Research Project: Strategies to Manage Cultural Diversity at Aldi

This research project examines strategies for managing cultural diversity in the workplace, using Aldi as a case study. The project begins with a research proposal outlining the title, aims, objectives, and research questions. It then explores the importance of cultural diversity in organizations, citing literature sources that highlight its benefits such as increased creativity and productivity. The report analyzes various strategies for managing diversity, including policy formation, training programs, and performance management. It also identifies challenges faced in managing diversity, such as communication barriers and potential conflicts. The research methodology includes qualitative research, an inductive approach, and an interpretivism research philosophy. Data collection methods involve both primary and secondary sources, including questionnaires. The project outlines activities and timescales, including literature review, data analysis, and recommendations. This comprehensive report offers valuable insights into the complexities of cultural diversity management and its impact on organizational success.

RESEARCH PROJECT
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Table of Contents
Research proposal............................................................................................................................3
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6
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Research proposal
Student Name
Student number
Centre Name
Tutor Geof Branch
Date
Unit Unit 11 – Research Project
Section One: Research title, aim, objectives, questions
Title or working title of research project
To find out strategies to manage cultural diversity in the workplace. A case study on Aldi.
Research project objectives
Aim- to identify the strategies to manage cultural diversity in the workplace. A case study on Aldi
Objectives-
To examine importance of cultural diversity in organisation
To analyse strategies to manage cultural diversity
To find out challenges faced in managing diversity
To recommend ways of how diversity is managed
Research questions
What is the importance of cultural diversity in organisation?
What are the strategies followed to manage cultural diversity?
What are the challenges faced in managing diversity?
In what ways diversity can be managed?
Section Two: Reasons for choosing this research project
Reasons for choosing the project
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The main purpose of undertaking this research is to explore the understanding about cultural diversity
and its impact over the company and its workers as well. This is the reason that investigator carry out
this research as it provides vast and detailed information that help in improving researcher skills and
knowledge. This study is also undertaking by investigator because of their personal and professional
interest that support in making them able to successfully completing the study and also develop
innovative ways to accomplishing future research activities.
Section Three: Literature sources searched
Use of key literature sources to support your research aim, objectives and/or questions
Importance of cultural diversity in organisation
As per the (Neary,. and Winn, 2017) cultural diversity increases the creativity of the employees as firms
get the diverse set of solutions as diversity leads to the diverse solution to the problems. Innovation and
creativity has been regularly focuses on the value of the exposing employees with various experiences and
perspectives. It is also great for the firm point of view as employees from various background provides
various solutions to the problem so employers get better solutions and different opinions. Cultural
diversity brings several talents together and leads to the greater productivity. With various different as
well as diverse minds coming as well as working together, various solutions will arises as every employee
brings within personal way of operating, thinking as well as solving problems and also making several
decisions. Firms that boost diversity inspire all of their workers to perform their highest ability. According
to (Neary,. and Winn, 2017) Workers are also sharing their personal views and experiences and also built
a relationship among their co- workers. It enhances employee engagement and at times enhances workers
motivation that can be great for the firm. Aldi that highlights cultural diversity in the organisation can
regularly enhancing competitive economy where talent and skills are vital to increases the firm, integrated
the most diverse set of firms in enhancing vital to succeed within market. One of the benefits of the
diversity within organisation is positive reputation that the firm can receive. Firms who encourage and
recruit people from a broad range of backgrounds that gains a reputation for becoming a good manager.
Strategies to manage cultural diversity
As said by (Collins, 2018) there are several ways in which diversity can be maintained. This depends on
requirements of company and its cultural environment. Moreover, the use of strategy has to
aligned with diversity goals. The main thing is to form laws and policy which needs to be
followed in it. This will automatically led to maintain diversity within firm. Furthermore it needs
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to eliminate discrimination From it. The gender equality must be followed in it. When all staff
respect and maintain dignity and value of ethics and culture of each other it led to create positive
culture. Along with that, it is necessary for firm to maintain diversity so that positive
environment is developed. However, diversified work force led to creativity and innovation.
