Foundations of Business Management (BBS013-1) - LTR Case Study Report

This report provides an in-depth analysis of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on LTR, a housing association operating in Luton. It explores the challenges faced by the organization, particularly concerning remote working, HR practices, employee motivation, and the adoption of new technologies. The report is divided into two parts: Part 1 examines the impact of the pandemic on organizations, highlighting key issues at LTR and offering recommendations; Part 2 includes a reflective practice. The analysis covers various aspects, including the shift to remote work, the impact on HR functions, and the importance of employee safety and security. The report also discusses the adverse effects of the pandemic on employee motivation and productivity, emphasizing the need for organizations to adapt and implement strategies to overcome these challenges. The report draws upon various sources to support its findings and provides insights into how LTR can navigate the changing business landscape. The report aims to identify and address the key issues that have arisen at LTR as a result of the pandemic and suggests recommendations to mitigate the negative impacts. The report's goal is to provide a comprehensive overview of the issues faced by LTR and to offer practical solutions to address them.

Foundations of
Business Management
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INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................4
PART 1............................................................................................................................................4
Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on organisations...............................................................4
Key Issues present at LTR......................................................................................................7
Recommendations..................................................................................................................9
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................10
PART 2..........................................................................................................................................11
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................14
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INTRODUCTION
Foundation of business management involves business planning, finance strategy and
marketing that plays important role. It is essential for an organisation to embrace communication
skill leadership skill and understand the manner to motivate and reward workers. Due to the
outbreak of coronavirus organisations around the world are facing number of challenges in their
HR practices. Present report has been conducted on LTR which is a housing Association
organisation and performing their operations in Luton. Due to the outbreak of covid-19
individuals were forced towards remote working that develop a number of challenges to provide
assistance and support to employees in order to manage their performance. This report has been
segregated into two parts in which part one rdefine the covid-19 impact upon organisation
remote working, HR practices, motivation and use of technologies. This part also identifies key
issues presented with LTR associated to remote working followed by recommendation. While in
terms with second part of this report reflective practice is being undertaken.
PART 1
Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on organisations
It has been evaluated that, due to the outbreak of Covid-19 organizations are bound to rethink the
manner to continue their business operations. There is an adverse impact of this pandemic on
each and every sector around the world. In addition to this, it has been evaluated that, the
worldwide COVID-19 pandemic has always showed signs of change experiences as clients,
workers, residents, humans and perspectives and practices are changing accordingly.
Furthermore, it has been underlined that, the emergency is in a general sense changing the view
point and behavioural pattern of purchase which is speeding up gigantic primary changes in the
customer merchandise industry (Sułkowski, 2020). According to the analysis it has been
identified that, when the prompt danger of the infection has passed organizations were forces to
consider the effect of these progressions in transit they configuration, impart, assemble and run
in order to fulfil individuals need and demands. In addition to this, it has been underlined that,
organizations around the world are encountering exceptional labour force interruption. As per the
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evaluation it has been determined that, practically all organizations are as yet deciding the
manner in which they will function in the short-and long haul, as labour forces and networks
attempt to work and perform. According to the analysis of business environment around the
world it has been underlined that, social distancing limitations and health‐ and economic‐driven
request shifts from COVID‐19 are required to shade numerous independent companies and
innovative activities. This has been identified that, due to this outbreak there is broad shutting of
stores and organizations around the world in almost all business sector. Stores, plants, and
numerous different organizations have shut by strategy order, descending interest shifts,
wellbeing concerns, or different components. Along with this, it has been determined that,
significant number of these terminations might be lasting a direct result of the failure of
proprietors to pay progressing costs and endure the closure. Due to this pandemic there is
adverse effect on organisations especially small scale companies which is going to be extreme.
This has been evaluated that number of organisations around the world are battling to adapt
frequent changes due to this pandemic on in their everyday lives. Furthermore, it has been stated
that, many business ventures are adapting to the situation, helping individuals and associations
explore gigantic labour force shifts, like the earnest need to move to a distant labour force to
ensure and engage representatives, serve clients and to build up business progression (Sulkowski,
and Ignatowski, 2020). For instance, in order to make employees stay in organisation during this
pandemic organisation is required to effectively emphasise upon safety and security of
employees. In addition to this, it has been underlined that, with the COVID-19 emergency there
are dramatic changes in customer conduct, supply chains, and courses to advertise are
significantly affecting organisations around the world. It is essential for many business owners
around the globe to effectively react to the pandemic to fulfil the ever changing needs and
demand of customers due to Covid-19 outbreak. In this they are required to speed up the
selection of coordinated methods of working and worth chain change to help outsmart
vulnerability.
