Impact of Major External Events on Workplace Transformation at M&S

This report investigates the impact of major external events, specifically the COVID-19 pandemic, on workplace transformation, focusing on Marks & Spencer (M&S). The project aims to analyze this transformation by determining the concept of workplace transformation, understanding the external event affecting M&S, and assessing the event's impact on M&S's workplace. The project management plan outlines the scope, cost, time, communication, resources, risks, and quality considerations. The research methodology employs a quantitative approach, utilizing primary data collected through questionnaires and secondary data from articles and journals. Data analysis reveals insights into the understanding of workplace transformation, the impact of COVID-19, and the benefits and challenges faced by M&S in implementing workplace transformation, such as enhancing flexibility, increasing productivity, and addressing data security issues. The report also includes Gantt charts and WBS to help with the scheduling.

Managing a Successful
Business Project
1

Table of Contents
Topic : “How has a major external event transformed the workplace?”.........................................3
Introduction .....................................................................................................................................3
Aim and objectives .........................................................................................................................3
Project management plan.................................................................................................................3
Literature review .............................................................................................................................7
Research methodology.....................................................................................................................8
Data analysis ...................................................................................................................................8
Data interpretation ..........................................................................................................................9
Recommendations..........................................................................................................................14
Performance review ......................................................................................................................15
References......................................................................................................................................17
Books and journals ...................................................................................................................17
Appendices ....................................................................................................................................19
Project Log book.......................................................................................................................19
2

Topic : “How has a major external event transformed the workplace?”
Introduction
Workplace transformation is usually means of rethinking of process that an organisation
is changing in their workplace. It is don to achieve organisational goals and objectives. There are
various external events which can directly impacting the workplace transformation of the
organisation. The external event is covid 19 pandemic which is impacting a lot on organisational
and it has provided flexible working environment to the organisation (Batat, 2021). The selected
company is Marks and Spencer. It is the British multinational retailing company which was
founded in the year 1884. this report includes project aims and objectives, project management
plan, research methodology and data analysis.
Aim and objectives
Aim : “To analyse the impact of major external event in transforming the workplace”. A study
on Marks and Spencer.
Objectives
 To determine the concept of workplace transformation within an organisation.
 To understand about the external event of Marks and Spencer.
 To determine the impact of major external event of Marks and Spencer in transforming of
the workplace.
Project management plan
 Scope : The scope of this project is high and it identifies opportunities for the
organisation. Because digital workplace transformation is the new techniques that is
coming in today's environment (Benford, Mansfield and Spence, 2021). It is important to
discussed about the external events which can influence the working environment of
company, so that is why it is having broad scope.
 Cost : The cost associated with the present research is about $7000. because there is a use
of primary and secondary data collection method which requires more amount to invest.
This cost is taken by researcher I order to collect better information and data.
3

 Time : The time needed for conducting this research is about 10 weeks. Further,
researcher is using Gantt chart and WBS in order to make a schedule of a given report
and complete a report on given time period.
 Communication : Communication is most necessary for collecting data and information
from large number of people (Betteridge, Buckle and Moon, 2021). Researcher is using
verbal and non verbal communication method in order to convey with their respondents
and developing effective information about a topic. While communicating effectively
with the respondents, researcher gets true and reliable information about a topic.
 Resources : Some of the resources needed for conducting this research is stationary,
respondents, time and funds to complete this research on definite time. Theses resources
will helps in achieving project aim and objectives.
 Risk : Risk occurs in every research, these are related with respondents or researcher
technical problems. Within this project, investigator is facing certain risk like lack of
respondents interest in giving answers, lack of financial resources.
 Quality : The quality should be maintained effectively and investigator within current
research is trying to enhance audience from their data and information collected (Khan,
2021). Further, for this researcher is using primary and secondary data analysis in order
to get true and valid information about a given topic.
Gantt chart : It is a type of bar chart which shows dependency on relationship between
current schedule and activities performed. Further, it includes horizontal and vertical axis on a
chart.
4

5

WBS: It is a tool or techniques to classify segmentation of all activities within a businesses
(McLaren, and Appleyard, 2021). It divides the overall project into some of the task and it
becomes easy to complete each activity according to the given task.
6

