Unit 6 Report: Workplace Transformation in UK Retail during COVID-19

This report investigates the role of workplace transformation in retaining talented employees and improving organizational culture within the UK retail industry, specifically focusing on the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The research, centered on Unilever, encompasses the project lifecycle stages (initiating, planning, executing, and closing) and emphasizes the importance of a well-defined project management plan (PMP) incorporating elements like deliverables, quality assurance, risk management, communication strategies, and resource allocation. The report outlines various research methods and strategies, including the research onion framework, positivism philosophy, deductive approach, survey strategy, quantitative methods, and cross-sectional time horizon. A detailed PMP is presented, including research aims, objectives, questions, and a work breakdown structure with a schedule. The project's implementation, data analysis, and findings are discussed, followed by a reflection on the value of the project and its impact on learning and performance.

Unit 6 Managing a
Successful Business
Project
(Role of workplace transformation in
retaining talented employees as well as
improving organisational culture within
the organisation during COVID- 19
pandemic within the UK retail industry)

Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
Explaining the stages of the project lifecycle (PLC) and their importance to the success of a
project..........................................................................................................................................1
Examining the factors that are required to be considered when compiling a project
management plan (PMP)..............................................................................................................2
Examining a range of research methods and strategies and their importance to project
management.................................................................................................................................3
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................5
Producing a PMP that covers aim, objectives, deliverables, quality, risk, communication
resources as well as research methods.........................................................................................5
Producing a work breakdown structure and a schedule to provide time frames and stages for
completion....................................................................................................................................6
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................8
Conducting a business project as stated within the PMP and communicate findings.................8
Presenting the data for drawing valid and meaningful conclusions and recommendations from
data analysis...............................................................................................................................16
TASK 4..........................................................................................................................................17
Reflecting on the value of undertaking the business project to meet stated objectives and own
learning and performance..........................................................................................................17
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................19

INTRODUCTION
It is important for the project manager to execute the project successfully in order to
produce an intended result from it. The project manager required to successfully plans, organises
as well as oversees the operation in order to accomplish the desired objectives for the business
growth (Pace, 2019). The following research is based on the role of workplace transformation in
retaining talented employees as well as improving the organisational culture within the
organisation during COVID-19 pandemic within the UK retail industry. In the following result,
selected organisation is Unilever, which is multinational consumer goods organisation of UK.
The company is founded in 1929 and its headquarters is located in London, England. The
research report covers key stages of the project lifecycle that should be considered when
managing project, produce a project management plan for a business project by using primary
and secondary research methods. It further covers implementation of the project management
plan in order to communicate the result from the research and making conclusions from the
evidence of findings. It also covers reflection on value gained from implementing the project as
well as project management process.
MAIN BODY
TASK 1
Explaining the stages of the project lifecycle (PLC) and their importance to the success of a
project
The project management lifecycle refers to a step-by-step framework of best practices
which is used for conducting a project from its starting to its end (Ouazzani-Touhami and
Souissi, 2020). It helps project managers by providing a structured way for creating, executing as
well as finishing a project in better. In involves four important stages that are initiating, planning,
executing and closing. These stages for the execution of research project on workforce
transformation are described below:
Initiating- This refers to a initiation stages which helps in defining the project. This
stages makes project manager to sort out their project goals, scope and resources along the with
roles which is required on the team (Holway, 2019). This stages refers to a important stages for
achieving the success of the project. This implies that without proper clarity about the what is
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required to be achieved as well as why the project runs the risk of not accomplishing the end
goals as well as meeting the expectations of stakeholders. In case of following research project,
the researcher need to prepare a research proposal in order to outline key dates, requirements as
well as goals for the projects.
Planning- In this stage of product lifecycle, the project manager will determine the steps
that are required in order to actually the project goals along with the ways for completing a
project. This will make project manager in order to establish timelines, budgets and milestones
along with the source materials and necessary documents (Mohammed, 2019). In case of
following research project, researcher used Gantt Chart which helps in showing what tasks must
be completed in what order as well as low long it expected to take.
Execution and completion tasks- This stage makes project planner to put their plan into
action as well as keep the team on track. Basically this stages is describes as trasking and
measuring progress, mitigating risk, managing quality, managing the budget as well as using data
for informing their decision (Kumari, Gupta and Deshwal, 2022). In the following research
project, the researcher should use burn down chart which helps in breaking down tasks on a
granular level as well as visualizing the amount of time remains in the project.
