Equality and Diversity in the Workplace: Aston Martin Case Study

This research project focuses on equality and diversity within the workplace, specifically using Aston Martin as a case study. The report begins with an introduction, outlining the background, aims, objectives, rationale, and research questions concerning workplace discrimination and its impact on employee productivity. A literature review explores cultural diversity, its importance, and the issues that can arise, including ineffective communication and workplace conflicts. The study examines the impact of workplace discrimination on employee productivity and performance, highlighting the importance of equality. The methodology section details the research approach, including the development of a questionnaire, discussion of reliability and validity, and consideration of costs and ethical issues. Data analysis and interpretation are presented, followed by research outcomes, recommendations, and a concluding reflection on the research methods and potential alternative methodologies.

Research Project
Table of Contents

Research topic: Equality and diversity in the workplace. A case study on Aston Martin...............1
Chapter 1: Introduction....................................................................................................................1
1.1) Background of research project......................................................................................1
1.2) Aims and objectives........................................................................................................1
1.3) Rationale for project........................................................................................................2
1.4) Research questions..........................................................................................................2
1.5) Activities and timelines...................................................................................................2
Chapter 2: Literature Review...........................................................................................................4
Cultural diversity and issues that can arise due to cultural diversity.....................................5
Cultural diversity is important and how it result in better business performance..................5
Highlights the relationship between cultural diversity issues and benefits of cultural diversity
reflecting how it relates to business performance..................................................................8
A set of hypothesis that you wish to test by a survey the hypothesis can test the relationship
between cultural diversity issues and its impact on business performance..........................10
Chapter 3: Research Methodology.................................................................................................10
3.1) Research methodology..................................................................................................10
Development of the questionnaire along with discussion about the reliability and validity of
research.................................................................................................................................12
3.2) Cost, assess and ethical issues.......................................................................................15
Chapter 4: Data analysis and interpretation...................................................................................15
Chapter 5: Research outcomes and Recommendation...................................................................25
5.1) Research outcomes........................................................................................................25
5.2) Communication with stakeholders................................................................................26
5.3) Recommendations.........................................................................................................26
Chapter 6: Reflection and Conclusion...........................................................................................27
6.1) Reflection on effectiveness of current research methods..............................................27
6.2) Alternative research methodologies..............................................................................28
6.3) Conclusion.....................................................................................................................28
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................29
Appendix I: Research Proposal Form............................................................................................30
Appendix II: Research Ethics approval form.................................................................................35

Research topic: Equality and diversity in the workplace. A case study on
Aston Martin
Chapter 1: Introduction
1.1) Background of research project
Workplace discrimination is something that is commonly seen at workplace of all
organisation and is a main cause behind chaos and conflicts among employees which hamper
their performance and productivity level (Dhanani, Beus and Joseph., 2018). Thus, in current
market situation when competition is at peak it become essential for all organisation to look out
for better strategies and policies to form an inclusive workforce that lead to enhancement in its
skills and competencies for better success. Aston martin is famous British independent
automotive luxury car manufacturing brand having its branches and operations across diversified
location of world thus, management of equality and diversity becomes more crucial and vital for
this organisation. Therefore, the current research is based on investigation conducted on Aston
martin in order to evaluate and determine the impact of workplace diversity on employee's
productivity to have better formulation of strategies to ensure equality at workplace to achieve
higher success level and productivity thrugh creation of more motivated and satisfied workforce.
1.2) Aims and objectives
Aim of the project
The main aim and purpose behind conducting current research work is, “To determine the
impact of workplace cultural diversity on employee's productivity.”
Objectives of project
The main objective and purpose behind conducting this research work on Aston martin
are stated as follows:
 To study the importance of equality for an organisation like Aston Martin.
 To identify the issues faced by businesses due to cultural diversity
 To identify the impact of workplace diversity on worker's productivity and performance
(Caponi, 2017).
 To examine various strategies that could be employ by Aston Martin to deal with the
issues of cultural diversity and to promote equality at workplace.
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1.3) Rationale for project
The selection of current research work is rationale from both professional and personal
view point of researcher as from professional perspective it facilitates better understanding about
concept of equality and diversity. Furthers, it also ensures better understanding and evaluation of
strategies that could be employ by an organisation to deal with the issues of workplace
discrimination and to promote equality at workplace that lead to better performance and higher
productivity for an organisation. Apart from this, the selection of current research work is also
justifiable from personal view point of investigator as ensures compliance with educational and
academic background together with better managerial skills and knowledge for other scholars.
1.4) Research questions
The research questions and evaluated and addressed with current investigation on Aston
martin are provided below:
 What importance and significance is associated with management of equality for an
organisation like Aston Martin?
 What is the impact of workplace diversity on worker's productivity and performance?
 What are the various strategies that could be employ by Aston Martin to deal with the
issues of workplace discrimination and to promote equality at workplace?
1.5) Activities and timelines
Use of Gantt chart is made to systematically present the activities and timelines of current
research work. The Gantt Chart is basically a time management and statistical tool that is used by
a researcher to ensure and have better and more systematic presentation of all research activities.
