Workplace Discrimination: Research Proposal on Equality & Diversity

This research proposal investigates workplace discrimination, focusing on Marks & Spencer as a case study. The proposal aims to determine the significance of implementing equality and diversity practices to eliminate workplace discrimination. It explores the concept of workplace discrimination, identifies equality and diversity practices, and ascertains the advantages of reducing discrimination. The research includes a literature review, research questions, objectives, and a detailed methodology, including data collection methods (primary and secondary), research design (descriptive), and sampling techniques. The proposal outlines activities, timescales, and a Gantt chart for project management. The research employs a quantitative approach and utilizes questionnaires for data collection. The findings will analyze the impact of discrimination and the benefits of diversity initiatives within the organization. The proposal concludes with recommendations for Marks & Spencer.

Research proposal

Research Proposal Form
Student Name: ______________________ Student ID: ____________
Centre Name: _____________________
Tutor: ________________ Date: ___________________
Unit: ____________________
Proposed Title: Workplace Discrimination
Section One: Title, objective, responsibilities
Title or working title of the research project (in the form of a question, objective or
hypothesis)
Title: Workplace Discrimination
Introduction:
In the present competitive environment, it is said that equality & diversity refers to a term
used y large number of business organizations in order to provide positive working
environment to their workforce. It is term which defines equality and diversity as the value of
society, human rights and many more. Apart from this, it will also promotes equal
opportunities to the individual which help in attaining potential goals and objectives in a
positive manner. For every business organization it is necessary to adopt equality and
diversity practices within their workplace as it aid in enhancing efficiency, increase
productivity, encourage the staff members as well as retain them for a longer duration. It has
also been identified that another advantages of executing equality and diversity practices is
that it aid in reducing workplace discrimination from the organisation. In the present report,

Marks & Spencer is chosen as the base organization. It is an organization mainly specialized in
producing high quality food and clothing products across the whole wide world and offer
goods in around 18 countries. It has also been identified that the main reason behind the
success of business organization is their employees who perform business functions in an
appropriate way. This is the research which helps in developing effective understanding about
the concept of equality & diversity practices which help in performing all the operations in an
effective manner. Along with this, it also includes literature review section which help in
gathering secondary information about the topic and assist in developing questionnaires which
help in concluding the whole research in an appropriate manner. At the end of this research
report, self reflection is going to be included along with this recommendation is also provided
which help in performing all the business functions in an effective manner.
Aim:
The aim of the research is “To determine the significance of implementing inequality
& diversity practices in order to eliminate workplace discrimination in a business
organization”. A case study on Marks and Spencer
Research Questions:
 To know the concept and significance of workplace discrimination
 To identify various equality & diversity practices which assist in reducing workplace
discrimination within Marks and Spencer.
 To ascertain different advantages gain by Marks and Spencer by reducing level of
workplace discrimination.
Research objectives
 What is the concept and significance of workplace discrimination?
 What are the various equality & diversity practices which assist in reducing workplace
discrimination within Marks and Spencer?
 What are the different advantages gain by Marks and Spencer by reducing level of
workplace discrimination?

Section Two: Reasons for choosing this research project
Reasons for choosing the project (e.g links to other subjects you are studying, personal
interest, future plans, knowledge/skills you want to improve, why the topic is important):
There are number of reasons for conducting the present investigation on topic the main reason
behind conducting this investigation are described below:
 The first important reason for performing the current research is the personal benefits
of the researcher for this topic that it has to see the workplace discrimination at the
workplace and after conducting this research it can reduce the chances of workplace
discrimination in business unit.
 Second reason for conducting this research on choosing the research for investigation
by the researcher is to increase its abilities and skills for performing their research as
well as increasing confidence in management and learn the analytical skills of team
building and effective communication.
Section Three: Literature sources searched
Use of key literature sources to support your research question, objective or hypothesis:
Concept of workplace discrimination
According to the opinion of Vickers, L., 2016, it has it can be said that workplace
discrimination is increasing day by day where an organization might affect its all performance
as well as the task of the employee negative manner. The workplace discrimination is
increasing continuously because of gender race education background and physical appearance

