Research Project: Motivation's Role in Employee Engagement at Unilever

This research project investigates the critical role of motivation in enhancing employee engagement within Unilever Plc. The study delves into the background of employee motivation, defining it as a crucial factor for fostering morale, enthusiasm, and effective work performance. The research aims to analyze the significance of motivation, identifying key objectives such as exploring the concept of motivation in a business context, determining its importance within Unilever, identifying motivational techniques employed, and assessing the impact of motivation on employee engagement. The project establishes a theoretical framework, drawing on secondary sources such as books, journals, and articles to understand the existing body of evidence. It examines how motivation influences productivity, reduces employee turnover, and improves managerial efficiency within the organization. The project also includes a literature review, research methodology, data analysis, discussion, conclusions, and recommendations, providing a comprehensive analysis of motivation's impact on employee engagement at Unilever.

Research Project

Table of Contents
Title of the Research........................................................................................................................1
CHAPTER 1- INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................1
Introduction and Background of the Research Area........................................................................1
Justification and contextualization...................................................................................................4
Research Methodology....................................................................................................................6
CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE REVIEW........................................................................................10
CHAPTER 3- RESEARCH METHODOLOGY...........................................................................14
CHAPTER 4- DATA ANALYSIS................................................................................................16
CHAPTER 5- DISCUSSION........................................................................................................25
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................27
RECOMMENDATIONS...............................................................................................................28
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................29

Title of the Research
“The significance of motivation in enhancing the engagement of employees at
workplace”.
CHAPTER 1- INTRODUCTION
Introduction and Background of the Research Area
The study aim to determining the potential importance of motivation in enhancing the
engagement of employees at workplace, therefore, motivation is recognised to be a crucial aspect
which plays a vital role in developing morale and enthusiasm among employees to work in more
effective manner to attain higher growth and success. Employee motivation is defined to be a
process which is implemented for motivating employees in an intrinsic and internal drive to put
forth the required efforts and action towards work related activities (Lu and et. al., 2014). In the
present analysis Unilever Plc is the selected organisation, therefore, it is a British Dutch
transactional consumer goods company which is operated at all around the globe, thus the
headquarter of the firm is in London, England, UK and Rotterdam Netherlands. The company
was founded in the year of 1929 by the collaborative efforts of William Lever and James Dracy
Lever. The company is operated in different segments, thus the company mainly deals in
assorted products like beauty, personal care, food and refreshments and cleaning products and so
on. The company is operates all around the globe with the collaborative efforts of 1,55,000
employees, therefore, the company is having wide range of employees who are contributing their
significant efforts in the growth and success of the business. The key motive of the business is to
attaining higher growth and success via developing the engagement of employees at work place
via motivating them at workplace. Therefore, employee motivation is a major consideration of
the businesses to develop their operations via encouraging individuals to put their significant
efforts in the growth and success of the business (Van den Broeck and et. al., 2011).
Background
Motivation is one of the main reason that employees are been engaged in company. This
assists firm in growing and also achieving the goals and objectives. It has also been analysed that
there are various ways the leaders of Unilever can be engaged in motivating the employees. They
can have provided them with rewards and incentives, so that they can reduce worker’s turnover.
This will also assist the firm in increasing their brand reputation. It has also been analysed that
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motivated employees can also help in making the firm environment better. This assist in
increasing the productivity of the organization and also there managerial efficiency can be
increased because of this. Maslow (1943) presents a specific basis of needs that need to be met
for an individual to achieve a certain level of motivation. It has also been analysed that
motivation also help in enhancing the efficiency skills and abilities of workers which is also
necessary for the growth of Unilever Plc. Motivated employees can lead to increased
productivity and allow an organisation to achieve higher levels of output. It also helps in
achieving the set target and mission. It also helps the company in reducing employee turnover. It
also allows the firm to achieve the output. Motivation can also help in clearing what workers
need to achieve in the set period of time. It assists in growing and increasing the managerial
efficiency. Motivation will also help Unilever Plc in meeting out the needs and demands of
employees working in firm.
Research Aim
To analyse the significance of motivation in enhancing the engagement of employees at
workplace. A study on Unilever Plc.
Research Objectives
The key objectives of this present analysis that are based on research aim are associated as
below:
 To explore understanding in regards to the concept of motivation in the context of
business.
 To develop recognition in relation to the area of determining the importance of
motivation within Unilever Plc.
 To identify the motivational techniques that are implemented by Unilever Plc to develop
employees performance.