Therefore, an analysis can be made as it that use of Gantt chart for current study is vital to
complete current investigation in efficient mane as it ensures better bifurcation of time and
resources among various activities to maintain the efficiency of study (Rees and Smith. eds.,
2017).
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Chapter 2: Literature Review
Literature review basically reflects and present a conceptual form of process which provides
an effective analysis and review of set research topic with the help of scholarly paper and other
articles. Thus, literature review is helpful to set a better base and framework for investigation by
the way of leading better understanding about the current research topic as the analyzation of
impact of equality and workplace discrimination in the employee productivity as in the context
of Auston Martin company perspective (Rosenblatand et. al., 2017).
To study the importance of equality for an organization perspective
According to the Rose Johnson, 2017. In order to understand about the concept of
equality within an organisation that it facilitates and ensures equal opportunity for all the
employees through ensuring fairness in task assignments. Further, a sense of fairness and
positivity is also brought by equality as it equally contributes and upholds the skills and
knowledge of the employees along with identifying areas which can improvised to have better
productivity (Boone, 2017). In context with the Aston Martin company they enhanced the
mobility of equality in their premises through the understanding of equality which promotes the
federal law, eliminate the discrimination in the workplace order under the Equal Employment
Opportunity Act (Baur and et. al., 2018). Companies which owns and work on equality at
workplace do not base hire on any stressful decisions, compensation, promotion and other
benefits which are employees gets on the basis of race, sexuality, gender, age, religion or
national origin (Pass, 2018).
By providing the knowledge about the how to fight inequality as there would be arising
of situation on which where the equality will be threatened in the workplace by the staff get
discriminated and before to enter into any fight regarding with the inequality in the workplace an
individual should know about the identity. There should be proper understanding of diversity
where it creates the health environment in the premises of organisation as it reasons for to having
and getting the organisation success. At last but not least it helps to not only eliminate of
discrimination but also motivates to protect from discrimination as it promotes the activity
solving the grievances in which human resource department encourages to employees for letting
them know about these type of discrimination situation where they can protect and implement
the right form of workplace equality(Madera, 2017).
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Cultural diversity and issues that can arise due to cultural diversity
As per the view point of, the concept of cultural diversity is vital for a firm especially in
current business environment as it ensures and facilitates a more diverse and skilled form of
workforce. The concept of cultural diversity is mainly associated and related with hiring and
recruiting employees from different culture and background without having any kind of
discrimination and biasness. Therefore, an analysis can be made out that many issues and
challenges are created by culture diversity within a firm. Some of these issues lead out by
cultural diversity are discussed as follows:
Enhancement in chaos and workplace conflicts- the main issue created by cultural diversity
comprises of the fact that a workforce which is having employees from diverse background and
culture would have a different way and behaviour along with a diverse view point which lead to
enhancement in the chances of chaos. Thus, an analysis can be made out that leading out a
cultural diversity would lead to enhanced chances of conflict among employees due to there
different view and interest level that is biggest issue faced by a firm while managing cultural
diversity.
Ineffective communication- the another issue that is faced due to cultural diversity consists
of ineffective communication as the employees who belongs to different culture and background
are used to diverse languages. Thus, it is difficult to have a proper communication with
employees which leads to issues of ineffective communication.
Cultural diversity is important and how it result in better business performance
With respect to the information provided by , it has been analysed that cultural diversity is
important and vital for a firm as it plays crucial role in attracting a larger number of talented and
skilled employees. The concept of cultural diversity consists of recruiting employees from a
different background which leads to a more skilled and competent workforce which ensures
better business performance. Apart from this, recognising better talent and respecting each other
differences through valuing positive aspects of all cultural ensures a more productive and
creative workforce that supports and leads to better business performance. Beside this, the
biggest advantages and benefit of cultural diversity comprises of the fact that it lead to and bring
new opportunities for enhanced expansion and growth of a firm through leading out a more
competent and diverse workforces. Apart from this, the main issues faced during expansion of a
business consists of issue of language barrier and lack of information about customers that is
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eliminated and reduce by the concept of cultural diversity through a workforce with new and
better perceptive that support better performance of the business organisation.
To identify the impact and the importance of the workplace discrimination on to employee’s
productivity and performance.
According to the Tia Benjamin, 2017. The impact and the importance of the workplace
discrimination on employees productivity and performance on which it presumes the negative
environment where the individual would not able to generate the opportunity or not accomplish
it. As with the context of Aston martin company having the existence of the workplace
discrimination where they have faced the challenges regarding the employees get rid of from
organisation as in their premises they have culture as in form of Gender discrimination as they
promotes the male employee more than female workforce in which there was not such
availability of the equal pay structure in their premise where female employees get over to hit the
strike at the few years back in which company had to change their policies and they now
introduced the Gender pay gap where they improvised as to provide the equal pay to the male
and female workforce as per their competencies (Aston Martin Gender Pay, 2019). Through
which the importance get encourage to eliminate their discrimination factor from their
organisation and get succeed in following form are :
Job Satisfaction: The discriminatory practices of job satisfaction due to workplace
equality in which the employee invest the skills and knowledge as well as the trust. Promotion,
bonus and benefits should be awarded based on upon the candidate’s qualifications and
performances as well as it scrutinize the higher potential competences through talent
management. But workplace discrimination can disturb the job satisfaction if the managers
would not recognition the efforts which are elaborated through employees (Neumark, 2018).