of individual at workplace. Discrimination can also impact negatively on the productivity
profitability and functioning of the organization as it will increase the motivation of employees
as well as impact on workers ratio. Workplace discrimination arise at the organization because
of bias ness among employees which is based on gender, sex, religion, educational background
and many more. All these affect the overall efficiency of employees and performance of
business entities in a negative manner. It is said that for reducing discrimination among the
workplace it is necessary to implement equality and diversity practices in effective as well as
appropriate manner.
Several equality and diversity practices through which workplace discrimination can be
reduced within Marks and Spencer
On the basis of opinion of Enoksen, E., 2016, it has also been said that in order to eliminate
discrimination from workplace it is very necessary for the management team to adopt several
sort of equality and diversity practices. These practices if implemented in an appropriate
manner within the workplace help in reducing workplace discrimination in an effective
manner and creates healthy and positive atmosphere. It can easily be said that there are ample
number of strategies which an organization can use for reducing or decreasing the effect of
workplace discrimination within the organization. It has been said that by providing effective
training and development session, provide equal job opportunities to everyone, by providing
equal pay might help in eliminating discrimination from the workplace. Furthermore, it has
been analysed that managers can use effective training sessions for their employees and staff
members in order to increase their knowledge about the topic and action different cultures as
well as team building.
Various benefits Marks and Spencer would get with reduced level of workplace
discrimination within Marks and Spencer
As per the thought of Knepper, M., 2018, It is said that by eliminating workplace
discrimination from the organization or by adopting effective strategies and policies in order to
reduce the impact of discrimination, managers of the company get various advantages. It is
said that by adopting policies and strategies in an effective manner, organisation can get
number of benefits which leads towards the development of positive working environment at

the workplace. Some of the most important advantages which influences the overall
performance of the company includes reduction of employees turnover ratio, increase in
efficiency, retention of capable staff members, attainment of organizational goals and
objectives within stipulated time frame and so on. All these factors help in motivating the staff
members within the business organisation as well as made in the cultural diversity where the
chance of discrimination will also decrease. Furthermore, it has also been analysed that all
these benefits are only attained by higher authorities when they implement all the strategies
and policies in an effective manner at workplace and provide training and development session
to the workers related to such practices. On the other hand, there must be proper examination
of all the activities in an effective manner and on a regular period of time which as a result
help in identifying the loop holes within stipulated time frame. Therefore, it can clearly be said
that there are various types of advantages and benefits gain by companies while implementing
effective strategies and policies related to workplace discrimination.
Section Four: Activities and timescales

Activities to be carried out during the research project
Identification of theme
Preparation of aim and objectives
Literature review
Research methodology
research proposal
Growth of budget
Development of standard
Collection of data and information
Analysis of data and information
Results and finding
Evaluation and analysis
Conclusion
Recommendation
Submission of final report
Taking feedback
How long this will
take:
12 days
15 days
20 days
12 days
15 days
28 days
12 days
15 days
20 days
12 days
6 days
5 days
3 days
2 days
3 days

Milestone one: Data collection
Target date (set by tutor): ____________________
Milestone two: Literature review
Target date (set by tutor): ______________________
Gantt Chart
Gantt chart is a graphical representation of the total project schedule. This is this is simply
include the number of activities which would be included by the researcher for fulfilling the
particular project which it want to cover. It is a graphical presentation which is helps in
including the time taken for completing the activities.

Section Five: Research approach and methodologies

What type of research approach and methodologies are you likely to use and why? What
your areas of research will cover:
Research methodology is that which help in determining the essential part of every
investigation where it clearly define what kind of methods and structure we will adopt for our
investigation and conducting the study in an good manner. According to the references
presented in the research investigating we have read use of different research method for
investigating on this sum of these methods are mentioned below:
Research design
Research design define as the structure which is followed and implemented by the
researcher while they were performing research on a particular topic. It has also been
identified that there are various types of research design which includes descriptive, meta
analytical, correlation, review, experimental, and many more. In the present research, it is said
that among all the above mentioned research design, investigator chose descriptive research
design and the reason behind this is that questionnaire is used for completing the whole
research. This will help in providing researcher in depth knowledge about the topic which as a
result assist in drawing valid and authentic conclusion in an effective and appropriate manner.
Data collection method: there are many two types of data collection methods which can be
used in a research these are primary and secondary data sources. These two sources are used to
generate the valuable outcomes which can be drawn from the above report. In context of
current report, primary and secondary sources of data collection are used. This is because
searcher wants to collect maximum information for forgetting perfect outcomes of the total
report. This will help the researcher in attaining the outcomes and timely manner. Primary
sources of data collection in this report include questionnaire which will be adopted by the
researcher for identifying particular information in an appropriate manner, where the
secondary sources of data collection are books, journals and articles which will help in
identification of different literature reviews:
Types of investigation: It is said that there are mainly two types of investigation which
includes qualitative and quantitative research methods. In the present research, quantitative
research investigation is going to be adopted by the researcher so that positive outcome will be
produced. All the information needs properly analysed and identified with the use of