Further it includes project management plan, WBS, Gantt chart, research
methodologies and reflection to achieve potential outcomes.
TASK 1
P1 Devise project aim and objectives.
Project aim:
To evaluate challenges that arise out of equality and diversity in working environment
and effective measures to overcome it. A study on M&S.
Project objectives:
 To evaluate about equality and diversity.
 To analyze major challenges faced by organization due to absence of equality and
diversity at workplace.
 To determine effective kind of measures taken by M&S to lessen down adverse impact
out of equality and diversity.
P2 Build project management plan by covering different factors.
Project management plan is one of most important aspect that provide detail description
regarding potential planning and resources required by organization to accomplish project
objectives.
Project title To evaluate challenges that arise out of equality and diversity
in working environment and effective measures to overcome

it. A study on M&S.
Cost Cost refers to the requirement of funds to accumulate
necessary resources in effective manner (Bos-de Vos, Volker
and Wamelink, 2019). in context of respective project,
manager required the 20K Euro.
Scope Scope of a project plays very much important role, in context
of M&S they conduct respective project to acknowledge
significance of equality and diversity with important measures
to overcome from it.
Time Time refers to the duration that used by project manager to
conduct the research activities in potential manner (Englund
and Graham, 2019). in context of respective project they
required at least 6 to 8 weeks to accomplish objectives.
Quality Quality is one of important aspect for the project manager to
gain desirable outcomes. in context of project manager by
using primary research tools project manager collect validate
information the proved beneficial for them.
Communication Communication proved very significant to deliver important
kind of knowledge and information to the other to gain
potential outcomes from them (Hillson, 2019). in respective
project by using systematic hierarchy in which orders passes
through the chain in order to gain effective kinds of outcomes.
Risk and resources Risk inherited with every kind of project, it has been proved
potential to collect all kinds of data and information in order
to eliminate risk at maximum level. In context of respective
project they analyze that no. of risks associated with project
such as failure of project, not completion within specified
time, scarcity of funds and many more. To accomplish
desirable outcome required resources are laptop, printer,
teacher and supportive equipments.

P3 Produce a WBS and Gantt chart to provide time frame.
It is very much important for an organization to accomplish the project objectives in the
specified time duration and it can be only possible by proper planning and allocation of
responsibilities to each and every individual to gain desirable outcome. With help of WBS and
Gantt chart organization can be able to frame out each and every activity and taken time by them.
WBS: Respective tool is a project management tool and system that used by researcher to divide
works and activities into small chunks to deliver specified time duration in order to gain
desirable outcomes (Keskin, Ozorhon and Koseoglu, 2019). with the help of it project manager
can be able to specify activities and allocation of responsibilities in proper manner.
Gantt chart:
Gantt chart is kind of bar chart that specifies activities against the time duration to
accomplish the organisational goals and objectives in proper manner. in respective project to
accomplish objectives in specified duration gantt chart proved beneficial in gaining potential
outcomes.

TASK 2
P4 Carry out small scale research by using different methods for achieving business
objectives.
For an organization conducting research and development plays very much important
role, as it helps in gaining potential knowledge and insights to reach at valid kind of conclusion
(Law, 2019). By effective utilization of resources organization can gain desirable outcome and
chosen one of best tools plays significant role in optimizing best outcomes in cost effective
manner.
Qualitative research: Respective tool adopted by the researchers for collecting data and statistics
related to subject matter in order to gain desirable outcomes. to collect potential information
various kinds of tools available such as questionnaire, survey, observation and many more. In
context of respective project the questionnaire tool used to gain desirable outcomes.
Qualitative research: It is also known as exploratory research used by project manager to
formulate understanding by underlying motivation, opinion and deliverables. To accumulate
information by using respective tool various kinds of ways available that are focus groups,
individual interview, group discussions and many more. To gain valid information project
manager by using quantitative method firstly by using questionnaire in order to remain
competitive in marketplace.
Primary method: Primary data refers to the tool by which researcher collect information first
hand by using various kinds of tools such as observation, questionnaire, survey and many more
(Little, 2019). It takes more time and money in comparison to secondary data of collecting
information but provides valid data to researcher. In context of respective project by using
questionnaire they collect potential data.
Secondary method: In respective kind of tool data is collected that is already available in market.
It is very easily available and save time also. The example are books, journals, government
records and many more. It has been analyze that it easily available in market but not provide
much valid information that hinders self interest of research. In that regards it is potential to use
primary data and tools while collecting information from the respondents.

Sampling and sample size: Sampling is one of most important kind of tool used by researcher to
collect knowledge and information from large no. of people in order to reach at valid kind of
decision. In context of respective project by using random sampling as it assist to reach at large
no. of respondents to remain competitive in marketplace. It is necessary to choose no. of
respondents from which researcher wants to collect information to reach at valid conclusion in
potential manner.
Questionnaire: it is the series of questions that asked by the respondents to collect valid kind of
knowledge and information in order to remain always competitive in marketplace (Yıldırım and
Korkmaz, 2019). The first and foremost objective of questionnaire is to collect valid and
authenticate data for reaching at valid kind of conclusion.