Literature review
From the views of Kiesel, MacPherson and Vafeidis, (2021) Workplace transformation is
the method of rethinking of the flexible workspaces and adoption of new techniques and tools in
order to develop their effective strategies and enhancing organisational productivity. Further, it is
important to have workplace transformation because due to this covid 19 pandemic, many of the
industries goes in loss and that is why there is a need of changes in work process, places and
technologies. The external event which is consider in this report is covid 19 pandemic. This
helps in generating effectiveness and developing their productivity. This covid 19 pandemic is
developing employees flexibility and providing them remote working to the employees. This will
helps in generating productivity of the employees and developing flexibility among them.
Further, workplace transformational brings positive and friendly working environment which
engage employees with each others and those of mangers and leaders.
In relation with Marks and Spencer, they are being affected by this global pandemic as an
external event. For that they have provided flexible working environment to the employees and
developing their effectiveness among themselves (Monk, and Heim, 2021). It helps them in
accepting new normal and enhancing employees and organisational productivity and profitability
as well. In addition, there are some of the challenges which is being faced by employees are
migrating from the legacy application, data and application security. Then other challenge is
issues in productivity. It is important to work according to the views of employees. As of
workplace transformation does not done effectively, then it may be resulting in issues in
productivity and there could data and application security because in modern times, there is a use
of lack of digital transformation which is resulting in the issue of data and application security.
Further, external event is covid 19 pandemic which is creating both positive and negative impact
on their behaviour and it resulting in affect all the business operations. In M&S, becoming
digitally is the impact which company is getting from the development of the organisations and
also they are enhancing customer loyalty and satisfaction. Also, it is impacting the business in
effective way and developing their growth opportunities in market as well (Stephenson,
Sovacool, and Inderberg, 2021). Becoming digitally is also helping in gaining competitive
advantage among competitors.
7

Research methodology
Quantitative method : It is a research strategy which focuses on collection of data and
analytics. It is formed from deductive approach and consist of numerical data and information
(Tarrant, Carter and Lamont, 2021). It includes statical information and data and computation
techniques. Also it includes online survey and questionnaires etc. with current research,
researcher is using this method in order to get appropriate results and findings. Further, in this
research, questionnaire survey is used to collect data from respondents which results in getting
true and reliable information about a particular topic.
Qualitative method : Qualitative method includes collection and analysis of data and
information. It includes experiences, concept and opinions of different people. It is just opposite
of quantitative method (O'Dowd, Cooney and Hirst, 2021). Within current report, researcher is
not using this method because it includes theoretical data and information and which is not
needed to continue.
Primary data collection method : Primary data is collected through survey which brings
numerical data and information. It make use of graphs and charts in order to collect data and
information. Primary method is first information which is directly collected from respondents.
Within this project, researcher is using this method in order to get true and reliable information.
There is a use of questionnaire survey in order to get reliable informational and which makes use
of graphs and tables.
Secondary data collection method : This is the another data collection method which
brings theoretical data and information. It helps in collecting true information. It is collected
through analysing different articles (Po-Chedley, Santer and Fu, 2021). Within this project,
investigator is using this method also which is collected through analysing various books and
newspapers and brings in depth information about a topic.
Sampling : Sampling is a procedure of selecting some of the samples from large number
of set. It consist of two methods probability and non probability method. In this, probabilist
method is used and in this random sampling is used to select a samples. It helps in giving
opportunity to every respondents to be selected in sample.
Data analysis
Questionnaire
8

Q1. What do you understand about the concept of workplace
transformation?
Frequency
a. Rethinking of flexible workspaces 10
b. Rising manpower skills, instrument, and quality 10
c. Adoption of different workplace, technologies and workers 10
Q2. According to you which is the external event which have transformed
the organisation?
Frequency
a. Covid 19 issue 25
b. Technological changes 3
c. Economical changes 2
Q3. According to you, how this external event has transformed marks and
Spencer?
Frequency
a. By providing flexible working environment to employees 10
b. To become digitally 5
c. To provide remote work 15
Q4. According to your views, how workplace transformation is providing
benefits to the Marks and Spencer?
Frequency
a. Enhancing flexibility among employees 15
b. Increasing productivity 10
c. Becoming new normal 5
Q5. According to you views which challenge can be faced by M&S
mangers in implementing workplace transformation?
a. data and application security 20
b. issues in productivity 10
Data interpretation
Question 1 Concept of workplace transformation
9

Q1. What do you understand about the concept of workplace
transformation?
Frequency
a. Rethinking of flexible workspaces 10
b. Rising manpower skills, instrument, and quality 10
c. Adoption of different workplace, technologies and workers 10
Interpretation
From the above it is analysed that 30 out of 10 people said rethinking of flexible
workspaces is a concept of workplace transformational. The other 10 people said rising of
manpower skills and quality is the concept of workplace transformational. The other 10 people
said adoption of different workplace and workers is a concept of workplace transformation.
Question 2 External event which have transformed the organisation
10
0
2
4
6
8
10
Frequency

