Unit 6 Project: Innovative Digital Workspace and its Impact on M&S

This project report investigates the innovative digital workspace strategies implemented by Marks & Spencer and their impact on employee and organizational performance. It begins with a literature review exploring the concept and need for workplace transformation, the importance of innovative digital workspaces, and the strategies adopted by M&S. The research methodology employs a quantitative approach using questionnaires to gather data, which is then analyzed and interpreted to provide findings. The report concludes with recommendations for M&S based on the research, emphasizing the importance of flexibility, cost reduction, and improved productivity through digital transformation. The research highlights the significance of remote working and technology adoption in creating a successful digital workspace.

Unit Number
and Title
Unit 6 – Managing
Successful Business Project
Project Title What does an innovative
digital workspace look like?

Table of Contents
Portfolio: What does an innovative digital workspace look like?...................................................4
Research aim and objective.........................................................................................................4
Research question........................................................................................................................4
1 – PROJECT PLANNING.............................................................................................................5
Scope: What activities and tasks as defined in the project must be done in order to make the
project a success?........................................................................................................................5
Milestones: Major events or phases in the project......................................................................5
Initiation, planning and execution: Details of activities to be carried in the project ..................5
Gantt chart: Work break down structure using to track the activities to be undertaken.............6
3 – Business Case Project Report....................................................................................................8
Chapter 1: Literature Review......................................................................................................8
2.1 Introduction of Literature Review....................................................................................8
2.2 Explain the concept and need of workplace transformation within Marks & Spencer?.......8
2.3 What is the importance of innovative digital workspace within Marks & Spencer?............9
2.4 What are the strategies adopted by Marks & Spencer for creating innovative digital
workspace?..................................................................................................................................9
2.5 What is the impact of innovative digital workspace over performance of employees and
organisation?.............................................................................................................................10
2.6 Conclusion of Literature Review ...................................................................................10
CHAPTER 1: METHODOLOGY.................................................................................................11
3.1 Research Process............................................................................................................11
3.2 Research Approach.........................................................................................................11
3.3 Research Strategy ..........................................................................................................11
3.4 Research Methodology and Tools..................................................................................12
CHAPTER 3: FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION (DATA PRESENTATION AND
INTERPRETATION)....................................................................................................................14
3.1 Frequency Distribution Table.............................................................................................14
3.2 Data Interpretation..............................................................................................................15
CHAPTER 4: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS...................................................23

4.1 Conclusion...........................................................................................................................23
4.2 Recommendations...............................................................................................................23
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................25
APPENDIX....................................................................................................................................30
Questionnaire............................................................................................................................30

Portfolio: What does an innovative digital workspace look like?
INTRODUCTION
Workplace transformation is the business strategy which help the organisation to shift their
focus on cresting a positive working place for their organisation. In current digitalisation era it
becomes very necessary for the company to adopt the strategy of workplace transformation as it
facilities in improving organisation performance (Plantes and et. al., 2021). This is the process
through which work, workers are aligned with various technology and network in order to
improve efficiency.
For conducting the above investigation, the chosen organisation is Marks and Spencer.
The founder of the company is Michael Marks and Thomas Spencer which was founded in the
year 1884. The headquarter is in London, UK. The company operates their business worldwide
and approx. 1463 stores are there of Marks and Spencer (Holzer, 2021).
Research aim and objective
Research Aim:
To identify the significance of innovative digital workspace and its impact over performance of
employees and organisation. A study on Marks & Spencer
Research Objectives:
 To understand the concept and need of workplace transformation within Marks &
Spencer
 To determine the importance of innovative digital workspace within Marks & Spencer
 To examine the strategies adopted by Marks & Spencer for creating innovative digital
workspace
 To discern the impact of innovative digital workspace over performance of employees
and organisation
Research question
 Explain the concept and need of workplace transformation within Marks & Spencer?
 What is the importance of innovative digital workspace within Marks & Spencer?
 What are the strategies adopted by Marks & Spencer for creating innovative digital
workspace?

