Managing Successful Business Report: Unilever's Digital Journey

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of Unilever's digital transformation journey, focusing on how the company has adapted to the challenges of digital disruption. The report outlines project aims and objectives, including the impact of Unilever's mobile application on sales and productivity, the influence of standardized tools, and the drawbacks of launching a mobile application. It includes a project management plan covering scope, costs, time, quality, communication, and resources. The report details a work breakdown structure and Gantt chart for project implementation, followed by a mini-research study using qualitative and quantitative techniques. The findings are then analyzed, and recommendations are provided to draw valid conclusions. Finally, a reflective report assesses the objectives' achievement. The report also examines the adoption of new technologies, innovation, and the importance of communication and resource management within the context of Unilever's business operations. The report also includes an introduction, conclusion and references.

Managing Successful Business
Report

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
P1 Analysis of project aims and objectives.................................................................................1
P2 Production of project management plan................................................................................3
P3 Production of work breakdown structure and Gantt chart.....................................................5
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................7
P4 Carrying of small scale research through application of qualitative and quantitative
techniques....................................................................................................................................7
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................9
P5 Analysis of the research and data through use of appropriate tools......................................9
P6 Communication of recommendations to draw valid conclusions........................................14
TASK 4..........................................................................................................................................15
P7 Reflective report about to meet stated objectives................................................................15
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................15
REFRENCES.................................................................................................................................16

INTRODUCTION
In the present scenario, it may be difficult to manage business operations or activities by
an individual therefore, they consider the project study for researching as well as investigation so
that particular goals or objectives can be achieved. There are number of organisations who focus
on digitalisation which is essential element for every business firm because it support making
each tasks in easy way such as redesigning of products and services as well as reach at potential
customers by adopting new advanced technologies in an effective (Bakker, 2011). This is also
helpful in fashion and beauty products with support of mobile application and digitalisation so
that customers can get knowledges and advantages regarding cosmetics items in more efficient
way. This report is based on Unilever plc which is a British-Dutch transnational consumer goods
company and its headquartered in London, UK. It will produce a project plan with aims or
objectives and define work breakdown structure with Gantt chart. This will carry out a mini-
research through qualitative and quantitative methods. Recommendation and reflection also will
describe in this report.
TASK 1
P1 Analysis of project aims and objectives
This is an important task which must be complete by every business firm as small or
large firm in which they determine particular aims or objectives of the company. These are
necessary for providing appropriate instructions to the employees regarding goals by designing
various task or work so that set targets can be accomplished in better manner. This report will
define about the digital technology that how these can impacts on the business performance for
achieving growth or sustainability. It is necessary to consider all these digital technologies and
adoptions innovation or creations in particular products and services so that customers can
attract. This can be beneficial for satisfying people needs or desired expectations by getting best
goods or services from the company (Bakker, 2011). Many of organisations focus on adopting
advanced technologies in their business performance or completing any task or work which
support in making better positions in the market place. These digital technologies are helpful in
managing g entire activities, functions as well as workforce by utilisation so that company can
run its operations in more efficient manner. There are various areas in which digitalisation
requires such as storages, records, filling requirements, and sharing appropriate informations by
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using better applications and could technology as well. Company also can use digital technology
in the communication process so that it can be improved such as E-mail, Social media and
mobile applications which support in providing adequate information about the business
activities or functions. Unilever plc also using best innovative ideas and digital techniques for
completing and achieving task or objectives in well manner so that they can build trust of
targeted audiences for long time period (Crane, 2016). It can be found that new advanced
techniques can be more efficient in storage as well as distribution so organisation can manage or
maintain these facilities in an efficient way through utilisation of internet connectivity and
broadband systems. Innovation and advancements are very effective and beneficial that
contributes more in the production process as businessman can take favourable decisions for
producing goods or services as per the market trends, fashions, situations, customers choices and
preferences as well. This is an essential for enhancing sales and increase profitability in an
effective manner.
There are many of firms who faced various problems due to adoption of new
technologies and innovation ideas or its implementations within the firm. It can be create
challenges and problems towards business firm that can be faced by them while running
operations or functions. Challenges included several components such as resistance to change,
lack of finance, improper management, and increasing costs of production etc. there can be
positive and negative impacts on the organisation due to occurring changes or adopting advanced
technologies (Matten, 2016). Therefore, it is necessary to consider all these factors and grab
opportunities by formulating better strategies so that maximum outcomes.
