Importance of Equality and Diversity In Aviva Plc

MAIN BODY

Background of Research

This research project is based on Aviva plc organisation that is one of the leading British company. This is a multinational organisation that is offering its products and services to different part of the world. Aviva plc company is considered as the largest general insurer company as well as provide pensions to different types of clients.

Aims

 " To understand the role of leaders and manager in managing equality and diversity at workplace in order to enhance performance and efficiency of employees."

Objectives

• To review the impact of equality and diversity on performance of employees. 
• To understand the role of leaders and manager in managing equality and diversity at workplace.
• To evaluate the various positive and negative implications of equality and diversity on overall performance and success of Aviva plc.

Literature Review

To review the impact of equality and diversity on performance of employees

According to Louise Petty, 2016, Equality and diversity is one of the essential topic at the workplace and now it is essential for every firm to adopt practices related to equality and diversity because it impact positively on the performance of employees (How Equality & Diversity Improves Your Workplace: Examining the Benefits, 2020). There are several legislations which are adopted by a company in order to develop and maintain equality and diversity practices such as Equality Act, Sex Discrimination Act, Race Relations Act, Disabilities Discrimination Act, Human Rights Act and many more. In order to implement equality and diversity company need to consider list of characteristics on the basis of which they need to develop practices such as gender reassignment, age, disabilities, marriage and civil partnership, maternity and pregnancy and many more. According to study when an organization implement equality as well as diversity practices at their workplace employees feel motivated because they get equal chance and it also help in promoting positive working environment. In addition to this there are also several other impacts on employee’s performance due to equality and diversity culture such as it encourage employees to conduct work properly because they feel that they are essential part of the company and company’s goal is their goal so they give their best of attain it. Through respective practices or activities staff get equal opportunities of growth as well as no one conduct discrimination with them which motivate them and increase their performance quality as well as by it company productivity get enhanced and it will also lead to high customer’s satisfaction. So it is essential for each and every firm to adopt as well as implement practices related to equality and diversity so that they can also enhance productivity of employees as well as it will also help them in promoting positive working environment successfully. Moreover it also help firm in enhancing their production, profitability ratio, market shares and goodwill at potential marketplace.

To understand the role of leaders and manager in managing equality and diversity at the workplace

According to the article given on MSG (Management study guide), 2020, There are several role played by manager and leader of a company in order develop as well as maintain equality and diversity at the workplace. Some of the main role in which leader and manager of a company get engaged for maintaining equality and diversity at workplace are given below:-

• Leader and manager of an organization ensure that each and every individual at the workplace follow all policies, rules and regulation in order to maintain equality and diversity. They also ensure that no discrimination activities will conducted at their workplace on the basis of age, gender, colour, religion, belief, language and many more.
• Leader and manager also engaged in appraisals as well as incentives plan, so while conducting respective practices they ensure that they treat each and every employee equally (Role of Management in Managing Organizational Diversity, 2020). This is so because through it they able to develop as well as maintain equality and diversity at the workplace.
• It is also role of leader and manager to encourage all employees to celebrate each and every festival in order to accept and maintain equality as well as diversity at the workplace. Along with this it will also help in motivating employees and encouraging to positive working culture.
• Leader and manger also need to develop proper strategies, rules, policies and regulations so that every employee follow equality and diversity practices at the workplace strictly. These rules, regulation and policies are for all employer as well as employees of the workplace. This is so because that will help in minimizing change of discrimination and lead to positive working culture.

These are main roles which are played by manager and leader of an organization in order to develop as well as maintain equality and diversity their workplace. This will also help them in maintaining goodwill and retaining employees for the long period of time at the workplace.

To evaluate the various positive and negative implication of equality and diversity on overall performance and success of Aviva Plc

As per the perspective of article given on Future of Working, 2020, like everything equality and diversity also have several positive and negative aspects which are necessary to be considered by manager and leader of a company (20 Advantages and Disadvantages of Diversity in the Workplace, 2020). This is so because through that they able to take effective decision which will base on situation of workplace. Below some positive and negative aspects of equality as well as diversity are given:-

Positive aspect of equality and diversity at workplace

• Through adopting equality and diversity at the workplace employees able to understand about their strengths which help them in increase their productivity at workplace.
• Equality and diversity also help minority workers to get numbers of job opportunities at the good workplace.
• By adopting and implementing equality and diversity company able to access more talented candidates because every individual get equal opportunities to showcase their talent and effectiveness.
• Equality and diversity also help in increasing productivity of employees because when they get equal opportunity they then feel connected toward the workplace. This will also beneficial for company because they able to increase their profitability ratio and market shares.