It has been identified that Covid-19 has major impact upon HR practices, as per the analysis it
has been stated that, the Covid-19 pandemic forced HR department of each and every
organisation to significantly focus upon “human connect”. In the midst of a past phase health
crisis HR capacities outfitted to give basic correspondence on emergency numbers, safety
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protocols, guidelines of isolation and quarantining, hygienic practices, list of hospitals and more.
Furthermore it has been determined that, numerous of organisation significantly went the
additional mile to help workers handle pressure by setting up online classes for representative
prosperity and inspiration. Worker security turned into the great concern, and HR groups joined
forces with different capacities to characterize methods of guaranteeing wellbeing and social
separating consistence at industrial facilities and plants that kept on working. While on the other
hand if it is talked about the impact of Covid-19 on remote work, it has been identified that, an
expanding number of managers anticipate that remote work is significantly turning into the most
important practice (Filimonau, Derqui and Matute, 2020). This has been identified that remote
work does not have major impact upon productivity and there is a developing acknowledgment
that this practices following a year or more would be troublesome. However, as per the analysis
it has been underlined that, maybe the greatest effect of the sped up shift to remote work is the
developing eagerness of businesses to enlist workers outside office driving zones. However,
according to Most leaders think remote working will hit productivity - this is why. 2021, it has
been identified that 78% of business leaders think hybrid and home-working will have a negative
impact on productivity. Along with this, remote working will also increase additional stress upon
employee’s related to digital connectivity and childcare pressure. As per the analysis it has been
stated that, Covid-19 forces number of organisations around the world to scale up remote work,
to accelerate automation and digitalization.
In addition to this, it has been underlined that, there is negative as well as positive impact of
Covid -19 upon technology. This has been evaluated that, small scale organisations were forced
to install and adopt various technologies to support remote working. This is having adverse
impact upon their productivity and budget. It has been identified that, various organisations
escaped slowdown due to this pandemic. Furthermore, a significant part of the credit goes to
advanced preparation and innovation change in business that are required to be implement by
organisations in order to continue their business operations. Large number of organisations is
embracing collaboration tools in order to effectively provide support to work from home. Many
small scale and large scale organisation are retailers are utilizing contactless instalment and
conveyance strategies (Song, Yeon and Lee, 2021). With social distancing implemented,
organisations are forced to heavily rely upon technology in order to conduct their business
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organisations. Furthermore, it has been underlined that, companies use innovations like virtual
private organizations, cloud conferencing, collaboration to oversee distant working consistently.
At last, it has been identified that there is adverse impact of Covid-19 on motivation. It has been
evaluated that employee motivation is having significant influences a business' prosperity. There
is such a lot of occurring outside of control at this moment. This causes loss of morale,
motivation, detachment and low confidence. However, the absence of staff confidence influences
organizations in a bigger number of ways than anticipated. In addition to this, it has been stated
that, due to the outbreak of Covid-19 most of the organisations were forced to provide work from
home to its employees this lead towards increase in additional pressure, stress and frustration. It
is having major impact upon company profit and productivity. This has been identified that,
work from home in a non-pandemic world is not simple. It is affecting productivity and
motivation of employees in adverse way and making them restless and less productive during
this situation (Kramer and Kramer, 2020). In addition to this, it has been underlined that, Covid-
19 forced employees to perform their roles and responsibilities from home which makes them to
balance number of things. It is increasing their frustration and stress which is directly affecting
their performance and are affecting their work quality and overall level of performance.
Key Issues present at LTR
LTR is operating its business functioning as housing Association operations in Luton. This
company is performing their roles and responsibility with the mission to offer appropriate
housing for local community. It has been identified that major focus of this company is to
provide assistance as well as support at great extend to venerable individuals It has been
identified that this organisation is operating from a central office suite which is situated in the
Luton Town Centre. However this company is also managing different distinct housing blocks
which are split into supported housing and general purpose housing. Company is performing
their business roles and responsibilities with different departments such as finance team,
consumer service team, and facilities maintenance team in order to effectively provide adequate
support to customers in a well defined and effective manner (Cullen, Gulati and Kelly, 2020).
