Unilever: Management and Organisational Structure Assignment Sample

Introduction Of Unilever: Management and Organisational Structure

For many years now Unilever has been making a significant impact globally as a prominent player in the consumer goods industry. In essence, this essay will provide an informed analysis of three aspects of the company: its management structure, marketing mix and HR practices. Our primary focus is on uncovering what approaches have enabled Unilever to sustain success as well as how it stays competitive by adapting to changing market needs. The essay will start the piece by giving a general review of Unilever, its background, as well as its current operations. The managerial structure of Unilever, including its decentralised approach as well as worldwide presence, will then be discussed. The marketing mix of Unilever will then be examined, including its goods, price policies, distribution methods, and advertising activities. The essay will also look at Unilever's HR procedures, such as hiring and selection, employment relations, as well as the advancement of talent. The essay's structure will offer learners a thorough grasp of Unilever along with the way it operates. The person who reads this article will be able to get a comprehensive understanding of the organisation because each part will expand on what came before it. The essay shall cite literary works to back up the findings and substantiate the points the essay makes. Successful multinational corporation Unilever continues to preserve its edge in the marketplace by implementing effective organisational practises, and strategies for marketing, including HR procedures. The essay will intend to give the reader helpful insight regarding how Unilever operates and throw illumination on the ways the business has thrived through this article. As the essay will set out on our trip to investigate the complexities of Unilever's processes, the essay will advise the reader to retain a sense of curiosity and be sensitive to novel concepts and viewpoints.

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Main Body

Lever Brothers, a British soap manufacturer, and Margarine Unie, a Dutch manufacturer of margarine, merged to form Unilever, a worldwide British-Dutch consumer products corporation, in 1929. The firm makes a variety of well-known brands including "Axe/Lynx, Ben & Jerry's, Dove, Hellmann's, Lipton, Magnum, Knorr, Rexona/Sure, Signal, and Surf". It also works in restaurants, drinks, cleaning agents, and personal care sectors. Around 150,000 people work for Unilever globally, operating in more than 190 nations (Daft and Marcic, 2018). With its headquarters divided between London, United Kingdom, and Rotterdam, in the Netherlands, the corporation has significant operations in the European Union, the United States of America, the Caribbean, as well as Asia. Unilever doesn't have its own retail storefronts; instead, it sells its goods through a range of outlets, such as pharmacies, grocery shops, and internet merchants. Because of the company's strong dedication to environmental as well as social responsibility, I picked this company to give background information on. A complete list of sustainability objectives is outlined in Unilever's Responsible Management Plan, which was introduced in 2010 and the corporation hopes to accomplish by 2020 (Hitt et al., 2018). One billion individual's well-being and health are among the objectives, as are halving the environmental impact of the company's goods and procuring all of its agricultural raw materials responsibly.

Additionally, Unilever has taken a number of prominent steps in the direction of ecological responsibility, such as the introduction of its own Planet Beauty and Love Beauty company, which uses only ingredients that have been ethically obtained and packaging made entirely of recycled plastic, including the purchase of Pukka Herbs, a well-known organic tea company. Overall, Unilever is a fascinating and relevant firm to study due to its dedication to ecological and ethical business conduct as well as its huge worldwide footprint. The company's dedication to the environment has additionally contributed to Unilever's ability to preserve a solid reputation as well as brand identity (Lussier and Achua, 2018). Consumers have demonstrated an appreciation for companies which are both socially and ecologically conscious in recent years as they have grown increasingly conscious of the environmental effect of the products they buy. The company's sustainability programmes have made it possible for Unilever to satisfy this expanding demand while cementing its reputation as an innovator in the sector. Additionally, Unilever can use its assets and abilities to affect good change on a significant scale because of its worldwide presence and varied assortment of goods. Unilever, for instance, has collaborated with a number of groups to advance sustainably across a range of industries, among them the World Wildlife Fund's promotion of palm oil that is sustainable as well as the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's advocacy of the circular economy as a whole.

