Investigating the Attributes of IKEA's Innovative Digital Workplace

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of IKEA's innovative digital workplace, exploring the attributes and technologies that drive its transformation. It details the project life cycle, factors considered in project management planning, and a specific project management plan including aims, objectives, research questions, cost, scope, time, quality, risk, communication, and resources. The report includes a work breakdown structure, timeframe, Gantt chart, literature review, research methods, data analysis, findings, and recommendations. The research employs both primary and secondary data collection methods, addressing research limitations and ethical considerations. The findings highlight the key attributes of IKEA's digital workplace innovation, providing valuable insights into the company's successful transformation.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
Project life cycle............................................................................................................................3
Factors needs to be consider while making project management plan...............................5
Project management plan............................................................................................................6
Aim..............................................................................................................................................7
Objectives.................................................................................................................................7
Research questions...............................................................................................................7
Cost............................................................................................................................................7
Scope.........................................................................................................................................7
Time............................................................................................................................................7
Quality........................................................................................................................................8
Risk.............................................................................................................................................8
Communication.......................................................................................................................8
Resource...................................................................................................................................8
Work breakdown structure & timeframe and Gantt chart.......................................................8
Work breakdown structure...................................................................................................8
Timeframe.................................................................................................................................9
Gantt chart................................................................................................................................9
Literature review..........................................................................................................................10
Innovative digital workplace..............................................................................................10
Innovative technologies adopted by IKEA during transformation..........................11
Attributes of the innovated digital workplace of IKEA...............................................11
Research method and their importance to project management plan...............................12
Research type........................................................................................................................12
Research approach..................................................................................................................13
Research philosophy...........................................................................................................13
Data collection.......................................................................................................................13
Sampling.................................................................................................................................13
Data Analysis.........................................................................................................................14

Reliability and validity.........................................................................................................14
Research limitation..............................................................................................................14
Ethical consideration...........................................................................................................14
Data Analysis and Findings.......................................................................................................15
Findings and Discussion....................................................................................................25
Recommendations......................................................................................................................26
Reflection......................................................................................................................................27
CONCLUSION.............................................................................................................................27
REFERENCES............................................................................................................................29
APPENDIX...................................................................................................................................31
Project log book.......................................................................................................................31
Performance review template............................................................................................34
WBS..........................................................................................................................................36
Gantt chart................................................................................................................................36
Personal reflection..................................................................................................................38

INTRODUCTION
Innovated digital workplace refer to that workplace which performs various kind of
innovations and implements the workplace transformation. In current era, workplace
must be aligned with the innovations and digitalization as it leads to enhance the
productivity of the business (White, 2019). Workplace transformation has been proven
highly effective as it is driven by new technologies that enhances working criteria in
organization and ensures higher productivity. Currently, due to pandemic the business
organizations has become highly aware about the concept of workplace organization
and ensured effective focus over this. The present report will shed a light over the
concept of innovated digital workplace. In this report the selected company is IKEA
which is a Swedish-founded and the Dutch headquartered company. The company
designs the furniture, kitchen and home appliances.
This report will emphasize the attributes of innovative digital workspace
implemented by IKEA. The stages of the project life cycle will be explained.
Furthermore, the project management plan will be formed which will be concerned with
the resources, risk, cost, duration under the investigation. Moreover, a minor research
will be conducted which helps in determine the importance of implicating the project.
Project life cycle
The sequences of different stages through which a project manager conduct
practice to make their specific project or assessment successful is defined as project life
cycle (Introduction to Project Management Life Cycle, 2022). This cycle is quite
essential and beneficial in case of current project, because of varied reasons. For
example, it may play significant role in the context of work success in term of breaking
down the significant activities into stages that help to achieve project aim and
objectives. Stages that help to reach desire outcomes are;
Initiation phase-
At initial stage of project life cycle the project idea as aim or objective is attempt to
create by the management of IKEA, which enable them to move toward development of
appropriate approaches that help to achieve the goal in term of managing project
(Matějka and et.al., 2016). As it is quite essential for a project manage to do so, by
conducting varied practices. They may take approach to check the feasibility in the

