MSBP 1: Research Report on Equality and Diversity Strategies at Nike

This report examines the strategies and initiatives implemented by Nike to build a diverse and inclusive workforce. The research includes an introduction to the concepts of equality and diversity, exploring their importance and advantages within the company. The report details a project management plan, work breakdown structure, and Gantt chart. It incorporates both qualitative and quantitative research methods, utilizing primary data collected through questionnaires and secondary data from literature reviews. The findings are analyzed, and recommendations are provided to enhance Nike's diversity and inclusion efforts, supported by an evaluation of the research methods' accuracy and reliability. The report concludes with reflections on the project's value and the project management process, along with critical evaluations of the outcomes.

MSBP
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Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................4
LO 1.................................................................................................................................................4
P1) Aim and objectives..........................................................................................................4
P2) Project management plan.................................................................................................6
P3) Work breakdown structure and Gantt chart.....................................................................7
M1) Project schedule for monitoring and completing the aims and objectives of the project8
LO2..................................................................................................................................................8
P4) Small-scale research applying primary and secondary methods.....................................8
M2) Accuracy and reliability of primary and secondary methods applied..........................11
D1) Project management process and methods applied for gathering information and data
collection..............................................................................................................................11
LO 3...............................................................................................................................................11
P5) Analysis of data and findings.........................................................................................11
Quantitative data...................................................................................................................11
Qualitative data.....................................................................................................................19
P6 Recommendations as a result of findings and data analysis...........................................20
M3 Evaluate the selection of appropriate tools and techniques for accuracy and authenticity to
support and justify recommendations...................................................................................20
P7 Reflect on the value of undertaking the project to meet stated objectives and own learning
and performance...................................................................................................................21
M4 Evaluate the value of the project management process to meet stated objectives and
support own learning and performance................................................................................21
D2 Critical evaluation and reflection on the project outcomes............................................21
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................22
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................23
APPENDIX I.................................................................................................................................25
APPENDIX II................................................................................................................................27
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INTRODUCTION
Equality at workplace is mainly associated with ensuring that everybody and employees
have equal growth and participation opportunity at workplace should not be treated differently
where as Diversify is associated with taking account and resolving all difference among people
to place a positive value and bonding among staff (Armstrong, Landers, and Collmus, 2016).
This assignment is based on Nike Company which is a well known American Multinational
Corporation having specialisation in manufacturing and marketing of footwear, equipment
apparel and other accessories. This report includes a discussion about the aim objectives of
project together with a project management plan. Further, a Gantt chart and WBS is also form a
part of this project along with a small scale research. Finally suitable recommendation with
proper justification along with reflection and conclusion is also included in this assignment.
LO 1
P1) Aim and objectives
Nike is a multinational company that operates in various location of world and having its main
headquarter in Oregon, US. Being a multinational organisation it become essential for Nike
company to employs candidate from diversified culture and background thus, issue of proper
management of equality and diversity is faced by this organisation (Basak, and Khanna, 2017).
Thus, following research is conducted that is having below stated aim and objectives:
Aim
The main aim of conducting this research work on Nike company is, “To evaluate the
types of Strategies and Initiatives companies put in place in order to build a diverse and
inclusive workforce.”
Objective
 To get better understanding about the phenomena of equality and diversity.
 To evaluate the importance and advantages lead by management of equality and diversity
within Nike Company.
 To identify the Strategies and Initiatives that could be put in place by Nike company in
order to build a diverse and inclusive workforce.
Research questions
 What do you understand by the phenomena of equality and diversity?
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 What importance and advantages lead by management of equality and diversity within
Nike Company?
 Which are the Strategies and Initiatives that could be put in place by Nike company in
order to build a diverse and inclusive workforce?
Literature Review
Concept of equality and diversity along its advantages.
