Project Report: Globalisation's Impact on Unilever's Marketing & HR

This report examines the impact of globalisation on Unilever's marketing and human resource functions. It begins with an introduction outlining the aim, objectives, and project management plan, including cost, scope, time, and quality considerations. A literature review provides context, followed by a detailed methodology section describing the research type, approach, philosophy, data collection methods (primary and secondary, including questionnaires), and data analysis techniques (thematic analysis). The results section presents findings from a questionnaire administered to Unilever managers. The report then offers a discussion and analysis of the results, followed by conclusions, recommendations, and a reflective summary of the learning experience. References and appendices, including a logbook and performance review, complete the study. The research assesses the ethical, economic, and cultural impacts of globalisation and provides strategies for managing changes in marketing and HR functions within Unilever.

MANAGING A SUCCEFUL
BUSINESS PROJECT

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
Aim..............................................................................................................................................3
Objectives....................................................................................................................................3
Project Management Plan............................................................................................................3
Work Breakdown structure and Gantt Chart...............................................................................5
LITERATURE REVIEW................................................................................................................6
METHODOLOGY..........................................................................................................................7
RESULTS........................................................................................................................................9
DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS.................................................................................................14
CONCLUSION .............................................................................................................................15
RECOMMENDATION.................................................................................................................15
REFLECTIVE SUMMARY .........................................................................................................15
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................17
APPENDIX....................................................................................................................................18
Logbook.....................................................................................................................................18
Performance review...................................................................................................................20

INTRODUCTION
Globalisation is a process of integrating and communicating with governments, people and
companies across the globe. Increasing participation of global people in society and economy has
led to boost and changes in trends of organisation and their activities (Effects of Globalisation on
the UK Economy, 2019). The present study is based on outlining positive impact of ethical,
economic and cultural of globalisation on marketing and HR function of Unilever. Unilever is a
British- Dutch transnational consumer good company offers wide range of product like food and
beverages, beauty, cleaning and personal care. The assessment will outline project management
plan which comprise, cost, time, quality, etc. of research. Further, the study will outline results
collected from sampled participants wit the helps of questionnaire. Last scholar will provide
recommendation to company of ways of manage impact of factors and will conclude with own
learning
Aim
“To assess positive ethical, economic and cultural impact of Globalisation on marketing
and Human resource function within organisation: A case study on Unilever”.
Objectives
 To understand positive impact of ethical, economic and cultural factor with increasing
Globalisation
 To examine ethical, economic and cultural consideration of Unilever on marketing and
Human resource function
 To outline ways to manage changes in marketing and Human resource function with
respect to ethical, economic and cultural factor.
 To recommend strategies which Unilever can implement to manage positive impact of
ethical, economic and cultural factor with increasing Globalisation
Project Management Plan
 Cost: Cost of research is about process of collecting and analysing information. In this
study cost is for researching over chosen topic which will comprise travelling expense,
stationery and technological equipment. The total cost of research will be approximately
£ 43.6
 Scope: Scope of research is wide as it is focused on outlining positive impact of three
different factors on two functions of organisation that is ethical, economic and cultural on
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HR and marketing. The key words of study will be impact, globalisation, culture,
economy, ethics, marketing, Human resource, responsibility, growth, etc.
 Time: Time is foremost aspect of research which derive project initiation and completion
with collection of appropriate facts. The present research will start from 02.08.2019 and
will complete by 16.10.2019. This is the aspect which need to assessed by scholar after
every step-in order to ensure timely completion and accomplishment of aim and
objectives.
 Quality: Assuring quality of research information is the main criteria which will eb
focused by scholar for which the individual will be seek for relevant secondary sources
and will also ensure appropriate referencing and citing. Further, or maintaining quality of
study scholar will seek feedback from supervisor after proof-reading collected and
analysed information.
 Communication: Interaction is a crucial part of research where aim of scholar is on
collecting viable information to draw outcomes of study. Communication in present study
will be via survey questionnaire with sampled participants.
 Risk: Risk of research is time constraints because it is important for the scholar to ensure
time completion of data collection and analysis in order to get the task checked by
supervisor before date o completion. Analysis of data cannot be biased therefore critical
comparison of collected information is risk step which will be processed in discussion
stage.
 Resources: Essential requirement of study which comprise technological tools,
stationery, print media, newspapers, magazines, journals and books, electronic sources
and internet.
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Work Breakdown structure and Gantt Chart
5

