Impact of Covid-19 on Workplace Transformation: A Case Study of Morrisons

This research aims to identify the impacts of Covid-19 on accelerating workplace transformation. The report covers aim and objectives, literature review, research methodology, and others that develop performance. The study uses a deductive research method and a cross-sectional temporal horizon. The questionnaire includes questions related to knowledge about workplace transformation, impacts of Covid-19 on Morrisons performance, and different strategies to improve business performance.

Research Project

Contents
Contents...........................................................................................................................................2
Topic: To identify the impact of global pandemic on accelerating workplace transformation.......1
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
Research Aims and Objectives....................................................................................................1
Research Questions......................................................................................................................1
Rationale......................................................................................................................................2
LITERATURE REVIEW................................................................................................................2
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY....................................................................................................5
QUESTIONNAIRE.........................................................................................................................6
INTERPRETATION.......................................................................................................................7
Recommendation –..........................................................................................................................9
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................10
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................11

Topic: To identify the impact of Covid-19 on accelerating workplace
transformation.
INTRODUCTION
The workplace transformation is the rethinking of flexible workspaces that accommodate
types of work, technology, and workers by contributing in business activities and functions. This
is important for each organization to understand what their employees are facing the problems
and how it can be resolved. In other words, workplace transformation is the involvement of
many activities in which the employer provides a facility to their employees to work hard and
develop business productivity (Meske, and Junglas, 2021). Due to Covid-19, all businesses have
been affected where it became important for companies to bring new ideas and technology for
the purpose of running their business accurately. To understand workplace transformation
Morrisons has been taken that is larger size retailer in the UK offering different types of products
at retail prices. Due to Covid all business functions being hampered where use of new
technology could be an effective source to introduce new products and services. The report
covers aim and objectives, literature review, research methodology, and others that develop
performance.
Research Aims and Objectives
Aims: “To identify the impacts of Covid-19 on accelerating workplace transformation.” A case
study of Morrisons.
Research Objectives:
• To determine the knowledge and understanding about workplace transformation.
• To identify the impacts of Covid-19 on performance of Morrisons in accelerating
workplace transformation.
• To explain the different strategies to workplace transformation could be used by
Morrisons to improve the business performance.
Research Questions
 What are the knowledge and importance of workplace transformation?
 What are the impacts of Covid-19 on performance of Morrisons in accelerating
workplace transformation?
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 What are the different strategies to workplace transformation could be used by Morrisons
to improve the business performance?
Rationale
The reason of conducting the research is to gain understanding about changing the
workplace by employees for the purpose of managing work and business functions. The
researcher is an individual who conduct research regarding workplace transformation for
influencing employees and getting work done. This can help to bring relevant and valid
information where use of new technology could be effective to run the business and maintaining
higher performance. The current research will help researcher to develop their personal and
professional skills. In context to personal increment of interpersonal, and communication skills is
possible where as in professional skills workplace transformation and changing climate could be
improve effectively (Iivari, Sharma, and Ventä-Olkkonen, 2020).
LITERATURE REVIEW
 To determine the knowledge and understanding of workplace transformation.
As per the view point of (Meske, 2019), Workplace transformation is the major aspect for a
business organization in which all employees are allowed to work remotely. It has been seen that
sometimes employees are not feeling comfortable working in office work and they demand for
change that should be provided to staff as it influenced to work in a good manner and develop
the business performance. This is important for a business organization to understand what their
employees want and then the kind of services and flexibility to work needs to be provided as it
bring change to the workplace and supports to develop the business productivity. The aim of
business organization is to retain their employees as they contribute to organizational
productivity, and performance. The managers need to pay attention on employee’s desires and
flexibility to work that supported to grow a business continuously and accomplish the business
goals. In relation to Morrisons, workplace transformation is important for employer and
employees as it brings effective management to change together with properly redesigned space
that improve organizational productivity. This is also used to attracts and influence the talent to
work continuously, increasing wellbeing, and reducing cost as well as CO2 emission. This can
help to bring the change in their existing performance and attaining higher productivity by
focusing over workplace transformation.
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To identify the impacts of Covid-19 on performance of Morrisons in accelerating workplace
transformation.
