Impact of Workplace Discrimination on M&S Performance and Productivity

This research project investigates the impact of workplace discrimination on the performance and productivity of employees and the organization, focusing on Marks and Spencer. The study aims to understand the concept and types of workplace discrimination, analyze its influence on employee performance, and recommend ways to reduce it. The research includes objectives to determine the effects of discrimination within the organization, analyze its impact on employees and the workplace environment, and suggest methods to improve performance. The methodology involves a literature review, a research onion framework, an inductive approach, and both primary and secondary data collection methods, including questionnaires and online sources. The project outlines activities, timescales, and a Gantt chart, along with ethical considerations and a research ethics approval form. The findings are expected to provide valuable insights into mitigating the negative effects of workplace discrimination and enhancing employee productivity and organizational success.

Research Form

Research Proposal Form
Student Name: ______________________ Student ID:
____________
Centre Name: _____________________
Tutor: ________________ Date:
___________________
Unit: ____________________
Proposed Title: “To analyse the impact of workplace discrimination on performance and
productivity of employees and organisation. A study on Marks and Spencer”.

Section One: Title, objective, responsibilities
Title or working title of the research project
Title: “To analyse the impact of workplace discrimination on performance and
productivity of employees and organisation. A study on Marks and Spencer
1.1 Aim of research
The main purpose of this investigation is to analyse and investigate the impact of workplace
discrimination on performance and productivity of employees and organisation. on Marks and
Spencer, the retailer. The researcher will be looking at the Marble Arch branch, Oxford Street,
London
1.2 Research Objectives:
 To understand the concept of workplace discrimination.
 To determine the types of discrimination that takes place within organisation.
 To analyse the influence of workplace discrimination on performance of employees and
organisation.
 To recommend various ways through which workforce discrimination can be reduce
from workplace.
1.3 Research Questions:
 What can be the impacts of Workplace Discrimination within organisation?
 How different types of discriminations impacts employees and workplace environment
in company?
 How the workplace discrimination influence performance and productivity of
employees?
Section Two: Reasons for choosing this research project
2.1:The reasons why I have chosen this project are as follows:
The main reason for me to choose Workplace Discrimination as a research topic is to
determine the influence of discrimination over performance and productivity of employees and
M&S. Apart from this, the another reason for choosing this topic is that it is the topic of my
interest area. Studying about this topic will help me in gaining in-depth knowledge about the
topic as well as all the aspects associated with it. It also me helps in ascertaining various ways

through which organisations can remove discrimination from workplace. Conducting this
research helps in improving my research skills and knowledge not only about the topic, but in
other areas also. The scope area of study is wide as this helps me in gaining deep
understanding about workplace discrimination, its types and impacts that helps me in deriving
effective solutions to remove discrimination from workplace. Apart from this, the research also
have academic importance as this will help scholars in conducting further research over the
topic.
Section Three: Literature sources searched
Workplace discrimination is a critical issue within business organisations that hampers
productivity and performance of employees as well as organisation in an adverse way.
Discrimination leads to dissatisfaction among employees which directly influence their
productivity and performance as well. It leads to create ineffective culture at workplace and
hurts the morale of workers.
3.1 Concept of Workplace Discrimination
S. Scott, 2020. Discrimination at the Workplace. [Online]. Available through:
<https://smallbusiness.chron.com/discrimination-workplace-2855.html>
3.2 Different types of discrimination that takes place within
organisation
Types of Discrimination in the Workplace, 2020. [Online]. Available
through: <https://www.mightyrecruiter.com/recruiter-guide/types-of-
discrimination-in-the-workplace/>
3.3 Influence of workplace discrimination on performance of
employees and organisation
Workplace Discrimination highly impacts the productivity and performance of employees
as it reduces the motivation level and morale of employees which in turn results in their less
engagement in tasks and activities of firm. This ultimately put adverse impacts on productivity
and profit ratios of company. If the company discriminates its employees on the basis of their
age, disability, gender, nationality, religion, caste etc., then this will develop an unhealthy
workplace environment that ultimately leads to decline in productivity and performance of
employees as well as business entity.
T. Benjamin, 2020. The Ways Discrimination Negatively Affects Businesses. [Online].
Available through: <https://smallbusiness.chron.com/ways-discrimination-negatively-
affects-businesses-36925.html>
3.4 Various ways through which workforce discrimination can be

eliminate from workplace
D.S. Stokes, 2017. Top 5 Ways to Overcome Discrimination. [Online]. Available
through: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/top-5-ways-to-overcome-di_b_7948058
3.5 Recommendations to prevent workplace discrimination
Y. Pawar, 2018. Role HR plays in protecting employee’s from discrimination in the work place
[Online]. Available through:
https://upraise.io/blog/protecting-employees-discrimination/
3.6 Theories related to employment discrimination
S. Bornstein., 2016. Unifying antidiscrimination law through stereotype theory. [Online].
Available through: https://scholarship.law.ufl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?
article=1777&context=facultypub
3.7 Impact of discrimination on performance from theoretical
perspective
Alexandra A.Henderson., 2017. Weight discrimination and performance using self
determination theory to explain workplace outcomes related to weight. . [Online]. Available
through: https://etd.ohiolink.edu/!etd.send_file?
accession=bgsu1510634660988501&disposition=inline
Section Four: Activities and timescales
Activities to be carried out during the research
project :
Selection of Topic
Aims and Objectives
Literature Review
One to one supervision
Research Methodology
Data collection
Data analysis
Conclusion and recommendation
Final formative feedback
Days
2
4
8 – 15
3
8
21
17
5
2
2