Background of project
Unilever plc is a British-Dutch transnational consumer goods company that produce
number of items including foods, beverages, personal care products and cleaning agents. It is
situated in London, United Kingdom. This company is world's largest consumer goods and it has
generated Euro 53.7 billion as per recent data. They are focusing on finding new technologies for
making entire work more effective and easy so that particular goals can be accomplished. Their
main focus on bringing innovative ideas and digitalisation in the beauty industry as Unilever plc
is selling various cosmetics items in the market place.
Topic: “ How business have coped with the major challenges of Digital Disruption and
Transformation: A case study of Unilever plc”
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Aims: The purpose of this project is to analyse the impact of digitalisation and its adoptions to
accomplish set targets and cope up with challenges that can be occurred while running
organisation because of digital disruption and transformation.
Objectives:
 To identify the impact of Unilever's mobile application on sales and productivity.
 To ascertain the influence of standardized tools at overall company.
 To analyse the drawbacks of starting mobile application of at workplace.
Research questions:
 In what ways modern technology (Unilever's mobile application) influence the
company's sales and it productivity?
 What are the reasons behind using standardized tools at workplace and its impact on
overall company?
 What are the drawbacks to Unilever of launching mobile application?
P2 Production of project management plan
For every successful organisation, it must be required to consider appropriate plan for
project management which is requires to achieve goals or objectives in an effective manner
(Crane, 2014). In the planning process, company decide the strategies for implementing the
advanced technologies which are necessary for accomplishing set targets or goals so that
business can get succeed. There are needed some important aspects such as cost, scope, quality,
time, communication, resources and risks while making a plan for organisation. These are very
beneficial for getting best possible outcomes so that it contributes more for managing business
and achieve predetermined objectives. Company can gain various benefits with the help of
project management plan like reducing costs or expenses, save more time, involvement of
employees and increase productivity or profitability in an effective way. These are define some
project implementation of digital technologies such as:
Scope: This is an essential for organisation in analysing scope of project so that more
benefits can be attained within the organisation (Matten, 2016). It is require to consider the
innovative structure and develop it for the purpose of producing goods and services to satisfy
customers needs. It has wide scope in achieving predetermined objectives through better
improvement of various aspects including administration, promotions, distribution, production
and use online techniques for business expansions as well.
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Costs: This is an important part which is requires for managing the business with an
appropriate planning. In this, it support in making plan regarding budgeting, cost for projects and
provide adequate information regarding utilisation of digital technology (Eweje, 2012). It is very
beneficial component that defines all occurring costs or expenses that arise during project
completion. There is require high investments for particular project such as implementation of
advanced technologies and adoptions of strategies for providing better training to the staff
members, and enhance their skills or knowledges for increasing work productivity in the
organisation.
Total forecasted budget 2017-18
Particulars
Implementing technology cost 15000
Promotional expense 5000
Advertisement expense 4500
Catalogues 1600
Training charges 6500
Total cost 32600
Time: In this defined the appropriate time and durations which is necessary for
implementing strategies regarding adoption of new technologies so that company can make its
work in more easy way. Project manager identify the adequate the time that needed for
completion of project in an appropriate manner (Turner, 2012). Unilever plc also consider the
time while adopting new technologies within the business for operating functions or activities in
well manner. Unilever plc generally use the critical path method fir the purpose of identifying
required time period so that projects can be completed in more effective way. It give
opportunities tom the organisation in allocating available resources among various activities so
that maximum outcomes can be gained.
Quality: It is genuine to occur any kinds of risks or uncertainties during projections.
There is required to analyse the risks factors which can be arise while adopting new technologies
and digitalisation in the firm. Unilever plc, which is dealing in various products or services in the
market place. They also provide beauty products such as cream, shampoo, soap, liner and many
more to satisfy customers desired needs. They are focusing on adoption of new techniques
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regarding digital and online trading so that entire procedure can be manage and maintained in
well manner. It is necessary to identify various risks factors that can occur while running
business such as lack of funds, employees disputes, inappropriate knowledge or skills and many
more. Therefore, Unilever requires to provide better training and learning to the every employees
so that they will be aware as well as ready to accept such changes and try to achieve set goals or
objectives in well manner (Müller, 2012). It is very necessary to achieve predetermined goals or
objectives and complete particular project in well manner.
Communication: It is one the best or important element which requires for
communicating necessary informations and focus on achieving set targets or goals in an efficient
manner. This factors can affects on the business operations due to lack of communication. It is
necessary to provide proper information to the every people or create awareness among people
regarding making business decisions or adoption of changes within the organisation. This is an
essential that support in allowing every individual for taking part while making any decisions
and create coordination among them so that common task or goals can be achieved with limited
time period. There are various technologies for improving communication such as E-mail,
socials media, commercial techniques many more for providing adequate informations to the
targeted people or audiences as well. This will support in building strong relationship among
people so that particular goals can be achieved and also enhance the sales or productivity in well
manner.