The global consumer products business Unilever, which is British as well as Dutch, has a distinctive management system that includes aspects of both centralised and decentralised administration. The leader of the Executive Committee, through whom the company is managed, is based in London, while the CEO is located in Rotterdam, the Netherlands (Robbins et al., 2019). The firm's administration is responsible for carrying out the expansion strategy and ensuring that the operation of the company is ethical as well as environmentally responsible. The three main business segments of Unilever are beauty, personal care, consumables and beverages, and home care. Plans to promote the objectives of the entire company must be developed and implemented by the highest-ranking executives within every company division. Additionally, Unilever includes a number of support organisations that help the company's departments achieve their goals. These divisions include Accounting, Transportation, and Supply Chain as well as the Scientific and Technological Development Groups. The ability to centralise as well as decentralise is one of the main advantages of Unilever's organisation of management (Cameron and Quinn, 2019). While regional management groups are free to make decisions which are suited to their particular markets, the international management team of the corporation defines the overarching strategy and course of action for the organisation. Due to its organisational structure, Unilever has the capability to adapt quickly to the demands of the local market while still upholding its commitment to its core principles and objectives.

The managerial structure encourages Unilever to promote an atmosphere of invention as well as cooperation, which is an additional advantage. In order to foster creativity including a feeling of community inside the organisation, the firm encourages workers to exchange ideas as well as best practices across business divisions and geographical boundaries (Hellriegel et al., 2019). Unilever's management system does have some potential drawbacks, though. For instance, the dual-headed structure of management may cause problems with communication or disagreements regarding the London as well as Rotterdam offices. Additionally, because of the company's decentralised structure, it could be challenging to impose consistent requirements on every branch of the company. Unilever's leadership team has been effective in assisting the corporation in achieving its goals notwithstanding these possible obstacles. For many years, the organization's administration has placed a high priority on the company's dedication to ecology. Because of the organization's management framework, Unilever has been able to adopt sustainability measures on a worldwide level while yet providing local adjustments depending on particular market demands. The organisational arrangement at Unilever combines centralised and decentralised administration in an unusual way. The organisation has been able to retain continuity in its overarching approach and ideals while also allowing for regional adjustments and innovations because of this framework (Koontz and Weihrich, 2018). Although this structure may have a few drawbacks, overall it has proved effective in assisting Unilever in achieving its objectives including retaining its position as a market leader in the field of consumer products.

Numerous essential management techniques as well as strategies that aid the firm in achieving its objectives are supported by Unilever's leadership structure. Unilever's "Connected 4 Growth" programme represents a few of these methods; it tries to spur growth by coordinating the corporation's planning, execution, as well as culture. This programme has been crucial in assisting Unilever in navigating the difficulties of a marketplace the fact that is changing quickly by guaranteeing that everyone in the firm continues to work against the same objectives. Unilever's "Five Levers for Change" approach is an additional significant organisational tool (McShane et al., 2018). This framework focuses on five crucial areas such as businesses, creative thinking, channels, managing expenses, and civilization, as well as is intended to assist the organisation in achieving growth that is sustainable. With the use of this structure, Unilever can make absolutely certain that its strategies for expansion are in line with its dedication to sustainability as well as ensuring it is moving closer to its goals for the future. The managerial structure of Unilever also fosters a culture of ongoing learning and development. The business offers a variety of programmes, such as the "Leadership Quality Acceleration Programme" along with the "Future Leaders Programme," to assist staff in expanding their expertise as well as their abilities. These initiatives aim to find and nurture talent inside the organisation and guarantee that Unilever possesses the qualified and driven staff it needs to succeed.

Understanding client requirements and wants, creating services or goods to suit those requirements, and pushing those items towards prospective customers make marketing a crucial role for any business (Mintzberg et al., 2019). The Marketing Mix is an arrangement that aids businesses in creating and putting into action efficient marketing plans. Product, pricing, location, and promotion make up the four Ps that comprise the marketing mix.

