Technology Impact on Workplace Transformation at River Island

This report investigates workplace transformation at River Island, examining the impact of technology on employee roles, collaboration, and organizational performance. It addresses the concepts of workplace transformation, the technological requirements for employees, and strategies to improve organizational performance through workplace transformation. The research employs a positivism research philosophy and a deductive approach, utilizing quantitative methods and survey data collected from 30 River Island managers. Frequency distribution analysis is used to interpret the data, revealing insights into the understanding of workplace transformation, tactics for comprehending technical needs, strategies for employee performance and collaboration, the impact of technology, and methods to improve organizational performance. The findings suggest that while most respondents understand workplace transformation, there are areas for improvement in technical training and development, collaborative team building, and digital adoption. The report concludes with recommendations for alternative research methods and strategies to enhance workplace transformation at River Island.

Research Project

Contents
Introduction to Research Background................................................................................................4
Research Question.............................................................................................................................4
Aim and Objectives of Research........................................................................................................4
Research Limitation..........................................................................................................................5
Literature Review..............................................................................................................................5
Workplace transformation concept..............................................................................................5
Impact of technology and the requirements needed for River Island’s employees to carry out
their roles and collaborate............................................................................................................5
Various ways could be used by River Island to improve organisational performance by
following workplace transformation............................................................................................6
Research Methodology......................................................................................................................6
Data Analysis and Findings...............................................................................................................9
Conclusion......................................................................................................................................14
Effectiveness of research methods applied.......................................................................................14
Recommendations on alternative methods that could have been used...............................................15
REFERENCES...............................................................................................................................16
APPENDIX.....................................................................................................................................18
INTRODUCTION.........................................................................................................................21
Background to research.............................................................................................................21
Research questions.....................................................................................................................21
Research Aim.............................................................................................................................21
Research Objectives...................................................................................................................21
LITERATURE REVIEW..............................................................................................................22
What is the concepts of workplace transformation?..................................................................22
What are the impacts of technology and the requirements needed for River Island’s employees
to carry out their roles and collaborate?....................................................................................22

What are the different ways could be used by River Island to improve organizational
performance by following workplace transformation?..............................................................22
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY..................................................................................................24
ANTICIPATED OUTCOME........................................................................................................26
TIMESCALE.................................................................................................................................27
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................29
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proposed research fully with your Unit Tutor. Please complete this
form in good time before your research project is due to commence.
...............................................................................................................................................31

Introduction to Research Background
Workplace transformation is defined as reconsidering of flexible workspace in order to
include assorted forms of technology, employees and their job. It plays an essential job within an
organisation as it aids to cope up with the changing business situation and dynamic business
environment (Gheidar and ShamiZanjani, 2020). In the present time period, organisations make
use of new technologies in order to deal with the changes, improve productivity and
performance, clarify employees about their role and so on. For the present research, River Island
is taken into thought. It is a high street fashion product which was recognised in year 1948 and
headquartered in London, UK. The main target of the research is to identify the impact of
technology and the requirements needed for employees to carry out their roles and collaborate in
workplace transformation.
Research Question
 What is the concepts of workplace transformation?
 What are the impacts of technology and the requirements needed for River
Island’s employees to carry out their roles and collaborate?
 What are the different ways could be used by River Island to improve
organizational performance by following workplace transformation?
Aim and Objectives of Research
Research aim:
“To identify the impact of technology and the requirements needed for
employees to carry out their roles and collaborate in workplace transformation”.
A case study of River Island.
Research Objectives
 To explain the concepts of workplace transformation.
 To identify the impacts of technology and the requirements needed
for River Island’s employees to carry out their roles and collaborate.
 State the different ways could be used by River Island to improve
organizational performance by following workplace transformation.