Commitment, loyalty and Turnover: it has been analysed that of an employee tend to
frequently observe that regular discrimination is prevailing and present within an organisation it
is more likely to have negative impact on their commitment and loyalty level which in terms also
influence the overall sales and productivity of firm. Thus, by the way of recruiting employees on
fair basis and training of new and existing employees in terms of equality to enhance the skills
and knowledge would help an organisation to effectively manage the efficiency of the workforce
(Böheim, 2019). Due to the concept of workplace discrimination it has been observed that it also
leads an affect on the hiring process as when wrong candidate is selected for the organisation on
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the basis of any discrimination many consequences and issues are faced by a firm. Commitment
and loyalty are based on work in the under of workplace equality to offers the platform in which
each employee performance is mapped through the mangers.
Reputation and Recruitment: Having and prevailing the presence of high level of
discriminatory practises would lead to an adverse affect on the company’s reputation as it is
serves and prefer only a certain group of people which can be faced on any demographic factor
along with other basis of biasness like gender, age, culture, caste and religion etc. thus, due to
presence of high level of discrimination many issues are also faced in recruitment of the
candidate as they are not selected on the basis and terms of there qualification while other factors
like gender, age and other factors are given priority as it has been observed that in workplace by
managers that women are not much eligible to handle the operation or administrative work
(Caponi, 2017).
To evaluating the various strategies which could employ the Aston Martin to deal with issues
of workplace discrimination to promote equality in workplace.
According to the Diane Lynn, 2018. Through the interpretation of the various strategies
on which workplace discrimination creates the issues where to promoting the equality in
organization premises to making the reminding of better communication, having a good and
positive relationship with the peers are not only allowing any type of negativity in terms of
violence but also try to motivate employees for leading and providing the equal opportunities.
Further, eliminating issue of biasness is also vital where the fairness can contributes to have
better skills and knowledge in order to promote their identify along with and through their
performances. Diversity and equality are considered as two procedure through which the healthy
and better relationship are being growing by the company (Cadiz, Pytlovany and Truxillo, 2017).
The main strategies in order to promote the workplace equality within the organization that can
create the and lead to positive influence in the premises are listed and discussed as follows:
Identify the unwanted biasness: it being the first step within an organization where
attention is played on the regular or frequently practice of the discrimination and biasness which
tend to pursuing on the basis of gender and this type of discrimination is work on the context of
disability, gender, reassignment, marriage, orientation or sexual factor can impact on the them
(Stypinskaand Turek, 2017).
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Having the presence of equality compliances: The another strategy that can be adopted
by a firm to comply with the creation of equality and removing discrimination consists the fact
that there should be effective compliances and proper emphasis on the equality in workplace in
terms of giving fair opportunities to everyone. Further, presence of equality compliance and
strict rules and regulation must also be followed for fully compliance of equality and anti
discrimination policy based on fair oriented and work-related decisions on the respective with
promotions, training, allocating work etc.
Having the healthy communication: In organization there should be the healthy
conversation between manager and employees but if there workplace discrimination there would
not having the effective communication factor that emphasis the good relationship between
managers and peers. As the enhancement of work place equality can change the dynamic
structure of organization and try to leads the better forming of relationship in which employee
and mangers can coordinate with each other (Yong Kim and et. al, 2017).
By constructing the effective professionalism policies: As it driven the organization
policies which regulated and formulated by the manager and leader that influence to work under
the compliances manner which propounded their productivity and working procedure improvised
in different manner such as better coordination, communication skills enhanced improves.
Highlights the relationship between cultural diversity issues and benefits of cultural diversity
reflecting how it relates to business performance
It has been analysed that both positive and negative impacts are related with cultural
diversity which comprises of more talent employees and better expansion opportunity along with
issue of enhancement in chaos and conflicts due to ineffective communication. The below stated
diagram is presenting information about the relationship between cultural diversity and business
Performance through providing information about the main issues and benefits of cultural
diversity:
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Figure 1:Advantages and disadvantages of cultural diversity, 2020.
It has been analysed on the basis of above diagram that the main advantages of cultural
diversity consists of inspiring and leading out more effective creativity and also fosters he level
of innovation. Further, it has been also observed that attracting and retaining more number of
skilled candidates and best talents from a diverse background is also a benefit and positive
outcome of cultural diversity. Apart from this creation of better growth opportunity and
enhancing expiation rate of the firm are also the key aspects of cultural diversity for a firm.
Beside this, an implication about the main issues of cultural diversity can also be made which
consists of different understanding level and view point of employees which can enhance the
chances of conflicts. Therefore, on the basis of above discussion a positive relationship among
culture diversity and business performance is analysed as it lead to more skilled and talented
workforce along with better growth and expansion opportunity.
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