Leadership and Management Analysis: Unilever Operations and Strategies

This report offers a detailed examination of leadership and management practices within Unilever, a multinational manufacturing company. It begins by defining the roles and characteristics of leaders and managers, highlighting their responsibilities in setting visions, motivating employees, and representing the organization. The report then analyzes how leaders and managers navigate various situations, such as employee turnover and ineffective communication, providing insights into their strategies for creating a positive work environment. Furthermore, the study explores a range of leadership theories, including situational, systems, and contingency leadership, demonstrating how these concepts can be applied to solve organizational challenges and improve operational efficiency. The report also focuses on the role of operation managers in enhancing efficiency and decision-making, emphasizing key elements and approaches of different operation management systems, and considering factors like corporate social responsibility. Overall, the report provides a comprehensive overview of leadership and management strategies within Unilever, offering valuable insights into the company's operational dynamics and the impact of leadership on its success.

MANAGEMENT
AND
OPERATION

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1 ...........................................................................................................................................1
Roles and characteristics of leaders and managers.....................................................................1
Role of leaders and function of manager in different situation...................................................3
Range of theories and concepts to leadership.............................................................................4
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................6
Role of operation manager with regards to improve efficiency and importance of operation
management................................................................................................................................6
Key elements and approaches of different operation management system................................8
Various factor impact to business and its operations................................................................10
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................12
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................13

INTRODUCTION
Operation management is the field that can sometime be misunderstood by
multidisciplinary nature. It is the administration of business practices which help to ensure about
maximum efficiency within organisation. It is focus on the carefully managing process to
produce product and services (Rao, 2017). The present study is based on the “Unilever” which
established in UK. It is manufacturing company and it manufacture various products or services.
Its products includes food and beverages, cleaning agents, beauty product and personal care
products. It is the one oldest multinational company and its products are available in around 190
countries. Study lays emphasis on the roles and characteristics of leaders and manager with
examples. Report will shows different situation in organisation are affect to role of leaders and
functions of manager. Study will use a range of theories and concepts to leadership and also
explain by how leaders and managers deals with that situation. It will show role of operation
manager for improving efficiency and decision. It will include by key elements and approaches
of different operation management system. It will also highlighted by the various factor such as
corporate social responsibility, culture, values, ethics and suitability impact to business and its
operations.
TASK 1
Roles and characteristics of leaders and managers.
Role of leaders:
As the leaders, their main role is to lead the employees as well as team members within
the organisation by provide clear guidelines and motivating them. The leaders of Unilever play
various role in the organisation such as:
Setting a clear vision: The main role of the leader to set a vision for the organisation and
influence the employee to accept and understand the future state of an organisation. A good
leader will influence to the employees to perform their duties to accomplish the vision of the
organisation(Wu and Parker, 2017).
Motivating employees: Leader has to find out the enough information about their
employees by communicating with employees that helps to understand the needs and wants of
the employees. The leaders can satisfy their needs and wants that motivates employees and they
feel that they are important for an organisation.
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Representative of the organisation: A leader is represented their organisation to the
investor, shareholders, customers and supplier etc. as well as a leader has to represent the
concern at general meeting, seminars and conferences etc. Their main role is to communicate
with the outsider for their organisation.
Required at all levels: A leader has to manage all the level within the organisation
because of getting co-operation of the management and employees in the formulation of the
polices and plans. The leader can provide guidance to the management and employees.
Role of managers:
Managers of Unilever play a vital role in the organisation and help to manage activities in
the organisation as well as represent the organisation to the outsiders. The roles of Unilever's
manager are as below
Figurehead: Manager perform a role of figurehead in the organisation such as sign legal
document, welcoming official visitors etc. as a part of the organisation(Chiu, Balkundi and
Weinberg, 2017).
Liaison role: The manager have to perform the function such as communicating with the
employees, motivates them and encourage team spirit etc. Under liaison role they have to co-
ordinate with their subordinates as well as interact with outside managers.
