Accelerating Workplace Transformation at Boots: Pandemic Impact

This report examines the impact of the global pandemic on accelerating workplace transformation, focusing on a case study of Boots, a British health and beauty retailer. It identifies the concept of workplace transformation, explores the pandemic's effects on Boots, and determines strategies for improvement. The research employs a deductive approach with positivism philosophy, utilizing literature review and survey methods. Data collection involves a quantitative method with questionnaire surveys to gather numerical information. Key findings reveal that the pandemic positively accelerated workplace transformation at Boots, leading to changes in existing working practices and improved organizational performance through digital technology and change management strategies. The report concludes with recommendations for Boots to further enhance business practices by embracing workplace transformation activities.

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Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
Research Topic: The impact of the global pandemic on accelerating workplace transformation . .1
LITERATURE REVIEW ...............................................................................................................2
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ....................................................................................................3
FINDING AND RESULTS ............................................................................................................6
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................10
Recommendations .........................................................................................................................11
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................12
APPENDIX ...................................................................................................................................13

Assignment Theme: Transformation of the workplace
INTRODUCTION
Workplace transformation is the rethinking of flexible workspaces to accommodate
different kinds of work, workers, and technology. In the business environment, the needs of a
market and organization are changing day by day where companies introduce new products and
services that can help to attract a number of people and supports to improve performance. To
expand a business and increase activities workplace transformation is being used by employers
that can help to provide a new place to their staff and manage organizational work (Meske and
Junglas, 2021). It has seen that whole world is facing from pandemic attack (Covid-19) that
directly affected the business industry and created challenges to operate their business in
changing environment. The management should have proper knowledge and skills regarding
environment that can help to operate the business effectively by accepting changes properly. To
understand about workplace transformation Boots has been selected that is British health, beauty
retailer, and pharmacy chain in UK that is selling kind of products and services to their
customers. The company was founded in 1849, by John Boot and serve the areas United
Kingdom, Thailand, Norway, Netherlands, and Italy. The report covers aims, objectives, and
literature review that designed for completing the research.
Research Topic: The impact of the global pandemic on accelerating
workplace transformation
Research Aims: “To identify the impacts of global pandemic on accelerating workplace
transformation”. A case study of Boots.
Research Objectives:
 To identify the concept of workplace transformation.
 To identify the impacts of global pandemic on accelerating workplace transformation
within Boots.
 To determine the strategies that could be used by Boots to improve the workplace
transformation.
Research Questions
 What is the concept of workplace transformation.
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 What are the impacts of global pandemic on accelerating workplace transformation
within Boots.
 What strategies could be used by Boots to improve the workplace transformation.
LITERATURE REVIEW
To identify the concept of workplace transformation.
As per view point of Promsri (2019), Workplace transformation is the main activity for
companies as environment is changing where it became important for organization to understand
changes and adopt it properly. Transformation is related to changes at the workplace and
providing new workspaces to their staff where they feel good and safe to work. It has been seen
that corporate office design has to adopt changes to meet evolving strategies that drives growth.
The management of Boots analysed that by introducing changes in workplace, employees, and
technology business can be operated effectively that also provide the competitive advantages.
The management came to know that what changes should be introduce in particular products and
services and how to increase organizational performance where workplace transformation is used
to managing changes by work from home, and creating comfortable working environment. This
can help to develop organizational performance.
To identify the impacts of global pandemic on accelerating workplace transformation within
Boots.
As per opinion of Schmid (2019), Whole world is facing the issue of pandemic which has
impacted on businesses negatively as in continuity in their operation, reduced organizational
sales and productivity in changing environment. The pandemic is the kind of serious issue for all
companies as many business activities and functions have been stopped. By analysing the
environment it has determined that Boots remained open throughout the lock down to provide
communities with vital pharmacy and healthcare services. The others stores dramatically
reduced, and its revenue-driving fragrance and beauty counters were closed. Boots has
accelerated the workplace transformation by using new technology, and workspaces that
impacted positively as smoothly operation of its business activities and functions. This can help
to manage the business by adopting changes and using new technology that improved employees
learning and maintaining higher performance.
To determine the strategies that could be used by Boots to improve the workplace
transformation.
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As per view point of Albukhitan (2020), Workplace transformation is the main activity of
organization where in management thinks to use new process, workplace, and activities for the
purpose of operating their business. The operational activities of Boots has been affected and
selling activities has started to reduce due to pandemic. There are different strategies that can be
used by chosen organization to improve its business performance by adopting changes such as:
To bring changes in work and culture – As businesses are operated from a particular
place and environment where they works regularly. Due to Covid it became challenging for
organization to operate its business as government declared lock down. Boots can be use
workplace transformation by bringing changes in workplace, creating spaces, and use of new
technology that can help to maintain effective operation.
Use of digital technology – Other than pharmacy store Boots can continue its business in
beauty, and retail sector by focusing on workplace transformation. Digital technology is the
effective strategy that can be used by organization to continue its all activity with the help of
social media, and digital channel that helps to reach the targeted customers and develop the
organizational performance (Demir, 2019).
Focus on change management – The change management is the practice of bringing