This has been evaluated that company is currently taking use of separate system in order to track
as well as retain information. All the teams within organisations significantly contribute in
accomplishing organisation mission. It has been identified that covid-19 pandemic have
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significant impact of number of the organisations around the world which is affecting
performance and productivity level of both organisation and employees at great extent. This is
also affecting LTR operation in which employees feel less motivated and more frustrated to
perform their work in effective manner, which is creating number of challenges for organisation
to perform their business operations effectively during this pandemic.
Due to the outbreak of Covid-19 lockdown has been imposed by government of the country in
order to break the chain of the spread of this virus. It has been identified that there is major
destruction faced by this organisation, in which they strive to effectively conduct their day-to-
day operations. This has been underlined that due to surge in cases national lockdown imposed
by government that make managing director of Luton town residence to emphasize upon safety
and security of employees. This makes company to enforce remote working for all staff members
to perform their operations and responsibilities from home, in order to maintain their security
and safety (Spinelli and Pellino, 2020). This makes consumer service team, finance team, senior
management team and general administration team to work remotely from home. While on the
other hand supported housing personal coaches and facilities maintenance team were forced to
remotely work but frequently on site. According to the analysis it has been underlined that there
is an adverse impact due to covid-19 and national lockdown enforced by the government on
United Kingdom upon operational activities of this organisation. Due to this social distancing
measure organisation many strategies such as collaboration and communication tool not suitable
according to the present situation of remote working. In addition to this it has been underline that
this also affects employee’s moral and motivation which is increasing their frustration level due
to an effective internal collaboration and communication system.
Furthermore according to the analysis it has been identified that this pandemic really
affected many staff members are they were unhappy at long term usage of their own personal
devices to access company email and document. This not only affected moral and motivation of
employees but also increases budget of company, as in this they are forced to purchase higher
internet packages. Along with this it has been identified that many staff members were forced to
bear their own expenses in terms of purchasing internal packages, as they faced difficulties to
perform their work remotely due to low internet speed. According to the analysis of staff
members and employees of this organisation it has been identified that consumer service team
members raise issue of mental health and increasing stress and uncertainty due to this and make
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their way facing difficulties to balance work life and they struggle to motivate themselves, which
is affecting their performance and productivity (Lone and Ahmad, 2020). Thus, according to the
above mentioned in analysis of the impact of covid-19 and lockdown. It has been identified that
LTR is not only facing difficulties to conduct the day to day operations in effective manner but
they also measured significant decrease in motivation and performance level of employees, due
to remote working. It is not only affecting employee’s performance and productivity level but
also enhances budget and decreases productivity of company.
Recommendations
Covid-19 has adverse impact on each and every aspect of organisation, whether it is HR
practices, remote working motivation and use of technology. In this it is essential for companies
like LTR to make adjustment and certain modification in their organisational strategies as to
effectively overcome the challenges post by covid-19. It is essential for managers of company to
have clear priorities in order to effectively manage remote working. This has been evaluated that
nearly all the department of this organisation have certain number of staff members who are
facing frustration, stress and decrease in motivation level. In this it is recommended for managers
to significantly witness extraordinary efforts of their employees and embrace their efforts while
recognising their outstanding accomplishment. It is recommended to company to foster mutual
reliance and friendship among co-workers in order to manage remote teams and encourage high-
performance. Recommendation in respect to company to value collaboration and teamwork is
also vital, as through this they can enhance motivation level by encouraging sharing of best
practices. It has been identified that employees in company is facing challenges of lower level of
motivation. In this company is recommended to help employees to stay communicated while they
are working from home. In this company with the help of implementing technology and offering
them reimbursement off the net charges that they bear this helps employees to perform their II
responsibilities without facing additional charges it is essential for company to restore employees
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faith in organisation. For this company is recommended to honest with employees and help them
restoring their motivation and confidence level with the help of virtual team launches which is a
significant technological aspect, organisation can celebrate work anniversary or birthday’s of
employees and can boost their morale. Communication plays essential role through which
company can not only provide support to employees in challenging time but can also enhance
performance. Furthermore, is also recommended to give flexible working and extension on
deadlines in order to significantly reduce stress level of employees significantly encourage
employees to perform their roles and responsibilities from work from home in effective manner.
Managers of company is also required to offer counselling or exercise classes to employees in
order to support them from anxiety or other stress-related if service manager is also
recommended to setup virtual team launches or happy in order to encourage employees.
