Workplace Equality: A Literature Review (BUS101, Semester 1, 2024)

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Assessment 2...................................................................................................................................1
1. What is a literature review and what is its purpose?...............................................................1
2. Write a literature review on the topic "Equality in the workplace".........................................4
References........................................................................................................................................7

Assessment 2
1. What is a literature review and what is its purpose?
The literature review is the scholarly paper that includes the present knowledge which involves
the substantive finding and methodological as well as theoretical contributions of the specific
topic. The literature review is the secondary source as well as it does not reports the original or
new experimental work. The literature review describes the proposed research which is related to
the prior research in the statistics. This will also show the relevance and originality of a
particular problem of the specific topic. The main weakness of carrying out the literature review
is that it is more time-consuming in finding out the appropriate result on a particular topic.
By conducting the literature review in the study it has the ability to critically evaluate and
summarise the previous work regarding the identified problems which is needed to be
investigated to carry out the proper research (Machi and McEvoy, 2016). By identifying the
problem of previous work it helps in further by giving the new interpretation or combine the new
with the old material. Also, this helps in tracing an intellectual progression on a particular field
by including the major debates in the study. Usually, in the literature review conclusion, this
helps in determining the existing gap which shows how the issue is being researched to the date.
The Harvard referencing is important in writing the literature review. The Harvard referencing in
the general sense is a means to give the credit to someone of using their thoughts and ideas in the
research activity. The referencing will help in the assignment in order to gain the thoughts and
ideas originality which can be used in the research activity. The referencing also allows in
acknowledging the researcher and the other writer's contribution to the work. In the literature
review, the Harvard referencing is done by putting the organization or author name, report title,
publication place and the year of the publication of the topic.
The purpose of the literature review is to collect all the available sources which are related to the
specific topic in one place and after that evaluate them (Hart, 2018). To conduct the literature
review, it is the means to demonstrate the knowledge of the author towards a specific study that
include the key phenomena and variables, theories and its history and methods. The main
purpose of the literature review is to research on the particular topic in depth along with its
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weakness and strength that allow in discovering an opinion of the academic on the particular
topic whereas on the same time also find out disagreements on the same subject.
Literature review purpose is to place the work appropriately in the context of understanding the
contribution towards the research problems. It will also help in describing each working
relationship with the other work under the considerations and also determining the innovative
ways in order to interpret the prior research. This also reveals the gap which exists by conducting
the literature review as well as also resolves the disputes among the seemingly contradictory of
the previous research study (Galvan and Galvan, 2017). This also helps in determining the areas
of the prior scholarship to the prevent duplication of the efforts and also point out the way in
order to fulfil the additional research needs. The main purpose of the literature review is that it
locates the research in the context of existing literature.
In the literature review, there is an ability to collect all the valuable ideas and information which
guide the research and provides the appropriate solutions and ideas to carry out the effective
research. It will conduct by surveys, scholarly articles, books as well as other sources which is
relevant to the particular study, issues, and theory or research area and by doing so it also
provides the proper summary, critically evaluation or description of a particular work regarding
the specific research problems that are being invested further in the literature review.
The use of media and library effectively in the literature review reflect the effectiveness as well
as also support the particular topic. During the literature review, the media and library increase
the effectiveness and efficiency of the library services and operations. By this, the person helps
in determining the relevant sources as well as also creates effective knowledge and
understanding of the particular study.
The literature review purpose is to demonstrate the knowledge in a particular area and also
identify what source will contribute to the topic. It also helps in understanding a relationship
between the several contributions, also determine and solve the conflicts and identify the gap or
the unanswered questions. Literature review allows in gaining expertise in the ability to scan
literature on specific topic properly. It also develops the skills in analysing and identifying the
valid and unbiased data on different topics or study (Booth et al., 2016). The literature review
purpose is to gain a better understanding of existing research as well as also debates relevant
ideas of the specific topic and present that understanding in written report format.
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Figure 1: Purpose of the literature review
(Source: Hart, C. 1998)
Hart (1998) will contribute the additional research in reviewing a literature that include in
distinguishing what is needed to be done from what has done, discovering an important variable
that is relevant to a specific topic, gaining and synthesizing the new perspective, determining the
relationship among practices and ideas, understanding the subject structuring of the literature
review effectively. The literature review is done by step by step method which shows how the
primary research will be conducted and also describes the several stages which are conducted in
the literature review that are problem evaluation, data collection and evaluation, analysis and an
interpretation and the public presentation (Gentles et al., 2015).
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2. Write a literature review on the topic "Equality in the workplace"
According to Iskandar et al (2018), stated that the gender issues on workplace have become the
major problems in a workforce that will bring the negative influences in an organization who is
doing inequality on workplace and victims themselves without any discrimination. In this
situation, the main aim is to explore a difference in styles of interaction between the gender roles
and the gender which show how this will affect workplace communication. Therefore this has
been noticed that the workplace diversity dimension is being included but it is not limited to the
ethnicity, age, physical abilities, work experience, marital status etc. The equality in the
workplace provides an equal pay to the entire worker who is working in an organization. It
means to be treated the same and equal in the quality, value, measure or esteem. Equality is all
about ensuring that everyone in an organization has equal opportunities and not treated as
discriminated or differently based on its characteristics.
According to Browne (2017), equality at the workplace is at the least implicitly and treated as
something potentially and definable achievable only by the adoption of the enlightened policies.
