Leading Change at Unilever: Evaluating Impacts and Approaches

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of change management within Unilever, examining the impacts of change on the organization's strategy and operations. It identifies and assesses various internal and external drivers of change, such as technological advancements, competition, and evolving consumer demands. The report evaluates how these drivers affect leadership, team dynamics, and individual behaviors within the company. Furthermore, it explores measures to minimize the negative impacts of change and applies relevant theories and models, including Lewin's Change Management Model and Force Field Analysis, to understand and respond to organizational change effectively. The report also delves into the barriers to change and their influence on leadership decision-making, along with an evaluation of different leadership approaches and their effectiveness in managing change within Unilever, ultimately providing recommendations for successful change implementation.

Understanding and
Leading Change

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................3
TASK...............................................................................................................................................3
P1 Different organizational examples that disclose the impacts of change on the
organizational strategy and operation.........................................................................................3
M1 Assess the different drivers for change.................................................................................5
P2 Evaluate the ways of change drivers that effects leadership, team and individual
behaviours...................................................................................................................................5
P3 Measures to minimize negative impacts of change...............................................................7
M2 Evaluate the organizational change response apply appropriate theories and models.........8
D1 Conclusion and recommendations with valid justification...................................................8
P4 Evaluate the different barriers for change and their influence on leadership decision
making.........................................................................................................................................9
M3 Analysing the influences use force field analysis.................................................................9
D2 Critically evaluate the force field analysis..........................................................................10
P5 Apply the different leadership approaches..........................................................................10
M4 Evaluate the approaches of leadership by applying appropriate model.............................11
D3 Critically evaluate the effectiveness of leadership approaches and models for change
management..............................................................................................................................11
CONCLUSION .............................................................................................................................12
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................13

INTRODUCTION
Leadership is the ability or skill of encouraging many people to work in accordance to
make the capable of accomplishing the objectives or goals of the company. In addition to this, it
can also be referred as the organisational structure management. The following report is based on
the the company Unilever which was founded in the year 1929 having its headquarters in
London, UK. Company specialises in selling food, beverages, cleaning agents and other several
retail products (Yuan and et. al., 2022). The following report will cover about the discussion
regarding the external as well as internal elements that can be useful in understanding the drivers
of change. Moreover to this, it will be focusing on the effect of change and it will also outline
few of the recommendation by that they can eliminate the effect of change. In addition to this,
the report will be mentioning regarding the several elements as well as frameworks that can be
useful in knowing the drivers of change and their effect on the organisational goals.
TASK
P1 Different organizational examples that disclose the impacts of change on the organizational
strategy and operation.
Organisational techniques or strategies is a ever changing long term action plan which
shows the way towards the acknowledgement of goals and visions or the organisation. It assist in
understanding that how a business can allocate its several resources which are inventory,
workforce, investment and many more, in order to assist the practices of the business. In case of
the company Unilever, the firm opts several changes by making the strategies as well as structure
an appropriate way to gain more profitability. To identify the changes in the strategies as well as
in functions, few examples are mentioned below:
Unilever Nestle
Technological
changes
Changes in technology effects on the
food industry at the broad level.
Management of Unilever was
encountering several issues regarding
up gradation of technology in order to
Changes in technology effects the
company. The firm was facing from
the demand of the consumers in order
to reduce sugar in chocolate.
 Effect on strategies –

recycle the industrial waste. Company
need to change their techniques and
functioning to enhance the company's
efficiency (Wang, 2022).
 Effect on strategies – Company
has introduce crucial technology
to recycle their product sachets.
 Effect on operations – As
because of change in
technology, a firm requires to
enhance or providing training
and development campaigns in
order to train people with
having several technical
capabilities.
Success of the firm is made
on addressing dynamic
demand of the conusmer in
whole world. In the ever
changing environment
innovating leadership is the
vital techniques to
accomplishing in marketplace.
 Effect on operations –
Company is focused on
appropriately organising their
operations of research and
development in order to
modify its innovative abilities.
Corporate
changes
In order to sustain in the market for
broader time period the firm alter their
structure and channels. After evaluating
the existing method, logistics, gap
evaluation and many more. It leads the
organisation with both functional and
technicals features (Sanches and Lopes,
2022).
Effect on strategies – Behavioural
management of change technique to
linking people with the company's plan
of action. Positioning sustainability in
the entire company in the manner
workers operates.
Company requires to restructure their
firm because the organisation was
facing serious problems. The firm
utilising the top down approach-
oriented in the firm in an effective
way. So the firm has altered its
functions and techniques.
Effect on strategies – Organisation
find it essential issues with having
hierarchy model and make the
company on move campaigns. It
assist in attainment of the whole
contribution of employees and
promote their opportunities to

