Employee Motivation and Productivity: A Unilever Case Study

This research project examines the impact of employee motivation on the performance and productivity of Unilever, a transnational consumer goods company. The study explores the significance of motivation in the workplace, its effects on Unilever's production levels, and strategies for managers to enhance employee motivation. The research employs a case study approach, formulating research objectives and questions to guide the investigation. The project includes a critical review of key references on employee motivation, analyzing factors contributing to research project selection, and outlining the research methodology. Data collection methods include questionnaires to gather insights from employees. The report also incorporates a Gantt chart to illustrate the project's timeline and activities. The findings will be interpreted and analyzed to provide recommendations for improving employee motivation and, consequently, Unilever's overall performance. Ethical considerations are also addressed to ensure responsible research practices.

RESEARCH PROJECT

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
1.1 Formulate and record possible research project outline specification..................................1
1.2 Factors that contribute to process of research project selection............................................2
1.3 Critical review of key references..........................................................................................2
1.4 Research project specification...............................................................................................4
1.5 Plan and procedures for the agreed research specification...................................................4
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................4
2.1 Resources efficiently to the research question or hypothesis...............................................4
2.2 Proposed research investigation............................................................................................5
2.3 Record and collate relevant data where appropriate............................................................5
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................7
3.1 Appropriate research evaluation techniques.........................................................................7
3.2 Interpret and analyse results..................................................................................................8
3.3 Recommendations and justify areas...................................................................................17
TASK 4..........................................................................................................................................17
4.1 Format and appropriate media to present outcomes..........................................................17
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................18
.......................................................................................................................................................18

