DIVERSITY

Managers Devote Resource to Cultivate and Managing Diversity in their Organization

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would first like to express my gratitude for my research supervisor, colleagues, and peers and family whose immense and constant support has been a source of continuous guidance and inspiration.

DECLARATION

I [type your full first names & surname here], declare that the following dissertation/thesis and its entire content has been an individual, unaided effort and has not been submitted or published before. Furthermore, it reflects my opinion and take on the topic and is does not represent the opinion of the University.

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ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to analyze workforce diversity at Tesco plc. The ways in which, organization can approach the ideal situation where diversity of employees can be beneficial rather than detrimental for hiring arid retaining a diverse workforce. The researcher collected and analyzed data to determine effective methods of managing diversity in the areas of hiring and retaining employees in the workplace.

One outcome was to make positive suggestions to manage a diverse workforce. Although, the study was considered “intervention” research, the researcher did not act as a change agent for the grocery market that was involved in the study. The researcher made suggestions as to how the grocery market could make diversity improvements. Also, the researcher made suggestions for future study.

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

Background of the study

This study focused on diversity management at Tesco plc. Managers and executives responsible for policies of inclusion of diversity in their organizations consider diversity management a business imperative (Gillborn, 2008). Due to the influences of globalization and changing demographics, workplace diversity, meaning inter-group differences in demographic characteristics, is and will become a reality that every organization will ultimately face. Professional of business diversity case suggested that business diversity is related with an expanded pool of talent, opportunities to reach a variety of markets, improved decision-making, and increased creativity. Applying the resource-based perspective to the field of workplace diversity, some researchers have suggested diversity is a rare, valuable, and imitable resource, and thus a source of competitive advantage. Previous studies based on business diversity, self-categorization and social identity perspectives, have concluded that, due to their needs for self-validation and positive self concepts, people prefer similar others and in-group members.

Tesco Plc

Tesco is a leading food and grocery retailer. The company operates 4,811 stores in 14 countries worldwide. Tesco is running its services in UK and many other countries across United States of America and Asia. The company operates in single segment, retail. However, Tesco's operations can be examined by the store formats operated by it: Express, Metro, Superstore, Extra and Homeplus. The company has over 961 Express stores (up to 3,000 sq ft) offering fresh food at convenient locations. These stores sell a range of up to 7,000 products including fresh produce, wines and spirits and bakery products.

The company has over 174 Metro stores (approximately 7,000-15,000 sq ft) in town and city centre locations. It offers a tailored range of food products including ready-meals and ...