Resources: There is requires proper resources for completing particular project or make it
effective and efficient (Eweje, 2012). Project manager of Unilever have to be sure about
available resources that requires for achieving set targets or goals such as utilisation of
technologies and other physical resources such as land, capital and manpower etc.
P3 Production of work breakdown structure and Gantt chart
Work breakdown structure may be concern with divisions of number of tasks or work
into small groups so that employees can complete these in well manner. Project manager
consider the entire tasks and ensure about available manpower who are able to complete the
work so they play vital role in analysing employees skills or abilities for performing particular
task or work to accomplish set targets. It is best method for bringing new technologies and
innovative ideas and also perform entire work in an effective way through better coordination
and cooperation as well.
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Gantt chart is also an essential to make better project plan and schedule the whole
activities so that individual can perform these in better manner (Turner, 2012). It support in
provide accurate information and define time by considering starting to ending point of project
by presenting in chart form. It shows the allocation or assigning job task, duration of time and
completion of project that also known as paper work or blue print of project.
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TASK 2
P4 Carrying of small scale research through application of qualitative and quantitative techniques
In this define a mini-research that conduct for gathering information through applying
various tools or techniques so that better decisions can be made regarding adoption of new
technologies within the organisation. These are very necessary to meet with desired aims or
objectives so that company can get succeed in well manner. In this consider the accurate and
adequate information by primary or secondary methods. It is necessary to make better understand
of each and every employees regarding performance and tasks for project so that company
consider the study and get more informations. Here are define some data collection method for
the purpose of carrying out such mini-research in an appropriate way such as:
Qualitative research: In this defined the study for identifying respondents behaviours
regarding any project and adoption of new technologies within the firm. It play vital role in
gathering informations regarding attitudes, behaviours, opinion, point of views and many more
of employees regarding adoption of new techniques and advanced technologies in the firm. It
helps in analysing the impacts of digital technology on the business operations and functions for
getting success (Müller, 2012). It also help in gathering informations or data regarding
experiences or past life incidents that give more learning or knowledges to the respondent. In this
included several methods such as interviews, observations, and group discussions etc.
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Quantitative research: In this method, data are to be gathered in the numerical or
quantitative form for making better decisions. It consider various tools or techniques such as
statistics, mathematical, numerical and computational for getting adequate or accurate
information. This method is very effective or beneficial that support in attaining best possible
outcomes for business success. In this, project manager can compare data in more effective
manner by using different methods and take some sample size of population. It helps in reducing
time consumptions and gather relevant data for particular project.
Primary method: This is another important any to collect accurate information without
any biasses. Many of researcher prefer this method for collecting information and analyse them
for taking corrective action in an effective manner. This is an essential to gather data from
directly respondent so that more reliable informations can be get. It is also known as first hand
data collection method that not discovered by any person before. It is also helpful component
that support in informations and analyse the digital impacts on the business operations regarding
selling of cosmetic products to the target audiences in an effective manner (Fisher, 2011). It
included number of methods such as questionnaire, observation, interviews and group
discussions that provide accurate data for better results as well.
Secondary method: This is also one of the best method for data collection as researcher
focus on gathering more relevant data through secondary method. It support in collecting data
within limited time period. So it also known as less time consumption technique because it
gather those information which already collected by someone. In this included newspapers,
magazines, articles, web sites, internet, blogs and many more.
Questionnaire
Name
Gender
Age
Q1. What does impact of mobile application on the business operation of Unilever?
 Positive
 Negative
Q2. What technology will support to respond digital disruption and transformation within the
Unilever plc?
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 E-commerce
 IT software's
 Wireless technologies
 Cloud computing
Q3. What disruptive digital technology will be suitable for transformation in business?
 Virtual reality
 AI
 Online platforms
Q4. How mobile application support to improve profitability of Unilever plc?
 Positive
 Negative
Q5. Can digitisation create complexities while conducting business functions or activities for
Unilever plc?
 Agree
 Disagree
Q6. In what area requires implementation of digital technology first within an organisation?
 Distribution
 Promotional
 communication
TASK 3
P5 Analysis of the research and data through use of appropriate tools
Q1. What does impact of Mobile application
on the business operation of Unilever?
Frequency
 Positive 26
 Negative 14
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