A worldwide manufacturer of consumer products, Unilever provides a variety of commodities in a number of areas, such as food and beverage, personal care, as well as home care. The business places a high priority on environmental sustainability and numerous of its goods are advertised as being environmentally and socially responsible. In order to bring new and innovative goods to market, Unilever also makes significant investments in creative thinking and research & innovation. Unilever is renowned for providing a large selection of goods in several sectors. The business places a high priority on environmental responsibility, as well as numerous of its goods are advertised as being environmentally as well as socially conscious (Stoner et al., 2019). With a focus on delivering creative and novel goods to the market, Unilever also makes significant investments in creative thinking and research & development. The company's wide collection of brands, which includes well-known recognised brands like "Dove, Knorr, Lipton, and Axe", is a testament to its commitment to inventiveness.

According to market conditions and the goods being sold, Unilever employs various pricing techniques. The business, for instance, utilises expensive prices for its higher-end items and competitive prices for innovative goods that are entering the marketplace. In order to foster consumer confidence and commitment, Unilever additionally places a strong emphasis on price disclosure. In regards to its pricing plan, Unilever may profit from an approach called a plan of action pricing, which entails determining prices in accordance with the benefits that a given good offers to customers (Daft et al., 2020). The pricing strategy employed by Unilever aims to maximise profits but additionally takes into consideration the demands of customers as well as the state of the market. In accordance with the good or service and the marketplace, the corporation employs various pricing techniques. For instance, the business employs penetration costs for newly released items while adopting more expensive rates when selling its higher-end commodities. In order to foster client devotion and confidence, Unilever also emphasises economic openness. Additionally, the business is dedicated to keeping costs low for customers in developing nations wherever price sensitivity is strong.

Supermarkets, internet merchants, as well as channels that deliver directly to consumers are just a few of the distribution methods used by Unilever. The firm has made significant improvements in its supply network in order to make confident that its goods are manufactured and supplied in an environmentally friendly and responsible way (Johnson et al., 2019). The corporation places a major emphasis on the oversight of the supply chain as well as sustainability. Strengthening its direct with consumers pathways, like selling via its own platform for e-commerce or by forming collaborations among different online merchants, might help Unilever considerably. Management of supply chains along with environmental responsibility are major priorities for Unilever. To make certain that the goods it produces are created and supplied in an environmentally friendly and sustainable way, the firm has invested substantial investments throughout its supplier network. Supermarkets, internet merchants, and retailers who sell directly to customers are just a few of the distribution channels that Unilever uses to advertise its products (Hill et al., 2019). The firm has an important presence in emerging regions, where it has developed reliable alliances with regional distributors as well as merchants. Additionally, Unilever offers clients the option to buy goods straight from the corporation's website thanks to its robust e-commerce network.

To advertise as well as sell the goods it makes, Unilever employs a variety of mediums, such as social media, billboards, and also television. Additionally, the business employs social media marketers along with brand advocates to raise awareness and increase sales (Kinicki and Williams, 2018). The corporation has a history of effective marketing efforts, and Unilever's approach to advertising is centred on creating powerful brands with distinct value propositions. Unilever may profit from more expenditures in electronic advertising and electronic commerce, too, given the rising significance of internet channels among consumer products firms.

In an organisation, managing people, organisational culture, as well as the happiness of staff members fall within the purview of the Department of human resources (HR). Strategic planning, hiring as well as vetting, learning and development, management of performance, relations with staff members, and talent administration are all part of HR operations. Unilever's HR duties in this area, concentrate on recruiting and terminating workers, relations with employees, and the advancement of talent.

