Dissertation Main File
Dissertation Main File
Submitted By –
Name – ANISHA DHAR
IISWBM, Kolkata
INDIAN INSTITUTE OF SOCIAL WELFARE AND BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
College Square West, Behind, Calcutta University, College Square, Kolkata -
700073, West Bengal, India.
DEPARTMENT OF MBA (HRM)
CERTIFICATE
Certified that the Dissertation Work & Report entitled “A Statistical Analysis of
Performance Appraisal Ratings to Detect Glass Ceiling Effects at Peerless
Financial Products Distribution Limited.” is a Bonafide work carried out by –
ANISHA DHAR with UNIVERSITY ROLL NO.: 107/MHR/221005, & UNIVERSITY
REGISTRATION NO.: 107-1211-0103-22 in partial fulfillment of Masters in
Business Administration (Human Resource Management) during the year 2022-
2024 from Indian Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management. The
dissertation report has been approved as it satisfies the academic requirements in
respect of Dissertation prescribed for the said degree.
Name –
Date –
DECLARATION
I declare that this Dissertation Work & Report entitled “A Statistical Analysis of
Performance Appraisal Ratings to Detect Glass Ceiling Effects at Peerless Financial
Products Distribution Limited” is a Bonafide work carried out by me (ANISHA DHAR
with UNIVERSITY ROLL NO.: 107/MHR/221005 & UNIVERSITY REGISTRATION NO.:
107-1211-0103-22) under the supervision & guidance of Dr. SRITAMA DASGUPTA,
Professor, IISWBM-Kolkata. I further declare that this Dissertation Work has not
previously formed the basis for the award of any Degree, Diploma, and
Associateship, Fellowship or other similar title of recognition.
However, extracts of any literature which has been used for this dissertation
report has been acknowledged, providing details of such literature in the
reference.
Date – Signature –
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Date: By -
Place:
ABSTRACT
Women employed in the BFSI (Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance) sector are well
acquainted with the concept of the "glass ceiling," representing the invisible barriers
hindering their career advancement. Despite a shift in labor demographics towards greater
female representation in the traditionally male-dominated Indian BFSI industry, women
encounter significant obstacles impeding their professional progression. Rooted in
centuries-old gender discrimination prevalent in Indian society, biases persist in various
aspects of female employees' recruitment, treatment, and provision of financial and non-
financial benefits. This study sheds light on the perceptions of BFSI sector workers
regarding the "glass ceiling," identifies contributing bottlenecks, and offers
recommendations for its elimination. Through an exploration of workforce gender
segregation and the predominance of men in senior positions, the study highlights the stark
inequality faced by female employees in the BFSI sector. The findings of this research aim
to inform strategies for fostering gender equity and inclusivity within BFSI organizations,
ultimately contributing to a more equitable and empowering work environment for all
employees.
2. Literature Review
3. Research Objective
4. Research Methodology
4.1. Definition.
4.2. Characteristics of Research.
4.3. Desirable Qualities of a research.
4.4. Objectives of a research.
4.5. Sampling Design.
4.5.1. Population vs. Sample.
4.5.2. Sampling frame.
4.5.3. Sample size.
4.5.4. Probability sampling methods.
4.5.5. Non-probability sampling methods.
4.6. Data Collection.
4.7. Methods of Data Collection.
4.8. Techniques of Data Collection.
4.9. Data Analysis.
4.9.1. What is data analysis?
4.9.2. Advantages of data analysis.
4.9.3. Uses of data analysis.
4.9.4. Techniques for Analysis.
4.9.5. Steps to Step Guide.
4.10. Result & Report.
4.10.1. Why Is Analytical Reporting Important?
4.10.2. How to Write an Analytical Report?
4.11. Research Design.
4.11.1. Research design definition.
4.11.2. Research design characteristics.
4.11.3. Research design classifications.
4.11.4. Research design steps.
4.12. My DISSERTATION related Research Design.
4.12.1. Phase 1: Situation analysis.
4.12.2. Phase 2: Design.
4.12.3. Phase 3: Implementation.
4.12.4. Phase 4: Evaluation.
5. Data Analysis.
5.1. Data.
5.2. Data Analysis procedure followed.
6. Results & Findings.
6.1. Results obtained after Data Analysis.
7. Conclusion & Recommendation.
7.1. Conclusion.
7.2. Recommendation.
7.3. Limitations.
7.4. Future Scopes.
8. Bibliography / Reference
9. Annexures.
9.1. The Performance Appraisal form.
9.2. The snapshot of ZOHO Modules from where Data is collected for reference.
10. Plagiarism Certificate
INTRODUCTION
OVERVIEW
India's female labor force participation rate, though rising (37% in 2022-23), is still low compared to
its potential for economic growth. Despite legal protections for women's equality, social norms and
gender bias often push women towards domestic responsibilities, limiting their opportunities. This
is reflected in lower literacy rates and higher unemployment among women. The Global Gender
Gap Index considers factors like labor participation, education, health, and political empowerment.
