Managing a Successful Business Project

Equality and Diversity in the Workplace (Task 2)

Words: 1500
Reference: Harvard

Task 2

LO2: Conduct small-scale research, information gathering and data collection to

generate knowledge to support the project._1500
During the first various articles and journals on this research topic was reviewed by the
researcher in order to gain knowledge. Based on this understanding research aim and goals
were decided and already mentioned in the previous section of this report. In order to conduct
the primary research in depth study was performed by the researcher about the research
philosophy, research methodologies, sampling size and so on. Based on the understanding
research methodologies were decided also data collection method, sampling size and research
type was decided as well. Following section of this report will discuss the chosen research
method for this current research project.

Research Philosophy
Research philosophy depicts the research standard in terms of data gathering for the research
as well as the analysis process. There are several research philosophies and two major
philosophies are Positivism and Interpretivism.
Positivism: This research philosophy believes that the reality is stable and it is possible to
observe and describe it from an objective standpoint. Positivism adheres that factual knowledge
attained through observations are trustworthy (Quinlan et al. 2019). Though, in this philosophy
researchers' role are limited to data gathering and interpretation.
Interpretivism: This research philosophy is associated with the idealism philosophical
position. According to this interpretivist approach, for a researcher it is important to act as a
social actor in order to appreciate the differences of people (Rahi, 2017). This philosophy
contend that reality can be understood only through the subjective interpretation.
Researcher will adhere to the positivism research philosophy to conduct this research as this
philosophy focuses on the factual knowledge.

Data Collection
In order to conduct research, data can be collected from various sources and they can be
categorised into two main segments.
Primary: Primary sources are medium through which the researchers have collected the data.
These sources are their own sources and are generally questionnaire based (Kumar, 2019).
These questionnaires can be provided to the respondents through survey, interview, focus
group discussions to collect responses.
Secondary: These are the historical data and statistics or previously acquired data by other
researchers or scholars (Johnston, 2017). They are already available and can be used by the
researcher to conduct study.
Researcher will use both primary and secondary data collection method to conduct this research
and survey process will be used to gather research data.

Data Analysis
There are two data analysis approach, quantitative and qualitative. For this present research,
researcher will use both quantitative and qualitative data analysis approach in this research.
Quantitative: In this methodology gathered research data are analysed from a subjective
perception in order to interpret them. For this present research quantitative analysis will be
conducted by the researcher (Watson, 2015). Data will be gathered from survey among the
McDonalds' employees and during the analysis process a quantitative analysis will be
conducted to interpret the data. Data gathered through survey process will be analysed using
widely used software like Microsoft Excel or SPSS Tool. For the interpretation purpose data
charts, graphs, tables and percentile analysis will be conducted by the researcher. As these
softwares or tools are widely used and well known for their authenticity and can also avoid
computational errors, therefore they have been selected for this research. Researcher will then
discuss the findings from the analysis process in this report. Some of the questions from the
survey are:
1. Do you think maintaining equality is much more important in the workplace?
2. Do you ever face inequality in McDonalds?
3. According to you what is the possible reason of inequality in the workplace?
4. Do you agree that lack of diversity and equality demotivates the employees?
Qualitative: This methodology focuses on the in-depth understanding of the research topic. In
order to find elaborative explanations the researcher of this research will conduct a case study
on the available literature on this topic. Online articles and journals available from various
academic sources will be studied and it will be discussed in this present report as well.
Sampling Method
As the researcher has decided to conduct a primary research and survey procedure was decided,
a sampling size needs to be decided beforehand. Based on the available infrastructure, budget
and time constraint a sample size of 30 employees is decided. Furthermore, a survey
questionnaire form is also developed by the researcher based on the knowledge on this topic.
This survey form will contain 8 questions and they will be handed to the McDonalds'
employees. While conducting the survey procedure researcher will approach the McDonalds'
employees and they will be briefed about this research. Based on their response researcher will
provide them with the survey form. For ethical reason none of the employees will be forced to
participate. Furthermore, participants will be selected randomly and no preference based on
gender or ethnicity will be given. Data gathered from this sampling size of 30 will be analysed
during the analysis process.
There are two types of data sampling methods, they are probability sampling and non-
probability sampling. In the probability sampling method, every participant in a research has
an equal opportunity to respond with their views. However, in the non-probability sampling
method only a particular group of people are allowed during the data collection process.
Probability sampling method have been implemented in this research as survey based primary
data collection method is used by the researcher.

