Negative Effect of Communication Gap on Business: Managing Cultural Diversity at Unilever

Research Project
(Equality and Diversity in the Workplace)
1

Executive Summary
This report is based on the negative effect of communication gap on business while
management of cultural diversity in the workplace of Unilever Plc. In order to achieve this
purpose, researcher followed literature review, research methodology, data analysis and
interpretation conclusion and recommendation and reflection and alternative research
methodology. These are effective activities that were used by researcher for completing research
in systematic and ethical manner. Along with this, with the help of literature review researcher
gathered secondary data that was useful in overcoming research gap. Questionnaire was prepared
for collecting primary and quantitative data within lesser time duration. Conclusion and
recommendation helped researcher by explaining entire information briefly that resulted in
accomplishment of research aim and objectives.
2

Contents
Executive Summary.........................................................................................................................2
Introduction......................................................................................................................................4
Background to the study .............................................................................................................4
Research Question ......................................................................................................................4
Sub-Questions of Research..........................................................................................................4
Research aim and objectives........................................................................................................4
Rational of the research .............................................................................................................5
Literature Review ............................................................................................................................6
How communication gap impact on performance and productivity of culturally diverse
workplace of Unilever, Port Sunlight, UK? ................................................................................6
What are the ways that may be apply by Unilever for managing cultural diversity at the
workplace of Port Sunlight? ........................................................................................................6
What is the relationship between communication gap and practice of managing cultural
diversity at workplace of Unilever, Port Sunlight, UK? ............................................................7
Methodology and Data collection ...................................................................................................8
Covered in Appendix ...............................................................................................................11
Data analysis and interpretations...................................................................................................12
........................................................................................................................................................14
Research Outcomes........................................................................................................................21
Covered in PPT .........................................................................................................................21
Conclusion and Recommendations................................................................................................21
Reflection and Recommendations for alternative research methodology ....................................22
REFERENCES .............................................................................................................................23
Appendix........................................................................................................................................25
3

Introduction
Background to the study
Equality and diversity at workplace refers as the presence of culturally diverse employee’s
who enjoying equal opportunities irrespective to their gender, colour, race, religion etc. There is
huge importance of this concept within an organisation or at workplace for the attainment of
positive growth. This builds the trust of employees over the practices of management where they
work with high level of engagement and motivation (Han and Beyerlein, 2016). The exercise of
managing culturally diverse employees is not easy. This requires the application of large number
of strategies and tactics. The diverse culture creates the major hindrances at workplace those
resultants into conflicts. One of the main aspects which are required to effectively manage the
diverse nature employees is good communication. This help to know their views and ideas so the
same can be applied in fulfilment of their needs. This delivers the positive impact where positive
working culture framed at workplace.
Research Question
 What are the negative influences of communication gap within management of cultural
diversity at workplace of Unilever?
Sub-Questions of Research
 How communication gap impact on business performance and productivity of Unilever?
 What are the ways that may be apply by Unilever for managing cultural diversity in the
workplace?
 What are the relationship between communication gap and management of cultural
diversity at workplace of Unilever?
Research aim and objectives
Research Aim:
Main aim of this research project is To analyse the influence of communication gap
within a culturally diverse workplace: A study on Unilever, Port Sunlight, Wood St, Birkenhead,
Wirral CH62 4UY, UK.
4

Research objectives:
 To identify the impact of communication gap over performance and productivity of
culturally diverse workplace of Unilever, Port Sunlight, UK.
 To analyse the ways of managing cultural diversity in the workplace of Unilever, Port
Sunlight, UK.
 To determine the relationship between communication gap and practice of managing
cultural diversity at workplace of Unilever, Port Sunlight, UK.
Rational of the research
Main reason behind choosing this topic is to identify the negative effect of communication
gap over business in managing of cultural diversity at workplace. Another reason for selecting
this topic is to identify the ways for managing cultural diversity and reducing the impact of
communication gap on business (Ravazzani, 2016).
5

Literature Review
Literature is a process that will be essential for investigator in gathering of secondary data
from variety of sources i.e. magazines, articles, books, publication study, journals and many
other secondary sources relevant to the current investigation. Literature review is an important
section because it helps investigator in identification of research gaps or conflicts in previous
study. Main research gap of this study is the impact of communication gap on management of
cultural diversity. In previous investigation there is data about the communication gap but there
is lack of information regarding its impact on business while managing cultural diversity (Mousa
and Alas, 2016). For overcoming this gap, research questions will be explained as below:
How communication gap impact on performance and productivity of culturally diverse
workplace of Unilever, Port Sunlight, UK?
The negative impact of communication gap ascertained by all the aspects of organisation.
The two main major points that harmed due to ineffective communication includes business
performance and productivity. The impact and justification in regards to both is provided below:
Business performance: Ineffective communication directly resulted into lack of
performance because it does not allow the building of effective teams. Team is important part of
an organisation to attain overall targets and improving the performance of business.
Productivity: Communication gap does not allow the effective deliverance of roles and
responsibilities. Also, not support in managing the need of diverse workforce. This resulted into
less engagement and productivity (Gurung and Prater, 2017).
What are the ways that may be apply by Unilever for managing cultural diversity at the
workplace of Port Sunlight?
For management of the cultural diversity, it must for an organisation like Unilever to adopt the
effective strategies and tactics. These are provided below along with justification:
Good communication: Effective communication provides the opportunity to get the
views of each other where easily ascertain the information about values and belief of each other.
This provides the opportunity to respect the view of each other and complete the work with
support.
Global citizenship programmes: This is the programme that holds within an organisation
to improve knowledge about the different cultures. This help to get the information so they can
6