The COVID-19 pandemic's restrictions on movement disproportionately impacted women's work,
leading to a larger decline in female employment compared to men.
Low female participation: Overall workforce participation rate in India is 20.3%, with
women only making up 32.8% (as of 2023). This is one of the lowest rates globally.
Declining trend: Female labor force participation rate has been declining since 2005,
reaching a low of 19% in 2020 (compared to 26% in 2005).
COVID-19 impact: The pandemic worsened the situation, with urban female participation
rate dropping to a record low of 15.5% during the first lockdown quarter.
Global comparison: India ranks poorly compared to South Asian neighbors - Bangladesh
(65), Nepal (106), Sri Lanka (116). (World Economic Forum’s Gender Gap Report 2021)
Desire to work: Despite low participation, a significant number of women (over 65%)
expressed a desire to work during the pandemic.
Sectoral concentration: Women are more present in agricultural work than white-collar
jobs in urban areas.
Literature Review
This review explores the concept of the glass ceiling, a barrier hindering women's
advancement in the workplace, and its impact on career progression. It delves into various
terms used to describe the glass ceiling in different contexts, along with the effects on
women and potential reasons behind it.
The concept of the glass ceiling is multifaceted, with various terms highlighting its nuanced
nature. Here are some key terms identified in the reviewed literature:
Brass Ceiling: This term refers to the difficulty women face in rising through the
ranks in traditionally male-dominated fields like law enforcement and military (Schulz,
2004).
Stained-Glass Ceiling: This sociological phenomenon describes the challenges
women encounter in attaining leadership roles within religious communities (Sullins,
2000).
Bamboo Ceiling: This term highlights the exclusion of Asian Americans from senior
positions due to subjective factors like perceived lack of leadership potential, despite
possessing strong qualifications (Hyun, 2005).
Concrete Ceiling: This term refers to the additional challenges faced by minority
women due to combined effects of sexism and racism, making it harder for them to
break through the glass ceiling (Catalyst, 2002).
Glass Closet: This term describes the exclusion of LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly
gay men and lesbians, from certain professions due to homophobia (Browne, 2014).
Glass Escalator: This term refers to the phenomenon where men in female-
dominated professions experience faster promotions compared to women in those
fields (Williams, 1992).
Sticky Floor: This term describes the pattern where certain groups, often women in
low-wage or pink-collar jobs (secretaries, nurses), face limited opportunities for
advancement (Shambaugh, 2007).
Sticky Ladder: This term suggests that women get stuck in middle management
positions and struggle to reach the top (Facchinetti, 2012).
Research Methodology
Definition;
Research methodology is the specific procedures or techniques used to identify, select, process, and
analyze information about a topic. In a research paper, the methodology section allows the reader to
critically evaluate a study’s overall validity and reliability. The methodology section answers two main
questions: How was the data collected or generated? How was it analyzed? Research is defined as
careful consideration of study regarding a particular concern or problem using specific & suitable
methods.
Research methodology simply refers to the practical “how” of any given piece of research. More
specifically, it’s about how a researcher systematically designs a study to ensure valid and reliable
results that address the research aims and objectives. For example, how did the researcher go about
deciding –
Keeping this in mind that research in any field of inquiry is undertaken to provide information to
support decision-making in its respective area, we summarize some desirable characteristics of
research:
Good research is one that generates dependable data. It is conducted by professionals and can be
used reliably for decision making. It is thus of crucial importance that research should be made
acceptable to the audience for which research should possess some desirable qualities in terms of
it’s;
Purpose,
Research process,
Research design,
Ethical issues,
Limitations,
Results or findings,
Conclusions,
Recommendations and
The researcher’s experiences.
Purpose clearly defined - Good research must have its purposes clearly and unambiguously
defined. The problem involved or the decision to be made should be sharply delineated as
clearly as possible to demonstrate the credibility of the research.
Research process detailed - The research procedures used should be described in sufficient
detail to permit other researchers to repeat the research at a later date. Failure to do so
makes it difficult or impossible to estimate the validity and reliability of the results. This
weakens the confidence of the readers. Any recommendations made from such research
justifiably get little attention from the policymakers and implementation.
Research design planned - The procedural design of the research should be carefully
planned to yield results that are as objective as possible. In doing so, care must be taken so
that the representativeness of the sample is ensured, and relevant literature has been
thoroughly searched, experimental controls, whenever necessary, have been followed, the
personal bias in selecting and recording data have been minimized.
Ethical issues considered - A research design should always safeguard against causing mental
and physical harm not only to the participants but also to those who belong to their
organizations. Careful consideration must also be given to research situations when there is
a possibility for exploitation, invasion of privacy, and loss of dignity of all those who are
involved in the study.
Limitations revealed - The researcher should report with complete honesty and frankness
any flaws in procedural design; he followed and provided estimates of their effects on the
findings. This enhances the confidence of the readers and finally makes the report
acceptable to the audience. One can legitimately question the value of research where no
limitations are reported.