 To analyse the impact of motivation in improvising the engagement of employees within
workplace.
Research Questions
The research questions that are interconnected with the aim and objectives of the research are
determined as below:
 What is the concept of motivation in the context of business?
 What are the importance of motivation within Unilever Plc?
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 What key motivational techniques are implemented by Unilever Plc to develop
employees performance?
 What is the impact of motivation in improvising the engagement of employees within
workplace?
Theoretical background and research focus
Theoretical background is defined to be the key area of an investigation as it is effective in
enhancing the understanding of an individual learner and researcher in relation to this present
investigation area which is based on determining the significance of motivation in enhancing the
engagement of employees at work place (De Clercq and et. al., 2014). This section of
investigation is effective in developing in-depth analysis that are significant for assessing an
investigation area in effective manner via the support of gathering information from the assorted
areas. Therefore, in this information accumulation is mainly based on theoretical perspective
which are mainly implemented by the opinion analysis of authors and writers. This area of
investigation is mainly encompasses over secondary source of information, thus in this data is
mainly gathered though books, journals, published articles, non published articles and so on.
As per the opinion analysis of Adi Bhat, 2020, employee motivation is refers as the
enthusiasm’ energy level, commitment and the amount of creativity which an employee brings to
the business on a regular basis. In addition to this motivation is defined to be a planned
managerial procedure that stimulates individual to work to the best of their capabilities through
rendering them with motives that are encompasses over their unfulfilled needs. Therefore,
motivation is effective in encouraging employees at work place with the assistance of executing
business operations in effective manner. Motivated employees are defined as an asset to a
business and they are significantly proportional to a business success. Motivation is intangible
and difficult to analyse and extremely hard to control but very easy to facilitates in right manner
(Chughtai and Buckley, 2011). In the context of business, employees are the key asset of the
business and they are mainly concern over motivating employees at workplace for the purpose of
attaining higher growth and success, via developing their engagement at workplace. Businesses
now a day’s are focuses over enhancing employees performance for the purpose of enhancing the
engagement of employees at workplace and attaining higher growth and success at market place.
As per the opinion analysis of Muhammad Bazil, 2014, employee motivation is recognised
to be the primary consideration of business as the management and human resource managers of
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a business are concern over motivating employees at work place for the purpose of encouraging
them to contribute their vital efforts in the growth and success of the business. Unilever, Plc is
refers to be the one of the largest suppliers of fast-moving consumer items in the globe. Unilever
is an Anglo-Dutch multinational corporation which is significantly operating globally with
subsidiaries in around 100 countries (Suh and et. al., 2017). The company owns more than 400
brands; however, the operation of the business are mainly concerned over 14 major brands that
produce collective revenues of over one billion Euros. With such a wide scope of operations
around the globe, an organization may face issues pertaining to human resource management,
therefore, the management of Unilever Plc is concern over implement effective strategy to
explore business operations in effective manner, thus, there are assorted benefits of that are
gained by Unilever Plc like enhancing business operations, developing organisational operations,
increase in productivity, strengthen workforce and so on (Petrou and et. al., 2012).
According to the opinion analysis of Lisa McQuerrey, 2019, Motivating employees at
workplace, within an organisation is refers as a delicate and purposeful challenge which needs
more than an annual review or jotting a few notes in an individual’s personal life. Unilever Plc,
is operating at global level and mainly focuses over enhancing their operations at global level
and attaining higher growth and success. There are assorted ways like, incentive, rewards
system, gamify, recognise great work, stay positive etc, therefore, these are recognised to be the
best ways to motivating employees at work place. However, these are the key aspect that are
needs to be considered by the businesses to develop their operations at workplace. Although,
motivation has direct positive impact over the operations and progression of the business,
therefore, employees are the primary substance of a business as the growth and success of a
business is concern over enhancing their engagement in respect to improvising the operations at
wider scale (Airila and et. al., 2012). Thus, businesses and its managements are mainly concern
over enhancing the engagement of employees at work place for the purpose of enhancing their
contribution via, developing their coordination and collaboration within workplace. Higher
collaborative employees are more valuable for a business to enhance their operations and
progression at workplace.
Justification and contextualization
Why is your research important?