Effect on operations – Leading the
entire change management in the
operations of business involves
business methods, negotiate,
monitoring the changes, addressing the
affairs of state and implementing
alteration strategies and plans.
enhance the capabilities.
Effects on operations – Develop the
leadership practices and make the
people ideas to promote a mutual fit
of value that make the firm's culture
and spirit (Novak, 2022).
Additionally, company concentrates
on the providing on the job training
and development in order to motivate
the workers that belong from several
firms and culture.
M1 Assess the different drivers for change.
Change evolve and makes the firm into the learning company which assist in scaling its
capability to make prosperous future and also learning new methods of attaining it. It will assist
to survive as well as adopt in the fluctuating environment and achieve the goals of the company.
In addition to this, change driver are basically of two types which are external and internal
change factors. External changes are not at all convenient to carry off and this factor involves
technology, competition, consumers, government and many more.
Types of organizational change:-
Transformational change – A organisation change in implicit processes and techniques which
has utilised in the recent time for modification in the company's business culture. In case of the
company Unilever, plan of organisation is their sustainable growth by accomplishing change by
innovation, operations, brand and sourcing .
Remedial change – It refers to providing the solution to the actual issued in order to better the
poor productivity or performance of the company. For instance, fiscal issues. In context to
Unilever, management concentrates on providing training in an appropriate way to minimise the
issue of bad productivity (Mehra and Kepp, 2022).

P2 Evaluate the ways of change drivers that effects leadership, team and individual behaviours.
There are two types of the drivers which are mentioned that impacts team, individual and
leadership behaviour as well. In relation to the Unilever, key drivers of change are mentioned
below in brief:
Internal drivers:
 Resources – This driver of internal factor involves workforce, technology, finanace and
several other resources which are mandatory to have in order to accomplish the goals of
the company (Lawrence and et. al., 2022). In context to Unilever, if employees did not
get resources on time them it can lead to lack of productivity of a individual as well as
whole team. It majorly effect on the success of the organisation because manager are not
capable to utilised their several style of leadership in order to guide and motivate their
worker.
 Finance – It is the essential need of all the commercial organisation in accordance to
operate the working of the company smoothly and effectively. In case of the company
Unilever, company must have adequate capital in order to conduct their operations
effectively as well as efficiently. If company is lacking this resource then it can lead to
the failure in working of the people and team and moreover leaders of the company will
also be fail to execute the changes without having the sufficient fiscal resources.
 Skills – In case of the company Unilever, if their workers or leaders are not that
competent to function or opt changes conveniently then firm might face heavy losses.
Staff need appropriate knowledge as well as skills in order to function in the environment
of change and managers are capable to adapt and maintain t he changes by utilising the
effectual skills of leadership. Hence, the firm is majorly focused on the skills as well as
abilities of the people to work on things in an effectual way (Irrgang And et. al., 2022).
External drivers:
 Government – Instability in the policies of the government, rules and legislation impact
the firm's workers and leaders as an individual or as a team. In context to the company
Unilever, management is needed to obey all the laws that are made by the government. If
the company fails to follow the rules or policies then it can lead to the firm facing various
serious legal consequences or can result in monetary penalty. This can might effect in the
motivation level of the worker.