According to (Hicks, 2019), Workplace transformation is impacting positively on business
performance as it provides a chance to their staff to work from other places and homes wherever
they want. This is important for each business organization to analysis the environment and
comes to know how their employees will be affected by bringing new activities and technology
while working. In relation to Morrisons, is larger retailing organization that sales different types
of products and services to their customers at lower prices which supports to influence the
number of customers. Due to Covid-19 it became challenging for organization to use digital
technology for placing order, cancellation, and visiting websites, and receiving products that has
impacted business performance such as:
 To reduce employee turnover – The meaning of employee turnover is the situation
where employees are not satisfied and make decision to leave the organization. This is
important for organization that their staff will be work for long period where use of new
technology and workplace transformation became important to provide a facility to work
from their homes in covid period that helps to retain employees for long period.
 Brining higher performance – The use of digital technology within pandemic period
could be effective and supportive as it brings new activities and functions to work and
managing higher performance. The management of Morrisons uses digital technology at
the workplace transformation helps to improve the higher performance and activities
effectively (Vallo Hult, and Byström, 2021).
 To recruit and retain the people – Due to Covid-19 employees were shifted to their
hometown where number of vacancies being vacant and affected business activities
negatively. The management of Morrisons, make the use of new technology in order to
influence, attract, and retaining the people for long period that can help to develop the
organizational productivity and profitability effectively.
 Increasing the productivity and profitability – The aim of business organization is to
improve their production and profits by managing the changes and accomplishing
business goals. In relation to Morrisons, management is having major role who identify
the problems and use new technology in delivering the retail products and services. This
helped to increase the organizational productivity and profitability effectively.
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To explain the different strategies to workplace transformation could be used by Morrisons
to improve the business performance.
As per view point of (Kim, 2020), Workplace transformation is the rethinking of flexible
space where staff decides to work and managing all functions effectively. This could help to
develop the business productivity by introducing changes and good activities. In relation to
Morrisons, there are number of strategies to workplace transformation which are used by
management to develop the performance that are as explained below:
 Focus on change management – Change management is the continuous process of
converting existing functions into new one that influenced people to work properly and
systematically. This can be use by Morrisons to deal with change of Covid impact where
digital technology is change introduced by management for delivering contactless
products and services that can help to develop functions.
 Use of new technology – Digital technology is the important for business organization as
it make easier to work and business functions. Without use of new technology, it could be
challenging for company to operate their business. In relation to Morrisons, management
uses digital technology for the purpose of introducing new products and services to their
guests. This can help to develop the customer base in changing environment.
 Training and development – This can be used by organization for the purpose of
accepting changes easily and bringing higher performance. This mainly used by
Morrisons to build the team effectiveness by managing changes and attaining competitive
advantages as it fills customer demand and offer better quality of products as well as
services (Hughes, Robert, Frady, and Arroyos, 2019).
 Providing flexibility – This could be explained as effective strategy which is used by
business organization for the purpose of arranging employees at right place and get work
done by maintaining flexibility. This could help to reach the high range of customers and
attaining the higher productivity.
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RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research philosophy – This could be explained as framework consider principles and
methods of collecting information. This is important for each individual to identify what is
happening around and how each topic will be clear to accomplish the business goals. This
involves, there are fundamentally two sorts of ideologies: positivism and interpretivism. The
researcher in this study employs the positivist research theory since it facilitates in the collection
of quantitative facts on the subject. The key benefit of this method is that it makes collecting
reliable and useful data easier for the researcher.
Research Approach - The research approach is a set of tactics employed by the researcher
to generate hypotheses from which useful conclusions can be drawn about the subject. This
strategy can be divided into two types: inductive and deductive. The full inquiry in this study
was carried out using a logical method by the researcher. This method assists the researcher in
quantitatively aligning the study question in order to obtain dependable results. For the current
study the deductive research method was applied (Hardiman, and Dewing, 2019). This will helps
to provide the valid and appropriate knowledge regarding topic and its importance.
Research Strategy -This is a technique that helps a researcher collect and analyse data more
efficiently. Surveys, focus groups, observation, systematic literature reviews, experimental
studies, and many more research methods are available. In this case, the researcher employed the
survey method to successfully complete the research. This makes collecting numerical data and
meeting the study's objectives easy for the investigator.
Research Choice -This is the method by which the researcher collects and analyses data
efficiently. The two types of research methodologies offered are quantitative and qualitative
research methodologies. The mono method in the form of quantitative data analysis was chosen
as the research approach. This technique aids the researcher in getting in-depth knowledge about
the issue and digesting numerical data more quickly because it is simple to compute (Bond,
Marín, Dolch, Bedenlier, and Zawacki-Richter, 2018).
