Analyzing Communication Methods at Unilever: A Business Report

This report analyzes communication strategies within Unilever, a leading consumer goods company. It examines the use of communication skills, including verbal, written, and non-verbal methods, in a business setting, focusing on how Unilever conveys information to stakeholders. The report illustrates the role of effective communication in the organization, highlighting how channels like memos, emails, and letters contribute to clear information flow and improved stakeholder relationships. It further explores the impact of different communication methods, such as written, verbal, and visual communication, on business and managerial functions, with examples like weekly journals detailing the use of various communication techniques. The conclusion emphasizes the importance of effective communication for organizational growth, conflict reduction, and achieving business targets in a competitive market.

Project

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
LO 3.................................................................................................................................................1
Use communication skills in a business setting..........................................................................1
LO 4.................................................................................................................................................1
Illustrate role of effective communication in an organization....................................................1
LO 5.................................................................................................................................................2
Examine the impact of different methods of communication in a business and managerial......2
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTION
In competitive market place business can grow and develop effectively when there is
proper flow of communication regarding the vision which need to be attained. Effective
communication helps the organization to compete with its rivalry because all the relevant
information are conveyed to its team members clearly. Due to which productive outcomes are
attained in the set time frame (Ali, 2016). This report is based on Unilever. It is a leading British
consumer goods company located in London. It provide goods such as, beauty products, ice-
cream, beverages, cleaning agents and many more. This project includes, numerous
communication skills adopted in business setting. Impact of various methods of communication
in a firm are examined deeply.
LO 3
Use communication skills in a business setting
Communication skill is refers to as abilities that are used by people while exchanging
information with each other. For example: speaking, observing, listening etc. are some of the
communication skills which are used by employer in order to convey information to their
stakeholders (suppliers, unions, creditors, government agencies, directors, employees and many
more) . Unilever apply memos, e-mails and Letters in order to transfer clear vision and idea to
their stakeholders (Tajalli, 2018). These types of communication skills applied in business
setting assist the organization to compete with the rivalry prevailing in the global market. The
information exchanged through Memo, e-mails and Letters are best because all theses eliminate
chances of mis-understanding among employees. Accurate information conveyed to the group
members in Unilever helps them to come up with productive outcomes as compare to
competitors. On the other hand employees are made satisfied easily because there is less chaos
and mental pressure on them regarding works because clearly set targets and other relevant
information were communicated to them.
LO 4
Illustrate role of effective communication in an organization
The role of effective communication is to convey relevant information among each other.
Best communication channel is adopted by Unilever so as to reduce the challenges emerged
1

because of gap in communication like, managing multiple time zones and people, remote offices
and so on. Unilever uses e-mails and Letters and memos to transfer their information among
their teammates in order to eliminate the confusion in any context. It directly or indirectly
bridges the gap between among stakeholders (suppliers, customers, investors, Unions,
government agencies, directors, employees, owner and many more) by using proper flow of
communication and building healthy relation with each other. Effective communication plays a
vital role in the development and growth of the organization in the intense competitive world
(Bentz, 2016). Additionally, it helps the manager of Unilever to perform their basic organization
functions such as, planning, organizing, motivating and controlling. Business associates are
directly or indirectly foster a good working relationship among employer and employees that
assist in enhancing the morale and workforce efficiency of the stakeholders in the cut throat
competitive world. Communication is success leader through which set targets can be attained in
the specified time duration which is a positive mark for the business in the international market.
LO 5
Examine the impact of different methods of communication in a business and managerial.
In an organisation the most suitable communication method is executed in the working
premises. Visual, verbal, written, listening and non verbal are some of the types of
communication methods which are used by the organization in their working premises. Unilever
adopts written communication method in order to convey their information among their
stakeholder like, employees, owner, suppliers, customers, investors, Unions, government
agencies etc. Unilever is using Letters, memos and e-mails in order to exchange data and
information which is required for the completion of the project in the set deadline (Rogers,
2018). Different business associates depending upon their type of business adopts varied method
of communication so as to convey messages among the stakeholders. Example: Nestle who is
competitor of Unilever adopts Upward communication method to transfer their information
among the teammates and stakeholders. By using this communication method business is able to
meet their set goals and objectives in the specified time duration.
Weekly Journals
Number of
days
What Why When Where How Who
2

Week 1 Verbal
communicat
ion is
adopted by
Unilever in
order to
convey
information
among
suppliers,
owners,
government
agencies,
Unions,
customers,
investors
and so on.
In this form
of
communicat
ion orally
information
is delivered
to the other
party.
There is role
of written
communicat
ion.
Organizatio
n is
adopting
verbal
commutatio
n method in
their
working
premises in
order to
reduce gap
of
communicat
ion among
the
stakeholders
(Mamatha
and Balani,
2018). By
using this
method of
communicat
ion Unilever
is able to
gain desire
outcomes
accordingly.
Unilever
apply verbal
communicat
ion method
at the time
of meeting.
When
solution are
asked for
the problem
raised in the
premises.
By this best
solution is
decided for
the issues
related to
stakeholders
.
Verbal
communicat
ion is
applied
where staff
members
and
management
are working
under one
roof and
information
can be
exchanged
easily.
By
gathering all
the team
members of
the
department
relevant
information
can be
conveyed to
the
employees
by their
individual
department
heads.
The team
leaders or
department
head of the
various
Unilever
department
like,
marketing,
consumer
sup[port
service,
finance, HR
etc. convey
orally the
necessary
information.
3

