Information Technology & Management Issues in the 21st Century

This report examines contemporary management issues in the 21st century, focusing on the role and impact of information and communication technology on workforce management, using Unilever PLC as a case study. It evaluates Unilever's policies regarding talent acquisition, learning and development, and change management in the context of the COVID-19 competitive landscape. The report discusses the role of leaders in implementing new initiatives, drawing on contemporary schools of leadership, and provides recommendations for Unilever to survive and thrive in the new normal, including leveraging motivation factors, fostering a culture of change acceptance, and creating a system for launching new initiatives. The analysis emphasizes the importance of adapting to technological advancements and evolving business environments to achieve organizational goals.

Contemporary Management Issues in
the 21st Century

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
Using relevant theories and models, critically evaluate the role and impact of information and
communication technology on the management of workforces in organisations..................1
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................2
In relation to your selected case study, critically evaluate and discuss its existing policies in
the context talent acquisition, learning and development and change management process in
order to compete more effectively in the COVID-19 competitive landscape........................2
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................3
Drawing on contemporary schools of leadership, discuss the role of leaders of your selected
organisation in terms of implementing these new initiatives.................................................3
TASK 4............................................................................................................................................4
Make relevant recommendations on new initiatives that this organisation should adopt in
order to survive and thrive in the new normal........................................................................4
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................4
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6

