A1 Factfile: Unilever's History, Strategy, and Career Prospects

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of Unilever, a British multinational consumer goods organization, established in 1929. It details the company's history, key events like its globalization efforts starting in 1950, and its evolution in business models. The report highlights Unilever's focus on quality, innovation, and corporate social responsibility, including reducing pollution and maintaining good employee relations. It includes a SWOT analysis, identifying strengths like brand position and weaknesses related to global operations. Furthermore, the report explores career opportunities within Unilever, using Gibb's model of reflection to discuss career aspirations and skill development. The conclusion emphasizes the importance of understanding the organization and formulating effective strategies, with an action plan for enhancing necessary skills to pursue a career at Unilever.

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Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................3
Time line of key events..........................................................................................................3
Evolution of Organisation......................................................................................................4
Organisation & Career Opportunities – Recognise why this business is aspirational for a
future career............................................................................................................................5
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES:...............................................................................................................................7
Books and Journals.................................................................................................................7
Online.....................................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
The nature of business environment is dynamic. There are certain changes that take place
and have impact on the business (Nudurupati, Garengo and Bititci, 2021). Unilever is a British
multinational consumer goods organisation that was established in 1929. The history of the
organisation and key events are mentioned in the report. The career opportunities present in the
company are also analysed in the report. The skills required to carry on the work in organisation
are also mentioned.
MAIN BODY
Time line of key events
Globalisation: Unilever started their journey of globalisation in 1950.

Business Model
Evolution of Organisation
History of organisation
Unilever started their operations in 1929 in London. In 1950, the company planned to
expand the business in Africa and Asia. They took help of local manufacturing industry. This
leads to consumer boom being observed by them. Afterwards in 1950, the company increased the
expenditure in science and technology. The worked on research and technology in effective
manner and gave responsibility to UK and Dutch laboratories (1950 – 1980 – Building our
brands, 2022). The launched a group in Netherlands and the Unilever Food & Health Research
Institute - a centre of excellence in nutrition. There were various products added by the company
in their portfolio.
Current operations and values
Unilever deals in variety of products and focused on quality in the starting. The company is
largest producer of soaps in the world. It becomes necessary for them to carry on their operation
by using innovation and latest technology (Gogokhia and Berulava, 2021). The becomes leader
due to the quality of products being delivered by the them. The company also takes proper are of
the corporate social responsibility. The company maintains good relations with employees and
follow all the laws that are applicable. They always motivate the employee and work on their
regular development. The high quality goof provided to customers is also important part of CSR

(Unilever at a glance, 2022). The company is able to achieve good profitability due to the
relations they have maintained with customers. They work on reducing pollution as it benefits
the environment. They avoid use of plastic so that less harm is created to the environment. These
initiatives taken by them help to enhance their brand image in the market.
Future Strategy & Outlook
There is key role of using latest technology as the same is required to attain the goals and
objectives effectively. The will use innovative ideas in future to attract the customers. They have
online operations that helped them to serve the customers at the time of pandemic. Artificial
intelligence, robotics is some of the areas Unilever can use in future.
SWOT Analysis
Strength
 The company has achieved high brand
position in the market due to the quality
products provided.
Weakness
 Due to global operations the company
has to follow the laws and legislations
of all the nations and that causes
problem for them (Hamilton and
Webster, 2018).
Opportunity
 They have the opportunity to expand
the operations further and use latest
technology to attract and serve the
customers further.
Threats
 There is huge competition present in
the market and it is threat for Unilever.
Organisation & Career Opportunities – Recognise why this business is aspirational for a future
career
Gibb’s model of reflection helps to know about the experience and the learning from the
same. The six stages are mentioned below:
 Description: I want to get a job in Unilever as it is a reputed company. There are certain
growth opportunities that are present in the company. This is my career goal that I would
like to accomplish.

 Feelings: I have positive feelings starting my career in Unilever. I get motivation to study
and work in such a manner that I will get job in the company. It is necessary to work with
positivity so that better results are attained (Miftari, 2018).
 Evaluation: It is evaluated that there is need of certain skill development and hard work.
There is need of working in such a manner that best is attained by me. It is important to
evaluate the employees that are already working in the company and learn from them.
The skills such as communication skills, time management skills, team working skills,
leadership skills, research skills etc (Adeani, Febriani and Syafryadin, 2020). will help to
get a better job and work effectively.
 Analysis: It is analysed that checking vacancy on regular basis is required to get job on
time. It is important to check all the major changes bought by Unilever. Being update
helps to get better opportunities and carry the work in best suitable manner. It is
necessary to formulate action plans so that areas of lacking can be enhanced.
 Conclusion: It is concluded that there is need of being aware about the career
opportunity and taking all the actions that will help to achieve the particular objective.
Getting job in Unilever is aspiration for me.
 Action plan
Skills/Attributes
requiring
improvement
Reason for
improvement
Steps to
improve
Ways to
measure
success
Timeframe for
the
improvement
Communication
skills
These skills are
required to get a
good job and to
clear the
interview.
I will read
novels, books,
journals in
English.
I will measure
my progress by
interacting
with
2 Months
Leadership skills The skill is
required to
carry on the
projects and
lead the team in
organisation.
There is need
of practicing
the same. I
will undertake
projects and
lead team in
By
successfully
completing the
project and
leading the
team.
3 Months

order to
enhance the
skills
CONCLUSION
From the above report, it is concluded that there is need of understanding the organisation
and forming best strategies for them. There is evaluation related to the history of the organisation
and the business model used by them. The Gibb’s model of reflection is used to show the
aspiration of getting a job in the company. In the end, action plan is formulated to enhance the
desired skills.
REFERENCES:
Books and Journals
Adeani, I.S., Febriani, R.B. and Syafryadin, S., 2020. USING GIBBS’REFLECTIVE CYCLE IN
MAKING REFLECTIONS OF LITERARY ANALYSIS. Indonesian EFL Journal, 6(2), pp.139-148.
Gogokhia, T. and Berulava, G., 2021. Business environment reforms, innovation and firm
productivity in transition economies. Eurasian Business Review, 11(2), pp.221-245.
Hamilton, L. and Webster, P., 2018. The international business environment. Oxford University
Press.
Miftari, V., 2018. Transformational leadership communication in developing countries’ business
environment. Journal of History Culture and Art Research, 7(2), pp.259-264.
Nudurupati, S.S., Garengo, P. and Bititci, U.S., 2021. Impact of the changing business
environment on performance measurement and management practices. International
Journal of Production Economics, 232, p.107942.
Online
1950 – 1980 – Building our brands, 2022. [Online] Available through: <
https://www.unilever.com/our-company/our-history-and-archives/1950-1980/ >
Unilever at a glance, 2022. [Online] Available through: <https://www.unilever.com/our-
company/at-a-glance/>