Adequate analysis ensured - Adequate analysis reveals the significance of the data and helps
the researcher to check the reliability and validity of his estimates. Data should, therefore,
be analyzed with proper statistical rigor to assist the researcher in reaching firm conclusions.
When statistical methods have been employed, the probability of error should be estimated,
and criteria of statistical significance applied.
Conclusions and recommendations justified - Proper research always specifies the conditions
under which the research conclusions seem to be valid. It is therefore of importance that any
conclusions drawn and recommendations made should be solely based on the findings of the
study. No inferences or generalizations should be made beyond the data. If this were not
followed, the objectivity of the research would tend to decrease, resulting in confidence in the
findings.
The researcher’s experiences reflected - The research report should contain information about
the qualification of the researchers. If the researcher is experienced, has a good reputation in
research, and is a person of integrity, his report is likely to be highly valued. The policymakers
feel confident in implementing the recommendation made in such reports.
Objectives of a research;
Develops Better Insight Into Topic - Research methodology provides better familiarity with
the research topic by properly explaining each concept associated with it. It aims at the
proper analysis of every aspect and accurately portrays all findings of the project.
Provides Systematic Structure - Research methodology eases the process of whole research
to be done. It clearly defines the tools and techniques to be used for collecting, analyzing
and interpreting the data to find out the solutions.
Enhance The Research Quality - It determines the reliability and validity of the whole
research work. Research methodology tells accurate sources from where data should be
taken for studying purpose which thereby improves the quality of research done.
Derive Better Solutions - Research methodology helps in deriving crucial findings for solving
business problems. It performs an in-depth study of various projects, develops a better
understanding and detects all problems.
Aids In Decision Making - Decision making is another important role played by research
methodology. It supports management in organizing their efforts in generating a new idea.
Research methodology by providing direction for various activities of the project helps
managers for efficient decision making.
Inculcates Logical & Systematic Thinking - It develops the logical thinking ability of individuals.
Research methodology evaluates every element of the project and highlights them in detail.
It represents every aspect in a simplified manner which improves logical thinking.
Sampling Design;
When you conduct research about a group of people, it’s rarely possible to collect data from every
person in that group. Instead, you select a sample. The sample is the group of individuals who will
actually participate in the research.
To draw valid conclusions from your results, you have to carefully decide how you will select a sample
that is representative of the group as a whole. There are two types of sampling methods:
Probability sampling involves random selection, allowing you to make strong statistical
inferences about the whole group.
Non-probability sampling involves non-random selection based on convenience or other
criteria, allowing you to easily collect data.
You should clearly explain how you selected your sample in the methodology section of your paper
or thesis.
First, you need to understand the difference between a population and a sample, and identify the
target population of your research.
The population is the entire group that you want to draw conclusions about.
The sample is the specific group of individuals that you will collect data from.
The population can be defined in terms of geographical location, age, income, and many other
characteristics.
It can be very broad or quite narrow: maybe you want to make inferences about the whole adult
population of your country; maybe your research focuses on customers of a certain company,
patients with a specific health condition, or students in a single school.
It is important to carefully define your target population according to the purpose and practicalities
of your project.
If the population is very large, demographically mixed, and geographically dispersed, it might be
difficult to gain access to a representative sample.
Sampling frame –
The sampling frame is the actual list of individuals that the sample will be drawn from. Ideally, it
should include the entire target population (and nobody who is not part of that population). Example
- You are doing research on working conditions at Company X. Your population is all 1000 employees
of the company. Your sampling frame is the company’s HR database which lists the names and
contact details of every employee.
Sample size –
The number of individuals you should include in your sample depends on various factors, including
the size and variability of the population and your research design. There are different sample size
calculators and formulas depending on what you want to achieve with statistical analysis.
Simple random sampling – In a simple random sample, every member of the population has
an equal chance of being selected. Your sampling frame should include the whole population.
To conduct this type of sampling, you can use tools like random number generators or other
techniques that are based entirely on chance. Example – You want to select a simple random
sample of 100 employees of Company X. You assign a number to every employee in the
company database from 1 to 1000, and use a random number generator to select 100
numbers.
Systematic sampling – Systematic sampling is similar to simple random sampling, but it is
usually slightly easier to conduct. Every member of the population is listed with a number, but
instead of randomly generating numbers, individuals are chosen at regular intervals. Example
– All employees of the company are listed in alphabetical order. From the first 10 numbers,
you randomly select a starting point: number 6. From number 6 onwards, every 10th person
on the list is selected (6, 16, 26, 36, and so on), and you end up with a sample of 100 people.
If you use this technique, it is important to make sure that there is no hidden pattern in the
list that might skew the sample. For example, if the HR database groups’ employees by team,
and team members are listed in order of seniority, there is a risk that your interval might skip
over people in junior roles, resulting in a sample that is skewed towards senior employees.