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The study into consideration is based on determining the key significance of motivation
in enhancing the engagement of employees at work place, therefore, it is a wide area of
investigation as it recognised to be the most common issue which has a direct impact over the
operations and progression of the employees. Thus, motivation is a most common issue which is
significantly concern by the businesses or its management to explore their operations in effective
manner (Abraham, 2012). However, the present study is effective in exploring knowledge
regarding the conceptualisation of motivation and how it is effective for a business in enhancing
their engagement at workplace. This study is effective in providing insight and out in relation to
the chosen study area, In addition to this the analysis is also imperative in developing an
individuals personal as well as professional skills that might be effective for them in attempting
their future projects in more liable manner.
Why is it important to find what you are trying to find?
The present study is concern over fining the importance of motivation in the context of
business for developing the engagement of employees at workplace, therefore, motivation is a
crucial aspect which is effective in providing the potential benefits of motivation in the
enhancement of business operations via the developing engagement of employees. Therefore,
this suitable analysis over motivation is required as it is effective for the businesses to determine
the importance of motivation at workplace. Furthermore, the study also signifies the role of
employees in attainment of business growth. The major recognition of analysing motivation is to
addressing the issues relation with motivation and employees engagement at workplace. The
another reason of conducting this analysis is the personal interest of the researcher as the
investigator wants of explore own knowledge and skills in regards to the area of motivation and
how it will be significant for a business to increase the engagement of employees at workplace.
How will it build on the existing body of evidence?
The existing investigation analysis is encompasses over determining the importance of
motivation in developing the engagement of employees working in the operations of an
organisation. Therefore, in this present analysis data has been gathered through secondary
sources, as theoretical frame work is developed through the support of books, journals, published
and non published articles and so on. Thus these sources are effective in developing descriptive
analysis with the opinion analysis of authors and writers (Hoon Song and et. al., 2012). In
addition to this, in this present investigation work past investigation is also imperative which
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works as the key evidence that assist the overall work in right manner to draw valid and reliable
outcome. The existing body is build through the support of opinion analysis of the authors who
are providing their opinion on the area of motivation and the subsequent books and journals that
are based on the similar investigation area.
Is it timely? Does it respond to an existing need? What makes it so?
This present exploration is effective for the individual who are having their personal interest
in the similar field or the businesses which are based on the efforts of employees and needs
descriptive idea about the importance of motivation in developing the engagement of employees
at workplace. This study mainly response to the potential need for a business to enhance the
collaboration of employees at work place with the help of motivating employees through putting
their significant efforts on the growth and success of the business. The investigation is
complemented at timely bases with the support of designing a time frame in which all the
activities are mentioned with their specified time.
Research Methodology
Research methodology is defined to be the most imperative area of an investigation as it is
effective in providing suitable assistance to the investigation to guide the exploration in right
direction with the use of suitable methodological implementation to draw valid and reliable
outcome. In this present investigation area based on analysing the significance of motivation in
enhancing the engagement of employees at workplace., therefore, suitable selection of
methodology is required to reaching at the key results. This area of research is based on multiple
applications that are associated as under:
Type of Research: This refers to be the key consideration of an investigation as it is the primary
obligation of an investigator to select the most suitable type of research in respect to assisting the
overall work in right direction to reaching at the key outcome. Therefore, this section of research
is based on qualitative and quantitative aspect, therefore, the appropriate selection of
methodology is required to implement all activities in appropriate manner to drawn reliable
outcome (Karatepe, 2013). In this present investigation work, quantitative research will be the
most suitable tool as it is effective in conducting descriptive analysis in regards to the area of
determining the significance of motivation in developing the engagement of employees, Thus,
quantitative analysis is supportive in gathering information though the observation of human
participants and proving information with actual facts and figures.
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Research Paradigm: This is the another important aspect of the methodology as it is defined as
an approach or an investigation model to executing a research that has been verified through the
investigation community for long and which has been in practice for many years. Therefore,
most of the investigation paradigms are emerge through one of the two essential aspects like
Interpretivism and positivism research. In the existing investigation context, positivism research
will be the most suitable tool as it is imperative in executing quantitative analysis and also
effective in gathering information that are based hypothesis testing. In quantitative analysis the
whole investigation is in consist over probabilistic model which is analysed through the past
investigation.
Research Approach: An investigation approach is defined to be a procedure which consists of
the steps of broad assumption to detailed tools of information accumulation, evaluation and
analysis. Research approach is mainly of two types i.e. deductive and inductive research
approach, therefore, the selection of approach is based on the data which are accumulated
address an issue in effective manner. In the present investigation analysis, deductive research
will be the most effective sources as it is imperative for quantitative analysis and effective in
developing detailed evaluation via developing theirs and hypothesis that are based on motivation
and the concepts that are significant for increasing the engagement of employees at workplace
(Wollard and Shuck, 2011).