INTRODUCTION
A Research comprises with creative and systematic work which is taken into
consideration so as to enhance knowledge area for a specific purpose and make new
applications. Basically, it is used to ensure facts, reaffirm the results of previous work, resolve
problems and develop new theories. Research projects are developed to increase knowledge in a
specific topic and they also can be used for other people in future (Berman, 2012). The main
purpose of research are documentation, interpretation, discovery for the advancement of human
knowledge. The present assignment is based upon Unilever Ltd., its a transnational consumer
goods company which is mainly located in UK and Netherlands. Its product list involves – food,
beverages, personal care products and cleaning agents. The overall revenue of the firm is
€53.715 billion and there is approximately 169,000 presently working it. The study will be
describe the impact of employee motivation on performance and productivity level of the firm.
For this purpose, there will be made research objectives and questions so as to determine better
outcomes.
TASK 1
1.1 Formulate and record possible research project outline specification
Every research project is conducted in order to attain certain outcomes and improving
knowledge in a specific field. Under this study, specifications have been made in order to
accomplish resolve all research questions and attaining objectives in the best possible manner.
Each research project is related with some of the certain outcome and advantage which
need to complied by a researcher in an effective manner (Certo, 2018). Under this, specification
is required to outline for accomplishing objectives as well as aims of business which assess to
perform effectively.
Research Aim – To identify the impact of employee motivation on employee performance and
productivity. A case study on Unilever Plc.
The present research is based on improving performance and output by motivating them
through various training and development programmes. It is essential for business organisation
to manage workforce systematically so as to gain high competitive edge. Unilever Plc is the
chosen organisation in this present report; the main motive of the company is to offer qualitative
products and services for getting higher customer satisfaction level.
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Research objectives: -
 To determine an importance of motivation at workplace.
 To ascertain impact of employee motivation on volume of productions in of Unilever.
 Recommend ways through which managers can increase employee motivation level.
Research questions
Q1. What is significance of motivation in business?
Q2. What is impact of employee motivation of productivity and performance level of
Unilever?
Q3. How managers can enhance motivation level in workforce?
1.2 Factors that contribute to process of research project selection
Research is systematic and also scientific process in order to minimising chances of any
kind of errors which can hamper success of particular investigation (Cho and Perry, 2012).
Under this, there are some necessary steps given below which a researcher follows at the time of
conducting research:
Introduction- Under this, there is a need to choose an effective title for doing the
continuous research with use of relevant information or data.
Literature review- IT is a second part in research and in this researcher uses opinions
and view points of an investigator to understand about use of innovative techniques for promote
services of an organisation.
Research methodology- In this, information or data falls in this category like for an
instance quantitative or qualitative.
Data analysis- Under this part of investigation, an assessment is going to done in context
to understand opinions of person on chosen area.
Recommendation and conclusion- After completion of research, it is recommended to
make suitable modifications if there is any requirement.
1.3 Critical review of key references
There is given viewpoints or opinions of various authors who have studied on the same
area of field. Under this, there are some opinions of different authors are given below as above:
a) Importance of motivation at workplace
Employees motivation is very necessary aspect in an organisation which lead to increase
productivity and performance of all employees along with the organisation. According to Danish
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and Usman, 2010 it has been concluded that Motivation level of staff members are necessary and
it permits management in order to meet objectives or gaols of Unilever organisation. It can be
lead in enhancing their productivity. In addition to this, motivation is necessary and it is helpful
for manager to achieve set aims of firm. There are some importance of employees motivation
mention below:
Improve workers satisfaction- It is necessary for an organisation to fulfil needs of staff
members along with consumers. It will be helpful in develop positive results and employees will
be retain towards firm for long period of time.
Reduce absenteeism- In most of business firms, rate of absenteeism is more. In context
to this, there are several reasons for absenteeism of employees such as poor relation with
management, poor working condition, discrimination, insufficient rewards and many others.
Manager of Unilever organisation remove all these things to motivate employees and helpful in
minimising chances of absenteeism.
b) Affect of employee motivation of productivity and performance level of Unilever
Employees are main factors which help in increasing productivity and development of an
organisation. If they will be motivated then they will focus on set target to achieve them in a
significant manner. In order to motivate employees, there are many different methods which are
use by manager of Unilever organisation. As per the view point of Helm, 2011 it has been
concluded that better employees are combination of good set of competencies as well as
developed working environment. Motivation enhances willingness of employees to work and
maximising effectiveness of Unilever organisation at market place. If employees will be work in
an effective manner and will give their better performance then in this case performance and
productivity of company will be enhanced in an efficient manner. In order to this, it is a
responsibility of manager to provide them better working conditions, listen their problems, make
proper solution of conflict, treat them as an important part of firm etc. With the help of this they
will give their better performance and retain at workplace for long period of time.
c) Ways by which managers can enhance motivation level in workforce
Staff members put their more resources as well as efforts in hiring best individuals so that
they can perform their duties in significant way. There are different ways by which manager of
Unilever can increase motivation of employees given below:
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Communicate- It is an effective way to understand staff members and also define them
about their roles and responsibilities in an effective manner. In addition to this, manager should
listen their problems in significant way so from this they will be motivate.
Empower them- Regarding take any decision in favour of company, it is necessary for
manager to know about opinions of employees. Many staff members have ideas regards making
things more effective and share with managers.
Provide Incentives- These are motivation booster. Unilever can provide incentives such
as gift cards, extra pay, appreciation etc.
1.4 Research project specification
It consists target and also main objectives of study in an effective manner in order to