Stratified sampling – Stratified sampling involves dividing the population into subpopulations
that may differ in important ways. It allows you draw more precise conclusions by ensuring
that every subgroup is properly represented in the sample. To use this sampling method, you
divide the population into subgroups (called strata) based on the relevant characteristic (e.g.
gender, age range, income bracket, job role). Based on the overall proportions of the
population, you calculate how many people should be sampled from each subgroup. Then
you use random or systematic sampling to select a sample from each subgroup. Example –
The Company has 800 female employees and 200 male employees. You want to ensure that
the sample reflects the gender balance of the company, so you sort the population into two
strata based on gender. Then you use random sampling on each group, selecting 80 women
and 20 men, which give you a representative sample of 100 people.
Cluster sampling – Cluster sampling also involves dividing the population into subgroups, but
each subgroup should have similar characteristics to the whole sample. Instead of sampling
individuals from each subgroup, you randomly select entire subgroups. If it is practically
possible, you might include every individual from each sampled cluster. If the clusters
themselves are large, you can also sample individuals from within each cluster using one of
the techniques above. This is called multistage sampling. This method is good for dealing with
large and dispersed populations, but there is more risk of error in the sample, as there could
be substantial differences between clusters. It’s difficult to guarantee that the sampled
clusters are really representative of the whole population. Example – The Company has offices
in 10 cities across the country (all with roughly the same number of employees in similar roles).
You don’t have the capacity to travel to every office to collect your data, so you use random
sampling to select 3 offices – these are your clusters.
In a non-probability sample, individuals are selected based on non-random criteria, and not every
individual has a chance of being included.
This type of sample is easier and cheaper to access, but it has a higher risk of sampling bias. That
means the inferences you can make about the population are weaker than with probability samples,
and your conclusions may be more limited. If you use a non-probability sample, you should still aim
to make it as representative of the population as possible.
Non-probability sampling techniques are often used in exploratory and qualitative research. In these
types of research, the aim is not to test a hypothesis about a broad population, but to develop an
initial understanding of a small or under-researched population.
Convenience sampling – A convenience sample simply includes the individuals who happen
to be most accessible to the researcher. This is an easy and inexpensive way to gather initial
data, but there is no way to tell if the sample is representative of the population, so it can’t
produce generalizable results. Example – You are researching opinions about student support
services in your university, so after each of your classes, you ask your fellow students to
complete a survey on the topic. This is a convenient way to gather data, but as you only
surveyed students taking the same classes as you at the same level, the sample is not
representative of all the students at your university.
Voluntary response sampling – Similar to a convenience sample, a voluntary response sample
is mainly based on ease of access. Instead of the researcher choosing participants and directly
contacting them, people volunteer themselves (e.g., by responding to a public online survey).
Voluntary response samples are always at least somewhat biased, as some people will
inherently be more likely to volunteer than others. Example – You send out the survey to all
students at your university and a lot of students decide to complete it. This can certainly give
you some insight into the topic, but the people who responded are more likely to be those
who have strong opinions about the student support services, so you can’t be sure that their
opinions are representative of all students.
Purposive sampling – This type of sampling, also known as judgments sampling, involves the
researcher using their expertise to select a sample that is most useful to the purposes of the
research. It is often used in qualitative research, where the researcher wants to gain detailed
knowledge about a specific phenomenon rather than make statistical inferences, or where
the population is very small and specific. An effective purposive sample must have clear
criteria and rationale for inclusion. Example – You want to know more about the opinions and
experiences of disabled students at your university, so you purposefully select a number of
students with different support needs in order to gather a varied range of data on their
experiences with student services.
Snowball sampling – If the population is hard to access, snowball sampling can be used to
recruit participants via other participants. The number of people you have access to
“snowballs” as you get in contact with more people. Example – You are researching
experiences of homelessness in your city. Since there is no list of all homeless people in the
city, probability sampling isn’t possible. You meet one person who agrees to participate in the
research, and she puts you in contact with other homeless people that she knows in the area.
Data Collection;
Data collection is defined as the procedure of collecting, measuring and analyzing accurate insights
for research using standard validated techniques. A researcher can evaluate their hypothesis on the
basis of collected data. In most cases, data collection is the primary and most important step for
research, irrespective of the field of research. The approach of data collection is different for different
fields of study, depending on the required information.
Methods of Data Collection;
The two methods are:
Primary - As the name implies, this is original, first-hand data collected by the data
researchers. This process is the initial information gathering step, performed before anyone
carries out any further or related research. Primary data results are highly accurate provided
the researcher collects the information. However, there’s a downside, as first-hand research
is potentially time-consuming and expensive.
Secondary - Secondary data is second-hand data collected by other parties and already having
undergone statistical analysis. This data is either information that the researcher has tasked
other people to collect or information the researcher has looked up. Simply put, it’s second-
hand information. Although it’s easier and cheaper to obtain than primary information,
secondary information raises concerns regarding accuracy and authenticity. Quantitative data
makes up a majority of secondary data.