According to the view point of Louise Petty, 2016, Equality is mainly associated with
ensuring that everybody has an equal chance to take up opportunities regardless of their age,
race, gender, class, sexual orientation and should have equal freedom to make use of its skills
and learn new things. On the other side of coin diversity is strongly linked with promoting
human rights and freedoms that must be based on some principles of dignity and respect in order
to recognise and value people coming from different backgrounds, knowledge and skills (Clinton
and Whisnant, 2019). Thus, it can be evaluated that many advantages are lead by equality and
diversity that includes enhancement in productivity through offering a more positive workplace
environment. Further, diversity brings people from different backgrounds thus, enhance the
creativity and decision making power of an organisation through offering assess to different
viewpoints that lead to better competitive strength for a company.
Strategies and Initiatives to build a diverse and inclusive workforce
As per the opinion of Cristian Grossmann, 2020, the main strategies and initiatives that
could be taken by an organisation to build a diverse and inclusive workforce are:
Educate Managers- The first and foremost step of building a diverse and incuse
workforces starts from educating mangers and leaders about benefits of diversity at workplace. It
would Empower these managers with the skills that are necessary to grow and nurture a diverse
team.
Create Inclusive policies- To build a diverse workforce an organisation need to create
more inclusive and fair policies from recruitment to performance appraisal, evaluations and
promotion of staff to ensures selection and growth of all employees at a fair level (Drews. and
Van den Bergh, 2016).
Effective communication- It is an initiative that ensures better binding and interaction
among staff and managers thus, ensures better guidance and direction together with effective
coordination to develop diverse and incuse workforce.
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P2) Project management plan
It is written detailed plan that is made by a researcher to have better planning and
organisation of all aspects of a project. Following crucial aspects and element are included in
project management plan:
Cost: The estimated cost and expenses fir this project is provided below in following table:
Particulars Amount
Travelling expenses £50
Cost incurred in collection of data £100
Other Expenses £60
Total Cost £210
Quality: It is associated with authenticity and reliability of data collected for this
research thus, use of both primary and secondary sources of data collection are made to maintain
the high quality and viability of current research (Durlak, 2015).
Time: It provide information about the actual time need to accomplish a research work.
The estimated time required for current research is around 3 months.
Risk: This aspect is related with the main objectives and issues that can hamper the flow
of a research project. For current risk work the main risk are associated with insufficient time
and lack of resources.
Communication: Timely communication of research findings is essential to meet the
objectives of effective decision making on the basis of recommendation made through a research
thus, use of online and digital firm of communication would be made to ensure transfer of
research findings with all associated stakeholders.
Resource: The main assets and resources use for accomplishment of current research work
includes skilled manpower, financial resources and other statistical and technical resources and
method for data collection and presentation (Flick, 2015).
Scope: The scope of current research work is quite wide as it ensures better understanding
about equality and diversity and also lead to development of managerial skills and other
competencies in researcher and also useful for other organisation and scholars.
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P3) Work breakdown structure and Gantt chart
Work breakdown structure – Use of following WBS are made to properly bifurcate and
distribute research work in different teams and group to bring clarity and transparency in work
and task (Glukhov, Ilin, and Levina, 2015).
Gantt chart- It is a time management tool use of which is made for current research work to have
better understanding about the timelines of various activities so that objectives can be achieved
in time and also eliminates the risk of overlapping of any crucial task of research (Harland,
2014).
.
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M1) Project schedule for monitoring and completing the aims and objectives of the project
Use of project management plan has ensured effective planning about expected cost, resources,
risk and other factors that ensures better organisation and timely completion of various task in an
effective manner thus, ensures better accomplishment of aims and objective. Beside this, use of
Gantt chart and WBS provide an effective project management tool to keep a check and monitor
various activities of research thus, ensures timely completion of work and achievement of
objectives through facilitating clarity and transparency in research work (Huntington, 2018).
LO2
P4) Small-scale research applying primary and secondary methods
The two most commonly used research method are described below use of which are made
by researcher to conduct current research work :
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Qualitative research method- It has been used for current research work as it lead to
collection of in-depth data that provides better information about view point and perspective of
customers. The only drawback of using this research method for current work is that it is a more
time consuming and complex method as presentation of theoretical data is quite difficulty and
time consuming (Israel and et. al., 2017).
Quantitative research method- The main reason behind using this research method is that
it lead to better presentation of research findings and also it also quite easy and less complex to
collect information in numeric terms.