Negative aspect of equality and diversity at workplace

• Equality and diversity create too many options for companies which impact on the performance of existing employees. This will happen because they feel insure in their job profile as well as they always have fear of getting fired due to some better candidate.
• Too much diversity at the workplace leads to communication issues because at a company not everyone knows the same language. So there will be high change that when same language people meet they develop group and tease to other which lead to conflict situation.

These are some of the positive and negative aspect of equality and diversity which are faced by a company when they adopt it in their business operations and functions.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

Research methodology is used for the purpose of having a in depth knowledge of analysis of information based on given topics of research. This is a section that is helpful in gathering of information and it includes various techniques as discussed below:

Primary data: It is a form of data that is sued by researcher in their research work. There are various sources that can be used for the purpose of collecting data and it includes personal observation, interviews, focused groups. Surveys etc. these all are methods that help in collection of data from a given source.

Secondary data: It is another form of collecting data that is used by research where no information is collected from primary sources (Hirst and Thompson, 2019). It consist of sources such as websites, journal, publications, views of writers etc. this is a very helpful sources that results in saving of lot of time of the researcher.

From above discussed both the sources of primary and secondary it can be said that in present scenario, researcher has made use of primary method in which questionnaire will be used for conducting research and in secondary sources such as articles, publications, online sites are considered for the purpose of gathering of information.

Qualitative research: This is a method in which no numerical part is considered and consist of information that is based on personal interviews, surveys, focussed groups etc. in the present research work, researcher has also adopted this method in which human perception will be studied in detail to gather a understanding of their response according to key objectives of the research work.

Quantitative research: This is a type of research methodology that is related with numerical aspect of research. It is used for the purpose of making adequate calculations (Malindi, 2018). This is a type of information that is purely numerical and it helps in reaching to relevant and specific conclusions.

In present research, researcher has made use of qualitative form of methods in which information is collected and then analysed for the purpose of drawing result and making recommendations.

Sampling: It is a method that is used for taking a sample from whole population. It is not possible to analyse whole population for purpose of conducting a research. Hence, sample is chosen by researcher for making a detailed analysis of information. In this research ether are 50 respondent that have been selected by the researcher.

Gantt chart: It is a method that is used for making a graphical representation of various activities that have to be performed in the course of whole research. It is very helpful in completion of whole research in given period of time.

Work Break down Structure: work breakdown structure is used in research for the purpose of dividing the work in smaller segment. Each and every part of the whole research is identified, scheduled and finally budgeted (Robertson, 2017). It results into saving of lot of time as grassers has a clarity in mind that what are various key deliverable of the project. Below discussed is the work break down structure for present research report.

Name - E- mail ID - 1. Do you have complete information about the concept of equality and diversity? Yes No 2. In you point of view what is the importance of equality and diversity with in organisation? Attract and retain talented workforce Develop positive relationship with in organisation Increase performance All of the above 3. Do you think manager and leaders play crucial role on managing equality as well as diversity in workplace. Yes No 4. According to you what are the major roles of leaders and manager for enhancing equality and diversity with in organisation. Managing employees Provide guidance to staff member Motivating worker All of the above 5. As per your information what are the positive impact of equality and diversity with in Aviva plc in order to increase performance of business. Boost morale of employees Add new skills with in team Promote innovations All of the above 6. What are the major challenges and issues that is affect by company while implementing equality and diversity with in organisation. Communication barriers Implementing changes with in organisation Managing workplace diversity 7. Do you think it is important for Aviva plc company to overcome these challenges in order to achieve desired goals and objectives. Yes No 8. As per your view point that are the different methods that can be used by company for successful implementation of equality and diversity with in respective organisation. Development of strict policies Training and development Changes in recruitment process All of the above

Data Interpretation

Theme 1 - Concept of equality and diversity

1. Do you have complete information about the concept of equality and diversity?	Frequency
Yes	40
No	10

Interpretation – As per the data it has been determined that 40 respondents out of 50 have complete information and knowledge about the concept of equality and diversity. Where as only 10 responder has responded negatively.

Theme 2 - Importance of equality and diversity with in organisation

2. In you point of view what is the importance of equality and diversity with in organisation?	Frequency
Attract and retain talented workforce	10
Develop positive relationship with in organisation	10
Increase performance	5
All of the above	25

Interpretation – According to above shown data it has been analyed that equality and diversity is very important for company. Out of 50 respondents 10, 10 and 5 responder consider its is important for attracting or retaining skilled employees, building relationships and to increase the performance of organisation respectively. Where as other 25 responder out of 50 feel that all of these factors are important.

Theme 3 - Manager and leaders play crucial role on managing equality as well as diversity in workplace.