Q2. According to you which is the external event which have transformed
the organisation?
Frequency
a. Covid 19 issue 25
b. Technological changes 3
c. Economical changes 2
Interpretation
From the above, it is said that out of 30 people, 25 said covid 19 issues is the external
event which have transformed the organisation. The other 3 people said technological changes is
the external event which have transformed the organisation. The other 2 people said economical
changes is the external event which have transformed the organisation.
Question 3 External event has transformed marks and Spencer
Q3. According to you, how this external event has transformed marks and
Spencer?
Frequency
a. By providing flexible working environment to employees 10
11
a. Covid 19 issue
b. Technological changes
c. Economical changes
0
5
10
15
20
25
Frequency

b. To become digitally 5
c. To provide remote work 15
Interpretation
From the table, it is analysed that out of 30 people, 10 said providing flexibility to
employees is how external event is transformed in marks and spencer. The other 5 people said
becoming digitally is how external event has transformed in marks and spencer. Remaining of 15
answered providing remote is the transformation in marks and spencer.
Question 4 Workplace transformation is providing benefits to the Marks and Spencer
Q4. According to your views, how workplace transformation is providing
benefits to the Marks and Spencer?
Frequency
a. Enhancing flexibility among employees 15
b. Increasing productivity 10
c. Becoming new normal 5
12
0
4
8
12
16
Frequency

Interpretation
It is said that out of 30 people, 15 said enhancing flexibility among employees is the
benefits which company is getting from workplace information. The other 10 people said
increasing productivity is the benefits from transformation of workplace is given to the Marks
and Spencer and rest of 5 people said becoming new normal is a benefits company is getting
form workplace transformational.
Question 5 Challenge can be faced by M&S mangers in implementing workplace
transformation
Q5. According to you views which challenge can be faced by M&S
mangers in implementing workplace transformation?
a. data and application security 20
b. issues in productivity 10
13
a. Enhancing flexibility among employees
b. Increasing productivity
c. Becoming new normal
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
Frequency

Interpretation
the above, it is analysed that out of 30 members, 20 said data and application security is
a challenges that is being faced by manager while implementing workplace transformational.
The other 10 people said that issues in productivity is the challenge can be faced by M&S
mangers in implementing workplace transformation.
Recommendations
From the above it is recommended that workplace transformation is most essential for the
organisation. The company should have to work according to the requirements of the employees
and they should provide them all training about new innovation and technologies coming at
workplace. Further, company has to be stable on remote working to the employees in order to
maintain social distancing due to this pandemic. There could be some of the challenges faced by
mangers which they have to keep in mind and consider effective strategies within working
environment. Further, it is recommended to marks and Spencer that they should develop
effective relations with their employees and involves them in decision making process. This
helps in development of the organisational productivity and creating positive working
environment of the employees. Company should work towards achievement of organisational
gaols and at a same time they have to work towards fulfilling of employees needs and demands.
14
a. data and application security b. issues in productivity
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
Series1

Performance review
What did you aim to achieve through your work?
“To analyse the impact of major external event in transforming the workplace”. A study on
Marks and Spencer. This helps the researcher in knowing about various techniques and tools
which can impact organisation and how they can overcome from those issues ad problems
Did your work succeed in achieving your aims? How do you know? Specifically, please
outline any evaluation and assessment undertaken.
Yes, I have succeed in achieving aim and objectives. These is analysed through by completing
project on given time period and getting true and reliable information about a given topic. The
evaluation undertaken is done through conducting primary and secondary data analysis.
What aspects of your development process do you think worked well and why? Evaluate
all aspects of the project from a range of perspectives.
I think, the data interpretation part in primary analysis is worked well because respondents are
ready to answer all the questions and they are providing consent to the answers. Further, this
project starts with project aim and objectives, project management plan, literature review,
research methodology and data analysis. Further it includes recommendation to the given
report and there is a presentation made as well of a overall report.
What problems emerged during the project and how were they tackled? Was there timely
identification of issues and resolution during the project process?
Some of the problems which are occurred during this project is lack of financial resources and
lack of time management. As problem of financial resources is tacked through conducting
secondary analysis because this takes less cost as compared to primary analysis. Further, for
time management, Gantt chart and WBS is used to make a schedule of a time and complete
project on shorter time period.
What did you learn from undertaking the project?
15

