Analyzing the Impact of the Pandemic on Digital Transformation at ASDA

This project proposal investigates the impact of the global pandemic on the acceleration of digital workplace transformation within the UK retail industry, using ASDA as a case study. The research aims to examine the major dimensions of digital workplace transformation, discern the advantages of its implementation during the COVID-19 pandemic, inspect the challenges faced by ASDA in executing business functions, and investigate how digital strategies supported ASDA during this period. The study employs a positivism research philosophy and a deductive approach, utilizing quantitative data gathered through surveys from 30 ASDA employees. The findings will provide valuable insights for employees, investors, customers, managers, and scholars regarding the role of digital transformation in navigating business operations during a global crisis. Research ethics were considered and addressed.

PROJECT PROPOSAL FORM
Student Name
ID Number
Centre Name
Tutor
Proposed Title To analyse the impact of global pandemic on stimulation of digital
workplace transformation in UK retail industry.
Section One: Title, aims, objectives
INTRODUCTION
With the change in business working all the activities are turning into digital, to cope up with the
environmental concept it is becoming important for the organisation to turn their workplace into more
digital. Digital workplace can be defined as a concept where business uses advanced digital technology or
networks so that they can improve their business operation and can achieve their goals and objective in
more smother manner. Companies are turning their whole areas of operation into digital technology so that
they can deliver more values to their different stakeholders (Selimović, Pilav-Velić and Krndžija, 2021).
To know that impact of digital transformation at workplace the chosen company would be ASDA. It is a
British super market store in United Kingdom. The retail supermarket chain was started in 1949. The
founder of the ASDA is Peter and Fred Asquith and Sir Noel Stockdale. It’s headquarter is in Leeds, UK.
The companies deal in variety of products like grocery, general merchandise, financial services.
Title:
The impact of global pandemic on accelerating digital workplace transformation.
Aim:
To analyse the impact of global pandemic on stimulation of digital workplace transformation. A
study on ASDA
Objectives:
 To examine the major dimensions of digital workplace transformation.
 To discern the advantages of using digital workplace transformation during global pandemic
COVID-19.
 To inspect the challenges of digital workplace transformation faced by ASDA during executing

business functions at the time of pandemic COVID-19.
 To investigate how digital strategies supported ASDA in undertaking business functions at the time
of global pandemic COVID-19.
Research question:
1. What are the major dimensions of digital workplace transformation?
2. Identify the advantages of using digital workplace transformation during global pandemic COVID-
19?
3. Discuss the challenges of digital workplace transformation faced by ASDA during executing
business functions at the time of pandemic COVID-19?
4. Explain the digital strategy that is adopted by ASDA in undertaking business functions at the time
of global pandemic COVID-19?
Section Two: Reasons for choosing this project
The main aim behind conducting this investigation is to identify the impact of global pandemic on
stimulation of digital workplace transformation within the retail sector of United Kingdom. This
investigation is important for various stakeholders like employee, investors, customers, mangers and
scholar. This will help them to know about various investigations that can be earned when there is an
transformation made within the workspace into digital networks. This will also assist in identify the
different role played by the organisation when they are adopting digital workplace (Meske, 2019).
Section Three: Precedents and sources
What are the major dimensions of digital workplace transformation?
According to Ifenthaler and Egloffstein (2020), there are various dimension of digital workplace
transformation which is got affected. Digital transformation means adopting advanced technological
devices into the workspace so that work can be done in smooth manner. The major dimensions are
connection and collaboration, automations, information, employee and many more.
Identify the advantages of using digital workplace transformation during global pandemic COVID-19?
As per the view of Hicks (2019), there are different benefits of using digital workplace