Research Limitation
Every research is associated with some type of limitations or drawbacks and to deal with
this, it is important for researcher to have backup plan so that it can be dealt in a proper manner.
The research limitations are limited access of data, time constraints, lack of previous studies on
topic and so on (Hughes, Robert and Arroyos, 2019). One of the major limitation is limited
access of information as some of the websites are not accessible due to which data is not
collected properly.
Literature Review
Workplace transformation concept
As per the viewpoint of Barnes, 2020, the concept of workplace transformation plays a
really important role for the purpose to change the workspace and offering various kinds of
opportunities in accommodating different types of technology, workers and work. In context to
organisation, workplace transformation helps in offering various opportunities for the purpose to
enhance and implement changes in the organisation. In addition to that, it allows the workers to
concentrate and working more dedicatedly towards their jobs. With the help of flexible working
environment, it helps in leading to better innovation opportunities and talented staff among the
workplace. In context to organisation, the work place transformation helps in increasing the
organisational growth and boosting productivity(What Workplace Transformation Means Now,
2020).
Impact of technology and the requirements needed for River Island’s employees to carry out
their roles and collaborate
According to Beer and Mulder, 2020, the technology impacts the workplace and also
results in influencing the organisational performance and productivity. In context to River Island,
the concept of technology helps in creation of a healthy and effective working environment and
also helps in contributing towards the overall success of the organisation. During the time of
pandemic, the organisation adopted digital technologies for the purpose to sustain in the market
place for a longer time period. In context to organisation, in order to boost the morale of the
employees, it is important to carry out various responsibilities that comprises of proper
resources, flexibility, effective communication and positive working environment. The main
objective of workplace transformation is to increase the productivity and growth of organisation.

In order to transform workforce it is necessary for a company to offer flexibility, foster
emotional commitment, design compelling experience, change behaviour first and encouraging
engagement in the workplace (The Effects of Technological Developments on Work and Their
Implications for Continuous Vocational Education and Training, 2020).
Various ways could be used by River Island to improve organisational performance by following
workplace transformation
As per the viewpoint of Niaz, 2020, there are various types of strategies which are used
by the organisation for the purpose to improve the overall performance of the company with the
help various strategies such as creating of the employee experience, adoption of the cutting edge
technology, developing a culture of learning and also focuses on adoption of the various digital
strategies. In context to River Island, the organisation can improve performance of its operations
with the help of using proper work place transformation techniques. For the purpose to remain
competitive in the market place, it is very important to adopt the new digital technologies such as
artificial intelligence, cloud technology, automation and IoT etc. In addition to that, the
organisation focuses on development of the culture through implementation of changes and
supporting mobility. With the help of culture learning, it results in decreasing resistance to
change, increasing adaptability and adoption of the new technologies in the organisation. In
context to organisation, technology plays a significant role in the organisation. (HOW TO
IMPROVE AN ORGANIZATION’S PERFORMANCE, 2021).
Research Methodology
Research methodology is considered as an important portion of a research as it assists in
gaining insight about the methods used to conduct the study along with the justification. The
research methods used in the present study is given below:
Research philosophy: It is well-defined as the process of gathering, utilizing and examining
data in particular subject. It is mainly considered into 2 methods that are positivism and
interpretivism philosophy (Jensen and Stein, 2021). With reference to the present study,
Positivism as a research philosophy is used and the reason to select is it help in analysis of
numerical information in less time and cost as well.
Research Approach: It is referred as the step-by-step plan and process used to collect data
and is separated into 2 parts that is deductive and inductive approach. In context to the current

research, deductive research approach is effective as it assists to evaluate quantitative and
numerical information in less cost and time as well. Moreover, it also help in testing existing
theory in an appropriate and effective manner.
Research Choice: It is the process to gather accurate information by means of two methods
that is qualitative and quantitative as well. In relation to the current research, quantitative
research choice is effective and valuable as it aids to collect numerical data which is grounded on
truths and statistics. Moreover, it also assists to collect statistical data in fewer cost and time.
Research Strategy: There are various research strategies which is used by investigator for
gathering and using data such as survey, interview, action research, observation and many more.
In relation to the current research, survey is used as it aids in gaining insight about research
subject and also assist to gather data directly from the original source.
Data Collection: There are mainly 2 kinds of information gathering that are primary and
secondary method and as per the subject of research, primary data method is appropriate (Meske,
2019). The reason to choose this is it assist to collect original data and first-hand information
which is more authentic and valid.
Research instrument: There are different research tools such as questionnaire, focus group,
interview, observation and many more. In the current research, Questionnaire is used as it aids to
recognise the viewpoint of dissimilar people on particular subject. It also assist to increase in-
depth information about subject in less time and cost.
Sampling: It is well-defined as the procedure to choose sample size in order to gather data
from the whole population. It is primarily separated into 2 portions that is probability and non-
probability sampling. In regards with current investigation, random sampling is a type of
probability sampling is chosen (Nally, Sorensen and Kavanagh, 2020). The 30 managers of River
Island’s is nominated as respondents and the main aim to choose them is they have ground
information about new process and technologies adopted by business.
Data analysis: There are mainly 2 types of data analysis process that is thematic analysis
and frequency distribution analysis. In relation to the present investigation, frequency
distribution analysis is applied as it assists to analyse primary and quantitative data. Moreover, it
also helps to show the results in the method of charts and graphs which is relaxed to comprehend
and understand.