To find the greatest personnel for its organisation, Unilever uses a thorough recruiting and selection procedure. The firm uses a variety of recruitment techniques, including corporate job posts, referrals, employment portals, and electronic communication platforms, in order to fill its openings (Lawrence and Weber, 2019). Additionally, Unilever works with universities and educational institutions to provide internship as well as apprenticeship opportunities, as well as to recruit recent college graduates. The company's hiring procedure consists of a number of steps, including posting positions, resume examinations, online tests, interview videos, and personal assessments. The goal of Unilever's hiring procedure is to find applicants who have the skills, knowledge, and expertise necessary to fulfil the organization's requirements. The organisation can find the best applicants for the position by using assessment centres, centred around competencies interviews, and psychological examinations as part of the recruitment procedure. The hiring procedure is fair and inclusive thanks to the company's recruiting and selection practices being in line with its inclusive and equitable hiring policy.

To maintain its workers' motivation, engagement, as well as productivity, Unilever has put into effect a number of workplace relations programmes. The corporation's "U-ROC" (Unilever Award of Champions) award programme honours staff members who exhibit extraordinary performance while contributing to the accomplishments of the business (Schein, 2019). Additionally, Unilever offers a system for performance management that enables staff members to establish personal goals, get feedback, and pinpoint areas that need improvement. In addition, the business offers career-development initiatives including the "Leadership Quality Accelerator Programme," which trains workers for management roles.

To guarantee that employees possess the capacity to fulfil the demands of the firm in future years, Unilever is dedicated to growing the skills, understanding, and competencies of its workers. The organisation offers a variety of enhancement initiatives, including e-learning, mentoring, counselling, and in-person instruction (Dess et al., 2019). A specialised talent development team within the organisation is in charge of locating as well as nurturing high-potential personnel. The talent development programmes offered by Unilever supply staff members with the chance to learn fresh competencies, take on difficult tasks and get familiar with various firm business units.

Unilever places a strong emphasis on inclusion as well as diversity including their HR procedures in other areas such as hiring and firing, employee interactions, as well as talent development (Hill et al., 2019). The business has a target of having gender parity among management ranks by 2025 as well as has put in place a number of measures to support inclusive and diverse behaviour, including training on subconscious bias as well as flexible work schedules. In order to get input and enhance their HR procedures, Unilever often conducts stakeholder polls since they emphasise worker involvement as well.

A strong human resources department at Unilever is dedicated to finding, keeping, and cultivating exceptional workers. The corporation's hiring and selection procedures guarantee that the best applicants are chosen for each position, alongside its employee engagement initiatives and talent growth programmes guarantee that staff members are inspired and interested in their work. Prospective workers find Unilever to have become a desirable employer because of its dedication to multiculturalism and inclusion, employee wellness, including the advancement of talent.

Conclusion

One of the biggest consumer products firms in worldwide commerce, Unilever, has a complex organisational as well as managerial structure, which the essay has examined through the case of the organisation. With a decentralised organisation of leadership that promotes autonomy at the local level while upholding a strong international presence, Unilever works in more than 190 countries. The essay will also talk about Unilever's marketing mix, which consists of product, price, venue, as well as promotion. Food, personal grooming, as well as residential care items belong among the wide range of goods produced by Unilever. The business has a wide variety of ways to distribute to make sure that customers can get its products and utilises a variety of pricing techniques to appeal to different demographics. Advertising across different media as well as consumer interaction on social media along with additional digital platforms are two of Unilever's promotional techniques. Additionally, the essay will also examine Unilever's human resources departments, including hiring and firing, interacting with employees, and the growth of talent. By 2025, the business hopes to have balance in terms of gender administration, in line with its focus on promoting inclusion and diversity in HR practices. Unilever prioritises worker involvement through monthly questionnaires and interview workshops as well as offers a variety of career pathways to workers. All things considered, Unilever's success may be ascribed to its excellent leadership structure, varied product range, efficient marketing plans, along with forward-thinking HR procedures. Unilever is able to stay strong in the quick-moving consumer products sector thanks to the company's dedication to environmental responsibility, diversity, as well as inclusion, which is in line with shifting customer tastes and trends in the marketplace.

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