Disseminator: The manager disseminates the information that he collects through
different sources and provide information to their subordinates, superiors and peers.
Spokesman: The manager also perform a role of Spokesman. The manger is represented
the organisation and provide information for the organisation's policies, action and plan. They
have to inform their supervisor about any development in their unit.
Characteristics of leaders:
The leader of Unilever organisation have some characteristics. These characteristics
make the process of the organisation easier and efficient and help them to take right decision as
leader for organisation that is separated from others.
 The leader of the Unilever company is honest and integrity towards their work as well as
their employees and management (Campanella and Serino, 2019).
 The leader inspire to their employees and always think positive that helps to motivate
their employees and enhance the profitability of the organisation.
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 The leader has good decision making skills and ability to take risk that helps to them in
quick decision as well as growth of the organisation.
Characteristics of manager:
The manager of Unilever have many characteristics which positively contributes in the
organisation and help them to promote their goods and services. The main characteristics of
managers are:
 The managers of Unilever have clear understanding of vision and objectives of the
organisation and their roles and responsibility and they work accordingly (Top 10 roles of
a manager in an organisation,2019).
 They have good communication with their subordinates and influence the decision of the
subordinates as well as contributes in the decision making of the organisation.
 There are flexibility in the work of the manager means they can perform the function as
leader and manager and any other work in the organisation.
Role of leaders and function of manager in different situation.
There are various situations that can create the situation of the crises in Unilever but the
role of leader and the function of the manager play an important role in all situation and make the
working environment healthy and friendly. The aim of Unilever to improve the health of the
customers and employees and provide healthy products and services to them. There are some
situations that arises in Unilever:
Employee turnover:
Employee turnover is one situation which mainly occurs at workplace. This situation is
arising because of various factors such as ineffective working condition, unequal wages and
heavy workload etc. The leader of the Unilever try to improve working condition such as create
friendly working environment, providing flexible working hours to the workers. The managers is
directed to the labour and provide proper training to them as well as organize various programme
for the employees where the labour can participate with management that helps to motivate them
as well as enhance employee retention ratio (D’Innocenzo, Mathieu and Kukenberger, 2016). It
also helps to increase the morale of the employees. Manager of the Unilever provides various
benefits and implement incentive plans for the labours. Managers communicate with the labours
on daily bases that helps to understand their needs and wants and satisfied them that is enhanced
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the productivity of the organisation. These efforts of the leaders and managers help to reduce
employee turnover.
Ineffective communication:
Communication is an important part of an organisation but ineffective communication is
created many problems in the organisation. Unilever is operated their business operations
worldwide. So, there is an important to communicate in effective manner with the others.
Ineffective communication can effect the growth of the organisation. Leaders plays an important
role in order create effective communication with the investors, stakeholders etc. They
personally communicate with the outsiders as well as all terms and conditions done in written
form that helps to maintain effective relations (Bundy and et.al.,2017). For improving effective
communication, manager conducts meeting in a week with their employees that helps to
understand their view with face to face interaction. Leader also focus on listening and informing
all the messages into all departments via mail and phone calls.
Range of theories and concepts to leadership.
Leaders and manager has various responsibilities in various types of situation which are
happens in Unilever. They are plays their effective and valuable role to manage situation and
conditions at organisation. There are some theories and concepts of leadership which are help to
leader and manager to solve problems such as employee turnover and ineffective
communication. The description oh these theories are as follows:
Situational leadership
Situation theory is provide the fundamental or provide style to leaders and managers for
development level of the followers. This theory is help to handle situation at organisation by
using this theory model. With the help of this theory leaders and manager are able to solve
problem and any situation at organisation. For example: the situation is employees turnover is
decrease in Unilever. In this situation manager have to make schedule for work in order and also
organize training and development program to to improve employees work. Other hand leaders
have to give motivation to employees for better work (Mohamad and Bakar, 2018). This help to
motivate peoples and also help to attract employees towards the company. This theory has
strength and weakness which are as follows:
Strength Weakness
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 The group of environment is to
comfortable and effective because this
help to build collaboration between the
team.
