Analyzing Strategies for Workplace Diversity and Equality at M&S

This project report investigates strategies for promoting diversity and equality in the workplace, using Marks & Spencer as a case study. It begins with an introduction defining diversity and equality and highlighting their importance in the workplace. The project includes a project management plan with cost, time, quality, risk, communication, and resource considerations. A Gantt chart and work breakdown structure are provided to visualize project timelines and tasks. The research employs both qualitative and quantitative methods, including questionnaires to gather data on employee perceptions. The analysis of the research data focuses on understanding the concept of a diverse and inclusive environment, the necessity of such an environment, and the strategies M&S can implement. The report concludes with recommendations for Marks & Spencer, reflecting on the research findings and suggesting ways to improve workplace diversity and equality. References and appendices, including the questionnaire, are also included.

Managing a Successful
Business Project

Table of Contents
Topic- “ To identify the strategies which can be used by organisations in order to bring diversity
and equality at workplace. ” A case study of Marks & Spencer......................................................1
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
P1. Aims and Objectives.............................................................................................................1
P2. Project Management Plan ....................................................................................................2
P3. Gantt chart and Work breakdown structure..........................................................................3
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................6
P4. Small-scale research by Applying Qualitative and Quantitative Research...........................6
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................8
P5. Analysation of research and data .........................................................................................8
P6. Recommendations...............................................................................................................17
P7. Reflection............................................................................................................................18
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................18
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................20
APPENDIX I.................................................................................................................................21