transformation at the time of global pandemic. The first advantage that they get is safe and secure
environment. As the work is done remotely which helps them to conduct operation and increase their
productivity while sitting home. The benefit that they get is flexible working hour. In fact the operational
cost is also low at this time which helps them to save their capital.
Discuss the challenges of digital workplace transformation faced by ASDA during executing business
functions at the time of pandemic COVID-19?
According to Hamburg (2019), there are various challenges of digital workplace transformation
faced by ASDA during executing business functions at the time of pandemic COVID-19. The foremost
problem that is encounter by them is deciding the right tools and apps for their operation for which they
need to hire expert. The other major challenge that is encounter by them is security of their data.
Explain the digital strategy that is adopted by ASDA in undertaking business functions at the time of
global pandemic COVID-19
As per the view of Kraus and et. al (2021), at the time of Covid 19 where all the activities are done
remotely at that time ASDA need to design various digital strategy so that they can operate effectively.
The strategy that is adopted by them is Cost efficiency strategy. In this they converted most of their
departments or areas into digitally so that remote working can be possible for those who are working from
somewhere else.
Section Four: Activities and timescales
Activities to be carried out during the project
How long this will take?

Section Five: Research methodology
Research methodology can be defined as Systematic process which is used by researcher in identifying,
analysing and evaluating the collected information (Snyder, 2019). There are various steps involved in
research methodology that is been discussed below:
Research philosophy: This is of two kind Positivism and Interpretivism. As per the current research topic
positivism would be selected because it will help the investigator to obtained quantitative information in
the form of figures.
Research approach: Approaches of the research are inductive and deductive. In the current investigation,
researcher would select deductive approach. The reason for selecting is it helps in testing quantitative
information so that existing theories can be evaluated in appropriate manner (Kumar, 2018).
Research choice: They are classified into two groups that is quantitative and qualitative. As per the
present topic selected quantitative choice would be chosen by examiner because they want information in
factual form such as numbers, figures and values.
Research strategy: Survey, experiment, action research, case study, literature review and many others are
some kinds of research strategy. In the present investigation survey would be selected as a strategy
because it will help in gathering information from wider section (Novikov and Novikov, 2019).
Time horizon: Cross-sectional and longitudinal are the two types of time framework which helps in
knowing the time to collect data. As per the study, cross-sectional would be selected by beneficiary
because it will help in gathering information in single time.
Data collection: There are two sources from gathering data which are primary and secondary. As per
research primary information will be obtained, questionnaire will be applied by researcher (Bairagi and
Munot, 2019).
Sampling: There are two techniques of sampling such as probability and non-probability. In this present
research probability will be selected because it helps in selecting respondents in fair and equal manner.
The sample size is 30 employees of ASDA (Ledford and Gast, 2018).

Milestone one:
Milestone one target date (set by tutor):
Milestone two:
Milestone two target date (set by tutor):
Comments and agreement from tutor
Comments (optional):
I confirm that the project is not work which has been or will be submitted for another qualification
and is appropriate.
Agreed by:
Tutor name: Date:

References
Bairagi, V. and Munot, M.V. eds., 2019. Research methodology: A practical and scientific
approach. CRC Press.
Hamburg, I., 2019. Implementation of a digital workplace strategy to drive behavior change
and improve competencies. Strategy and Behaviors in the Digital Economy.
Hicks, M., 2019. Why the urgency of digital transformation is hurting the digital
workplace. Strategic HR Review.
Ifenthaler, D. and Egloffstein, M., 2020. Development and implementation of a maturity
model of digital transformation. TechTrends. 64(2). pp.302-309.
Kraus, S.,and et. al, 2021. Digital transformation in healthcare: Analyzing the current state-
of-research. Journal of Business Research. 123. pp.557-567.
Kumar, R., 2018. Research methodology: A step-by-step guide for beginners. Sage.
Ledford, J.R. and Gast, D.L. eds., 2018. Single case research methodology. New York, NY:
Routledge.
Meske, C., 2019. Digital workplace transformation–on the role of self-determination in the
context of transforming work environments.
Novikov, A.M. and Novikov, D.A., 2019. Research methodology: From philosophy of
science to research design. CRC Press.
Selimović, J., Pilav-Velić, A. and Krndžija, L., 2021. Digital workplace transformation in the
financial service sector: Investigating the relationship between employees'
expectations and intentions. Technology in Society. 66. p.101640.
Snyder, H., 2019. Literature review as a research methodology: An overview and
guidelines. Journal of business research. 104. pp.333-339.