While conducting this project, I have analysed communication skills and time management
skills. Also I have worked on decision making skills and research skills which helps me in
collecting true and accurate data.
What are the strengths and weaknesses of your process that you have identified?
Some of the strength of mine are communication skills and problem solving skills. On the
other hand, my weakness includes time management skills and research skills.
How could your process improve for the future?
I will have used interview method instead of survey method. This process will help me in
collecting data directly through the respondents and this will helps in development of my
future career growth as well.
How would you rate your performance as project manager?
I will rate my performance for conducting this research is 8 out of 10 because at some phases I
faced difficulty in collecting data and information.
The success of the project and its usefulness in supporting your chosen organisation’s
organisational performance
The success of this project is that it will helps the organisation in getting to know about
various external factors which can impact their business performance and workplace
transformation.
16

References
Books and journals
Batat, W., 2021. How augmented reality (AR) is transforming the restaurant sector: Investigating
the impact of “Le Petit Chef” on customers’ dining experiences. Technological
Forecasting and Social Change, 172, p.121013.
Benford, S., Mansfield, P. and Spence, J., 2021, May. Producing Liveness: The Trials of Moving
Folk Clubs Online During the Global Pandemic. In Proceedings of the 2021 CHI
Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (pp. 1-16).
Betteridge, A., Buckle, G., Dunn, M., Flach, J., Gunton, P., Kumar, S., Lawson, H., Lewis, C.,
Madden, N., Martin, H. and Moon, D., 2021. Shared Knowledge. Badger & Seal.
Engelhardt, A.M., 2021. Observational Equivalence in Explaining Attitude Change: Have White
Racial Attitudes Genuinely Changed?. American Journal of Political Science.
Khan, N.A., 2021. Educational Strategies for Youth Empowerment in Conflict Zones:
Transforming, Not Transmitting, Trauma. Springer Nature.
Kiesel, J., MacPherson, L.R., Schuerch, M. and Vafeidis, A.T., 2021. Can Managed Realignment
Buffer Extreme Surges? The Relationship Between Marsh Width, Vegetation Cover and
Surge Attenuation. Estuaries and Coasts, pp.1-18.
McLaren, J. and Appleyard, T., 2021. Social movements, identity and disruption in
organizational fields: Accounting for farm animal welfare. Critical Perspectives on
Accounting, p.102310.
Monk, R.L. and Heim, D., 2021. The contextual milieu of alcohol consumption. The handbook
of the psychology of alcohol consumption. Palgrave Macmillan.
O'Dowd, A., Cooney, S.M., Sorgini, F., O'Rourke, E., Reilly, R.B., Newell, F.N. and Hirst, R.J.,
2021. The development of visuotactile congruency effects for sequences of events.
Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 207, p.105094.
Po-Chedley, S., Santer, B.D., Fueglistaler, S., Zelinka, M.D., Cameron-Smith, P.J., Painter, J.F.
and Fu, Q., 2021. Natural variability contributes to model–satellite differences in
tropical tropospheric warming. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,
118(13).
Stephenson, J.R., Sovacool, B.K. and Inderberg, T.H.J., 2021. Energy cultures and national
decarbonisation pathways. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 137, p.110592.
Tarrant, M., Carter, M., Dean, S.G., Taylor, R., Warren, F.C., Spencer, A., Adamson, J., Landa,
P., Code, C., Backhouse, A. and Lamont, R.A., 2021. Singing for people with aphasia
(SPA): results of a pilot feasibility randomised controlled trial of a group singing
intervention investigating acceptability and feasibility. BMJ open, 11(1), p.e040544.
17

Appendices
Questionnaire
Q1. What do you understand about the concept of workplace transformation?
a. Rethinking of flexible workspaces
b. Rising manpower skills, instrument, and quality
c. Adoption of different workplace, technologies and workers
Q2. According to you which is the external event which have transformed the organisation?
a. Covid 19 issue
b. Technological changes
c. Economical changes
Q3. According to you, how this external event has transformed marks and Spencer?
a. By providing flexible working environment to employees
b. To become digitally
c. To provide remote work
Q4. According to your views, how workplace transformation is providing benefits to the Marks
and Spencer?
a. Enhancing flexibility among employees
b. Increasing productivity
c. Becoming new normal
Q5. According to you views which challenge can be faced by M&S mangers in implementing
workplace transformation?
a. data and application security
b. issues in productivity
Project Log book
18

Project Logbook
Name:
Project title:
Date:
Update on period of development
The aim is to analyse the impact of major external event in transforming the workplace. A
study on Marks and Spencer.
Risks and/or issues identified
lack of interest of people and lack of true information.
Problems encountered
Lack of financial resources
New ideas and change of project direction
use of interview method
What have you learned about yourself through your work?
Communication skills and research skills
Next steps for your work
Make use of interview method instead of questionnaire survey.
Project plan status to date
Yes, this project has completed on time
Tutor Feedback
19

20