Data Analysis
Data analysis is the science of examining data to draw conclusions about the information to make
decisions or expand knowledge on various subjects.
It consists of subjecting data to operations. This process happens to obtain precise conclusions to
help us achieve our goals, such as operations that cannot be previously defined since data collection
may reveal specific difficulties.
Advantages of data analysis –
Currently, many industries use data to draw conclusions and decide on actions to implement. It is
worth mentioning that science also uses data analysis to test or discard existing theories or models.
There’s more than one advantage to data analysis done right. Here are some examples –
It is used in many industries regardless of the branch. It gives us the basis to make decisions or
confirm if a hypothesis is true.
Marketing: Mainly, researchers perform data analysis to predict consumer behavior and help
companies place their products and services in the market accordingly. For instance, sales
data analysis can help you identify the product range not-so-popular in a specific demographic
group. It can give you insights into tweaking your current marketing campaign to better
connect with the target audience and address their needs.
Human Resources: Organizations can use data analysis to offer a great experience to their
employees and ensure an excellent work environment. They can also utilize the data at hand
to find out the best resources whose skill set matches the organizational goals.
Academics: Universities and academic institutions can perform data analysis to measure
student performance and gather insights on how certain behaviors can further improve
education.
IT is essential to analyze raw data in order to understand it. We must resort to various techniques
that depend on the type of information collected, so it is crucial to define the method before
implementing it.
Qualitative data analysis: Researchers collect qualitative data from the underlying emotions,
body language, and expressions. Its foundation is the interpretation of verbal responses. The
most common ways of obtaining this information are through open-ended interviews, focus
groups, and observation groups, where researchers generally analyze patterns in observations
throughout the data collection phase.
Quantitative data analysis: Quantitative data presents itself in numerical form. It focuses on
tangible results.
Data analysis focuses on reaching a conclusion based solely on the researcher’s current knowledge.
How you collect your data should relate to how you plan to analyze and use it. You also need to
collect accurate and trustworthy information.
With these five steps in your data analysis process, you will make better decisions for your business
because data that has been well collected and analyzed support your choices.
Step 1: Define your questions – Start by selecting the right questions. Questions should be
measurable, clear, and concise. Design your questions to qualify or disqualify possible solutions to
your specific problem.
Step 2: Establish measurement priorities – This step divides into two sub-steps:
Step 3: Collect data – With the question clearly defined and your measurement priorities
established, now it’s time to collect your data. As you manage and organize your data, remember to
keep these essential points in mind:
Before collecting new data, determine what information you could gather from existing databases
or sources.
Determine storage and file naming system to help all team members collaborate in advance. This
process saves time and prevents team members from collecting the same information twice.
If you need to collect data through surveys, observation, or interviews, develops a questionnaire in
advance to ensure consistency and save time.
Keep the collected data organized with a log of collection dates and add any source notes as you go
along.
Step 4: Analyze the data – Once you’ve collected the correct data to answer your Step 1 question,
it’s time to conduct a deeper analysis. Find relationships, identify trends, sort and filter your data
according to variables. As you analyze the data, you will find the exact data you need.
Step 5: Interpret the results - After analyzing the data and possibly conducting further research, it is
finally time to interpret the results. Ask yourself these key questions:
If the interpretation of data holds up under these questions and considerations, you have reached a
productive conclusion. The only remaining step is to use the results of the data analysis process to
decide how you are going to act.
To put the importance of analytical reports into perspective, here is a rundown of the key benefits
of effective report analysis:
Now that we’ve managed to define analytical reporting, and stated some key benefits of report
analysis, we’ll consider how to write an analytics-style report to enhance business intelligence across
the board with the help of modern and professional tools.
Use digital dashboards – When considering the question “what is an analytical report,” it’s
important to think about the best medium in terms of usability and presentation. It’s possible
to write an analytical report using a spreadsheet, whitepaper, or a simple Word document or
file. But these more traditional report-writing methods are usually clunky and time-
consuming. It is possible to structure data across a broad range of spreadsheets, but the final
result can be more confusing than productive. By using an online dashboard, you will be able
to gain access to dynamic metrics and data in a way that’s digestible, actionable, and accurate.
No more sifting through droves of spreadsheets, no more patchwork data analysis, and
reporting methods. With digital analytical reporting, you will see the insights unfolding before
your very eyes.
Be dynamic – Traditional reports have a standard structure that doesn’t facilitate editing. And
static reports have their limitations. Traditional types of analytical reports typically consist of
a title page, table of contents, introduction, methodology, body section, conclusions,
recommendations, and a bibliography. But with dynamic, interactive dashboard reporting
software, your structure will be far simpler and more holistic. As such, you can retain all the
conventional information you require, but the dynamism will provide information you can use
in real-time and dig deeper while drilling down into pockets of information with the swipe of
a screen or the click of a button.
Choose the right chart types – What is the most important aspect of analytical reporting?