Task Mode Task Name Duration Start Finish Predecessors
Auto
Schedule
d
Topic selection 5 days Mon 8/5/19 Fri 8/9/19
Auto
Schedule
d
Setting aims and
objectives 2 days Mon 8/12/19 Tue 8/13/19 1
Auto
Schedule
d
Writing literature review 7 days Wed 8/14/19 Thu 8/22/19 1,2
Auto
Schedule
d
Selection and writing
research methodology 4 days Wed 8/14/19 Mon 8/19/19 2
Auto
Schedule
d
Preparation of
Questionnaire 5 days Fri 8/23/19 Thu 8/29/19 3,4
Auto
Schedule
d
Data collection 7 days Fri 8/30/19 Mon 9/9/19 5
Auto
Schedule
d
Data analysis 5 days Tue 9/10/19 Mon 9/16/19 6
Auto
Schedule
d
Presentation of findings 4 days Tue 9/17/19 Fri 9/20/19 7
Auto
Schedule
d
Conclusion and
recommendation 4 days Mon 9/23/19 Thu 9/26/19 7,8
Auto
Schedule
d
Reflecting learning 1 day Mon 9/23/19 Mon 9/23/19 3,7,8
Auto
Schedule
d
arranging file in a
structured format 3 days Tue 9/24/19 Thu 9/26/19 10
Auto
Schedule
d
Taking feedback and
doing modifications 7 days Fri 9/27/19 Mon 10/7/19 11
Auto
Schedule
d
Final submission 6 days Tue 10/8/19 Tue 10/15/19 12