understand about effectiveness of particular area. Generally, main aim of this investigation is to
impact of motivation on productivity of employees (Latham, 2012). Under this, manager of
Unilever organisation motivate its team members so that their productivity will be enhanced in
an effective manner. It is helpful for an investigator to collect data from consumers and also staff
members of this company. In addition to this, it included many questions which are prepared at
particular topic of an investigation.
1.5 Plan and procedures for the agreed research specification
Gantt chart refers to graphical representation of whole activities or tasks in order to
achieving different jobs with in specific period of time. It is helpful of Unilever business firm is
to guide or motivate staff members towards attaining decided aims and goals of firm. Under this,
an investigator set time on the basis of activities (Manzoor, 2012). So, it is to be understood that
preparing or developing of plan should be suitable for an investigator because it is helpful to
employees to take corrective decisions.
TASK 2
2.1 Resources efficiently to the research question or hypothesis
Under this, an accumulation of information or data requires to adopt different useful
methods like for an instance primary and secondary. These both are helpful in minimising the
chances of any risks or issue. On the basis of survey, it has been examined that main focus of
organisations are increase motivation of its staff members so that their productivity will be
enhanced (Pinder, 2014). There are many different methods to enhance motivational level of
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employees like for an instance provide training, employee engagement activities and many
others. Under primary data collection method, an investigator gather information through
questionnaire, interviews, surveys etc. In secondary method, an investigator gathers relevant
information or data through articles, books etc.
2.2 Proposed research investigation
In this, whole investigation is to be done in order to understand requirement of innovative
ideas regarding increasing motivation of existing employees so that they can focus on achieving
specific aims and objectives. Some parts of research methodologies mention below:
Type of Investigation- Under this, there are many different methods which an
investigator uses to conduct whole research in an effective manner. There are two various
methods of research and these are qualitative and quantitative. In qualitative method, researcher
use the quality data and on the other hand in quantitative method is measured in the form of
facts, numbers and figures (Sandhya and Kumar, 2011). In this research, an investigator uses
qualitative method.
Research Design- IT consist framework of research and consists activities, technique of
data accumulation, activities, time frame etc. There are two different kinds of research design
and these are descriptive and analytical. But for conduct this whole research, researcher selects
descriptive research design.
Data Sampling- For collect relevant data or information about specific research topic, an
investigation select sample size of 40 respondents.
Data Analysis- In this part, gathered information and data is evaluated so as to reach at
better outcomes (Zhang and Bartol, 2010).
Ethical Consideration- In this, it is a responsibility of researcher to conduct research in
ethical manner. The way of collecting information should be proper and not disclose information
of respondents in front of any one.
2.3 Record and collate relevant data where appropriate
Questionnaire
Name:
Age:
Occupation:
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Gender:
Q1) Does motivation impact on employee's performance and productivity at workplace?
 Yes
 No
Q2) What are the major factors that motivate employees to perform well at workplace?
 Job security
 Good wages
 Interesting work
Q3) What is the major challenge face by Unilever during motivate its staff member to
work well?
 Workplace conflict
 Lack of challenging work
 Poor leadership structure
Q4) What is the main key element requires to motivate employees?
 Communication
 Management style
 Training
 All of the above
Q5) Which type of incentive motivate employees more?
 Financial incentives
 Non financial incentives
 Both
Q6) Does incentives and other benefits influence employee's performance at workplace?
 Strongly influence
 Does not influence
Q7) What is main benefit of motivated workforce to an enterprise?
 Better productivity
 Improve industrial relations.
 Lower level of staff turnover
Q8) What is importance of motivation on productivity of employees?
 Reduce absenteeism
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 Improve workers satisfaction
 Increase profit
Q9) What are different motivational techniques used by Unilever?
 Recognition
 Coaching
 Leadership opportunities
Q10) Recommend different ways by which managers can enhance motivation level in
workforce.
TASK 3
3.1 Appropriate research evaluation techniques
In this, it is an indispensable to a study in an efficient manner with the help of using
effective techniques and achieving main aim of research with in specific periscope of time. In
addition to this, there are many evaluation tools which are concerned with an investigation for
getting the effective or valid outcomes. Through this the profit level of an organisation will be
enhanced. Under this, there are two various kind of evaluation techniques are given below as
above:
Formative assessment: On the basis of this research technique, an evaluation is
conducted in an effective way to gain more earnings. In addition to this, it is helpful in reducing
chances of any kind of errors and mistakes.
Summative assessment: Under process of evaluation, main focus of researcher on getting
better outcomes of specific sessions or also programme.
These two different methods are helpful to an investigator to determine most efficient
approach for manage and control all necessary components. So, in order to carried out research,
an investigator uses formative assessment.
3.2 Interpret and analyse results
THEME 1: Motivation impact on employee's performance and productivity
Q1) Does motivation impact on employee's
performance and productivity at workplace?
Frequency
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Yes 26
No 14
8
Yes No
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
Column B

Interpretation- To collect necessary information, researcher selects 40 respondents. Under this,
there are about 26 people which said that motivation affect on performance and also productivity
level of staff members in Unilever business firm. But there are 14 respondents which are not
agree with this statement.
THEME 2: Major factors that motivate employees
Q2) What are the major factors that
motivate employees to perform well at
workplace?
Frequency
Job security 18
Good wages 12
Interesting work 10
9
Job security Good wages Interesting work
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
Column B

Interpretation- Managers do many things for increasing performance of employees and
motivation is one of the necessary factor. In this, there are 18 respondents which said that job
security is main factor which motivate staff members but according to 12 respondents good
wages is necessary through which existing employees will retain at workplace for long period of
time.
THEME 3: Major challenge face by firm
Q3) What is the major challenge face by
firm during motivate its staff member to
work well?
Frequency
Workplace conflict 19
Lack of challenging work 10
Poor leadership structure 11
10
Workplace conflict
Lack of challenging work
Poor leadership structure