Research Report: Workplace Transformation Impact on Unilever Employees

This report analyzes the impact of workplace transformation on Unilever employees, focusing on changes implemented post-COVID-19. It examines the need for workplace transformation, the specific actions taken by Unilever, and the resulting impact on its workforce. The research employs primary data collection through questionnaires distributed to 40 employees, analyzed using quantitative techniques. Key areas explored include the impact of COVID-19, the effectiveness of transformation initiatives like work-from-home and training programs, and strategies for employee motivation. The report also addresses project planning aspects such as scope, timeline, cost, quality management, communication, risk assessment, and resource allocation, using tools like Gantt charts and work breakdown structures. Ethical considerations are also addressed to ensure data privacy and confidentiality.

Managing a successful
business project

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................3
RESEARCH AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ......................................................................................3
PROJECT PLANNING ..................................................................................................................4
PART B CONDUCTING RESEARCH .........................................................................................7
Strategies to attract or retain staff of Walkers Transport:................................................................9
RESEARCH METHODLOGY ......................................................................................................9
TASK 2..........................................................................................................................................12
FINDINGS ...................................................................................................................................12
TASK 3..........................................................................................................................................15
REFLECTIVE PRACTICES ........................................................................................................15
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION ............................................................................16
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................17

INTRODUCTION
The workplace transformation can be referred to as rethinking of the flexible work spaces in
order to accommodate various types of work, technology and workers. It also involves exploring
many plans of office floor, tailoring and rendering budgets with the budget tool of workplace
transformation The report is based on Unilever, a multinational british consumer goods
organization which is situated in London. The management understand the requirement making
regular transformation of the employees who could work at the workplace effectively (Pandita
and Ray, 2018). After analysing the market and environment it become easy for organization to
operate their business and bring out changes accordingly. As per to the job role of Asst. project
manager, the report is categorised in 3 parts such as project planning, conducting research,
present finding, and reflective practice that are used to develop the organizational performance.
TASK 1
RESEARCH AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
Aim: “To analyse the impact of workplace transformation on the employees”. A case study on
Unilever.
Objectives
To understand the need of workplace transformation
To examine the transforming actions taken by business organisation
To evaluate the impact of such actions on the employees of the company
Research questions
 What is the need of workplace transformation?
 What are the transforming actions which can be taken by the company?
 What is the impact of the transforming actions on workforce of organization?
PROJECT PLANNING
Scope – The type of work which is being done nowadays is different radically than a work
which was done two decades so it is essential to make the transformation so that the employees
can get adjusted to the workplace. Efficiency and productivity of employees can be enhanced
when there is transformation with the required needs and wants (Crane and Hartwell, 2019). It

also relates with the part of the objectives in terms of understanding the needs of workplace
transformation. It will also help in examining the transformation actions that are taken by
business management. And at last, it will evaluate the impact of such actions on the employees
of the company.
Time Scale – For doing any project and managing event time scale is needed as it used to
measure the time period in which task requires to complete. This is important for researcher to
analysis time scale for doing any project as it brings changes and manage the work properly. The
current project is about talent management where different strategies are follow to influence and
keeping long at the workplace. The time scale for project is 9 weeks in which HR management
and all staff members would work collectively to complete project.
Cost – For beginning and managing an event there is need to prepare a budget firstly that is
the structure of all income and expenses that arises while working and affected the organizational
productivity. Without deciding any budget and cost it might be difficult for company to run their
task it creates many hurdles. In relation to doing current project that related to workplace
transformation strategies £500 will be occurred that needs to arrange while managing work and
recorded in books of accounts. A detailed classification of cost is given below:
Particulars Total (£)
Research & development £100
Collecting primary data £100
Uses of online sources £50
Total £250
Quality management – Quality is important factor which is used by individual for the
purpose of running their business and developing business performance. If there is no quality in
project and services, then it became difficult for company to sales its products and services.
Quality is the important factor that show how project and task is valuable and how it supports to
manage each work. In relation to current project about workplace transformation quantitative
data is analysed by researcher that can help to provide theoretical and practical information about
specific topic and managing productivity (Narayanan, Rajithakumar and Menon, 2019) (Böhmer
and Schinnenburg, 2016) .

Communication – This is the regular process of sharing information and getting opinion
from different people so that project outcome can be received properly. There are different
sources of communication which uses by individual and group of people for the purpose of
managing data and developing business performance. For sharing and communicating sources
are telephone, emails, text, and video conferencing that can help to managing business functions
as well as activities.
Participants Information Technique Timely
Primary
Stakeholders
To make understand it
by stakeholders
The stakeholders use learning
development programme to
provide learning by using face
to face communication and
text, video conferencing, and
face to face communication.
Rotatory
Secondary
stakeholders
The aim of individuals
is to collect information
from different sources
The stakeholders will answer
tutor’s questions by using mail,
VC, and others that can help to
develop understandings.
Weekly
The risk associated – The meaning of risk is an uncertain event or condition that occurs
while doing any task and impacted on project positively or negatively. This is important for
researcher to analysis the risk that might be rise in managing a work where individual is required
to find out the different ways to overcome risk. To identify risk and record in book of account is
known as risk register in which all activities are important to measure and make right decisions.
The current project is about talent management which is related to different risk such as
inappropriate strategies, challenging environment, theft of data and others that affects the
business. Proper planning, getting opinions from senior, MS Excel, and USB are important
aspects which should be use by individual for analysing risk and provide them optimum solution
that can help to managing good performance (Mouton, and Bussin, 2019).
Resources – Resources are the main aspects that connected to a project and helps to
complete task properly. People, capital, material goods, and activities are good source of project
planning that used to study properly and develop understanding in relation to specific project.