Questionnaires
1. Do you understand the concept of equality and diversity?
 Yes
 No
2. According to you, what is the importance of improving equality and diversity activities
with in respective company?
 Introduction of new skill
 Open new market
 Enhance brand reputation
 All of the above
3. Do you think it is crucial for organisation to promoting equality and diversity at
workplace?
 Yes
 No
4. As per your view point what are different ways through which Marks and Spencer
company can promote and enhance equality and diversity with in organisation.
 Creating diversity culture
 Training and developing employees
 Building policies
 All of the above
5. According to your views, what are the key issues faced by company while implementing
equality and diversity with in organisation?
 Gender equality
 Ethnic and cultural differences

 Communication Gap
 All of the above
6. Do you consider it is essential for organisation to overcome these issues and challenges in
order to successfully promote equality and diversity at workplace?
 Yes
 No
TASK 3
Covered in PPT.
TASK 4
P7 Reflection.
It has been analyze that while conducting respective project I feel very cheerful as it
assist me in gaining the potential kind of knowledge and skills that directly contributes in career
growth and development. At time of working on respective project I can be able to amend
various skills such as communication, leadership, team building and allocation of resources.
Along with, I can be able to polish my knowledge regarding equality and diversity by signifying
its importance for individual as well as organization. On other hand during respective project I
face lots of problems also that hinders self interest in gaining potential kind of outcomes such as
arising conflicts within team members, not properly response of respondents, scarcity of time
and funds and many more factors that directly affect on my level of performance. At last I want
to say that feel pleased that I got the opportunity to enhance my knowledge that is very
important.

Conclusion
From the above report it has been concluded that equality and diversity is very much
potential for an organization as it helps in gaining higher level of motivation, productivity and
retention of employees in positive manner. it is significant for project manager to gain desirable
outcomes from the project in specified time frame by using Gantt chart and WBS. With help of
research tools and techniques such as primary and secondary tools project manager can be able
to collect potential information that helps in taking important kinds of decisions in potential
manner.

References
Books and journals:
Bass, J.M. and Haxby, A., 2019. Tailoring product ownership in large-scale agile projects:
managing scale, distance, and governance. IEEE Software, 36(2), pp.58-63.
Bos-de Vos, M., Volker, L. and Wamelink, H., 2019. Enhancing value capture by managing
risks of value slippage in and across projects. International Journal of Project
Management, 37(5), pp.767-783.
Englund, R. and Graham, R.J., 2019. Creating an environment for successful projects. Berrett-
Koehler Publishers.
Hillson, D., 2019. Capturing Upside Risk: Finding and Managing Opportunities in Projects.
CRC Press.
Keskin, B., Ozorhon, B. and Koseoglu, O., 2019. BIM Implementation in Mega Projects:
Challenges and Enablers in the Istanbul Grand Airport (IGA) Project. In Advances in
Informatics and Computing in Civil and Construction Engineering (pp. 881-888).
Springer, Cham.
Law, C.H.C., 2019. Managing Enterprise Resource Planning Adoption and Business Processes:
A Holistic Approach. Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
Little, S., 2019. Managing Context: Lessons from a Large-Scale Science Project. In Problem
Structuring Approaches for the Management of Projects (pp. 215-229). Palgrave
Macmillan, Cham.
Yıldırım, N. and Korkmaz, Y., 2019. Five Generations and Only One Workforce: How
Successful Businesses Are Managing a Multigenerational Workforce.

Performance Review
1. What was the Project supposed to accomplish?
The project was supposed to “To evaluate challenges that arise out of equality and diversity in
working environment and effective measures to overcome it”. A study on M&S.
2. Did the project succeed in its aims/ how do you know? Specifically, please outline any
evaluation and assessment undertaken.
Yes, it should be analyze by results.
3. What things do you think worked well and why? Evaluate all aspects of the project
(e.g initial inception, project activities and project outcomes) from a range of
perspectives.
The work done potentially that is allocation of resources and time management.
4. What problems emerged during the project and how were they tackled? Was there
timely identification of issues and resolution during the project process?
Problem faced during project is communication and resolved by proper hierarchy.
 What did you learn from undertaking the project?
I learned importance of equality and diversity.
6. How would you rate your performance as a management consultant leading the
project?
I would rate my performance as 9 out of 10.
7. What strengths and weakness of your performance did you identify?
I evaluate strength of mine is time management and weakness is leadership.
8. How will this inform and support your continuous professional development?
By resolving issues proved beneficial in continuous development.