Topic- “ To identify the strategies which can be used by organisations in order
to bring diversity and equality at workplace. ” A case study of Marks &
Spencer.
INTRODUCTION
Diversity is the cultural, generational differences and ethnic ranges that are presented at
workplace and equality is determined as an approach to treat all the workers equally with in all
aspects irrespective of their gender, caste, creed, nationality, and so on. In an organisation, it is
very important to bring diversity and equality at workplace in order to motivate employees
towards achieving certain goals and objectives. This report is based upon a British based retail
organisation named Marks & Spencer that deals with clothes, accessories, fragrances, food and
home products (Bouncken and Reuschl, 2018). This report covers a research which is conducted
on this organisation regarding how it deals with bringing equality and diversity at workplace. It
covers aims and objectives of this research and on that basis a project management plan is
developed. A WBS and Gantt chart is also prepared in this context and a small scale research is
conducted using both qualitative and quantitative approach.
TASK 1
P1. Aims and Objectives
Background
Marks & Spencer is a British based retail organisation that deals with food products,
accessories, clothing and home appliances. It was founded on 1884 by Thomas Spencer and
Michael Marks. It has around 959 stores in UK and it also provides its products and services at
international level. This organisation believes that in order to bring innovation in workplace, its
employees plays a major role and for this purpose it is important for an enterprise to develop a
inclusive and diversity working environment (Brennan, 2018).
Aim
The aim of this project report is, “ To identify initiatives and strategies that can be
brought up by organisations to bring equality and diversity at workplace.”
Objectives
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The objectives of this research are-
 To understand the concept of diverse and inclusive workforce ( Ng and Rumens, 2017).
 To determine certain strategies which can be used by Marks & Spencer for developing an
inclusive workplace.
 To determine initiatives which can be taken into account by Marks & Spencer for
bringing diversity and equality at workplace (Bryson, 2018).
Questions
 What is the concept of diverse and inclusive workplace?
 What are the strategies which can be used by Marks & Spencer for developing an
inclusive workplace?
 What initiatives Marks & Spencer can take into account to bring diversity and equality at
workplace?
P2. Project Management Plan
Project management plan refers to a document which is utilised by different enterprises in
order to describe and determine each and every phase of a specific project. The components that
are included in an appropriate project management plan are planning, action, initiating,
controlling and closing. Here, a project management plan is conducted upon the way in which an
enterprise can bring diversity and equality at workplace (Hajro Gibson and Pudelko, 2017). It is
elaborated in detail as follows-
Cost- It is defined as a sum of money that is needed for implementing a specific project
in order to meet its overall objectives. The cost that is required for execution of this project in an
appropriate manner is £350 that is distributed as follows-
Total Forecasted Budget
Particulars Amount
Promotion expenses £50
Cost incurred in technology £150
Other Expenses £100
Total Cost £300
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Time- It refers to a specific period which is required for completing a project in order to
fulfil all the goals and objectives of a project. The time which is required to finish this project is
12 weeks.
Quality- The quality of this particular conducted research is high as it is conducted by
using data and information which is relevant and important at the same time. This is conducted
on primary data basis that enhances the reliability of data used in this research (Honeyman and
Jana, 2019).
Risk- It include specific barriers that can arise when a research is conducted and has
negative impact upon research quality. The risk which arisen when this research is conducted is
lack of time which resolved by indulging in overtime.
Communication- An effective communication has to be there while a particular research
is conducted. When this research is formulated than both oral as well as written communication
is utilised and all the team members are given equal opportunity for taking certain decisions
( Byrd and Scott, C. L, 2018).
Scope- This research will help the researcher and other team members for enhancing
specific skills like analytical and communication skills that will open various opportunities for
them in upcoming future.
Resource- There are certain resources which are used while conducting this research
which are human, technical, physical,and financial resources.
P3. Gantt chart and Work breakdown structure
Gantt Chart: The following term refers to the graphical representation with the help
of which interrelationship in between various activities and the relative time taken in order
to complete the different tasks in the project are provided to be done in an effective manner.
With the help of knowing about the time of performing tasks, number of tasks and many
other related information to the project, it will help in formulating the strategies in a
successful way that will help in the successful accomplishment of the project (Minbaeva,
2018). One of the most important tool which is used by the managers of an organisation in
order to achieve goals and objectives of an organisation. The representation has been
provided as under:
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Work Break Down Structure: It refers to the structure with the help of which an
individual tasks is divided into different parts and on the basis of which these tasks are provided
to staff members in an organisation in order to make sure about the effective completion of the
project ( O’SULLIVAN1 and KEARNEY, 2018). This will also help in making improvement
in the overall processes and the efficiency with which the tasks provided to employees are
performed. The following tool is the graphical representation showing time slots which are made
for each and every tasks of the project.
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TASK 2
P4. Small-scale research by Applying Qualitative and Quantitative Research
At the time of conducting research, it is important to make proper investigation with
the help of different method that helps in making research valid and relevant. In addition to
this, with the help of these method it will be possible to interpret, relevant information
which helps in conducting research in a successful way. However, in every research, the
makes use of systematic data and set of study particularly related to the topic of the research.
On the basis of which, there are two methods of doing investigation in the research which
are qualitative and quantitative (Northouse, 2017). The description has also been provided
as under:
Qualitative Research Method: The following method is used by the researchers in order to
make successful completion of the study on which they are carrying out their research. This
method can be described as the method which makes use of theoretical data, model, tools in
order to make the successful completion of the research. Using statements, perspective of
authors and other measures are done in order to complete this research. With the help of this
method, deep analysis is done and readers are provided with enhanced knowledge and
reasons being any statements made by them. The following method does not make use of
any type of numerical data and figures in the completion of their projects (Pleasant, 2017).
Quantitative Research Method: The following research method is defined as the method
which makes use of different types of statistical data, facts and figures in the successful
completion of their research with which they are provided with. The following method
completely makes use of numerical data and figures and does not focus much on the
focusing on the use of theoretical information. The main content of the research is provided
only with the help of numerical data (Rao and Roberts, 2018).
Primary Data Collection Method: This method can be defined as the first hand collection
of data in which the data is collected for the very first time and presented in front of the
users. For example, the use of surveys, questionnaires, interviews are covered under this
aspect.
Secondary Data Collection Method: This method can be defined as the method that makes
use of secondary resources or the second hand collection of data. The data used here already
exists and is used again in the research in order to support or counter some arguments.
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Data Collection: It refers to the method which is used by the researcher in order to
complete the research. At first, the data collection method is selected and after tat data is
being collected in order to complete the research (Kane, 2017).
Questionnaire: It refers to the particular set of questions which are prepared by the
researcher in order to get information and that helps in the successful completion of the
research.
Questionnaire
Q1) Do you understand the phenomena of diversity and inclusive environment at
workplace?
a) Yes
b) No
Q2) Is is essential to bring diverse environment at workplace of Marks & Spencer?
a) Yes
b) No
Q3) What will be the impact of bringing diversity and equality at workplace?
a) Positive working environment
b) Employees motivation
c) Both
Q4) What are the strategies which can be adopted by Marks & Spencer for bringing a
diverse and inclusive workplace?
a) Mentorship programmes
b) Employee engagement programmes
c) Both
Q5) What are the barriers which can be faced by Marks & Spencer for building diverse
and inclusive working environment?
a) Conflicts can be raised
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b) Decreased productivity
Q6) What are the benefits which can be achieved by Marks & Spencer when it will bring
diversity and equality in its workplace?
a) Improved performance
b) Employees retention
Q7) What will happen if M&S will not bring equality at its workplace?
a) Demotivate employees
b) Reduce employee's morale
c) Decrease productivity
d) All of the above
Q8) What are the various ways in which barriers related to diverse and inclusive
workplace can be reduced?
a) Diversity training
b) Give respect to all the culture
c) Examination of workplace's culture
Q9) What are the strategies which can be adopted by Marks & Spencer in order to bring
equality at workplace?
a) Paying equal remuneration to its workers
b) Indulging its workers in decision making procedure
Q10) Any recommendations?
TASK 3
P5. Analysation of research and data
Theme 1. Understanding the phenomena of diversity and inclusive environment at
workplace.
Q1) Do you understand the phenomena of Frequency
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diversity and inclusive environment at
workplace?
a) Yes 7
b) No 3
Interpretation- From the above graph, it has been interpreted that 7 out of 10 respondents
understand the concept of inclusive and diversified environment at workplace whereas 3
respondents do not understand this phenomena.
Theme 2. Necessity for bringing diverse environment at workplace.
Q2) Is is essential to bring diverse
environment at workplace of Marks &
Spencer?
Frequency
a) Yes 8
b) No 2
9
a) Yes b) No
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
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Interpretation- From the given graph, it has been interpreted that 8 out of 10 respondents thinks
that diverse environment is required to brought at workplace in Marks & Spencer as it will
motivate employees to perform in a more appropriate manner. On the other hand as per the other
two respondents, it has been interpreted that they do not prefer the need to bring diverse
environment at workplace.
Theme 3. Impact of bringing equality and diversity at workplace.
Q3) What will be the impact of bringing
diversity and equality at workplace?
Frequency
a) Positive working environment 1
b) Employees motivation 1
c) Both 8
10
a) Yes b) No
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8