changes in their existing working, and way of working method that can be help to introduce the
new working practices and supports to organizational development. Boots organization can use
change management strategy that can help to operate a business and develop organizational
performance.
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research methodology is the area of research which is conducted by an individual for the
purpose of developing their understanding and managing the activities. This is important for
researcher to know about topic and start to conduct research that can help to manage activities
and functions. The methodology is used to collect data and information about particular topic by
selecting appropriate methods. The methodology is defined below:
Research Philosophy – The philosophy is relates to gathering data and information
about particular topic by applying set of principles and research beliefs that can help to complete
the research. This involves positivism and interpretivism philosophy. In relation to current
research positivism philosophy is used by researcher as it provides more scientific and testing
phenomena.
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Research Approach – The approach suggests that a researcher should pick appropriate
approach out of inductive and deductive that are two methods. In relation to current research,
researcher have been used deductive approach as it based on hypothetical data and information
that is uses to gain knowledge about particular topic (Hennink, Hutter and Bailey, 2020).
Research Strategy – The strategy depends on planning and procedure which is used by
individual to select appropriate planning and process of conducting research. This consist
literature review, experiment, survey, case study and other that is being used by researcher to
complete their research. In relation to current research, literature review and survey method that
can help to develop information and meet to research aims and objectives.
Choices of Methods – To select one out of many is known as choice method that can
help to develop the understandings and managing the business activities. This involves mono,
mixed, and multi method to complete the study by gathering information. In relation to current
research workplace transformation is used by Boots to improve operation, mono method is
being used by researcher that can help to develop the learning about specific topic and managing
the activities properly. This will help to complete the research by researching to positive
outcomes.
Time Horizon – This determined as time framework in which all activities and functions
to conduct research is properly scheduled and managed that supports to finish work in certain
period f time. The types of horizon are cross sectional and longitudinal. In relation to current
research, inquirer has been used cross sectional on observing all on single point that can help to
reach decided goals and objectives. In relation to current research cross sectional horizon is
being used by researcher that can help to collect data in statistical and systematic manner.
Data collection and Analysis – The ending method of data collection states technique
and procedure that is applied by researcher to develop their understanding and knowledge. The
technique of data collection are quantitative and qualitative. Quantitative method involve
numerical information and qualitative method includes non numeric information which results in
achieving aims and objective of research. Within current study, quantitative method is used to
conduct this research and in this questionnaire survey is used get numerical information which
includes close needed questions (Bougie and Sekaran, 2019). It will be helpful in determining
true and valid information. The method of data collection are primary and secondary which uses
by researcher to gather data. In relation of current research, primary as well as secondary method
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used by researcher to know about importance of workplace transformation and how it helps to
enhance business practices.
Sampling – This is technique of getting opinion from selected people out of population
so that right decision can made accordingly. For researcher it is important to analysis the topic
properly and prepare questionnaire that can help to know different opinion out of population.
The type of sampling is probability and non-probability. In relation to current research, randomly
sampling method under probability method is used by inquirer that supports to complete research
(Kawulich and D’Alba, 2019).
QUESTIONNAIRE
Q1) What is the gender of participants?
a) Male
b) Female
c) others
Q2) Do your aware from Pandemic that occurred in whole world?
a) Yes
b) No
Q3) What is the impacts of global pandemic on accelerating workplace transformation within
Boots.
a) Positive
b) Negative
Q4) Does workplace transformation is beneficial for Boots?
a) Yes
b) No
Q5) What are the strategies can be use by Boots to improve organizational performance in
pandemic period?
a) Change management strategy
b) Use of new technology and digital transformation
c) Providing training and development programme to their workers
Q6) Do you think Boots needs to perform different workplace transformation activities in order
to enhance business practices?
a) Agree
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b) Disagree
Q7) Do you have any suggestion for the manager of Boots in order to enhance business
practices via accepting workplace transformation activities?
FINDING AND RESULTS
Q1) What is the gender of participants? Frequency
a) Male 15
b) Female 10
c) others 5
15
10
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Interpretation – From the about analysis it has been interpreted that Boots has selected 30 people
randomly out of them 15 male, 10 female, and 5 belong to other gender who is working in Boots
and performing their roles effectively (Weerakoon and McMurray, 2021 ).
Q2) Do your aware from Pandemic that occurred in whole world? Frequency
a) Yes 28
b) No 2
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28
2
Interpretation – From the above it can be interpreted that according to 28 people aware from
pandemic happened in whole world and remaining 2 does not have any information.
Q3) What is the impacts of global pandemic on accelerating workplace
transformation within Boots.
Frequency
a) Positive 20
b) Negative 10
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20
10
Interpretation – The above data is explaining that as per 20 people out of 30 global pandemic
accelerated positively on Boot's workplace transformation that supported to bring changes in
their existing working and supports to develop organizational performance. Remaining 10 said
that it might be impacts negatively because to accept changes is not easy as people wants to work
with traditional method.
Q4) Does workplace transformation is beneficial for Boots? Frequency
a) Yes 29
b) No 1
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29
1
a) Yes
b) No
Interpretation – From the above analysis it can be terminated that as per 29 participants
workplace transformation is beneficial for Boots as it not only operated its pharmacy business I
changing environment but also focus on selling of beauty, fragrances, and other products by
using digital technology and online stores that helped to influence customers. Moreover,
according to 1 it is not beneficial for organization because it create challenge and high
investment.
Q5) What are the strategies can be use by Boots to improve
organizational performance in pandemic period?
Frequency
a) Change management strategy 10
b) Use of new technology and digital transformation 10
c) Providing training and development programme to their workers 10
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