Thus, use of both Qualitative and quantitative research method ensure in-depth
information together with effective presentation to reach a better conclusion and effective
decision making.
Sources of data collection
Use of both primary as well as secondary data is made for current research a justification
of which is provided below:
Primary sources- It lead to collection of most up to date and authentic data directly from
the participants thus, helpful in maintaining overall viability of resrch. Use of Questionnaire is
made to collect primary data for current research work (Jeske and Shultz, 2016).
Secondary sources- It provide a framework and better understanding about research topic
and its objective with the help of some past records and facts. Secondary data is collected from
evaluation of various online articles and journals a discussion of which is provided as Literature
review.
Sample Size- It is a process of selecting a limited number of units and components from a
large population to conduct resrch in a cost effective and easy manner. A sample size of 20
respondents is selected from employees of Nike Company to accomplish objective of current
objectives (Konrad, Yang and Maurer, 2016).
Use of following questionnaire is made to collect information from selected 20 respondents on
the topic of Equality and diversity.
Questionnaire
Q1) Is managing equality and diversity is becoming essential for Nike company to achieve
success and better growth?
a) Yes
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b) No
Q2) What advantages are facilitated by equality and diversity for Nike company?
a) Better expansion opportunity
b) Enchased productivity and creativity
Q3) Is it possible to achieve higher competitive strength by Nike through building a diverse
and inclusive workforce?
a) Possible
b) Not possible
Q4) Which is the main factor that exerted pressure on Nike to build diverse and inclusive
workplace?
a) Emergence at global level
b) Advancement in technology
Q5) Are your agreed with the fact that employees engagement is the first step that lead to
creation of inclusive and diverse workforce?
a) Agreed
b) Disagreed
Q6) What issues could be faced by Nike in absence of proper management of equality and
diversity?
a) De-motivation in employees
b) Increased conflicts
Q7) Which are the Strategies and Initiatives that could be put in place by Nike company in
order to build a diverse and inclusive workforce?
a) Educate manager
b) Effective communication
c) Compliance with equality law
Q8) What overall impact is lead by diverse and inclusive workforce on performance of
Nike company?
a) Positive
b) Negative
Q9) What role is lead by managers of Nike in building a diverse workforce?
Q10) What possible issues can be faced by leaders while managing diversified employees to
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facilitates equality at workplace?
Q11) Any further suggestion for Nike company to create an inclusive and diverse
workforce?
M2) Accuracy and reliability of primary and secondary methods applied
The use of primary and secondary method of research for current project is reliable as it
facilitates collection of primary or firsthand data directly from respondent’s together with
support and guidance from past records and documents to maintain the authenticity and accuracy
of research. To main accuracy of secondary data it is collected from authorised online articles
and journal and to maintain the reliability of primary data use of random sampling method is
made to remove chances of biasness and favouritism from research work that ensures fair
selection of observations for investigation (Long, 2016).
D1) Project management process and methods applied for gathering information and data
collection
Use of project management plan and tool is effective to meet the objectives of research on time
through facilitating effective planning and brining clarity in research work and also enhance
viability and efficiency of research through reducing chances of overlapping of work. Further,
use of questionnaire is made to collect quantitative data that facilitates most easy and simplest
way to collect information directly from responders in minimum time with the help of a written
document that consists a set of question to gather relevant information associated with the
research topic (Nasurdin, Ahmad and Tan, 2015).
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LO 3
P5) Analysis of data and findings
Quantitative data
Theme 1: Managing equality and diversity is essential
Q1) Is managing equality and diversity is becoming essential for Nike
company to achieve success and better growth?
Frequency
a) Yes 18
b) No 2
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Interpretation
It has been observed that management of equality and diversity is becoming essential for
organisation to achieve success and better growth as 18 respondents out of 20 are in support of
this fact while only 2 participants are against this statement.
Theme 2: Advantages facilitated by equality and diversity
Q2) What advantages are facilitated by equality and diversity for
Nike company?
Frequency
a) Better expansion opportunity 12
b) Enchased productivity and creativity 8
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