context of implementing project in form of cost, profit, resources, time frame and other
terms. Initiation phase empowers in laying out the string foundation for the project that
helps in generating the effective outcomes.
Planning-
After passing above stage, project manager move to the next one and that is
planning, where they may take initiative to create a detail project plan, by taking varied
factors into their consideration (Araújo and et.al., 2022). This stage may include tasks,
assets and timelines, along cost or budget of project, which help to achieve aim and
objective. Under this phase, different types of activities are planning to conduct such as
communication, resources, quality and development plan. It is essential for
management to cover each concept in every plan like technologies to communicate with
stakeholders. Planning phase helps in guiding the major stakeholders in regards to the
major activities of the project and mainly guides the project manager in context of taking
major steps.
Execution-
After the above two stages, project manager move to third phase where they may
approach to take action according to planning stage. This phase helps in taking initiative
to allocate resource and assure timely delivery of work (Singh and Mukherjee, 2022).
Furthermore, they may effort to assign tasks to each team member on a day to day
basis and then conduct meeting with them to understand as well as identify any issue
that affect final outcome of project completion. Project execution is important because it
helps to manage work appropriately and in systematic manner.
Monitoring and controlling-
The current stage of project life cycle is merge with execution stage because they
both occur at the similar time duration. The main motive of this phase is to assure that
overall execution may carry out according to plan. It is essential for project manager to
conduct practice to set key performance indicators and compare the success of their
plan, which enable them to eliminate deviation and also redefine the metrics
appropriately and in systematic manner (Jan, Abbas and Ahmad, 2022). Monitoring
phase is highly important as it helps in monitoring the activities of the project and errors
have been detected.

Closure-
It is the time when manager takes initiative to deploy the work or project to
management with better and desire outcomes. They may effort to release deliverables
and communicate closure to each stakeholder, who may prefer to engage themselves in
project completion, which enable them to fulfil their expectations. Along with above
practice, under the stage of closure they may move to release team members and
closing contracts as well as fill payment (Haidabrus, Grabis and Protsenko, 2021). This
phase is important as it shows the planned work has been carried out in effective way
and the project has been done.
Factors needs to be consider while making project management plan
Project estimating-
Project manager is accountable to consider current factor and take this into their
consideration for purpose of achieving aims and objectives successfully. They may take
initiative to assure individual team member is one right tract or not, which enable them
to achieve target goals, whether they are short, long or medium terms (Barbalho, Carlos
de Toledo and Cintra Faria, 2021). By considering this factor, they may move toward
talking to team members and comprehending what organization is expected to obtain in
return of making workplace digitalize. Along with conducting above practices, they may
also assure that everyone takes their accountabilities.
Setting up project team-
It is quite essential for project manager to consider the current factor along with
above one while completing a project management plan and developing the same in
appropriate manner. They may focus on building team and selecting individual
candidate who may have set of skills and competencies that utilize to achieve target
aims (Pandey and et.al., 2022). It is essential for them to make up a team of skilled
players, so they may work appropriately, by following the directions and strategic
suggestions provided by project manager.
Scheduling tasks to a project timeline-
Along with above two factors, they may consider the current one as well and then
take approach to schedule tasks to a project time duration. This factor may enable them

to take strategic approach in form of taking a realistic view of project and team
capabilities that play significant role in the context of aim achievement of overall study.
Along with this practice, they may move to assure that their plan work according to
budget, which is important and beneficial too for varied reasons.
Juggling and balancing project priorities-
The consideration of existing factor is also important for project manager while
taking initiative to complete or design project management plan (Schuijer, Broerse and
Kupper, 2021). According to their consideration related to current term they may juggle
and balance project priorities in term of making appropriate plans and strategies that
work even better than before. They may effort to limit budget by reducing the amount of
unnecessary resources and add more assets that used to achieve goals.
Scheduling-
It is one of those factors that may put positive or negative impact on project
management plan. Project manager by taking this factor into consideration may achieve
aim of their project and that is to investigate the attribute of innovative digital workplace
at IKEA, which falls under the category of leading furniture retail organizations, where it
may work and run venture rapidly.
Strong project closure-
It is necessary for them to have a strong closure and assure that they may have this
because of making successful project management plan which lead to reach desire
outcomes (Top 5 Factors That Lead to Project Success, 2021). They may utilize the
best techniques like PRINCE2, PMP, P3O and others, that aid to manage project and
work appropriately.
Project management plan
The project management plan refers to the document that mainly defines how the
project is going to be executed, monitored and dominated. The actual performance of
the project has been measured with the set standard of the project that was involved in
the project management planning (Susilowati et.al. 2021). The project management
plan contains the aim, objectives, deliverables, quality, risk, communication resources

and research methods. Here is the detailed project management plan for the current
project which includes-
Topic
What an innovated digital workplace look like: A Case of IKEA?
Aim
To analyse the attributes of innovative digital workspace implemented by IKEA.
Objectives
 To discuss what an innovated digital workspace look like.
 To investigate the innovative technologies adopted by IKEA during the
transformation.
 To analyse the attributes of the innovated digital workplace of IKEA.
Research questions
 To discuss what an innovated digital workspace look like.
 To investigate the innovative technologies adopted by IKEA during the
transformation.
 To analyse the attributes of the innovated digital workplace of IKEA.
Cost
This has been determined as the important element as effective cost
management helps in measuring project budget in effective manner. The over-all cost of
the research activities which includes the activities- sampling, data collection and so on
will be £300.
Scope
The scope of the research is wider in terms as it will cover the attribute of the
innovative digital workplace implemented by IKEA.
Time
Specifying time is highly important as it guides about the actual period in which
project needs to be performed. The time period under which current project will be
performed is estimated up-to 8 weeks.