 This also help to increase awareness of
employees.
 Lack of understanding in demographic
difference due to lack of high quality of
experience.
 The other weakness of this theory is
hard to define commitment is
conceptualized.
System theory of leadership
this leadership approach is defined as the leadership across organisational and political
boundaries. This theory is help to promoting creativity and innovation in organisation and also
help to encourage employees. This model is help to handle situation at organisation like
ineffective communication is very biggest situation at Unilever. By this various problems are
created like by this employees get wrong massage and do wrong work and this is not good for
the team. In this leaders have to encourage employees and use effective language to
communicate information to employees. Other hand manager have to communicate right and
correct massage to employees regarding to innovation. With the help of this leaders and manager
are able to handle situation at Unilever. This theory has strength and weakness which as follows:
Strength Weakness
 This theory is help to make focus on
achieving goals and objectives of
Unilever by using effective
communication skills.
 It is help to minimizes cost and
maximize rewards with company.
 This theory take time to solve problem
related to employees.
 In this theory manager make system
and provide schedule for work and not
provide equipments.
Contingency leadership theory
This theory model is best and suitable leadership style. this help to lead organisation or to
take decisions in Unilever. This help to solve external and internal situation of the organisation.
For example: the situation is ineffective communication and employee turnover that are the
situation which has give negative impact on business (Scarpin and et.al., 2017). For manager and
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leaders are applied this theory to manage both situation by taking right decision and optimal uses
of resource like rewards or compensation. Other hand they are also provide training to their
employees. This theory has strength and weakness are as follows:
Strength Weakness
 This theory is believe and focus on an
effective approach in order to achieve
goals of company.
 It is effective ways to explaining and
communicating information to
employees.
 This theory is only focus on then
situation not on resources.
 The weakness of this theory is not
explained in organisation.
TASK 2
Role of operation manager with regards to improve efficiency and importance of operation
management.
Operation manager is important for organisation to manage operation of Unilever. They
are refers the coordination and culmination of primary business for undertaking result in
achieving goals and objectives of firm. Operation manager plays an important role in Unilever to
improve efficiency and decision making power of business employees. Operation management
has important and valuable for the business which are as follows:
Control and distribution
Control and distribution is the effective and important for operation management. This
help to ensure the proper distribution of their services and products in order to achieve goals and
objectives of Unilever. It is important to manage in organisation because with the help of control
and distribution of product and services has important for business. This help to improve overall
productivity of firm and its help to meet objectives and goals.
Transfer input into output
Operation management is important for manage the effectiveness in organisation which is
convert input into the output (Gavronski and et.al., 2018). Unilever has manufacture various
products such as beauty products in this operation manager is use various raw material which are
inputs and also employees hard work. For this process the company has to go through another
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various process. So it is important for manager of Unilever to utilize the resources of company in
proper manner. The efficiency of this process is to improve quality and quantity of product by
reducing resources which are excessive. This process is also help to company in decreasing the
production cost.
Capacity management
It is very important function in operation management. It specifies and analysis the work
and goals of capacity management. In order to achieve goals and objectives of firm it is
important to analysis the capacity process of production for stop extra products from producing.
The importance of process and function is satisfied all the needs of customers as well as fulfil the
objectives of Unilever.
Those are the importance and values of operation management in organisation to meet
with goals and objectives of firm. Operation manager is responsible for managing activities that
are part of the production of goods and services such as human resource management, asset
management and cost management. They are also taking decisions such as designing, managing
and improving the operation system (Helmreich, Klinect and Wilhelm, 2017). Operation
manager has plays their important role in organisation to improve efficiency and decision
making process of employees. The roles of operation manager are as follows:
Inventory control
In order to successfully meet with goals and objectives of Unilever, manager have to
make control on inventory and also analysis that. Operation manager oversee the inventory
systems and also determine effectively manage inventory of company. With the help of
inventory control operation manager able to improve efficiency and decision making power of
employees.