The involvement of current study is attractive as it brings change and attain business goals. In
relation to current project, researcher is using email, phone calls, and other source of
communication that uses to develop the business performance effectively.
Gantt Chart – A chart used in project management which is popular and useful to show
their activities and managing performance. This is important for researcher to prepare the Gantt
chart as it showing what work is scheduling to be done in specific days. This provide an
understand that how each work would be done with the help of project management and team
members. In this, an individual can view start date, and ending date of task that can help
accomplish the work in certain period of time. This also provide a support to manage activity and
function properly.

Work break down structure – A structure, used to organizing and managing the work
in decided time period by allocating work between team members is known as work break down
structure. This is important for researcher or management to categorise the longer task in to small
section, that can help to manage the work properly. In other words, WBS is the ideology
connected to business activities that allocated between employees for the purpose of doing work
and managing higher performance.
RESEARCH METHODLOGY
Data sources and collection method – Before starting any project there is need to collect
proper information and data in relation to particular project that develop the understandings and
managing performance. A process of collecting, measuring, and controlling information on
different variables of interest is explained as data collection. The management requires to have
proper focus over ways of collecting information and managing task accurately. The sources of
data collection categorised in to primary and secondary that are used for different purpose and
supports to manage each function. The use of primary is connected with to research market, and
collecting data at first time by taking time and cost, that can help to make the right business
decision and increase performance. The examples of primary data are questionnaire, survey,
experiment and case study. The secondary data is related to collecting data and information from
second resources for the purpose of developing the understanding and attaining good
performance. The examples of secondary data are books and journal, article, magazine, and
others.
Justification – The current project is about workplace transformation where different types
of functions managed in order to increase performance. The researcher will use primary research
that can help to managing all functions. In this project, the person who is involved will use
primary method to collect information and manage activities. In primary, questionnaires are best
and useful that can help to get positive outcomes (Tiwari, Srivastava, and Kumar, 2019).

Sampling technique – This can be explained as the name and important identification of
specific process that uses for deciding goals and analysing data to complete the project timely.
The sampling technique is used to choose people from a large pool of candidates and make right
decisions. The method of sampling are probability and non-probability that supports to functions.
Justification – The researcher used probability technique where in 40 employees are
selected with the help of randomly sampling method. This helps to improve knowledge and skills
of individual in specific areas.
Data analysis – This explained as continuous method of identifying, detecting and sharing
information in relation to particular topic and manage data properly. The two technique of data
analysis are qualitative and quantitative. The qualitative tool states theoretical data that does not
provide right results. Another side, quantitative tool uses to collect theoretical and practical
knowledge (MBURU, 2019).
Justification – The researcher will use quantitative technique to analysis collected
information and managing functions properly. This also helps to bring changes and reaching
positive outcomes.
Ethical consideration – The current project is based on talent management where
researcher make sure that it has followed all ethical principles, and consent. This also keep all
information confidential and supports to attain the research goals. Moreover, no data will be theft
by anyone as it is secured and safe (Arasanmi, and Krishna, 2019).
Questionnaire
Q1: Do you understand the impact of Covid-19 in the Unilever based in Ilford?
 Yes
 No
Q2: Is there need of bringing transformation in the organisation due to external event?
 Agree
 Disagree
Q3: What are the transforming actions taken by Unilever based in Ilford?
a) Provide work from home to the employees
b) Provide training and development
c) Motivating strategies used
Q4: Is there direct impact of external event on the employees of the company

a) Yes
b) No
Q5: What was the impact of Covid-19 on the employees?
a) Demotivation among employees
b) Reduction in performance
c) Changes in sales
Q6: What is the impact of such transformation on the performance of employees?
 Positive impact
 Negative impact
Q7: Were there any actions taken by Unilever based in Ilford in order to motivate the
workforce?
a) Yes
b) No
Q8: State the actions taken by Unilever based in Ilford to motivate and boost the employees at
the time of bringing transformation?
a) Training and development
b) Regular interaction
c) Formal and informal meetings
Q9: Were the actions taken by Unilever based in Ilford create posistive impact on the
performance of the employees?
 Yes
 No
Q10: What company must do to get prepared for the changes in future?
 Make employees flexible
 Regular research of external factors

TASK 2
FINDINGS
Q1: Do you understand the impact of Covid-19 in the Unilever based
in Ilford?
Frequency
 Yes 25
 No 15
Interpretation: From the above observation, it is found that 25 respondents out of 40
respondents agree that there is a impact of Covid-19 in the Unilever based in Ilford. It is found
that pandemic provides a great impact on every department of an organisation.
Q2: Is there need of bringing transformation in the organisation due to
external event?
Frequency
 Agree 30
 Disagree 10

Interpretation: According to the above observation, it is found that 30 respondents out
of 40 respondents agreeing that it is necessary to bring information in the organisation due to
external environment influences. The reason is company is able to deal with the external event.
Q3: What are the transforming actions taken by Unilever based in
Ilford?
Frequency
d) Provide work from home to the employees 10
e) Provide training and development 20
f) Motivating strategies used 10

Interpretation: From the above discussion, it is crucial for Unilever based in Ilford that
they should take necessary course of actions. 10 respondents agree with work from home facility,
20 agree with training and development, and remaining 10 agree with motivating strategies.
Q4: Is there direct impact of external event on the employees of the
company
Frequency
c) Yes 20
d) No 20
Interpretation: It is identified from the above observation that half of the respondent
said that there is a direct impact of external event on employees performance and remaining half
are disagreeing with that. This shows that respondents believe that there is also an indirect
impact of external event on employees.
Q5: What was the impact of Covid-19 on the employees? Frequency
d) Demotivation among employees 10
e) Reduction in performance 15
f) Changes in sales 15