Choosing the right chart type, perhaps. Once you’ve made a conscious commitment to work
with dynamic analytical reports, the next phase of the “how to write an analysis report”
operation comes in the form of choosing the right chart type. A modern data report offers a
host of interactive data charts and visualizations you can use to your advantage. If you choose
the right types - those that represent the information you’re looking to convey with your data
analysis report - you will enhance communication and productivity. Common analytics report
chart types include interactive bar charts, line charts, bubble plots, area charts, and maps. To
help you pick visualizations for your report, here is a guide to choosing the best types of data
visualization for your business.
Follow design best practices – When you’re considering the preparation of analytical reports,
presentation is everything. Regardless of how powerful your dashboard software is, without
following data analysis and reporting best practices, you will dilute your most vital
organizational information, making it far less effective. When it comes to the design aspect of
how to write an analysis report, a clear, concise layout with a balanced mix of visuals is the
way forward. For powerful analytical reporting, you must make sure your dashboard provides
clear-cut answers to the questions linked to key aspects of your business’s performance. You
should avoid packing too many charts and widgets into any data analytics reports as it will
only detract from your analytical information. Also, for maximum data analytics reporting
success, focus on following a logical format that will help you and your users extract actionable
insights at a glance. Adding tables at the bottom of the dashboard will help you achieve a
logical analytical report format as they usually provide more value than charts, graphs, or
similar metrics.
Work with the right KPIs – As well as the many different types of analytical reports that exist
in the digital age, there are also many types of dynamic key performance indicators you can
use. The visually rich and interactive nature of these KPIs means that you can gain access to a
wealth of invaluable information, both past, predictive, and in real-time. For an analytical-
style report format to work at its optimum capacity, selecting the right KPI template to build
up your performance and business goals - is vital. When you’re creating or developing a
business analytics report, you should consider which trends you are looking to uncover or
benchmark and choose your KPIs accordingly.
Make your analysis report accessible – Expanding on our previous point, your business
analytics report must always be accessible. In addition to developing a visually accessible,
logical design and format, your analytical information should always be available to the right
people in your organization whenever and wherever they need it. By working with a modern
analytical report template, you will be able to provide 24/7 access to your company’s most
important KPI dashboards as employees will be able to log in and extract insights from a
multitude of devices, including smartphones and tablets. The primary aim of an analytical
report template is to improve internal business intelligence while empowering everyone with
the information they need to perform better - this limitless level of accessibility will do just
that.
Tell a tale – You’ve probably noticed that we’ve already mentioned the importance of “telling
a tale or story” a couple of times - and for good reasons. The human brain favors strong
narratives or a plot it can follow, so if your analysis report format is developed with
storytelling in mind, you will make your business analysis report efforts far more powerful. To
learn more about how to improve your analysis efforts, you can read our comprehensive guide
on data analysis methods and techniques. Next, we will take a closer look at real-life scenarios
where you can utilize analytical reports to generate business value.
Research Design;
Research design definition –
Research design is the framework of research methods and techniques chosen by a researcher. The
design allows researchers to hone in on research methods that are suitable for the subject matter
and set up their studies up for success.
Neutrality: When you set up your study, you may have to make assumptions about the data
you expect to collect. The results projected in the research should be free from bias and
neutral. Understand opinions about the final evaluated scores and conclusions from multiple
individuals and consider those who agree with the derived results.
Reliability: With regularly conducted research, the researcher involved expects similar results
every time. Your design should indicate how to form research questions to ensure the
standard of results. You’ll only be able to reach the expected results if your design is reliable.
Validity: There are multiple measuring tools available. However, the only correct measuring
tools are those which help a researcher in gauging results according to the objective of the
research. The questionnaire developed from this design will then be valid.
Generalization: The outcome of your design should apply to a population and not just a
restricted sample. A generalized design implies that your survey can be conducted on any part
of a population with similar accuracy.
The above factors affect the way respondents answer the research questions and so all the above
characteristics should be balanced in a good design.
My SIP related Research Design; (To check whether, there exists a discernible association
between gender and performance appraisal ratings at Peerless Financial Products
Distribution Limited.)
Phase 1: Situation analysis.
Peerless Financial Products Distribution Limited is a company that distributes and sells financial
products in India and I want to check whether the increments and bonuses given to employees of
PFPDL across all departments during the 2022-2023 performance appraisal cycle has any
association with the gender of the employees.
Specifically, I want to know if there are any association between the gender and the
increments/bonuses
Sales-
Monthly targets are short-term goals that are set for each month. They are typically used to
track progress towards larger quarterly or yearly goals. Monthly targets can be set for a
variety of metrics, such as sales, leads, or customer satisfaction.
Quarterly targets are intermediate goals that are set for each quarter. They are typically
used to track progress towards larger yearly goals. Quarterly targets can be set for a variety
of metrics, such as sales, leads, or customer satisfaction.