Q1. Do you understand the concept of workplace transformation? Frequency
a) Yes 27
b) No 3
Q2. What are the different tactics for comprehending the technical
needs for staff members to perform the duties and cooperate at River
Island?
Frequency
a) Training and development 7
b) Application of Participative leadership at workplace 8
c) Application of motivation techniques 8
d) Continuous performance assessment 7
Q3. According to you, what are the strategies needed for River
Island’s workers to perform duties and cooperate?
Frequency
a) Emphasis on change management 8
b) Use of digital transformation 10
c) Developing collaborative teams 7
d) Prioritize employee skill and experience 5
Q4. What is the impact of using technology in analysing the
requirements of employees to carry out roles and collaborate at
workplace?
Frequency
a) Positive impact 24
b) Negative impact 4
c) Neutral 2
Q5. What can be the strategies used by River Island to improve
organisational performance by considering workplace transformation?
Frequency
a) Cultivating a culture of learning 8
b) Implementing digital adoption function 9
c) Adopting cutting-edge technology 7
d) Focusing on continuous improvement 6
Q6. As per your viewpoint, is implementation of workplace
transformation at River Island’s will help in improving organisational
Frequency

and employee performance?
a) Yes 26
b) No 4
Data Analysis and Findings
Q1. Do you understand the concept of workplace transformation? Frequency
a) Yes 27
b) No 3
Interpretation 1: It is understood that there are 30 respondents, 27 members have information
idea of workplace transformation. On the other hand, 3 respondents have no idea about it. It is
important for an organisation to ensure that all of its members have knowledge about workplace
transformation which is vital to deal with the present business scenario.
Q2. What are the different tactics for comprehending the technical
needs for staff members to perform the duties and cooperate at River
Island?
Frequency
a) Training and development 7
b) Application of Participative leadership at workplace 8
c) Application of motivation techniques 8

d) Continuous performance assessment 7
Interpretation 2: It is interpreted from the above graph that training and development is strategy
which is used by respective company for accepting the technical needs for staff members to
perform the duties and co-operate and is said by 7 member. In addition to this, application of
motivation techniques and participative leadership is the strategy and is perceive by 8
participants respectively. Moreover, the reaming 7 respondents said that continuous performance
assessment is the strategy used for accepting the technical needs for staffs to perform the duties
as well as co-operate at workplace.
Q3. What is the influence of using technical roles in analysing the
desires of staffs to perform the duties and co-operate at office?
Frequency
a) Positive impact 24
b) Negative impact 4
c) Neutral 2

Interpretation 3: It is interpreted that 24 participants out of 30 members said that there is
positive impact of using technology in analysing the requirements of employees to carry out
roles and collaborate at workplace. Along with this, the 4 members observe that there is negative
impact whereas the left over 2 state that there is no influence of using technology in analysing
needs of staff members.
Q4. According to you, what are the practices adopted by River
Island’s for bringing transformation at workplace?
Frequency
a) Emphasis on change management 8
b) Use of digital transformation 10
c) Developing collaborative teams 7
d) Prioritize employee skill and experience 5

Interpretation 4: By analysing the given graph, it is interpreted that use of digital
transformation is the practices adopted by respective organisation for bringing transformation,
which is said by 10 respondents. Focus on change and developing collaborative teams is also the
practice which is said by 8 and 7 participants. Moreover, 5 participants said that prioritize
employee skill as well as experience is one of the practice adopted by respective company in
order to bring transformation at workplace.
Q5. What can be the strategies used by River Island to improve
organisational performance by considering workplace transformation?
Frequency
a) Cultivating a culture of learning 8
b) Implementing digital adoption function 9
c) Adopting cutting-edge technology 7
d) Focusing on continuous improvement 6