Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on accelerating workplace transformation for retaining and engaging employees within an organisation

RESEARCH PROJECT
(Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on
accelerating workplace transformation for
retaining and engaging employees within an
organisation)

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
Overview of the research........................................................................................................3
Background of the company...................................................................................................3
Research aim, objectives and questions.................................................................................3
Research rationale..................................................................................................................4
LITERATURE REVIEW................................................................................................................5
Concept and role of workplace transformation within the UK retail industry.......................5
Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on transforming the workplace for engaging and retaining
employees of Marks and Spencer...........................................................................................6
Challenges faced by Marks and Spencer in transforming the workplace during COVID-19
pandemic.................................................................................................................................6
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY.....................................................................................................8
DATA ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS..........................................................................................10
Frequency distribution table ................................................................................................10
Data interpretation................................................................................................................12
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION.............................................................................18
Conclusion............................................................................................................................18
Recommendation..................................................................................................................18
Reflection.............................................................................................................................19
REFERENCES .............................................................................................................................20
APPENDIX....................................................................................................................................21
Questionnaire........................................................................................................................21

INTRODUCTION
Overview of the research
Workplace transformation is considered as an important method that helps in improving
the skills of employees, abilities and tools to keep up with the continuos changes for building
better strategy of an organisation. Technology mainly plays a prominent role in enhancing the
working efficiency and effectiveness of employees for gaining high success and growth in the
competitive market. Digital workplace help in improving the overall process of the company
during COVID-19 pandemic and this enables employees to work in a proper manner through
digital technology. It mainly helps in introducing new and effective methods of working,
increases employee agility and engagement and uses consumer oriented technologies and styles
(Selimović, Pilav-Velić and Krndžija, 2021). COVID-19 pandemic has an adverse effect on the
performance and productivity of the business organisation and this results in decreased sales and
profitability. With the help of workplace transformation, an organisation can improve the
working culture of the business by the help of advanced technology so that all employees can
work from their home. This results in improved productivity, employee engagement, customer
satisfaction, inclusion and diversity in the new working environment in the time of pandemic.
Background of the company
For carrying out the present investigation the researcher has chosen Marks and Spencer.
It is considered as a British multinational retailer which is headquartered in Paddington, London,
England. It mainly specialises in selling beauty, clothing, food products and home products. The
company also provides different range of finance related services which includes savings, credit
cards and insurance.
Research aim, objectives and questions
Research aim
To identify the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on accelerating workplace transformation
for retaining and engaging employees within an organisation. A study on Marks and Spencer
Research objectives
 To study the concept and role of workplace transformation within the UK retail industry
 To examine the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on transforming the workplace for
engaging and retaining employees of Marks and Spencer

 To determine the challenges faced by Marks and Spencer in transforming the workplace
during COVID-19 pandemic
Research questions
 What is the concept and role of workplace transformation within the UK retail industry?
 What is the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on transforming the workplace for engaging
and retaining employees of Marks and Spencer?
 What are the challenges faced by Marks and Spencer in transforming the workplace
during COVID-19 pandemic?
Research rationale
The main purpose of carrying out this current investigation is to determine the impact of
COVID-19 on bringing workplace transformation for engaging and retaining employees of the
organisation. Workplace transformation is all about bringing new changes and ideas within the
business which helps in increasing the profitability and revenue of the business (Soled, 2021).
The researcher has fulfilled dual objectives while completing this research which are known as
personal and professional. In terms of personal objective, the researcher will come to know about
the concept of workplace transformation and how it helps in dealing the COVID-19 pandemic
situation. On the other hand, in terms of professional objective, the researcher will gain
knowledge about workplace transformation and its role in the company which results in getting
better option for job prospects in the future.

LITERATURE REVIEW
Concept and role of workplace transformation within the UK retail industry
As per the view of Thevannoor, (2020), workplace transformation plays a prominent role
within the UK retail industry as it helps in attaining high growth and success in the business
market. Workplace transformation is considered as an opportunity that helps company to move
away from manual process of work and realigning the businesses with the growing expectations.
Technology helps in reshaping the operations of the business so that all employees feel engaged
in the activities for better decision making. Digital workplace helps in improving the workplace
of the business so that employees work with high confidence and dedication for attaining the
predetermined goals and objectives (Mahendra and Churiyah, 2022). It includes developing new
products and offerings, revamping and expanding online presence for the business and
integrating a digital approach to their business in the competitive market. Transformation in the
retail industry of the UK helps in increasing the overall sales, boosting satisfaction among
customers and minimising the high cost included in the operations. The role of workplace
transformation within the UK retail industry is defined as below:
 Attracting and retaining customers – Workplace transformation helps in attracting and
retaining large number of customers towards the business so that they gain high
profitability and sales. With the advancement of technology within the UK retail industry,
the company can sell its products through online platform and this results in reaching out
to more number of customers.
 Improving employee performance – Workplace transformation mainly helps in
improving the overall performance of employees for achieving the predefined goals and
objectives of the business in a effective manner (Borg and O'Sullivan, 2021). Employees
are the most important part of the business which helps in gaining high profitability and
growth in the retail industry.
 Creating a right culture for employees – Creating the right culture within the company
helps in motivating employees to work more effectively and efficiently within the
business. This also helps the company in retaining more number of employees because
they keep them engaged in the business activities and in sharing their thoughts in the
process of decision making.

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on transforming the workplace for engaging and retaining
employees of Marks and Spencer
As per the view of Woodbridg, (2019), COVID-19 has impacted the overall performance
and sales of the business in a negative manner. Transforming the workplace helps in dealing with
the COVID-19 situation in an effective and appropriate manner in order to survive in the
business market. For retaining and engaging staff members within the business organisation
during pandemic, it is important to adopt new and advanced technology so that they perform
business activities in a better way. COVID-19 has resulted in closure of most of the businesses
and for protecting the business from any discrepancy, it is essential for the company to adopt
workplace transformation so that better results can be gained. Creating a positive working
environment is important because it helps in improving employees productivity and performance
in the competitive business market. Transforming the workplace helps in improving the overall
performance of the business as technology helps in making the manual work more easy as
everything can be updated. This helps in providing employees work from home facility in the
time of complete lock-down so that they work with high flexibility within the business in order
to gain high success in the market.
An engaged employee is more productive and efficient in achieving the sustained aim
and objectives for high growth within the business organisation (Anderson, 2018). Remote work
results in attracting highly talented and qualified talented employees which work in favour of the
business organisation. Providing training to employees is also an important factor because this
results in improving their performance which results in increasing their level of knowledge and
skills. Training also helps in developing employees to deals with the pandemic situation properly
and in gaining high growth and survival in the business market where most of the business
results in closure of their business. Technology mainly helps in completing the given work in a
given time period and this enables business in retaining more number of customers for
purchasing the following goods and services through online platforms.
Challenges faced by Marks and Spencer in transforming the workplace during COVID-19
pandemic
As per the view of Fogarty, (2020), COVID-19 pandemic has brought several challenges
for the company which results in decreasing the overall growth and success in the competitive
retail business market. Pandemic has resulted in many deaths and this creates a fear in the mind