Improving collaboration
This is the another way to improve collaboration at organisation to meet objectives of
Unilever. Improve collaboration is the main and important technique. By using this technique it
can increase efficiency of operation management. That can help to improve team work and
relations of employees and staff members. It is effective and valuable for the company when
collaboration between team members are effective and strong then it help to improve efficiency
and decision making process of Unilever and operation manager of company plays an important
role in order to improve efficiency.
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Create incentives programmes
A operation manager plays an important role to improve efficiency and decision making
process of company. It is effective and valuable process of company. For improving efficiency
manager organized incentive program to motivate their employees when employees are highly
motivate then they are able to give their hard contribution. By this operation manager is able to
improve efficiency and decision of business.
Effective communication
Effective and strong communication process are help to improve efficiency and decision
of business. It is effective and valuable for the business. Operation management of Unilever uses
effective communication skills for giving correct and valuable information to their employees.
With the help of correct information employees done effective and valuable work. This help to
improve efficiency of business and decisions.
Operation manager plays an important role in order to improve efficiency of business by
using such techniques and programmes which discussed above.
Key elements and approaches of different operation management system.
Operation management is an area of management which concerned with different
organisation functions related to management like designing and producing products and
services. There are some function such as organizing, controlling, directing and planning of
resources which used in Unilever's production process. There are some approaches and elements
which help to manage production system of company in better controlling and managing all
resources like total quality management, six sigma and just-in-time approaches. Description of
each approaches are as follows:
Total quality management
It is enables the organisation to work towards zero defects within the Unilever. It is the
important and valuable approach of operation management for long term success by customer
satisfaction. That give proper and effective efforts in company to improving process, products,
services and the culture at workplace (Laudon and Laudon, 2016). It is the continual process of
detecting and reducing error in manufacturing, streamlines, supply chain management, improve
customer experience and ensure about employees training and development process. This help to
maintain overall quality of Unilever in order to achieve goals and objectives of firm. This
approach is focus on quality and quantity of product and services which are use ion production
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process of Unilever. This reduce error and mistakes from manufacturing process and also help to
stop wastage at workplace by making such strategies like scheduling work, proper use of raw
material etc. it has aim to focus on the customers needs and wants with maintaining quality of
goods. Manager and leaders are plays an important role which are as follows:
 Leaders are ensure involvement of staff members in the effectiveness of this approach
and they are also take part in measuring production process.
 Manager of Unilever also sure the continuous improvement and the process related to
production.
Six sigma
It is the quality control methodology and this emphasis cycle time improvement at the
same time reducing defects and error of manufacturing process. It is develop for work faster with
fewer mistakes and error from production process of Unilever. This give various ideas to
manager for proper shape of business and also its products and services. It is effective and
important for manage defects and also help to reduce error from production process. The main
aim and purpose of Unilever of using this approach is to achieve maximum satisfaction from
their customers by eliminating errors and defects in the process of producing products and
improve return in sales and investment of firm. It is effective and valuable for team Unilever.
The leaders and manager are plays their roles are as follows:
 The main role of leaders of Unilever is to communicate correct information to employees
for better work of result (Prajogo and et.al., 2018).
 The leaders are also support and recognize employees to motivate them in order to
achieve goals and objectives of firm.
 Manager implements this approach in the company and they also give review to their
employees and top management about this approach.
Just-in-time inventory approach
Just-in-time approach is help to increase efficiency and productivity of employees by
reducing wastage of production process. It is effective and valuable for growth of Unilever. It is
the management strategy which is help to align raw material orders from supplier to directly with
the production time lines. Unilever is use inventory strategy for increase efficiency and decrease
waste by receiving goods. The implementation of this approach in Unilever helps to manager and
the company in reducing the space because products and goods are only kept when they are
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