Close projects- This refers to a final stage of project life cycle, which makes project
manager to conclude project activities, which helps in turning the finished product or service
over to its new owners as well as assessing the things that went well but not so well (Kumari,
Gupta and Deshwal, 2022). In the following research report, researcher used project close out
report in order to provides a summary of their project accomplishment.
Examining the factors that are required to be considered when compiling a project management
plan (PMP)
A project management plan refers to a formal and approved document which helps in
defining the execution, monitoring and controlling of a project (Antony and Gupta, 2018). There
are many things which are required to considered when compiling a project management plan
which includes scope, goals, budget, timeline as well as deliverables of a project. In the
following conducted research, these factors are described below:
Deliverables- This will helps in defining how the project will be broken down into
measurable deliverables. In case of following research, there are many task and which will be
break down in 19 weeks with the help of Gantt Chart which includes introduction, aims and
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objectives, literature review, research methodology, data collection, analysis and many more
(Vuorinen and Martinsuo, 2018).
Quality- This describes what types of information or data has been taken in order to
conduct the project and making it higher quality project (Dania, Xing and Amer, 2018). In the
following conducted research, quantitative data has been taken which helps in providing accurate
and valuable data for the research.
Risk- This describes the factors which helps in identifying, addressing as well as
controlling the issues in the project (Deepak and Jeyakumar, 2019). In the following conducted
research, the researcher faces various problems while conducting this research, due to lack of
timing, lack of proper amount and many more.
Communication- This will help in defining how team and stakeholders can
communicate for the project (Brock and Von Wangenheim, 2019). In the present research
project, researcher uses survey strategy and emails in order to communicate with the
stakeholders related to the research topic in order to gain more information for topic.
Resources- This describes the things which is required in order to conduct the project in
well manner (Salomone, 2019). In the case of following research, various resources is used in
order to conduct the research for meeting aim and objectives of the research which includes
questionnaire, books and journals.
Examining a range of research methods and strategies and their importance to project
management
There are various of methods and strategies are used in the research which help
researcher in order to conduct the research in well manner (Grønmo, 2019). The research onion
is an effective framework which helps in dividing the researcher methodology in different parts
which makes understandable for the researcher in order to conduct the research in appropriate
manner. In case of following research, the research methods and strategies that are used in
conducting the research are described below:
Research Philosophy- There are two types of research philosophy which includes
positivism and interpretivism. In case of following research, the researcher used positivism
philosophy because it helps in collecting and analysing the numerical data. It is important for
obtaining reliable and accurate information for the research (McNabb, 2020).
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Research Approach- There are two types of research approach that are inductive and
deductive. In present research, the deductive approach is used as it helps in analysing the
quantitative data and information (Cherrier and Svorenčík, 2018). It is important for using logic
for justifying work-related decision.
Research Strategy- There are many types of research strategies such as group, action
research, survey, observation and so on. In case of present research survey research strategy is
used as it helps in collecting quantitative data for the research (Cooksey, 2020). This is important
for gaining large amount of information from the large population.
Research choice- This is divided in two category which includes quantitative and
qualitative (Ramlo, 2020). The following research is based on quantitative methods in order to
collect numerical information about the research. This is important for attaining greater
knowledge as well as understanding the social world in order to conduct the research in well
manner.
Time horizon- There are tow types of time horizon which includes longitudinal and
cross-sectional (Hall, 2020). In the following research, cross-sectional time horizon has been
selected as it will help in conducting the research ion less time. It is important for the research, as
it allows researcher in order to compare the many different variables at the same time.
Data collection- There are two types of data of data collection which includes primary
and secondary (Guillén-Gámez and Mayorga-Fernández, 2020). In case of following research,
researcher used both the strategy as it helps in gaining information directly through the
respondents as well as from other sources also. It helps in gaining reliable information in less
cost and less time.
Data Analysis- There are various strategies in data analysis such as frequency
distribution and thematic (Mertens, 2019). In the following research, the researcher uses
frequency distribution as it helps calculating the numerical data and information about the
research in better manner. It helps in organising and summarizing the survey data in tabular
format.