Methods
Researcher might use the quantitative method in order to conduct research The
collection of the data is being done from both primary and secondary sources. In
primary method the questionnaire will be conducted whereas in secondary method,
articles and journals will be reviewed and reliable & valid sources will be used.
Quality
The quality of the project outcomes will be highly relevant. The quality in the
primary research will be maintained within selecting the accurate candidates who have
information about the selected topic. In secondary research it will be maintained within
using valid sources.
Risk
The risk that is involved in the project is mainly aligned with the limited time-period
and the cost that is being incurred in the project. There is a risk of not delivering the
project outcomes on time and often there is threat related to finance in the project. The
risk related to managing time can be faced and it will be managed within parting task
and allocating time to each task.
Communication
In order to ensure that project activities are going in effective manner it is highly
important that communication must be taken in proper manner. Therefore, for the
project the major communication will take place with the help of e-mail and face to face
interaction.
Resource
The resources refer to the assets that are mainly required by the researcher in order
to complete the project and for delivering outcomes. The current project requires the
digital resources, human resource, physical resource and financial resource.

Work breakdown structure & timeframe and Gantt chart
Work breakdown structure
It refers to the hierarchical structure which mainly develops the categories and sub-
categories for all the activities that needs to be undertaken in project ( Burghate, 2018).
The WBS for current project is-
Timeframe
The time-frame of the current project shows the time in which the task is being
undertaken.
Gantt chart
It refers to the development of timeline which indicates the time that will be take
place in completion of tasks.
TASKS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

week week week week week week week week
Identification of
topic
Developing aims
and objectives
Literature review
Research
methodology
Designing
questionnaire
Collecting data
Analysation and
interpretation
Recommendatio
n
Discussion and
Conclusion

Literature review
Innovative digital workplace
As per the views of Meske and Junglas, (2021) innovative digital workplace has
been determined as the virtual workplace where technology has been integrated and
influence the working procedure in the organization. This concept helps in making
organization more effective as the latest technology has been adopted by the business
and the work is being carried out. Currently, it has become highly important in terms of
surviving in competition scenario as without performing innovation no organization can
survive in market for long period of time. Often this leads to create issues for the
business in context of growing and expanding.
Innovative technologies adopted by IKEA during transformation
Yun et.al. (2022) Elucidates that organizations have adopted the certain
technologies during the transformation. These technologies include the 3D models,
customer relationship management, customer feedback system, Artificial intelligence
and so on elements. These technologies lead to create the effective working
environment in which the employees work in effective manner and ensures higher
productivity to organization.
Attributes of the innovated digital workplace of IKEA
In the views of Meyer von Wolff et.al. (2019) the major attributes of digital workplace
are- flexibility at workplace, improved performance, enhanced interior design and
employee creativity, enhanced workplace diversity, increased collaboration.
Flexibility at workplace
Coetzee, (2019) stated that, the major attribute of innovated digital workplace is
aligned with the creation of flexibility at the workplace. At innovated digital workplace
employees becomes highly expertise in their task that creates the flexibility of working.
Schwade and Schubert, (2020) said that, within creating flexibility at workplace
innovated digital workplace supports the development of employees.
Improved performance
Coetzee and Veldsman, (2022) Elucidates that digital workplace leads to improve
the performance of employees at the workplace as employees becomes more

digitalized and their knowledge has been also increased that helps in performing the
task in effective manner. Marjoram, (2018) revealed that performance of the employees
can be improved within assuring them training related to digitalization.
Enhances interior design and employee creativity
In the opinion of Montanari, (2019) it has been found that employees innovated
digital workplace leads to enhance the interior design of the organization as when
organization adopts the digitalization then the workplace design and interior design has
been adopted on the basis of that. In the study conducted by Taura and Radicic, (2019)
it has been said that, employee creativity is the vital attribute of digital workplace as
employees working pattern gets impacted in positive manner.
Enhance workplace diversity
In accordance with the Weijs-Perrée et.al. (2019) it has been stated that,
innovated digital workplace creates the workplace diversity in which all employees from
different background learn to work in digitalized environment. Kronblad, (2020) stated
that, workplace diversity can be made more effective within adopting concept of digital
workplace.
Increase collaboration
Leonhardt, Hanelt and Kranz, (2020) Examined that increasing collaboration
among the employees is one of the mandatory attribute of innovated digital workplace
as all the employees have been guided towards making coordination and performing
task within using technologies. Alrasheedi, Sammon and McCarthy, (2022) said that,
different department in the organization gets collaborate with the help of technology
which supports collaboration.
Research method and their importance to project management plan
Research methodology shows how a researcher systematically develop the study
and assures the reliability & validity of the outcomes which effectively addresses the
aims and objectives (Browne et.al. 2019). It is highly important in the implementation of
project management plan. The appropriate research methodology that will be selected
for conducting current research project is concerned with-