Investigating COVID-19 Impact on Workplace Transformation at Barclays

This report analyzes the impact of COVID-19 on workplace transformation within Barclays in the current digital age. It investigates how the pandemic has driven rapid shifts to remote work and the subsequent changes in business processes, workforce skills, and organizational systems. The report outlines the aims and objectives of the research, including understanding the conceptual framework of workplace transformation, examining the impact of external events, and identifying challenges faced by Barclays. It includes a project management plan with a work breakdown structure and Gantt chart, detailing the timeline, cost, quality, resources, communication, risk, and scope of the project. The research methodology involves both qualitative and quantitative data collection methods, including questionnaires and literature reviews, to gather comprehensive data. Finally, the report provides recommendations to address the challenges and maximize profitable results for the organization, emphasizing the value of the project in meeting stated objectives and enhancing learning.

UNIT 6
MANAGING A SMALL
BUSINESS PROJECT
(How has a major external event transformed the workplace?)

Table of Contents
TITLE..............................................................................................................................................1
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
P1 Devise aims and objectives of chosen organisation...............................................................1
P2 Produce project management plan including several aspects................................................2
P3 Work breakdown structure and Gantt chart...........................................................................4
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................6
P4 Small scale research by implementation qualitative and quantitative research.....................6
TASK 3..........................................................................................................................................10
P5 Evaluate research and data using appropriate tools and techniques....................................10
P6 Recommendations results to data and research analysis......................................................14
TASK 4..........................................................................................................................................15
P7 Reflect value of undertaking the project to meet stated objectives and own learning and
objectives...................................................................................................................................15
CONCLUSION .............................................................................................................................17
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................18