Sampling- There are two types sampling methods that are probability and non-
probability. In the following research, the researcher uses probability methods in order to collect
information from equal number of respondents (Cook, 2021). It allows researcher to create
sample that actually represents the interest of real life population. With the help of probability
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sampling 20 respondents has been selected for this research. These are managers of Unilever
who work in the organisation in order to manage employees and their work in better manner.
TASK 2
Producing a PMP that covers aim, objectives, deliverables, quality, risk, communication
resources as well as research methods
Research Aim
To identify the role of workplace transformation in retaining talented employees and
improving organisational culture within the organisation during COVID-19 pandemic. “A study
on Unilever”
Research Objectives
 To study the concept and importance of workplace transformation during COVID-19
pandemic.
 To examine the Challenges faced by Unilever in retaining employees of Unilever during
the time of pandemic.
 To study the strategic ways that help Unilever in improving the culture of organisation
for retaining talented employees.
Research Questions
 What is the concept and importance of workplace transformation during COVID-19
pandemic?
 What are the challenges faced by Unilever in retaining employees of Unilever during the
time of pandemic?
 What are the strategic ways that help Unilever in improving the culture of organisation
for retaining talented employees.
Deliverables
It helps in dividing the project into different tasks with different measurable variable. In
the following research, there are many types of tasks such as introduction, aim and objectives,
literature review, research methodology and many more which is allocated in 19 weeks
deliverable in order to conduct the research in systematic manner (Tripathi and Jha, 2018).
Quality
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The quality of research is very high as it quantitative data methods in order to collect and
analyse the information of the research topic which provides accurate and reliable information
about the research in better manner (Brewer and Dittman, 2018).
Risk
There are many factors in the research which created risk for the researcher in order to
conduct the research in better manner (Rowe, 2020). The researcher has limited time and cost
which creates problems which makes risky in order to conduct the research in better manner.
Communication
In the following research, researcher uses various communication strategies in order to
communicate which the respondents in order to collect the information about the research such
as email, survey and many more (Ahmadabadi, and Heravi, 2019).
Resources
In the following research, various resources has been used in order to conduct the
research in appropriate manner which includes books, journal, questionnaire and many more
(Batra, 2018).
Research Methods
In the following research, quantitative research methods which helps in collecting the
numerical data about the facts and figures of research topic in better manner (Ryser, 2021).
Producing a work breakdown structure and a schedule to provide time frames and stages for
completion
By using Gantt chart, work breakdown structure as well as schedule has been created in
order to provide time frames as well as stages for the completion of the project. A Gantt chart
refers to the term of bar chart which helps to illustrates a schedule of project. It is the project
management tools which helps to analysis the schedule planning of project tasks (Arif and
Ketab, 2019). It is helps to represent the overall project plan over time. It is helps in project
management which provides many graphical illustrations of project schedules which can be used
in making the plan, coordination and analysing the task. It is helps to manage the project with
efficiency and effectiveness. Gantt Chart helps to make things easy and simple.
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TASK 3
Conducting a business project as stated within the PMP and communicate findings
Primary research-
Questionnaire-
Q1 Do you know the importance of workplace transformation in the organisation?
(a) Yes
(b) No
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Q2 Is your organisation transform their workplace during Covid-19 pandemic?
(a) Yes
(b) No
Q3 What types of challenges that your organisation faced while retaining their employees
at the time of COVID-19 pandemic.
(a) Employee's Safety
(b) Influencing employees to work at the time of pandemic
Q4 According to you what are the strategic way which help in improving the culture of
organisation for retaining talented employees.
(a) Knowing about the background of employees
(b) By understanding the employees
Q5 Do you think that retaining talented employee can help your organisation to operate
their business effectively at the time of pandemic.
(a) Yes
(b) May be
Table 1: Importance of workplace transformation in the organisation
Q1 Do you know the importance of workplace transformation in the
organisation?
Frequency
(a) Yes 18
(b) No 2
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18
2
(a) Yes
(b) No
Illustration 1: Importance of workplace transformation in the organisation
Interpretation: According to above graph, it has been analysed that 18 respondents has said yes
which means that they know about the importance of workplace transformation in the
organisation whereas 2 respondents has said no which means that does not know about it.
Table 2: Organisation transform their workplace during Covid-19 pandemic
Q2 Is your organisation transform their workplace during Covid-19
pandemic?
Frequency
(a) Yes 17
(b) No 3
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