There is change in way of working. Besides that, employee get to know each other cultures,
ethics value etc and respect it. But if diversified people are not maintained then it led to conflict
in organizations. There is no creativity in it and also no proper communication.
In the view of there is another strategy through which diversity is maintained. Here, by
providing proper and effective training to staff. It enables them to learn things in proper way.
They apply that learning in doing tasks. Alongside, For example: managers can push its
employees to work in collaboration if cultural diversity is managed. Moreover, managers or the
company can implement holistic model of cultural diversity which can categories the individuals
according to the structure, person’s skills and global mindsets. In addition to it, manager can
organise and conduct various seminar and conference as well. They can be based on benefit of
working in diversified group or diversity. Thus, staff will gain knowledge about importance of it
and they will be able to communicate with each other. In this way it becomes easy to encourage
them in maintaining diversity. Other than this, another strategy is performance management. It is
a process it managing performance of employees and on basis of that providing them reward.
This results in creating a positive culture where everyone contribute in attaining of goals and
objectives. Thus, by measuring performance manager interact with staff. They share ideas and
view by respecting dignity. However, some business follow a different way in which they hire
diversified people. For that they are having a recruitment policy.
Challenges faced in managing diversity
As per the view of (Neary,. and Winn, 2017) Diversity focuses on more difficult when some differences
within communication and language. One of the most spoken language within in United Kingdom, also
various number of people speaking other language within United Kingdom and other languages are also
increasing. The regular of the gap between educational level and wages within both males and females
provides an evidence that are focused on the diversity’s barriers within Aldi still exist. Also employees
within organisation have several experiences and background and also have several ways to approach
same scenarios for their ideas. Staff members who are so extremely valuable to firm, they will keep
driving innovative issues and identify issues. Thus innovations solutions also unnoticed amongst plethora
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of several ideas.
According to the (Deacon, 2016). A fundamental value that might contributes successfully is that respect
among employees as well as workers. If there is a lack of the acceptance of the diverse beliefs and cultures
among staff members, where conflicts also arises. Also these conflicts leads to violence also. When
workers accepts the difference amongst each other, as an outcome it leads to sharing of effective
collaboration and ideas. Acceptance between the employees between each other prevents conflicts.
Diversity training will also aids workers accepts, respects as well understand as each other differences.
As per the view (Howe, 2017) a recent survey , around 45% of the individuals believes that both male
and female will also hires male over female. In the past year , females were paid less as compare to male,
but Equal Pay act changed such things. Managers of the Aldi require to maintain diversity and prevents
gender discrimination, equality in form such as salary, hiring, promotions and opportunities. Disabled
workers also faces difficult navigation by their organisation due to not available proper accommodation
such as wheelchair ramps. As such special workers also have the service dogs as well as various office
buildings are not allows them inside the building. Makes sure that proper arrangements for service dogs
within workplace. Diversity within cultural , political and spiritual beliefs can becomes sometimes
challenges within diverse workforce. Staff members requires to remind again and again that they can
impose their beliefs on the others workers in order to prevent disputes and spats. Employers also need to
be make sure that to keep personal and ethnic belief independent of their duties and responsibilities.
Section Four: Activities and timescales
Activities to be carried out during the research project
Activity Week 1 Week 2 Week
3
Week
4
Week
5
Week
6
Week
7
Week
8
Developing
aims and
objectives of
the project
Writing
literature
review
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Research
methodolog
y
Collection of
data
Analysis of
data
Recommend
ation
Submission
How long this will take:
It will take 8 weeks
Milestone one: LO2
Target date (set by tutor):
Milestone two: LO3
Target date (set by tutor):
Section Five: Research approach and methodologies
What type of research approach and methodologies are you likely to use and why?
Research type- In this type research can be done rely on data collection and analysis, aim and
objectives. It is consider as one of the vital for scholar so that they can easily recognises what type
of research can be carried out as without this it is not possible for researcher to carry out research on
next level. It fully relied on the research to select various type of research that can be done so that
information collection ways can be chosen. It focuses on two type of research such as qualitative
and quantitative (Howe, 2017) . Research in which information can be carried out within non numeric
form known as qualitative research on the other hand if the information can be collected within
numeric data falls under quantitative data. Present Research information can be collected within non
numeric form known as qualitative research can be used.