Also, there is a vast organization which is depended on a perception in which women is being
suffered from the oppression in a workplace. The gender equality is lacking sufficiently accepted
by the organization and is agreed upon on the content whichever expects the consensus on the
achievements. The equality is a fair treatment of the people related to the disability, religion,
sexual orientation, race or age. In the workplace the equality means is to make sure that people
are giving equal pay, opportunities and is also accepted for the differences. The main principles
of non-discrimination and equality are the fundamental elements of the international rights law
for the human being. Hence, the right to the equal treatment needed in the organization which
ensures that all the person in an organization is equally treated before a law without any of the
discrimination.
According to Flynn (2017), states that gender inequality has a long history in the business at the
workplace and these traditions are very hard to change. The equality in a workplace is
demonstrated and addressed that show how to deal with the situations and also give knowledge
on how to overcome the challenges. It is a volume which addresses a challenge in order to
achieve equality in the workplace. It also provides an effective understanding of the organization
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and spanning the cultural and diverse conditions that are needed to be overcome with such
challenges in a workplace that is used to enhance gender equality.
As per to Chang and Milkman (2019), stated that the business world is becoming more
competitive now so the organization did not afford in visioning out the talented women
contribution. It has also summarized that the research which documents how gender bias makes
the mistake in the decision-making process and how it is harmful to both the organization and
gender equality. The equality on the workplace is promoted by improving on the several areas
such as analysing the current needs and population of the employee as well as also forms the
appropriate equality and diversity committee. It is also being promoted by writing or reviewing
the equal policy of the employment as well as also has to recruit the deliberately for open and
new positions. Need to train the existing employee on the several issues of the diversity in a
workplace in order to maintain equality among the employee.
According to Cummings (2018), stated that gender equality is the issue which is coming at the
forefront of the nations, not because of the ideals but also economically too. The corporation is
most likely has a huge effect on the desired outcome in which the women themselves are going
to decide a direction in which gender equality is a concern to move forward. In the workplace,
equality can be managed by putting the Employment Equality Act 1998-2015 which outlaw the
discrimination and any unfair treatment in the huge range of the employment-based areas or
employment. It includes the promotion and recruitment, working conditions, experience or
training, equal pay, harassment and dismissal along with including the sexual harassment too.
According to Sharma (2016), stated that a relationship of social-cultural issues, performances
appraisal, organizational capabilities and affirmative action is used in managing the equality and
diversity in a workplace. It has also found that an organization will effectively develop the
capabilities and policies to encourage equality and diversity in the workplace. In the workplace,
equality among employees is important by respecting and protecting the several principles of
dignity, fairness, diversity and also respect to all the workers. The equality act also ensures the
consistency in what employee and employers are needed to make fair environment workplace
and also comply with a law. Also, this is necessary to have the equal policy in a workplace which
ensures that the entire employee has the same right related to any kind of the differences in
disability, language, religion, age and gender. The equality creates the most favourable
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environment through promoting the rights of the employee because they are giving equal
opportunities to the employees and this will improve in their performances.
In the workplace, equality means that everyone should receive fair treatment in an organization.
Also, there must be transparency to effect and cause, and each one knows what should have to
expect in the form of rewards and consequences. In the workplace when equality exists the
people have to equal access to the opportunities. The equality in a workplace also set an
advantageous environment for both an employer and employees. The workplace equality is the
broad principles which ensure the full participation and fair representations in a workplace of the
women, minority group’s visible members, disable person and aboriginal people. In the
workplace, an employee must have to give the equal opportunities and rights in the process of
decision making to give their opinions and views which help in engaging them more towards the
activity, and this will also increase in their performances and provides the desired outcome to the
organization.
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References
Books and Journals
 Booth, A., Sutton, A. and Papaioannou, D., 2016. Systematic approaches to a successful
literature review. Sage.
 Browne, K.R., 2017. The Quixotic Quest for Gender Equality in the Workplace. U. Tol.
L. Rev., 49, p.685.
 Chang, E.H. and Milkman, K.L., 2019. Improving decisions that affect gender equality in
the workplace. Organizational Dynamics.
 Cummings, L.M., 2018. A Case Study: Gender Equality in The Workplace in Post-War
Japan and its Global Implications.
 Flynn, P.M., Haynes, K. and Kilgour, M.A. eds., 2017. Overcoming challenges to gender
equality in the workplace: Leadership and innovation. Routledge.
 Galvan, J.L. and Galvan, M.C., 2017. Writing literature reviews: A guide for students of
the social and behavioral sciences. Routledge.
 Gentles, S.J., Charles, C., Ploeg, J. and McKibbon, K., 2015. Sampling in qualitative
research: Insights from an overview of the methods literature. The Qualitative
Report, 20(11), pp.1772-1789.
 Hart, C., 2018. Doing a literature review: Releasing the research imagination. Sage.
 Iskandar, S.N.S., Rahim, A.M.A., Yussoff, A.N.S.M. and Bakar, F.H.A., 2018. GENDER
ISSUES: THE EFFECTS OF DIFFERENCES IN INTERACTION STYLES BETWEEN
GENDERS AND ROLES ON WORKPLACE COMMUNICATION. International
Journal of Modern Languages and Applied Linguistics, 2(2).
 Machi, L.A. and McEvoy, B.T., 2016. The literature review: Six steps to success. Corwin
Press.
 Sharma, A., 2016. Managing diversity and equality in the workplace. Cogent Business &
Management, 3(1), p.1212682.
Online
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 Hart, C. 1998 [Online] [Accessed through]
<https://libguides.unisa.ac.za/literature_review/purpose>, [Accessed On: 28th March,
2019]
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