 What is the impact of innovative digital workspace over performance of employees and
organisation?
1 – PROJECT PLANNING
Scope: What activities and tasks as defined in the project must be done in order to make
the project a success?
There are several activities which will be undertaken in the research that can help the
investigation to be successful. Such tasks includes introduction which specifies the aims and
objectives of the research along with the rationale and background. Another activity includes the
literature review which helps in attaining the objectives of the research (Ng, 2021). It also
specifies the writings of well known authors in order to critique the content in an authentic
manner. Moreover, research methodology is also covered along with the data analysis and
interpretation. Conclusion and recommendations are the activities which is stated at the end for
better findings and results.
Scope of the research
The scope of the current investigation is limited because it has conducted questionnaire
but has chosen 30 respondents from chosen organisation. This limits the scope of whole study
because primary conclusion is only based upon information collected from these 30 respondents
(Sobieralski, 2020). Thus, for having wider scope investigator has used both the methods of data
collection such as primary and secondary method. With the assistance of these two research
methods, investigator has tried to gather combination of information in a systematic and precise
manner.
Milestones: Major events or phases in the project
There are basically two major events which are highly focused in the research. These are
the literature review and research methodology. Literature review is contented out with the help
various secondary sources using books and journals along with the articles and internet. It has
used the writings of well known authors in order to maintain the authenticity of the information
provided in the research (Hayakawa and Mukunoki, 2021). Research methodology outlines in the
current research are such that it uses the positivism philosophy and deductive approach along
with the quantitative choice and survey strategy in the form of questionnaire containing closed
ended questions. It uses both primary and secondary data collection with cross sectional studies.

The two significant milestones of the current study are: literature and research methodology.
Literature is the main milestone because it holds the major significant information of the
research. It only uses secondary sources which have helped researcher to utilise limited time and
attain research aim and objectives (Catania and et. al., 2021). The secondary sources may
include: magazines, journals, newspapers, publications etc. On the other hand, another
significant milestone is research methodology because the whole study is dependent over
methods of collecting and analysing data. Identification of right research methods is necessary
because they assist in assembling and evaluating information in a systematic way. Thus, research
questions and objectives can only be attained if right research method is chosen.
Initiation, planning and execution: Details of activities to be carried in the project
Project life cycle includes 4 stages that are important for the project manager in completing full
research in a successful manner. Initiation stage of project involves the analysis of the
requirements which will be necessary for the project report to be successful. Planning stage of
the project involves the prototyping of the entire project report which is essential to get the
direction that in which flow the research will be undertaken (Bukhari and et. al., 2020).
Execution stage is the final implementation of the project report with findings and results.
Initiation includes the activities of data collection. Planning includes the activities of outlining of
the project structure. Execution includes the activities of data analysis and interpretation along
with the conclusions and recommendations (Tavares and et. al., 2020).
Figure 1: Project life cycle

Source: Rowe, 2020
Initiation It is one of the significant stages to carry out
the investigation because in this idea is
generated to start the project. Development of
that idea makes researcher to focus and work
on it (Brynjolfsson and et. al., 2020). With this
stage, selection of topic, formation of project
aim, objectives and questions are done.
Planning The other important stage is planning and in
this researcher works on identifying and
selecting relevant research method and sources
for the collection of information. In this
quantitative research methods are chosen for
this study so that quantitative data can be
carried out.
Execution Another significant stage is execution and in
this selected research methods are
implemented in the project to collect and
analyse information (Ervasti and et. al., 2022).
Questionnaire is also developed and
information is assembled from respondents.
Closure This is a last stage that is important for the
project manager in completing full project
successfully. In this, project manager has use
time, communication, quality and many other
elements.

Gantt chart: Work break down structure using to track the activities to be undertaken

Work Breakdown Structure

3 – Business Case Project Report
Chapter 1: Literature Review
2.1 Introduction of Literature Review
Literature review is that chapter of the research which contain secondary information
about the topic. In this past published data of various researcher and author is used so that
detailed understanding about the topic can be acquired by the researcher. In this section data is
collected from various secondary sources such as books, journal, articles, website and many
more. Literature review answer the research question in sound manner so that research aim can
be attained effectively.
2.2 Explain the concept and need of workplace transformation within Marks & Spencer?
As per the view in Gupta and et. al., (2021), workplace transformation is business strategy
which is used by the organisation to change their workplace. It is process of rethinking an
environment which is more flexible as well as contain various digital technology and network in
their workplace. Workplace transformation is the accumulation of various work, workers and
technology all together in the working. There are various dimensions of workplace
transformation that are employee, communication, collaboration, resources and many more. All
this helps in transforming the working space in flexible and innovative way.
According to the view of Griffiths and et. al., (2021), there is a need of workplace
transformation in Marks and Spencer. It is because it will help the company to work in more
productive manner. The foremost need of workplace transformation is to boost the morale of
employee. With the help of digital working employee morale can be enhanced as various works
and workers can be aligned with each other which helps them to work in more productive
manner. Another need is it helps in developing various digital and networking skills in employee
which assist in increasing the performance of the employee as well as develop them in
professional way.