Data Collection Tools: This section of research is mainly based on two aspects i.e. primary and
secondary sources of investigation, therefore the selection is based on the investigation and helps
in carry out the whole research in right manner to reaching at the key outcome. In the context of
this present analysis, based on determining the significance of motivation in developing the
engagement of the employees at workplace, therefore, in this both primary and secondary both
the tools will be applicable to gather suitable information to assist the investigation in right
manner. Primary investigation will be conducting via the support of developing survey through
the integration of designing questionnaire (ten Brummelhuis and Bakker, 2012). Therefore, it
will be the most suitable aspect of executing analysis over determining the significance of
motivation in enhancing the engagement of employees at work place. On the opposite side,
secondary sources like books, journals, published and non-published articles are supportive in
executing theoretical framework which is effective in developing understanding in regards to the
chosen study area.
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Data Sampling: This is the effective area of an investigation, therefore, sampling is mainly
implicates over gathering information from the original population. Therefore, this section of
investigation is mainly encompasses over probabilistic and non-probabilistic sampling. This in
this present research work, random sampling will be the most suitable sampling tool as in this
individual are randomly select to gather valuable information. Therefore, sample size 40 will be
the suitable for assisting the overall work in right manner to gather valuable information to
reaching at the key results (Albrecht and et. al., 2015).
Data Analysis tool: Data analysis is defined to be the most effective area of an investigation,
therefore, in this present investigation based on determining the significance of motivation in
enhancing the engagement of employees at workplace. Therefore, in this analysis will be
executed through thematic analysis as it will be the most effective tool for conducting primary
research in effective manner as in this themes will be developed over the questions of
questionnaire.
Research Access and Ethics: In the implementation of an investigation the fundamental
considered area for a researcher is to follow the research ethics in respect to assist the work in
right manner to completion of the work without facing any kind of issue of hazardous. Therefore,
in this present exploration the investigator needs to ensure their participants about the security
and safety of their personal data, therefore, participants are mainly concern about maintaining the
security of their private data. In addition to this, researcher needs to provide consent to their
participants for the intention of receiving their approval (van der Heijden and Bakker, 2011).
Furthermore, researcher also facing the issue related to the access of the information, therefore
researcher needs to receiving approval from the appropriate sources to assist the work in right
manner.
Project Timeline
Activity 1
week
2
week
3
week
4
week
5
week
6
week
7
week
8
week
9
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10
week
Identify
research topic
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Justification
on chosen
topic
Research
methodologie
s
Review of
Literature
Draft
finalization
Conclusion
Submission
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CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE REVIEW
Theme 1: understanding in regards to the concept of motivation in the context of business.
In the opinion of Koster, (2017) motivation in the workplace can be considered as the
willingness to provide high level of engagement of workers towards the organization. Motivation
assists firm in retaining employees in organization and also it can help in growth of firm. The
business who makes sure that their team members remain motivated must be engaged in
providing them with better environment. Motivation is effective in encouraging employees at
work place with the assistance of executing business operations in effective manner. Motivated
employees are defined as an asset to a business and they are significantly proportional to a
business success. The motivation in business has been clearly explained by the Maslow. In this
the author has identified the needs which must be fulfilled by organization so that they can
motivate and enhance employees towards the firm. The 5 basic groups identified by Maslow;
physiological (the most basic living needs such as sleep and food), safety (security in life), love
(social inclusion), esteem (level of status) and self-actualisation (to achieve the best/most)
provide a synonymous foundation that can be translated to the needs that must be met by any
manufacturer. This is the basic concept of motivation which must be fulfilled by the
organization. It also supports business in growing and achieving their set goals and objectives. It
has also been analysed that motivation is a type of managerial process which can help employees
in increasing their job satisfaction. Motivated and satisfied employees can also help in increasing
the productivity as well as managerial efficiency of the business. The business can be able to
gain competitive advantage because of the satisfied employees. There are various ways through
which employee can become motivated like recognising themselves for their efforts by providing
them with rewards. Motivated employees can be taken as the assists for organization. This
managerial process can also help in reducing down the employee turnover and can also help
business in growing. Motivation can support people in to work with their full capabilities. This
can help the business in increasing their productivity as well as operational efficiency. It can also
support the workplace in increasing the employees engagement. This can help them in achieving
the goals and objectives.
Theme 2: develop recognition in relation to the area of determining the importance of
motivation within Unilever Plc.
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