TITLE
“To identity the impact of COVID in workplace transformation within current digital
age.” A study on Barclays.
INTRODUCTION
The main aim of conducting this project report is to analyse the impact of COVID 19 on
workplace transformation in current digital age. Work transformation is a kind of change
management strategy that is mainly used to shift, realignment or fundamental changes within a
business organisation. The main aim is to make changes in processes, people, system to attain the
company objectives and visions in definite period of time. Workplace transformation define as a
method of improving workforce skills, ability to maintain constant changes within organisation
business strategy (Nagel, 2020). It is mainly present due to COVID 19 impact that driven the
rapid shift to work from home. This report is based on Barclays plc that is British multinational
universal bank that was operated as two divisions such as Barclays UK and Barclays
international. There are around 83,500 employees are working in all over the world on revenue
of 2176.6 crores. This report includes aims and objectives of current organisation along with
WBS and Gantt chart that is used to produce project management plan so that proper research
methodology is to be done. Further finding are reflected in which researcher use primary and
secondary sources so that proper data would be collected. At last recommendations are framed to
overcome the impact of COVID 19 on workplace transformation so that high profitable results
are enjoyed by organisation.
TASK 1
P1 Present aims and objectives of Barclays
Overview of research
This particular investigation is based on workplace transformation in digital age on which
organisation need to emphasis on to maintain culture and productivity in appropriate manner. In
terms of Barclays, management highly emphasis on examine impact of COVID 19 on workplace
transformation in digital age (Selimović, Pilav-Velić and Krndžija, 2021). In this compiling
experience of management team helps to positively bring workplace transformation in
appropriate manner. It also demonstrate challenges faced by Barclays at workplace
transformation. The main purpose is to identify the impact of external events like COVID on
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transformation of workplace at digital age so that firm emphasis on removing it to maintain
productivity. Hence it is highly useful to enhance skills and knowledge based on workplace
transformation to maximise career growth.
Project management refers to a continuous process which express proper structure to
complete repetitive activities so that overall purpose is to be attained. Project management have
various level like initiation, planning, performance control, execution and wind up of project. It
shows systematic work so that goals are attained on time. It is high time consuming process due
to which investigator execute every step in precise manner so that project should be complete in
appropriate manner.
Aims
To identity the impact of COVID in workplace transformation within current digital age.
A study on Barclays.
Objectives
 To understand the basic conceptual framework of workplace transformation in digital
age.
 To examine the impact of external events such as COVID in workplace transformation
under current digital age.
 To determine challenges faced by Barclays during workplace transformation in digital
age.
Research questions
 What are the basic conceptual framework of workplace transformation in digital age?
 Explain the impact of external events such as COVID in workplace transformation under
current digital age?
 What are the challenges faced by Barclays during workplace transformation in digital
age?
P2 Produce project management plan including several aspects
A project refers to a report that includes a peculiar topic on which subjects are framed to
properly complete the report. By getting the support of project management plan researcher start
or finish the activities in effective way (Chatterjee and Crawford, 2021). In this several phases
are included such as initiation, planning, implementation, closing and monitoring. Within this
several components are essential to conduct research that are presented below:
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 Time- It refers to a crucial aspect that is essential to complete aim and objectives in
appropriate manner. Time is needed to complete activities in authentic manner so that
proper analysis could be accomplished. Therefore for this report, researcher need 12
week in which they do systematic analysis so that overall objectives are reached.
 Cost- It refers to that amount which is needed to carry out activities and task in proper
manner. The total cost for completing this research project is £200. This involves
company analysis along with execution of project plan so that aims and objectives are
attained on time.
 Quality- It is another activity that is necessary within the report about the gathering data
which is of outstanding quality. However several types of practices are included to
gather proper outcomes (Fischer, Lundin and Lindberg, 2020). The quality of project is
maintained with assistance of primary and secondary sources. Primary sources are great
in quality when researcher approach right representative in effective manner whereas
secondary sources are facilitates the publication of data from journals. Articles, books,
commercial enterprise etc. as they assist in collect appropriate data of great quality due to
which objectives are attained effectively.
 Resources- Resources are very important for complete the study on time. The resources
include human resource, technical resources, equipment, financial resources. Therefore
involvement of these resources help to attain the targets in appropriate manner. As these
resources are helpful to complete the outcomes in short period of time. MS-Excel is
mainly used by researcher to make graphs, tables to accomplish the objectives on set time
frame.
 Communication- This process is crucial because it assist to share reliable information on
right time to exact respondents (Vahdat, 2021). There are various channels to convey
information to right representative on correct time so that proper results are attained on
time. In this research use e-mail to convey information and get reliable data in
appropriate manner.
 Risk- This determine the risk that could be faced by researcher while gather information
from chosen participants of after the process of collecting information. In this Theft is
being one of the major threat and also real challenge. In this gathered information could
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be stolen and inappropriate collection of incomplete information reflect improper
findings. To overcome this researcher need to form strategy to complete projects on time.
 Scope- the scope of conducting the project report is identify the impact of external events
on workplace transformation in explained manner. The main reason of drawing this study
is to examine the impact of COVID on transformation at workplace along with
challenges present while transformation in digital age at Barclays. Hence this study
would be developed to meet aims and objectives in appropriate manner.
P3 Work breakdown structure and Gantt chart
Gantt chart
It described as an understanding where planning of project is done so that objectives and
related questions within research project are attained in easy manner. It is a task planner that split
activities in an impressive manner so that every task could be completed on time where proper
timings could be given (Matli, 2020). Hence it helps to attain aim and objectives in appropriate
manner.
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Work breakdown structure
The work breakdown structure demonstrated a systematic composition that is used to