2.3 What is the importance of innovative digital workspace within Marks & Spencer?
As per the view of Voorhees and et. al., (2020), it is very important to have digital
workspace as it helps in gaining competitive advantage. For marks and Spencer, it is importance
to have workplace transformation because of following reason:
Increased flexibility: For Marks and Spencer it is important to have innovative digital
workplace as it increase the flexibility of the employee. With the help of digital working space
employee enjoy doing work in flexible manner as it helps in reducing the stress among them.
Their work schedule as well as working environment will become positive.
Reduce operational cost: Another importance to have creative workplace for Marks and
Spencer is it minimise the operational cost and expenses of the company. Digital workplace
helps in decreasing the duplication of work as well as helps in managing the resources in
sustainable manner. Marks and Spencer can use various chat bots and virtual meeting technology
to make an interaction
Improved productivity and efficiency: Creative and innovative workplace transformation
helps the Marks and Spencer to improve their productivity in greater sense. With the help of
various digital technology and networks work can become easier which increase the efficiency of
the workers. This will help Marks and spencer to increase their productivity and performance.
2.4 What are the strategies adopted by Marks & Spencer for creating innovative digital
workspace?
As per the view of Kraus, Breier and Dasí-Rodríguez (2020), it is very important for the
companies to adopt various digital workplace strategy in order to enhance their organisational
performance. Marks and Spencer has also adopted various Creative and innovative digital
workspace strategy in order to improve create flexible workspace, some of them are:
Remote working: The foremost strategy that is adopted by Marks and Spencer to create
digital workplace is allowing remote working. At the time of Covid 19 this strategy helps the
company a lot to continue doing their work while sitting away from the office. This aid the brand
in enhancing the productivity at the time of pandemic. This is one of the most attractive strategy
for Marks and Spencer which helps them to increase productivity (Pak and et, al., 2020).
Technology and software: Another way that is adopted by Marks and Spencer to create
innovative working place is using various technology and network software in their organisation.
With the help of various software, they interlinked various work with workers that helps in

reducing the overload and duplication. The day to day working also improve with the help of this
software (Pinzaru, Zbuchea and Anghel, 2020).
2.5 What is the impact of innovative digital workspace over performance of employees and
organisation?
According to the view of Forster and et. al., (2020), there is a positive impact of digital
workspace over the performance of employee and organisation. It has seen that many
organisation has gained various advantage when they start rethinking to change their working
space into digital place. Some of the positive impact of digital working space are:
More employee engagement: The first advantage that they gained by using this is it helps
in increasing the employee engagement. With digital working space employee are engaging with
their work in larger manner. This helps them to increase their productivity and doing their job
with more dedication and energy.
Decreasing operation cost: Another impact of digital workspace over the performance of
employee and organisation is reducing operational cost. With the adoption of various technology
company can minimise their unnecessary expenses which as incurred earlier. This will help in
improving their financial performance in sound manner (Howe and et. al., 2021).
Improved communication and collaboration: One of the vital impact of digital
workplace is it aid in increasing the communication system and making effective collaboration
with one another. Through network useful information can be share in right manner and at right
time, which helps in taking decision at right point of time.
Research the value and benefits of using innovative digital tools.
Some of the significant innovative digital tools for the company are: gives competitive
advantage, protects company from threats, improve productivity, increases rate of interest, keeps
pace with evolving customer expectations and many more (Petropoulos, 2021). It helps an
organisation to provide digital solution for creating new revenue streams, diversifying offerings,
streamlining online procedures and many more. Another significant benefit of innovative digital
tools is accessing to big data & analytics, automation and centralised system.
Investigating two other organisations
H&M is one of the retail companies that has adopted method of workplace digital
transformation so that employees can be motivated and performance of organisation can be