Research Approach- It is consider as a detailed assumptions of analysing and collecting
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information. Basically two types of the approaches are focused such as inductive and deductive
approach. Focuses on brand new theory for collection as well as analysis of data while on the other
hand deductive focuses on the evaluation on the existing theory. In this research inductive approach
can be used (Neary,. and Winn, 2017) .
Research philosophy- It focuses majorly on source, development of knowledge. There are four
types of the research philosophies focuses such as realism, pragmatism, positivism and
interpretvism. Positivism highlights on the adhering factual knowledge through gaining
observation. . Realism focuses on relies on the idea of independence of reality from the human mind.
Whereas, interpretivism focuses on interpreting elements of the study (Neary,. and Winn, 2017). For this
research, researcher will be using interpretivism research philosophy as it will help the researcher in
interpreting all the elements associated with the research.
Research design- This can be focuses on a type of strategy that can be utilised for integration of the
research elements in order to address the main problem of the scholar. In research design there can
be three types of the research design are there such as casual, descriptive and exploratory.
Exploratory focuses on exploring aim as well as objectives so that research questions can be
answered properly. Descriptive can be used for explaining all the elements regarding research while
casual can be used in order to study cause and effect relationship. Within this research exploratory
research can be utilised as it will aids the researcher within answering in order to answer all the
research questions within more effective answer (Neary,. and Winn, 2017) .
Data collection- this is significant method in research as entire results are based on it. If data is Not
collected properly then it lead to ineffective outcomes. So, data collection is process of gathering relevant
and precise data from reliable and authentic sources. Besides that, there are only two types in this that are
primary and secondary. In primary new data is gathered from various techniques such as questionnaire,
survey interview, etc however in secondary data is collected from old article, journal etc. Basically it
depends on scholar that what method is suitable in it (Deacon, 2016). In present study, both methods will
be used to gather data. For primary questionnaire will be used in it.
Sampling- it is also a vital element in research methodology. Here, in order to gather data from target
people sampling is done. This refers to process of selecting people of similar characteristics from
population. The two common method in it are probability and non non probability. In probability each
one is having equal chance of selection. There are many methods in it such as cluster, random etc
whereas in non probability the chances are in equal. The other methods in it are quota, convenience etc in
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this study, scholar will use random sampling method (Collins, 2018) .
Data analysis- it is procedure of interpreting and analysing of data and info to obtain precise and
accurate results. The data must be analysed properly so that desired outcome is generated. Usually there
are many methods of it but that depends on scholar knowledge and type of data gathered. The method
available in it are statistical and thematic. In statistical it deals entirety with numeric calculation and in
thematic graph and table are made in it. Thus, here researcher will use thematic method. It is because
graph and table will be developed. Hence, outcomes are clearly described (Musesengwa, Chimbari. and
Mukaratirwa, 2017).
Comments and agreement from tutor
Comments (optional):
Iconfirmthattheprojectisnotworkwhichhasbeenorwillbesubmittedforanotherqualificationandis appropriate.
Agreed: (date)
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REFERENCES
Books and journals
Collins, H., 2018. Creative research: the theory and practice of research for the creative
industries. Bloomsbury Publishing.
Deacon, R., 2016. The initial teacher education research project.
Howes, L.M., 2017. Developing the methodology for an applied, interdisciplinary research
project: Documenting the journey toward philosophical clarity. Journal of mixed methods
research, 11(4), pp.450-468.
Musesengwa, R., Chimbari, M.J. and Mukaratirwa, S., 2017. Initiating community engagement
in an ecohealth research project in Southern Africa. Infectious diseases of poverty, 6(1),
p.22.
Neary, M. and Winn, J., 2017. There is an alternative: A report on an action research project to
develop a framework for co-operative higher education.
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