3. Do you think manager and leaders play crucial role on managing equality as well as diversity in workplace.	Frequency
Yes	45
No	5

Interpretation – Manager and leaders are very important for equality and diversity workplace. As per the above shown data it has been identified that most of the respondents that is 45 out of 50 feels that manager and leaders have crucial role where as other 5 responders has reacted negatively.

Theme 4 - The major roles of leaders and manager for enhancing equality and diversity with in organisation.

4. According to you what are the major roles of leaders and manager for enhancing equality and diversity with in organisation.	Frequency
Managing employees	10
Provide guidance to staff member	5
Motivating worker	5
All of the above	30

Interpretation – There are various roles of manager and leaders and according to the above shown graphical representation 10 responder consider managing employees. Where as other 5 and 5 feels that providing guidance to employees and motivating worker respectively. And majority of responder which is 30 feels all roles are very important.

Theme 5 - The positive impact of equality and diversity with in Aviva plc in order to increase performance of business.

5. As per your information what are the positive impact of equality and diversity with in Aviva plc in order to increase performance of business.	Frequency
Boost morale of employees	10
Add new skills with in team	10
Promote innovations	10
All of the above	20

Interpretation – Through the above shown data it has been determined that equality and diversity will lead to have impact on performance of company. As per data 10, 10 and other 10 responders consider increase employee morale, add new skills and promote innovative techniques with in organisation. where as other 20 out of 10 feel that all of the above mention factors are important.

Theme 6 - The major challenges and issues that is affect by company while implementing equality and diversity with in organisation.

6. What are the major challenges and issues that is affect by company while implementing equality and diversity with in organisation.	Frequency
Communication barriers	20
Implementing changes with in organisation	10
Managing workplace diversity	20

Interpretation – It is very important for organisation to overcome the challenges and issues that occur while executing equality and diversity in organisation. as per the collected data its has been identified that 20 and other 10 feels that communication barriers and implementation of changes with in business is the major issues. Where as other 20 feel that effective management of diversity culture is very effective.

Theme 7 - Important for Aviva plc company to overcome these challenges in order to achieve desired goals and objectives.

7. Do you think it is important for Aviva plc company to overcome these challenges in order to achieve desired goals and objectives.	Frequency
Yes	30
No	20

Interpretation – It is important for organisation to overcome the challenges that occur while implementing equality and diversity with in organisation. It is important for organisation to successfully overcomes these issues and effective conduct business activities. As per collected data 30 responded out of 50 has responded positively where as other 20 has responded negatively.

Theme 8 - Different methods that can be used by company for successful implementation of equality and diversity with in respective organisation.

8. As per your view point that are the different methods that can be used by company for successful implementation of equality and diversity with in respective organisation.	Frequency
Development of strict policies	10
Training and development	5
Changes in recruitment process	10
All of the above	25

Interpretation – According to the above collected data it has been identified that there are different method through which organisation can successfully implement equality and diversity activities. Out of 50 responders 10 and 5 feels that development of strict policies and training or development is effective for organisation. where as other 10 consider that changes in recruitment policies will lead to enhance the equality and diversity culture from organisation. Where as majority of respondents that is 25 feel that all of the above are most effective and efficient method in order to boost performance of employees.

Recommendation

As per the above analysis of data there are various recommendations for Aviva plc. This will help manager of respective company to successfully implement equality and diversity activities in order to enhancing performance of organisation. Recommendation for Aviva plc company regarding equality and diversity is mention below in detail.

• It is essential for this organisation to follow all set of rules and regulation that is developed by government. This will help in smooth functioning of organisation in different part of the world.
• Aviva plc company needs to provide proper training and development to its employees so that they can enhance equality and diversity activities in organisation.
• Training and development is one of the effective method that will support respective company to successfully implement equality and diversity culture with in organisation.
• It is very important for organisation to overcome the issues and challenges that occur due to equality and diversity. This will help in accomplishing set goals and objectives of organisation.
• This company needs to develop effective and efficient strategies that will lead to enhance diversity culture with in organisation. Strict organisation policies will lead to effective functioning of organisation.

Reflection

While conducting different activities of this research project I have analysed and determined various things. Through this project I am able to understand the concept of equality and diversity very effectively. This knowledge and understanding will be very supporting in my professional career and growth. There are many difficulties and issues occur such as lack of time and funds. This will lead to have negative impact on analysing outcomes of this project. In order to overcome these challenges and issues I take help for my senior person. They have provide support and appropriate guideline to conduct task and activities.

CONCLUSION

From the above report it can be concluded equality and diversity is crucial concept of business and its is very important for conducting different activities that will help in enhancing equality and diversity. There are different methods through that will help in enhancing equality and diversity in order to increase the profitability and performance of organisation.

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