Yearly targets are long-term goals that are set for each year. They are typically used to track
progress towards the overall vision or mission of the company. Yearly targets can be set for
a variety of metrics, such as sales, revenue, or market share.
Customer service-
Providing service to new customers in its full life cycle.
In the insurance industry, this means providing excellent customer service to new customers from
the moment they first contact you to the moment their policy expires. This includes:
Answering their questions in a timely and accurate manner
Helping them to understand their policy and their coverage options
Processing their payments quickly and efficiently
Handling any claims promptly and fairly
By providing excellent customer service throughout the customer lifecycle, and building
trust and loyalty with new customers, which will increase the chances of them renewing
their policies with you in the future.
Business renewal
In the insurance industry, business renewal refers to the process of renewing a customer's
insurance policy when it expires. This is an important part of the customer lifecycle, as it ensures
that your customers continue to have the coverage they need.
HR-
Recruitment and onboarding: HR can help attract and hire the best candidates for open positions.
They can also provide new employees with the resources they need to get up to speed quickly and
effectively.
Performance management: HR can help employees set goals, track their progress, and receive
feedback. They can also help resolve performance issues in a fair and objective manner.
Career development: HR can help employees identify their career goals and develop a plan to
achieve them. They can also provide training and development opportunities that help employees
build their skills and knowledge.
Offboarding: HR can help employees transition out of the organization in a smooth and professional
manner. They can also provide severance packages and other benefits to help employees during
this time.
Finance-
Managing the financial affairs of an organization in accordance with the applicable laws and
regulations, including those of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Insurance Regulatory and
Development Authority of India (IRDA).
Internal Audit-
1. Reviewing the organization's financial statements for compliance with accounting standards
and regulations.
2. Evaluating the organization's internal controls to ensure that they are designed to prevent
and detect fraud and errors.
3. Conducting compliance reviews to ensure that the organization is in compliance with all
applicable laws and regulations.
4. Providing consulting services to help the organization improve its risk management, control,
and governance processes.
IT-
1. Hardware, software, and server maintenance for insurance systems.
2. This includes ensuring that the hardware, software, and servers that are used to support
insurance systems are properly maintained and updated.
3. It also involves developing and implementing policies and procedures that ensure that the
integrity of insurance data is protected.
Phase 2: Design.
a) Accurate purpose statement –To check whether, the Increment and bonus
given to the employees during performance appraisal cycle 2022-2023 has
association with the gender of the employees or not across the organization
Null Hypothesis – Association
Alternate Hypothesis – NO Association
g) Measurement of analysis –
1) Eligibility (Out of 130, 114 is selected)
2) Rating (As per prescribed format employees are rated in 5 rating scale)
3) % of appraisal is received from company database directly.
Phase 3: Implementation.
Phase 4: Evaluation.
Data Analysis
Count of
Gender
Gender Total
Female 12
Male 102
Grand Total 114
Total
Female
Male
Checking weather, whether there exists a discernible association between gender and
performance appraisal increment percentage at Peerless Financial Products Distribution
Limited.
Null Hypothesis- There is no association with the gender & the increment.
Alternate Hypothesis- There is association with the gender & the increment.
CHI SQ TEST-
FEMALE 1 7 3 4 0 15
MALE 18 64 16 18 2 118
TOTAL 19 71 19 22 2 133
EXPECTED DATA TABLE
Gender VS Increment category
GENDER/INCREMENT 0-5% 6-10% 11-15% 16-20% 21-25% TOTAL
Null Hypothesis: There is no association with the gender & the increment.
Alternate Hypothesis: There is association with the gender & the increment.
Steps Steps to be followed for Chi square Test P-VALUE approach for the above secondary data.
Step 1 Go to formulas
Step 2 Go to More function
Step 3 Choose Statistical
Step 4 Choose Chi sq. test
Step 5 Choose Array for observed
Step 6 Choose Array for expected
Step 7 Note the value of p computed
Step 8 Checking the association.
Interpretation –
If the p-value is less than your significance level, the difference between means is
statistically significant. Again, Excel provides p-values and critical value approach for CHI SQ.
TEST—and we’ll stick with the p-value approach.
For our results, we’ll use excel chi sq. test formula, by which we’ll get p-value for the Chi sq.-
test where our p-value is 1 which is more than the standard significance level of 0.05, so we
can accept the null hypothesis.
No association between the gender and the increment is important because it shows that the
employees are not treated in a biased way because of gender.
B. Data Analysis as per rating-
Null Hypothesis- There is association with the gender & the rating.
Alternate Hypothesis- There is no association with the gender & the rating.