Evaluate the accuracy and reliability of the different research methods used.
Justification of chosen research methodology: Researcher will adhere to the positivism
research philosophy while conducting this research as this philosophy emphasises on the
factual knowledge. Furthermore, both primary and secondary research will be followed by the
researcher. For primary research survey will be conducted among the McDonalds' employees
and as statistical analysis can be conducted on these data. SPSS Tool or Microsoft Excel will
be used to study the gathered data (Brannen, 2017).

Furthermore, secondary research method will be followed in this research as well. A qualitative
study will be performed on various available articles and journals on this topic. This study is
expected to provide more in-depth knowledge on the topic from other new perspectives. Also
a probability sampling method will be followed by the researcher as survey based data
gathering approach is being undertaken for this research.
Critically evaluate the project management process, and appropriate research
methodologies applied.
Based on the critical analysis both strengths and weaknesses have been found for this
aforementioned research methodology. The will be discussed in the following section of this
report.
Advantages: In order to conduct this research both qualitative and quantitative research
methods are being used by the researcher. Because of this, more data and existing study will
be analysed in this research. Therefore, it will as a result will enhance the outcome of this
research project. Furthermore, as primary research is being conducted researcher will analyse
the opinions of the McDonalds' employees itself and which as a result will produce a detailed
analysis. Case studies during qualitative analysis will also provide a chance to compare the
findings and understand the gaps in research as well.
Disadvantages: The main disadvantage of this research is the budget and time constraints. This
is why the sample size is limited and analysis tools are limited as well. Based on these
limitations research will be conducted, though a wider timeframe and increased budget would
have enhanced the overall outcome of this research.

Research Project Logbook

Weeks Week 1 Week 2 Week 3

Project Updates During the first week During the second Third week of the
of this research week researcher research was
project, research selected the research invested into the data
goals, aim and methodology based gathering procedures
objectives were on the applicability. by the researcher.
decided by the Data was gathered
researcher. from McDonalds'
employees from
various McDonalds
stores.

Risks identification During the first Financial or budget Declinations were

week, no risks were issues were identified faced from the
 identified by the during this week and employees who were
researcher. needs further asked to participate
planning. in the research to
provide in-depth data
about their
workplace.

Risk removals Not required as no Changes made to the Proper

risks were identified. research method as communication and
well as sampling size friendly approach
was reduced. This as were taken around
a result reduced the employee groups to
financial gather data from
requirements. multiple employees
at once.

Research direction None. Implementation of In order to enhance

changes new tools in the efficiency of this
research procedure. research new
research technique
undertaken.

Learning from Knowledge gathered Knowledge gained Knowledge about

research through primary about the topic as workplace of
procedures literature reviews. well as research McDonalds' were
methodologies. gained.

Supervisor None. Excellent Good work, keep up

comments background research the momentum
was conducted. during the analysis
procedure.
Reference

Quinlan, C., Babin, B., Carr, J. and Griffin, M., 2019. Business research methods. South
Western Cengage.
Rahi, S., 2017. Research design and methods: A systematic review of research paradigms,
sampling issues and instruments development. International Journal of Economics &
Management Sciences, 6(2), pp.1-5.
Kumar, R., 2019. Research methodology: A step-by-step guide for beginners. Sage
Publications Limited.
Johnston, M.P., 2017. Secondary data analysis: A method of which the time has come.
Qualitative and quantitative methods in libraries, 3(3), pp.619-626.
Watson, R., 2015. Quantitative research. Nursing Standard (2014+), 29(31), p.44.
Brannen, J., 2017. Mixing methods: Qualitative and quantitative research. Routledge.