Appendix
RESEARCH ETHICS APPROVAL FORM
All students conducting research activity that involves human participants or the use
of data, collected from human participants, may be required to gain ethical approval
before commencing their research.
Please answer all relevant questions and note that your form may be returned if
incomplete.
For further support and guidance please see your Unit Tutor.
Before completing this form, we advise that you discuss your proposed research fully
with your Unit Tutor. Please complete this form in good time before your research
project is due to commence.
Section One: Basic details
Student Name
ID Number
Centre Name
Project Title To analyse the impact of global pandemic on stimulation of digital
workplace transformation. A study on ASDA
Section Two: Project summary
Please select all research methods that you plan to use as part of your project:
Interviews
Questionnaires ✓
Observations
Use of Personal Records
Data Analysis ✓
Action Research
Focus Groups
Other (please specify Secondary research
Section Three: Participants
Yes No
Will your research involve human participants? yes

Ages
12–16
Young
people
aged
17–18
Adults
Who are the participants? Tick all that apply Adult
How will participants be recruited (identified and approached)?
Answer: By using probability sampling, 30 employees of ASDA will be selected
randomly.
Describe the process you will use to inform participants about what you are doing:
Answer: E-mail and questionnaire will use to inform participants regarding the
work.
How will you obtain consent from participants? Will this be written? How will it be
made clear to participants that they may withdraw consent to participate at any
time?
Answer: By providing accurate information regarding the research to the
participants, informed consent will be obtained from the respondents.
Studies involving questionnaires Yes No
Will participants be given the option of omitting questions they do
not wish to answer?
yes
If No, please explain why below and ensure that you cover any ethical issues
arising from this:
Answer:
Studies involving questionnaires Yes No
Will participants be given the option of omitting questions they do
not wish to answer?
yes
Studies involving observation Yes No

Confirm whether participants will be asked for their informed
consent to be approved.
yes
Yes No
Will you debrief participants at the end of their participation?
(e.g. give them a brief explanation of the study)
yes
Yes No
Will participants be given information about the findings of
your study? (This could be a summary of your findings generally)
yes
Section Four: Data storage and security
Yes No
Confirm that all personal data will be stored and processed in
compliance with the Data Protection Act (1998)
yes
Who will have access to the data and personal information?
Answer: myself Supervisor
During the research
Where will the data be stored?
Answer:
In My computer
Yes No
Will mobile devices, such as USB storage and laptops, be used? no
If yes, please provide further details:
Answer:
After the research
Where will the data be stored?
Answer:
On USB

How long will the data and records be kept, and in what format?
Answer:
Until I don’t need them anymore.
Yes No
Will the data be kept for use by other researchers? no
If yes, please provide further details:
Answer:
Section Five: Ethical issues
Are there any particular features of your proposed work which may raise ethical
concerns? If so,
please outline how you will deal with these:
It is important that you demonstrate your awareness of potential risks that may arise
as a result of
your research. Please consider/address all issues that may apply. Ethical concerns
may include, but
are not limited to the following:
 informed consent
 potentially vulnerable participants
 sensitive topics
 risks to participants and/or researchers
 confidentiality/anonymity
 disclosures/limits to confidentiality
 data storage and security, both during and after the research (including
transfer, sharing,
 encryption, protection)
 reporting
 dissemination and use of your findings.
Section Six: Declaration
Yes No
I have read, understood and will abide by the [insert name of
college/centre] Research Ethics Policy
yes
Yes No
I have discussed the ethical issues relating to my research with
my tutor
yes

I confirm that, to the best of my knowledge, the above information is correct and that
this is a full description of the ethical issues that may arise in the course of my/our
research.
Student Name: Florin Popescu Date 13/12/2021