Number of
days
What Why When Where How Who
Week 2 Written
communicat
ion method
used by
Unilever at
the
workplace
so as to
exchange
information
properly
without any
error or
mistake.
Unilever is
adopting
this form of
communicat
ion in order
to convey
accurate
information
among to its
stakeholders
so that
chances of
mis-
understandi
ng is
reduced to a
large extent.
Moreover, it
can be
reviewed
whenever it
is required it
need to be
kept in the
memory.
At the time
of preparing
business
proposals
this written
communicat
ion method
is applied.
By this
proposal of
business is
designed
according to
the
expectation
level. This
is because
all the
requirement
s are
fulfilled and
are studied
again and
again by
making it. It
is possible
as
information
and
It is used
where client
in distant
location or
when
records are
kept safe so
that it can
be used for
future
resolution
(Nuranasmit
a, 2018).
By
conducting
audio and
video
meeting in
the
conference
hall so that
accurate
message can
be delivered
to the
stakeholders
as well as
notes can be
prepared
easily.
Director or
top level
senior
members
convey
written
information
to the rest of
the
stakeholders
like,
employees,
Unions,
government
agencies,
suppliers
and many
more.
4

guidelines
were
provided in
written
formate on
e-mail.
Number of
days
What Why When Where How Who
Week 3 Visual
communicat
ion is
applied in
Unilever so
as to
exchange
information
among the
stakeholders
.
Unilever is
adopting
visual form
of
communicat
ion in the
working
premises so
that
complex
information
can be
explained in
much better
way.
It is mostly
when staff
members
need to
showcase
project
discussions
among
other. In
visual
communicat
ion diagram,
data and
other
images are
used so that
idea or
information
can be
conveyed
It is used by
Unilever
where they
find human
assets are
less skilled
or
information
can be
easily be
captured
through
images.
Power point
presentation
is prepared
in simple
way so that
idea of
conducting
the project
can be
delivered to
them
clearly. By
this clear
image is
build in the
mind of the
stakeholders
and they
perform
their work
Employee
who is
holding
good
communicat
ion ability
and is able
to explain
the things in
simple
words with
the help of
images in
power point
tend to use
visual
communicat
ion more in
an
organization
5

easily to the
stakeholders
such as,
government
agencies,
customers,
Unions,
employees
and so on.
accordingly
in
systematic
manner.
(Ogbuji,
2018).
Number of
days
What Why When Where How Who
Week 4 Non-verbal
form
communicat
ion method
is used by
the Unilever
in order to
exchange
information
and
knowledge
among its
stakeholders
.
In an
organization
employees
with diverse
background
are working
under one
roof. Non-
verbal
communicat
ion helps to
improve the
understandi
ng level of
messages.
It is used by
the top level
management
at the time
of meetings.
The
information
delivered
from the
CEO or
director of
the form is
equally
understood
by the other
Unilever
adopts non-
verbal form
of
communicat
ion specially
when
meeting is
conducted
between
employer
and
employees.
Gathering of
people is
done in the
meeting hall
or in the
conference
and top
level
management
of Unilever
address the
workers.
Manager
and CEO of
the firm is
accountable
to conduct
this form of
communicat
ion method.
6

By which
same
understandi
ng is
captured
from the
delivered
message
without any
mis-
understandi
ng and
confusion
(Raza,
2017).
employees
listening to
them.
CONCLUSION
From the above it can be summarized that effective communication plays a vital role in
the growth and development of the business across the globe. Through this conflict, chaos and
mis-understanding among the teammates can be reduced to a large extent. The set targets of the
organization can be full-filled when the vision and the idea are clearly conveyed to the staff
members working for it day and night. The role of communication within business is determined
in order to make changes in the loop holes if required so that business can operate smoothly in
the competitive world. Additionally, distinguish methods of communication is evaluated in
context of both business and managerial so that from the pool of option best one can be
implemented in the working premises.
7

REFERENCES
Ali, M., 2016. Significant Attributes and Challenges Related to Cross-Functional Team
Communications.
Bentz, L. M., 2016. Abalone harvesting on California's Channel Islands: A study of Chinese
identity and fortitude (Doctoral dissertation, San Diego State University).
Mamatha, D. and Balani, M., 2018. A Study on Impact of Employee Communication on
Performance at BESCOM, Bangalore.
Nuranasmita, T., 2018. EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION TRAINING FOR IMPROVING
THE PERCEIVED ORGANISATIONAL SUPPORT EMPLOYEE
MOTIVATION. PROCEEDING: THE DREAM OF MILLENIAL GENERATION TO
GROW, pp.182-191.
Ogbuji, B. O., 2018. Investigating social media strategy in organisations: implementation and
platform evaluation(Doctoral dissertation, Brunel University London).
Raza, J., 2017. Capturing and identifying Customer Value in a B2B environment: A case from
Norwegian Oil and Gas Asset Integrity Service Providers (Master's thesis, University of
Stavanger, Norway).
Rogers, M., 2018. The State of Hate in America: A Study of Hate Group Permeation in the
United States by State.
Tajalli, A., Kandou Labs SA, 2018. High performance phase locked loop. U.S. Patent
10,057,049.
8