INTRODUCTION
Within current and dynamic business environment, firms are facing various difficult
situations as the surroundings obtain much active in nature. Moreover, for attaining the
organisational goals, this becomes vital for entity to shape its workforces into such a manner that
becomes competent for accepting the upcoming unpredictable circumstances. Additionally, For
accomplishing this report, Unilever PLC is known to be one of the leading British multinational
consumers’ goods firms which having headquarters is in London, England, UK. Additionally,
there products involves condiments, well beings vitamins, foods, supplements, tea, ice cream and
many others. The topics which are going to be discussed in this report are application of
appropriate theory, role and affect of information and communication technology upon
workforce management, discussion related to existent policies related to talent acquisition,
learning & develop and change management procedures. Moreover, role of leaders of chosen
firms in respect of executing those new initiatives and some recommendations on new initiatives
are also provided.
MAIN BODY
TASK 1
Using relevant theories and models, critically evaluate the role and impact of information and
communication technology on the management of workforces in organisations.
As per the case study, the pandemic have changed various businesses performs as well as
deliver facilities. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced several businesses for embracing the
digital technologies or risk extinction. Also, e-learning, fine dining takeaways as well as drone
deliveries have all surged. So, “Tech-acceleration” has pushed the world faster into the future”.
Unilever is considered to be one of the growing businesses which is using technology for serving
its services during this particular pandemic situations. Additionally, this has been identified that
they are adapted various models as well as theories for shaping the workforce management in
effective and efficient way. As per the Unilever, workforce so much vital resources for dealing
with future challenges. It is so they are utilised some models. Few of them are discussed below:
Role and impact of information and communication technology on management of
workforces
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In the present technological world, it is observed that information and communication
technology assumes an essential part in the administration of labour forces. It very well may be
all the more clear with the help of underneath focuses:
 With the help of information and communication technology, labour force of association is
overseen appropriately as they get clear guidelines and bearings. This will assists an
association with dealing with their labour forces in a powerful manner.
 It guarantees the effectiveness of human asset arranging which helps in accomplishing
hierarchical objectives and destinations.
 This is extremely critical for association that they should involve data and correspondence
innovation as it helps with guaranteeing better preparation and improvement programs.
 It is additionally observed that data and correspondence innovation is speeding up
correspondence in a compelling manner which helps an association to diminish the
postponements in any undertaking.
TASK 2
In relation to your selected case study, critically evaluate and discuss its existing policies in the
context talent acquisition, learning and development and change management process in
order to compete more effectively in the COVID-19 competitive landscape.
Unilever is identified to be the most sustainable firms that perform its business
innovatively within marketplace. Moreover, they follow talent management procedures wherein
it becomes competent to recruit effective staff for attaining strategic business goals. Additionally,
the existent policies of respective firms in respect to talent acquisition, learning and development
and change management process are described below:
In respect to talent acquisition
This is essential for Unilever that it have to recruit competent staff. For instance, they
utilise both internal as well as external approach. So, the role to hire Unilever’s managers is
identified vacancies as well as short listing its applicants for performing interviews.
In respect of Learning and development
Unilever perform learning and developing sessions for enhancing the competencies amd
understandings of their staff. As they intent to formulate essentially three skills into its workers
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which are technical, analytical and professional skills so that it may able to facilitates effectual
performance to entity.
In respect of Change management process
This has been determined that Unilever is mainly following five aspects for managing
change. Additionally, this is much effectual that modification is constant that states entity
required to adopt change. But for that intent, this is important for them to formulate strategies for
managing the changes process which involves
 Make it understood.
 Make it easy.
 Make it desirable.
 Make it rewarding.
 Make it habit.
TASK 3
Drawing on contemporary schools of leadership, discuss the role of leaders of your selected
organisation in terms of implementing these new initiatives.
Leaders are the notable individual in the association who assumes a significant part in the
execution of new drives. There are numerous circumstances come in the association where it
becomes fundamental for leaders that they should provide their best to execute new drives. Each
association realizes that it's anything but a simple interaction as changes are for the most part not
adequate by representatives. It is observed that individuals are impervious to change. They are
not effectively prepared to acknowledge changes. All things considered, when organization
needs to carry out to new drives then around then pioneers are assuming a significant part.
Leaders are the individual who lead the association and supports their workers towards
authoritative objectives and destinations. They propel workers that it is important to adjust new
changes in association so they can carry out drives. leaders are the individual who put forth clear
rundown of boundaries so they can't cover the work. Pioneers are causing straightforwardness in
the association so workers to feel great and certainty towards tolerating the new drives. Leaders
clear out the disarray of workers which assists them with lessening misconception between
correspondences of representatives. Execution of new initiatives is certainly not a simple cycle
that is the reason chiefs are continuously attempting to make the interaction simple. They do this
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by empowering workers and train them to successfully execute new drives in a powerful manner.
It is extremely essential that new drives ought to be adequate by each representative and that is
the reason it requires a viable cycle to execute.
TASK 4
Make relevant recommendations on new initiatives that this organisation should adopt in order to
survive and thrive in the new normal.
After pandemic circumstance, it is observed that Unilever is confronting numerous
complicated circumstances as their representatives can't perform telecommute. To get by and
flourishes in new typical, it is turning out to be vital for Unilever that they ought to follow
specific ideas or suggestion which are referenced beneath:
 It is prescribed to Unilever that they should utilize some inspiration factors to empower their
representatives towards the accomplishment of hierarchical or key targets.
 They need to support that change is consistent which ought to be acknowledge by Unilever's
workers. For that reason, it is observed that Unilever needs to foster a culture which helps
workers to acknowledge change.
 It is additionally prescribed that Unilever needs to make a system to make new drives. This
will assists them with effectively sending off new drives in the association.
 Organization ought to likewise give preparing and advancement programs which helps them
to make due and flourish in new typical
CONCLUSION
As per the above report, it has been concluded that within current and dynamic business
environment, firms are facing various difficult situations as the surroundings obtain much active
in nature. Moreover, for attaining the organisational goals, this becomes vital for entity to shape
its workforces into such a manner that becomes competent for accepting the upcoming
unpredictable circumstances. Additionally, the pandemic have changed various businesses
performs as well as deliver facilities. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced several businesses for
embracing the digital technologies or risk extinction. Also, e-learning, fine dining takeaways as
well as drone deliveries have all surged. So, “Tech-acceleration” has pushed the world faster into
the future”.
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REFERENCES
Books & Journals
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Gunasekaran, A., Subramanian, N. and Ngai, W.T.E., 2019. Quality management in the 21st
century enterprises: Research pathway towards Industry 4.0. International journal of
production economics, 207, pp.125-129.
Hassan, M., Jambulingam, M., Alam, M.N. and Islam, S., 2019. Redesigning the retention
strategy against the emerging turnover of Generation Y: Revisiting the long-standing
problems from 20Th to 21St century. International Journal of Entrepreneurship, 23(2),
pp.1-16.
Lee, M.R., 2021. Leading virtual project teams: Adapting leadership theories and
communications techniques to 21st century organizations. Auerbach Publications.
Popkova, E.G. and Gulzat, K., 2019, May. Technological revolution in the 21 st century: digital
society vs. artificial intelligence. In Institute of Scientific Communications
Conference (pp. 339-345). Springer, Cham.
Ragulina, Y.V., Alekseev, A.N., Strizhkina, I.V. and Tumanov, A.I., 2019. Methodology of
criterial evaluation of consequences of the industrial revolution of the 21st century.
In Industry 4.0: Industrial Revolution of the 21st Century (pp. 235-244). Springer, Cham.
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