divide the sizeable activities into smaller one so that overall objectives are to be attained on time.
The structure considered each and every activity in such a manner so that it could be completed
on set time duration. Work break down structure believe that smaller task are easily achieved as
compared to large activities (Hite and McDonald, 2020).
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TASK 2
P4 Small scale research by implementation qualitative and quantitative research
Research outlined as a organized activity that includes collection of data, analysis,
documentation, interpretation to collect and gather the information to present viable conclusion.
It is used to attain the business objectives in appropriate manner. As research need in-depth
analysis based on specific topic so that objectives are attained on time. Effective research helps
to reach the objectives for this researcher need two methods that are presented below:
Qualitative research refer to the non-numerical kind of research where and investigator
collect opinion, mental object of respective person in words. Therefore investigator centered on
collect the ideas so that it could be analyses effectively. Mainly it includes open ended questions
where observations are used.
Quantitative research refers to that research which is reflected in numerical manner.
These were expressed in numbers where statistical and questionable techniques are adopted
(İlkkaracan and Memiş, 2021). Within this close ended questions are to be adopted that involves
questionnaire, interview etc.
To conduct this particular research, investigator adopts quantitative research where
questionnaire method is adopted. Questionnaire is highly effective methods that make connection
with respondents so that reliable information is presented for research.
Data collection defined as an activity of collecting data so that reliable information are collected
on specific topic. This involves two types of data collection primary and secondary data
collection.
Primary data- It define to that type of data collection where data are collected originally
without use of already published data. This source offer reliable information that is used to draw
perfect conclusion at the end.
Secondary data is that type of data collection where data are gathered using already
published sources such as books, journals, magazines etc. as they are more time consuming
because find relevant content is quite difficult.
Hence for this particular research both primary and secondary source of data are used in
terms of Questionnaire and literature review manner. This give prominent results at the end of
the workplace transformation in digital age research.
Sampling
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It refers to that process which is used to select few respondents from huge population.
There are two type of sample collection i.e. random sampling and non-random sampling. For this
specific report research adopts random sampling where respondents are selected randomly. In
this 30 respondents are chosen who fill questionnaire to present reliable information.
Ethical considerations
It is most crucial aspect in research methodology that considered the project should be
completed by follow proper code of conducts (Georgiadou and et. al., 2020). In this researcher
need to emphasis on maintain transparency, honesty, protection of autonomy etc. that are useful
to collect information from respondents in authentic manner so that valid outcomes are presented
at marketplace.
Research limitations
By involving in this research, investigator face various kind of limitations that negatively
affect performance and its completion. In this they recognize that there is an issue of lack of
resources, time to select the best method and collect information etc. due to which particular
study cannot done in a systematic manner.
Hence, preceding mentioned practices are very important to complete the project report
in reliable and relevant manner due to which overall research aim and objectives are achieved
effectively.
Secondary research (Literature review)
What are the basic conceptual framework of workplace transformation in digital age?
As per the Red thread, (2021) workplace transformation refers to a rethinking of flexible
work space to accommodate several types of work, technology and workers. In recent time
working criteria of people has changed as the work we need to accomplish is highly unstructured
, complex and collaborative and due to this people need flexible work spaces that highly support
companies and employees to work without distracting and targets are done in collaborative
nature. As technology is one of the main reason of workplace transformation that evolves around
the BYOD strategy to offer employees choice and control.
To examine the impact of external events such as COVID in workplace transformation under
current digital age?
As per the “Baker, Mary. (2021)” The transformation just only impact businesses but
also it impacts its employees , stakeholders associated with the brand . Shor6tcoming in the
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business organisations culture are one of the biggest transformational challenge . It is the
misconceptions of the companies that digital transformation is only possible if the company
upgrades its tools and technologies . Also the capital plan for the digital transformation is one of
the biggest hurdle . It requires a lot of investments which company sometimes cannot afford and
lead to misconceptions.
To determine challenges faced by Barclays during workplace transformation in digital age?
As per the viewpoint of “Lomas. A., (2021)”The impact of external factors such as
COVID- 19 was positive in the transformation under current digital age because the companies
adopted the online facilities which before were not following the online work . But after COVID-
19 the people and the companies adopted digital workplace .employees were given work from
home which impacted the digital companies and more use of digital platforms took place .
Employees feel this workplace more secure and safe in such tough times and it also changed the
working environment .
Primary research (Questionnaire)
Q1) Are you aware about the basic concept of workplace transformation
in digital age?
Frequency
a) Yes 25
b) No 5
Q2) In your opinion, external events like COVID 19 impact the
workplace transformation within Barclays in the digital age?
Frequency
a) Yes 15
b) No 10
c) Prefer not to say 5
Q3) According to your viewpoint, what challenges faced by Barclays
during workplace transformation in digital age?
Frequency
a) Customer understanding 10
b) Digitally modified business 6
c) Performance management 8
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d) Customer touch points 6
Q4) As per your knowledge, How Barclays has overcome with the
challenges present due to workplace transformation in digital age?
Frequency
a) Make real time decisions 7
b) Validate, analyse and execute by proper planning 8
c) Make stakeholders to understand transformation at workplace 7
d) Flexible working hours 8
Q5) In your viewpoint what are the strategies that make Barclays to
adopts workplace transformation in digital age?
Frequency
a) To retain talent 10
b) Create a strict timeline 9
c) Recognise correct stakeholders 11
9

TASK 3
P5 Evaluate research and data using appropriate tools and techniques
Frequency distribution
Q1) Are to aware about the basic concept of workplace transformation in
digital age?
Frequency
a) Yes 25
b) No 5
a) Yes b) No
0
5
10
15
20
25
25
5
Frequency
Interpretation: From above data it is interpreted that 25 respondents out of 30 are being
aware about concept of workplace transformation in digital age and 5 are not aware about this
within the business industry.
Q2) In your opinion, external events like COVID 19 impact the
workplace transformation within Barclays in the digital age?
Frequency
a) Yes 15
b) No 10
c) Prefer not to say 5
10