Unit 6 Managing a Successful Business Project - BTEC Higher National Diploma in Business

College of Banking and Financial Studies

Program: BTEC Higher National Diploma in Business

Level : Level 5

Unit Name: Unit 6 : Managing a Successful Business Project

Assignment : Importance of integrating equality and diversity practices in workplace

Learning Outcomes 1: Establish project aims, objectives and timeframes based on the chosen theme.

Learning Outcomes 2: Conduct small-scale research, information gathering and data collection to generate knowledge to support the project.

Assignment Brief:

Scenario:

Equality and diversity are relevant in all workplaces, whether the business is small or big, effecting both customers and workers. Maintaining equality and diversity in organizations brings many benefits including improved productivity; increased market share; more innovation and problem-solving; a better reputation with staff, suppliers and customers; better work environment for staff; and reduced risk of damaging discrimination cases.

Equality ensures that everybody has the same access to the same opportunities without any discrimination. Diversity considers differences between people and groups of people, by placing a positive value on those differences. A diverse and inclusive workplace values people's different backgrounds, knowledge, skills, and experiences, and uses these differences to create a productive and effective workforce. Managing both equality and diversity is equally important as it impacts on all the employees working in an organisation. Business cases have proven that biases and discrimination within the workplace can impede business growth and productivity and therefore, many businesses look beyond any legal considerations and policies to effectively promote equality and diversity to improve productivity, opportunity, and competitiveness1.

In countries such as the GCC, where there are large numbers of expatriates, equality and diversity are very important and impact the performance of the organization. Recognizing their importance, many companies in Oman have started initiatives to promote equality and foster diversity, embedded in overall HR policy and disseminated to all staff by way of induction training and team presentations. Policy is integrated into day-to-day customer care and workplace practices including marketing, communications, staff welfare and recruitment. Some of the practical steps taken included reviewing publicity information to ensure that illustrations on handbooks and websites were representative of diversity and that the content clearly communicated its equality and dignity at work policies and procedures. Some companies organized cultural food days, and celebrated staff's national days. Equality issues are kept on the agenda through the staff newsletter. Others have equality policy on public display and produced an abbreviated form of its full equality policy for day-to-day use.

Assume you have presented an innovative business idea in an international business forum convened in Muscat. Your business idea has impressed a venture capitalist firm operating in Europe and the firm interested to fund your business project. They agreed to finance 80% in 3 stages of your business and you have to finance the balance 20%. The capital requirement of your business is half million OMR and the proposed business will classify as medium size enterprise with an estimated number of 75 employees at the starting stage. The venture capital firm insists on that the funding is contingent upon your firm complying with equality and diversity policy as mentioned in their funding policy. You are required to prepare a business case to be submitted during the next meeting with the representatives of the venture capital firm.

By using the above scenario, critically evaluate the project management process and methods applied for gathering information and data collection. To facilitate preparation of your business case , you are required to review the "learning and grading criterion table" on page 3.

You are required to keep notes of the project progress in a logbook. The logbook should include a record of what you did, when and what you were thinking and where things went wrong and what you did to overcome any unexpected results. You will also need to reflect on the success of the project and performance in a personal performance review at the end of the project. This written reflection should be around 500 words. A template of the logbook and personal performance review is attached as appendix.

Performance Review

What was the project supposed to accomplish?

Did the project succeed in its aims? How do you know? Specifically, please outline any evaluation and assessment undertaken.

What things do you think worked well and why? Evaluate all aspects of the project (e.g. initial inception, project activities and project outcomes) from a range of perspectives.

What problems emerged during the project and how were they tackled? Was there timely identification of issues and resolution during the project process?

What did you learn from undertaking the project?

How would you rate your performance as project manager?

What strengths and weaknesses of your performance did you identify?

How will this inform and support your continuous professional development?