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LITERATURE REVIEW
According to Hanson and et.al., 2016, globalisation has revolutionised the business world as
it came up with diverse range of people, different economies and resources. As per the views of
Johnston 2015, most influencing factor by globalisation are ethical, economic and cultural.
Culture creates positive impact on business operation with respect to management of staffing
practices of organisation. For example, it assists in selecting people from different cultural
backgrounds which supports diversity at workplace. As per the views of Wakabi, 2016, positive
impact of ethics is seen when compliance with international legal polices and procedure. This
helps the firm in ethical management of business operations across international boundaries.
On the other hand, Cramer, 2017, outline about economic impact which is seen in
contribution of business to economic of host countries. This supports overall development and
boost morale of companies and people to trade across international boundaries. According to
Monshipouri, Welch and Kennedy, 2017, positive cultural impact is seen in HR activity of
organisation as it assists the firm in diverse workforce management which supports innovation in
products and services. In contrast Zürn and De Wilde, 2016, stated about ethical impact on
marketing where company are able to strategies marketing initiative in innovative way to regard
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to ethical concern of society. Adhering to beliefs of diverse people when marketing assists the
organisation in encouraging responsible marketing which aid in gaining attention of diverse
buyers.
Collings, Wood and Szamosi, 2018, articulated about employment policies of HR which are
altered according to legislative requirement of international market. In accordance with this it is
important for the business to market research and comply with legislation of region before
expanding to manage stability in operations. However, Shenkar, Luo and Chi, 2014, stated about
dramatic effect of globalisation on HRM, as it creates intense competitive environment.
Economy comprise labour market trends ad it is important for the HR professionals of
organisation to manage staffing and training practices according to economic condition for
particular region to maximize productivity. As per the view of Parsons, Maclaran and
Chatzidakis, 2017, it can be said that ethical and culture are the major factors influencing HR and
marketing activities of organisation as the influence is directly related with people of particular
region. Adhering to culture and ethics of society aid in stable establishment and management of
organisation operations. Al Ariss and Sidani, 2016, recommended market research as the best
priorities of organisation to focus on with increasing globalisation. It helps the management in
accumulating valid information to deal with changing economic and customer preferences.
METHODOLOGY
The research methodology under a research project can be defined as that an approach
that is undertaken to define the flow of the research and plan. This define the direction as how
the project is directed and by taking which steps it will be completed. For the present research
over assessing the ethical, economic and cultural impact of globalisation on marketing and
Human resource function on Unilever the following methodology have been adopted:
Research type:
The type of the research can be stated as the method of the conducting the research
project which is basically of two types qualitative and quantitative. For the present research plan
qualitative research have been selected for directing the research project on qualitative
investigation through use of thoughts and opinion and diving deeper into the problem raised in
the research topic.
Research approach:
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The research approach under RM for a project can be defined as procedure and plan
which comprise of different stages of broad assumption to detailed method of data collection,
interpretation and analysis (Research Approach, 2019.). The selecting criteria of a research
approach depends on the type of research, data collection. This is broadly divided into two
including inductive and deductive. For the present research inductive approach have been
selected because for qualitative research type inductive approach is use for operating within
known premises to generate untested conclusions.
Research philosophy:
The research philosophy under RM for a project is identified as a belief regarding a way
for collection of data over a given phenomenon must be done and how it shall be analysed and
used effectively in the research (Research Philosophy, 2019). It basically deals with sources,
nature and development of knowledge. There are generally two philosophy used under RM,
intererpretivism and positivism. In the present project interpretivism research philosophy have
been used in order to conduct qualitative investigation of the data collected over the topic of
research.
Data collection and sampling:
Data collection is that step of RM were facts, information related with research topic is
gathered. It can be done through primary and secondary method. In the primary method data is
collected from books, journals and article written by author and writers related with the topic
under research. Primary data is gathered form survey, questionnaire, interviews and observation.
For present research plan both methods have been adopted. Primary data have been collected
from questionnaire method where responses of 30 HR and marketing managers of Unilever have
been recorded in order to analyse the positive effects o globalization of over HR and marketing
operation of the organization.
Random sampling method have be used to select the participant for which population
was the managers of Unilever. Under random sampling non probabilistic approach have been
applied in order to ensure equal opportunity to all HR and marketing mangers of being selected
as a respondent for research.
Data Analysis:
Data analysis is done through use of statistical tools and techniques and also through
creation of theme over data collection. In the present research plan thematic manner of data
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analysis have been used in with presenting the data in tabular, graphic and chart formate for
interpreting the information gathered over research topic.
RESULTS
QUESTIONNAIRE
Question 1: Do you think with globalisation, competition have increased for Unilever
regarding promotion of its products?
A. Agree
B. Strongly Agree
C. Neutral
D. Disagree
E. Strongly disagree
Question 2: According to you with going global cultural aspects and abidance in Unilever
have increased while recruiting personnels form different countries?
A. Agree
B. Strongly Agree
C. Neutral
D. Disagree
E. Strongly disagree
Question 3: Do you think ethical consideration while operating in global market is an
important factor for ensuring success of the business?
A. Agree
B. Strongly Agree
C. Neutral
D. Disagree
E. Strongly disagree
Question 4: have you ever faced any cultural issue while appointing a Foreign national
within Unilever?
A. Yes
B. May be
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C. No
Question 5: Do you think that globalisation have assisted Unilever in exploring
marketing opportunities with going global?
A. Agree
B. Strongly Agree
C. Neutral
D. Disagree
E. Strongly disagree
Question 6: Do you think that with globalisation have increased opportunities for
Unilever for recruiting more skilled people from around the world?
A. Agree
B. Strongly Agree
C. Neutral
D. Disagree
E. Strongly disagree
Question 7: Is there a reduction in the cost of production due to adoption of global
technologies by Unilever?
A. Yes, to high extent
B. Yes, to moderate level
C. Yes to lower level
D Not at all
Question 8: According to you, is cultural factors brings a diversity within organisation
and its functions, and how?
Question 9: As per your view do international agreements taxation reduces cost
increment of Unilever over marketing and promotion?
Theme 1: Increase in competition for Unilever regarding promotion of its products due to
globalisation.
Response Number of Respondents
12