Data Collection and analysis - The practise of gathering high-quality data in a more
reliable and effective manner is known as data collection.There are two types of approaches in
this area: main and secondary procedures. In the current situation, the researcher has conducted
the research using the methodology because they aid in the collection of data from reliable
sources. This strategy aids the researcher in obtaining precise and thorough information from
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credible sources regarding the subject. This involves quantitative and qualitative analysis to
collect data. The use of qualitative data is possible with theoretical information whereas use of
practical and statistical data is being used in quantitative data. In relation to current research,
quantitative data is being used by researcher that can help to collect the statistical information
regarding impacts of pandemic on accelerating the workplace transformation.
Time Horizon - In order to perform the research in a methodical manner, it requires a lot
of time. Cross-sectional and longitudinal time frames are the two types of time horizons. In this
study, the researcher used a cross-sectional temporal horizon. This method is the most cost-
effective, and it aids the researcher in obtaining reliable and accurate information in a timely
manner. Also, it is the short-term investigation (Horvathova, Dulina, and Bigosova, Savić, 2020).
Sampling - Sampling is a process of selecting human answers in order for the researcher
to obtain reliable data. Probability and non-probability methods are the two types of approaches.
In this study, the researcher used the probability technique to collect data from a wide
demographic group. Using a random sampling strategy, the researcher gets data from the
following respondents in this method. The survey will be conducted with a total of 30
participants. The participants will be given a questionnaire to fill out, which will feature a series
of questions with multiple choice answers. Non-probability sampling, on the other hand, engages
in research with non-random groups, which is why it will not be researched.
QUESTIONNAIRE
Q1) Do you knowledge about work place transformation? Frequency
a) Yes 25
b) No 5
Q2) Are you agree, company should use different workplace
transformation?
Frequency
a) Yes 28
b) No 2
Q3) According to you, workplace transformation is? Frequency
a) It is the comprehensive refurbishment of office workplaces. 10
b) Providing a space where employees could work freely 10
c) A place with no regulations and legislation to work 10
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Q4) What are the impacts of global pandemic on Morrisons performance
in accelerating workplace transformation?
Frequency
a) To reduce employee turnover 8
b) Brining higher performance 6
c) To recruit and retain the people 7
d) Increasing the productivity and profitability 9
Q5) Is workplace transformation is beneficial for Morrison as it used new
technology to reach the large number of customers?
Frequency
a) Yes 22
b) No 8
Q6) What are the different strategies to workplace transformation of
Morrisons to improve the business performance?
Frequency
a) Focus on change management 6
b) Use of new technology 7
c) Training and development 9
d) Providing flexibility 11
Q7) What are the benefits of workplace transformation taken by Morrison
while implementing digital technology?
Frequency
a) To improve the business productivity and profitability 10
b) To bring changes and challenges at the workplace 10
c) To increase the customer base and market area 10
INTERPRETATION
Q1) Do you knowledge about work place transformation? Frequency
c) Yes 25
d) No 5
Interpretation – From the above it has been interpreted that workplace transformation is
important as it is used to bring new working activities and functions to operate the business and
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maintain higher performance. In context to Morrison, management make the use of workplace
transformation for introducing new changes effectively.
Q2) Are you agree, company should use different workplace
transformation?
Frequency
c) Yes 28
d) No 2
Interpretation – This interpreted that changes are important to organization as it develop the
business performance and productivity. This could help to bring new technology at the
workplace (Antonova, and Ivanova, 2021).
Q3) According to you, workplace transformation is? Frequency
a) It is the comprehensive refurbishment of office workplaces. 10
b) Providing a space where employees could work freely 10
c) A place with no regulations and legislation to work 10
Interpretation – From the above it can be interpreted that as per 30 people who are divided
equally said workplace transformation is the comprehensive refurbishment of office workplaces,
Providing a space where employees could work freely, and a place with no regulations and
legislation to work.
Q4) What are the impacts of global pandemic on Morrisons performance
in accelerating workplace transformation?
Frequency
a) To reduce employee turnover 8
b) Brining higher performance 6
c) To recruit and retain the people 7
d) Increasing the productivity and profitability 9
Interpretation – From the report it has interpreted that as per 9 people global pandemic increased
the productivity and profitability, as per 8 reduce the employee turnover, as per 7 recruit and
retain the people, and as per bringing higher performance (Genzorova, Corejova, and
Stalmasekova, 2019).
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Q5) Is workplace transformation is beneficial for Morrison as it used new
technology to reach the large number of customers?