Submission of final project
Milestone one: ____Research Proposal ____________
Target date (set by tutor): _____29 Days _______________
Milestone two: ___Research Project ____________________
Target date (set by tutor): ____45 Days _________________
4.2 Gantt Chart:
It is a kind of graphical representation that depicts the starting and ending time of completion
of activities of research. The number of activities in research are mentioned below:
Section Four: Research approach and methodologies
Research methodology refers to an effective process or approach which is applied by
investigator in order to collect reliable information or data about the project or topic. For this
research onion framework is used and is consider as the appropriate model which has inner and
outer layer. The research onions consist of various layers such as research philosophy,
approach, strategy, time horizon, research choice and procedure.
Inductive research approach is used in this research by investigator because it assist by
providing accurate information regarding the topic. Interpretivisim philosophy will be use by
investigator to gather appropriate data. For collecting the primary data, questionnaire will use

and for filling those, 40 respondents will select by using random sampling method. Apart
from this, secondary data will collected through online sources, books, journals, online
publications etc. Inductive approach will use in this research to gather information on the topic
so that valid conclusion can be drawn. Survey strategy will use in the research to gather data by
conducting online and offline surveys. The time horizon depicts the starting and completion
time of research. In this research, approximately 20 weeks will required for its successful
completion. Qualitative research method will use to gather the non numerical and detailed data
on topic. Quantittative data will also be used to look at an statistics and numbers.
Comments and agreement from tutor
Comments (optional):
I confirm that the project is not work which has been or will be
submitted for another qualification and is appropriate.
Agreed: ________________ (name)_______________ Date ______________
Comments and agreement form project proposal checker( IV
sampling)
Comments (Optional):
I confirm that the project is appropriate.
Agreed /Disagree: (Name of the IV)
Date

Research Ethics approval form
All students conducting research activity that involves human participants
or the use of data collected form human participants are required to gain
ethical approval before commencing their research. Please answer all
relevant questions and note that your form may be returned if incomplete.
For further support and guidance please see your respective Unit Tutor:
Before completing this form, we advise that you discuss your proposed
research fully with your unit tutor. Please complete this form in good time
before your research project is due to commence.

Section 6. 1: Basic details:
Project title:
“To analyse the impact of workplace discrimination on performance
and productivity of employees and organisation. A study on Marks
and Spencer”.
Student name:
Student ID number:
Programme:
College Name:
Intended research start date:
Intended research end date:
Section 6. 2 Project summary
The project aims at analysing the impact of work place
discrimination on performance of employees as well as organisation.
The research project will include a literature review as well to
analyse the findings from the previous literature sources. It will use
primary data collection methods to collect the primary data from the
participants. The project will also include both qualitative and
quantitative data for drawing conclusions. The findings will of the
project will assist business to enhance the work place productivity
and performance.
Please select all research methods that you plan to use as a part of your
project:
 Interviews Yes No
 Questionnaires Yes No
 Observations Yes No
 Use of personal records Yes No
 Data Analysis Yes No
 Action Research Yes No
 Focus Groups Yes No
 Others (Please specify) :

Section 6. 3: Participants
Please answer the following questions, giving full details where necessary.
Will your research involve human participants?
Yes
Who are the participants? Tick all that apply:
Ages 12-16: Young people aged: 17-18 Adults
How will participants be recruited (identified an approached)?
Participants will be recruited by using random sampling method.
Describe the processes you will use to inform participants about what you
are doing:
In order to communicate all information regarding topic to participant’s personalised
email containing all research objectives, process will be send to participants.
How will you obtain consent from participants? Will this be written? How
will it be made clear to participants that they may withdraw consent to
participate at any time?
The informed consent will be obtained from the participants through written document or
e-mail. The consent form will also include all the terms which inform that participants can
withdraw anytime from the research.
Studies involving questionnaires: will participants be given the option of
omitting questions that do not wish to answer?
Yes No
If no please explain why below and ensure that you cover any ethical issues
arising from this
Studies involving observation: Confirm whether participants will be
asked for their informed consent to be observed.

Yes No
Will you debrief participants at the end of their participation (i.e give them
a brief explanation of the study)?
Yes No
Will participants be given information about the findings of your study?(This
could be a brief summary of your findings in general)
Yes No
Section 6.4: Data Storage and Security
All the personal data will be stored in laptops and pen drive and
information is collected by compliance with the Data Protection Act (1998)
Yes No
Who will have access to the data and personal information?
Researcher
During the research:
Researcher
Where will the data be stored?
Personal Laptop
Will mobile devices such as USB storage and laptops be used
Yes No
If Yes, please provide further details:
After the research:

Where will the data be stored?
Personal Laptop
How long will the data and records be kept for and in what format?
For 10 years
Will data be kept for use by other researchers? Yes No
Section 6.5 : Ethical Issues
Are there any particular features of your proposed work, which may raise
ethical concerns? If so, please outline how you will deal with these:
It is important that you demonstrate your awareness of potential risks that
may arise because of your research. Please consider/address all issues that
may apply. Ethical concerns may include, but are not limited to the
following :
 Informed consent.
 Potentially vulnerable participants.
 Sensitive topics
 Risk to participants and /or researchers
 Confidentiality/anonymity
 Disclosures/ limits to confidentiality
 Data storage and security, both during and after the research
(including transfer, sharing, encryption, protection).
 Reporting
 Dissemination and use of your findings.
Section 6.6: Declaration
I have read, understood and will abide by the institution’s Research
and Ethics Policy: Yes No
I have discussed the ethical issues relating to my research with my
Unit Tutor:
Yes No
I confirm that to the best of my knowledge:
The above information is correct, and this is a full description of the
ethical issues that may arise in the course of my research