Organisation is recommended to send continence email messages to employees in order to
ensure their role importance for organisation. Reward and recognition play important aspect of
good performance. Thus, by providing remote employs a home delivery from local restaurant,
gift card, company can effectively recognise their contribution in company's growth in the
challenging time. Furthermore organisation is also recommended to have clear communication
strategies in order to address concerns and issue of each and every employee. Furthermore
managers of company is also recommended to be flexible and lose some work restrictions and
working hours restrictions for employees in order to support them in maintaining work life
balance. Thus according to the above mentioned analysis it has been identified that covid-19
have adverse impact upon day-to-day operations of company. However, employees are one of
the greatest asset of an organisation through which organisation can significantly overcome the
challenges in effective manner. However in this it is essential for an organisation like LTR to
implement significant measures and strategies in order to provide effective support and care to
each and every employee. This will not only increase their motivation level but also encourage
employees to put additional efforts that help company to conduct their roles and responsibilities
during covid-19.
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CONCLUSION
According to this report has been concluded that it is essential for an organisation to
effectively embrace collaboration and motivation among employees in order to overcome the
challenging situations like covid-19. According to this report has been identified that with the
help of offerings adequate support reward and leadership to workers to enhance their
performance and motivation. Gibbs reflective cycle is an effective method through which
experience can be reflected.
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PART 2
Reflection is an effective measure or tool that allows an individual to reflect upon their
experience. Reflection is an effective practice. I would be considering the elements of my own
learning with the help of Gibbs reflective cycle:
Description
I have undertaken the group activity on the knowledge base documents. This group is
composed of number of individual to work together as a team on a specific task. According to
my understanding it has been identified by me that a group is a collective group of individual
those who have common interest and interdependently perform their operations with different
skills and shared responsibility. I would think of my inquiry-based group as a task Focus Group
as in this every member delegated a task to carry out for this we need to effectively communicate
on frequent basis in order to develop relationship with members.
Feelings
At the starting I felt confident to perform by roles and responsibilities in a group on
Knowledge based document as it significantly offered me and opportunity to reflect my skills.
However some time I felt frightened to be a part of group as I do not know individual on
personal basis. However, communication played essential role with the help of which I initiated
to introduce myself to every individuals. Team development play important role in which first
stage of forming is being effectively done to move towards the next phase, the introductory stage
every group member adaptive to each other. While in terms of norming stage we evaluated the
task as a group and set out standard boundaries and roles. We interaction and communication,
this enhanced my communication skill in which effectively convert my ideas. However
sometimes conflict emerge which led to storming stage in which there was disagreement
between team members. However with the help of participated in a positive manner that lead
towards performing stage we accomplished our goal.
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Evaluation
According to this point of this element of Gibbs reflective cycle we started to perform our
work as a team and work connected to contribute ideas and viewpoint. As a member I establish
harmonious relationship with every individual in a group that enhanced my relationship building
skills. I always wanted to perform my roles in a proper manner so positive relationship has been
built be me throughout the group activity. However the formation of group has been not liked by
me as even though each and every individual have very task focused but we did not have a
specific role to do that keeps on making changes on frequent basis. However with the help of
interactive and supporting team goals has been effectively accomplished by me. According to
belbin, team roles have effective capability to increase group performance. In addition to this,
knowledge base document allowed me to develop problem solving skill as in order to accomplish
allotted task each and every individual were required to examine possible solution. Thus, it is
essential to classify each and every role in order to make improvement in team effectiveness.
According to the belbin team roles every member has a unique behaviour that affects activity
performance. As per belbin team role, the best role describes me in the team was implementers
as I am mainly in charge of getting things done by elaborating in a systematic and organised
manner. In addition to this I also played the role of complete finisher as a I am always aim about
accomplishing all the activities in deadline. According to my view point it has been reflected by
me that our group was acting very close to a team but it had been identified by me that there is
still distance from. Thus, if I had to change something in next time I would ask superior to
delegate leader.
Analysis
I think things that went good in a team are that the entire individual was aware about the
team goals in effective manner. While has been identified by me that thing that did not go well is
number of conflicts that keeps on affecting performance. According to my knowledge this
situation can be effectively overcome with the help of allocating roles and responsibilities to
individual as per their talent. According to my view point with the help of awareness of group
thing in future will significantly help in group work and help in taking decisions in effective
manner.
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