Frequency
a) Yes 22
b) No 8
Interpretation – From the report it can interpreted that as per 22 people workplace transformation
is beneficial for Morrison as it used new technology to reach the large number of customers and
as per 8 people it is not beneficial.
Q6) What are the different strategies to workplace transformation of
Morrisons to improve the business performance?
Frequency
e) Focus on change management 6
f) Use of new technology 7
g) Training and development 9
h) Providing flexibility 11
Interpretation – As per 11 people providing flexibility, as per 9 training and development, as per
new 7 use of new technology, and as per 6 people focus on change management are effective
strategies which can help to develop the business performance (de Lucas Ancillo, del Val Núñez,
and Gavrila, 2021).
Q7) What are the benefits of workplace transformation taken by Morrison
while implementing digital technology?
Frequency
a) To improve the business productivity and profitability 10
b) To bring changes and challenges at the workplace 10
c) To increase the customer base and market area 10
Interpretation – From the report it can be interpreted that as per 10 people improve the business
productivity and profitability, as per 10 people it bring changes and challenges at the workplace,
as per 10 it increases the customers base and market area. This could help to develop the
business performance and profitability.
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Recommendation –
From the report it has been recommended that workplace transformation is the process of
using new technology that can be used to develop the business performance. Workplace
transformation is the activity of bringing working functions at different places that can help to
attaining higher profitability. The researcher has been used deductive approach, quantitative
techniques that can help into collect data regarding particular topic. This could be explained as
transformation means to introduce the changes and brining challenges which supported attain
higher performance.
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CONCLUSION
From the report it can be concluded that workplace transformation is sued by
organization to get work done from employees by managing changes and working from other
places. This is important for each organization to understand how their employees will be
influenced to perform their functions and activities. This could be explained for organization to
use digital technology at the workplace which can help to bring higher performance. The
management should be offer different types of new products and services which supports to
attain higher functions and productivity.
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REFERENCES
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Meske, C. and Junglas, I., 2021. Investigating the elicitation of employees’ support towards
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pp.1120-1136.
Meske, C., 2019. Digital workplace transformation–on the role of self-determination in the
context of transforming work environments.
de Lucas Ancillo, A., del Val Núñez, M.T. and Gavrila, S.G., 2021. Workplace change within
the COVID-19 context: a grounded theory approach. Economic Research-Ekonomska
Istraživanja, 34(1), pp.2297-2316.
Hicks, M., 2019. Why the urgency of digital transformation is hurting the digital
workplace. Strategic HR Review.
Vallo Hult, H. and Byström, K., 2021. Challenges to learning and leading the digital
workplace. Studies in Continuing Education, pp.1-15.
Wainwright, D., Crawford, J., Loretto, W., Phillipson, C., Robinson, M., Shepherd, S.,
Vickerstaff, S. and Weyman, A., 2019. Extending working life and the management of
change. Is the workplace ready for the ageing worker?. Ageing & Society, 39(11),
pp.2397-2419.
Kim, R.Y., 2020. The impact of COVID-19 on consumers: Preparing for digital sales. IEEE
Engineering Management Review, 48(3), pp.212-218.
Hughes, C., Robert, L., Frady, K. and Arroyos, A., 2019. Managing people and technology in the
workplace. In Managing technology and middle-and low-skilled employees. Emerald
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Hardiman, M. and Dewing, J., 2019. Using two models of workplace facilitation to create
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study. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 28(15-16), pp.2769-2781.
Bond, M., Marín, V.I., Dolch, C., Bedenlier, S. and Zawacki-Richter, O., 2018. Digital
transformation in German higher education: student and teacher perceptions and usage
of digital media. International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher
Education, 15(1), pp.1-20.
Horvathova, B., Dulina, L. and Bigosova, E., 2020. Model of the adaptive dynamic
workplace. Zarządzanie Przedsiębiorstwem, 23(3).
Savić, D., 2020. COVID-19 and work from home: Digital transformation of the workforce. Grey
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Antonova, K. and Ivanova, P., 2021. Robotization And Artificial Intelligence-A New Model Of
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Genzorova, T., Corejova, T. and Stalmasekova, N., 2019. How digital transformation can
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Procedia, 40, pp.1053-1058.
Iivari, N., Sharma, S. and Ventä-Olkkonen, L., 2020. Digital transformation of everyday life–
How COVID-19 pandemic transformed the basic education of the young generation and
why information management research should care?. International Journal of
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