CHI SQ TEST-
OBSERVATION TABLE
GENDER VS APPRAISAL RATING
Gender\Rating 1 2 3 4 5 GRAND TOTAL
FEMALE 1 3 2 5 1 12
MALE 11 16 34 32 9 102
GRAND TOTAL 12 19 36 37 10 114
EXPECTED TABLE
GENDER VS APPRAISAL RATING
GENDER \ RATING 1 2 3 4 5 GRAND TOTAL
FEMALE 1 3 2 5 1 12
MALE 11.0 16 34 32 9.0 102
GRAND TOTAL 12 19 36 37 10 114
Data analysis of PDP (Performance Development Plan) data for rating–
Null Hypothesis: There is no association between the gender and the rating in every department of PFPDL
Alternate Hypothesis: There is no association between the gender and the rating in every department of PFPDL
Steps Steps to be followed for Chi square Test P-VALUE approach for the above secondary data.
Step 1 Go to formulas
Step 2 Go to More function
Step 3 Choose Statistical
Step 4 Choose Chi sq. test
Step 5 Choose Array for observed
Step 6 Choose Array for expected
Step 7 Note the value of p computed
Step 8 Checking the association.
Interpretation –
If the p-value is less than your significance level, the difference between means is
statistically significant. Again, Excel provides p-values and critical value approach for
CHI SQ. TEST—and we’ll stick with the p-value approach.
For our results, we’ll use excel chi sq. test formula, by which we’ll get p-value for the
Chi sq.-test where our p-value is 1 which is more than the standard significance level
of 0.05, so we can accept the null hypothesis.
No association between the gender and the rating is important because it shows that the
employees are not treated in a biased way because of gender.
Results and Findings:
The examination of the glass ceiling effect in the BFSI sector reveals persistent challenges hindering
gender equity despite diversity and inclusion efforts. Analysis of performance appraisal ratings
indicates potential biases, with consistent lower ratings for marginalized groups, particularly
women. Regular review of ratings across diverse dimensions is crucial to address systemic barriers.
Proactive measures like diversity training and fostering inclusivity are imperative to ensure a fair
and meritocratic appraisal system, promoting equal opportunities for all employees.
However, when examining Peerless Financial Products Distribution Limited specifically, the findings
presented a contrasting scenario. Despite the prevalent awareness of glass ceiling effects within the
BFSI sector, no significant association was found between gender and performance appraisal within
Peerless Financial Products Distribution Limited. Nevertheless, a notable observation emerged from
secondary data analysis, revealing a significantly low proportion of female employees within the
organization and has no women representation in the top management. This disparity in gender
representation highlights broader systemic challenges that may contribute to gender-related issues
in career advancement, warranting further investigation and targeted interventions to address
underlying barriers to gender equity within the organization.
Conclusion:
The study highlights the pervasive presence of glass ceiling effects in performance appraisal ratings
within the Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI) sector in India. Despite efforts to
promote diversity and inclusion, gender disparities persist, hindering the career progression of
women and underrepresented groups into senior leadership roles. Biases such as the halo effect
contribute to unfair appraisals, perpetuating inequality and hindering organizational growth.
Additionally, the perception of performance appraisal politics and its impact on counterproductive
work behavior underscore the need for fair and unbiased assessments in fostering a positive work
environment.
Recommendations:
To address these challenges, organizations in the BFSI sector must implement proactive measures:
Limitations:
The study primarily focuses on the BFSI sector in India, limiting generalizability to
other industries or geographic regions.
Data collection may be subject to biases or inaccuracies, impacting the validity of
findings.
The study may not capture all dimensions of the glass ceiling phenomenon or other
forms of discrimination present in the BFSI sector.
Future Scope:
1. Longitudinal Studies:
Track promotions, salary changes, and attrition rates for men and women over several
years. This would reveal if the glass ceiling weakens, strengthens, or stays stagnant.
Identify critical career junctures where women face the most significant disparity in
advancement.
2. Comparative Analyses:
Compare BFSI sectors across different countries with varying gender equality legislation
and social norms. This could identify best practices for dismantling the glass ceiling.
Analyze industries with contrasting gender ratios in leadership positions. This might reveal
industry-specific factors contributing to the glass ceiling.
3. Qualitative Research:
Conduct in-depth interviews with women in the BFSI sector, focusing on their experiences
with performance appraisals, promotion processes, and mentorship opportunities.
Explore the perspectives of men in leadership roles to understand their perceptions of
gender bias and their support for diversity initiatives.
4. Intervention Studies:
Design and test different diversity and inclusion training programs, measuring their impact
on reducing implicit bias in performance evaluations.
Evaluate mentoring programs specifically aimed at supporting women in leadership
development within the BFSI sector.
Implement anonymized performance appraisal processes and analyze if it leads to fairer
ratings for women.
These research avenues can provide valuable insights to dismantle the glass ceiling and achieve
true gender equity in the BFSI sector and beyond.
Bibliography / Reference
ZOHO ONE;
ZOHO PEOPLE;
ZOHO PAYROLL;
ZOHO RECRUIT;
• ZOHO ORGANIZATION;
• ZOHO REPORTS – PEOPLE;
• ZOHO ONBOARDING;
ZOHO MEETING;
ZOHO SERVICES;
COMPARING SOUTH-ASIAN COUNTRIES-