 Competition – It is one of the major element in business growth because all the
organisations need to monitor their rivals as well as their implemented strategies. In
relation to Unilever, competition in the market impacts the firm at the vast extent and it
also effects on the functioning of the workers as an individual or the team and also to the
leadership style which managers follow.
 Consumers – Consumers are the reason for the existence of the company in the market
as it majorly depends on the needs as well as demand of the consumers. In relation to the
Unilever, dynamic changes in the needs and preferences of the consumers, effects the
managers and worker. As the workers requires to operate on the fluctuating needs in
order to accomplish the goals of the company(Ghoreyshi Aref, Jirasek and Seidel, 2022).
P3 Measures to minimize negative impacts of change.
Changes effects negatively and optimistically on the productivity and performance of
functioning of the Unilever. Optimistic change is the way of growth and success and in compare
to the negative effects need to be evaluated in accordance to eliminate them. In order to reduce
the negative effect of the change, management of Unilever can take few of the measures which
are mentioned below briefly:
 Leadership – At the time when workers are not friendly to the culture of the company,
then it can make the negative impact on the working of the organisation. So, management
need to focus on developing the skills of leadership in the managers in order to make the
more responsible as well as leader's capabilities to adapt the changes in a proper way.
 Clear Goals – In order to conduct assessment in against the goals and objectives of
productivity to monitor the changes that will move organisations in the way of
accomplishment of the desire goals of the company. It will support in evaluating the need
of change ethically, fiscally and strategically as well.
 Making communicating strategies – This technique includes the element for how
changes in the organisation can be communicated and implemented. If these changes are
conveniently communicated to the workers then those worker will be more capable to do
it in an efficient as well as effective way (Ghosh And et. al., 2022).
 Train staff - Management of Unilever requires to provide appropriate training and
education to their worker regarding the modification or change. The firm need to be use
proactive effort in order to educate their employees and encourage them in order to work

more efficiently. Moreover, it gives an outcome in effectual leading change and
executing the top skills of leadership in the change management.
 Make a culture of learning – Learning is not a temporary changes in the behaviour of
the people. Management making a culture of leaning in which employees might
encounter several new issues and make their skills of leadership for their future growth
and success.
M2 Evaluate the organizational change response apply appropriate theories and models.
In order to identify the effect of change the organisation need to utilise the Lewin's model
of change management. It is one of the most effectual framework which is utilised to know the
structural as well as organisational change (Doeleman and Landman, 2022). In addition to this,
Lewin's monitored that many people that apt to prefer and function the changes in their safe area.
Dividing the process of change into several categories which are change, refreezing and
unfreezing. Management of Unilever utilised this framework in the several manner by unfreezing
the change as it involves the making of process of change. It will assist the firm in making the
effectual decisions. Moreover to this, change has been adopts appropriately and the organisation
become more stable as well as employees get more encouragement of the respective changes.
Apart from this, the negative element of this framework is tough to implement the guidance of
process and it also more of the time consuming process.
D1 Conclusion and recommendations with valid justification.
Planning in the management of change is crucial, it assist in evaluating the rational,
effects on the techniques as well as functions and studied drivers of change. In addition to this,
internal drivers will assist the company Unilever to appropriately maintain their essential
resources, investment and many more. It is also utilised in monitoring the several business
practices. Apart from this external drivers involves government, technology, competitors etc. that
can assist in understanding the external environment of the company (Clearfield, 2022). In
accordance to the benefit of the firm it is recommended to them that they need to give more
efforts on minimising or eliminating the negative effects and hurdle for executing the changes in
organisation. Though, the firm effectually communicate the changes to the members of their
team and communicate the effect together with the perks. It also assist in encouraging team to
accomplish the objectives.

P4 Evaluate the different barriers for change and their influence on leadership decision making.
There are various barriers of change which can become an issue at the time of executing
changes in the company. It effects on effectual decision making of manager in a considerable
way. In case of the Unilever, following barriers are mentioned below:
 Complexity in organisation – Planning and executing the changes is more complex than
developing products and system. Management of Unilever tries to adapts changes but it is
complex process so it act as a hurdle to the company and causing ineffectual decision
making by leaders. It might gives an outcome in the failure of change management due to
the lack of substitutes which are there for planning which should have the superior place
in change (Choudhary and Khare, 2022). The organisation is focusing on eliminating this
barrier by adopting several innovative approach to manage the success and complexity of
a company.
 Poor engagement of employees – This is one of the most basic barrier of the change
management. In it workers are not involved properly in the process of change as they are
more afraid of change. If the workers are not involved, it is not possible for the firm to
execute a change in an effectual way. In context to Unilever, at the time when firm is
treating their workers like their assets is the only method by which the changes might be
easily executed in an optimistic way.
 Unknown existing situation – Implementation of change is tough for all the business
which avoid the idea of their current situation. In context to Unilever, management is
aware about their future to evaluate the existing model that can cause a hurdle in
executing the change. It will act as the barrier for the organisation and impact the
effectual decisions of the firm. In order to eliminate this barrier, organisation requires to
evaluate the plan of action before implementing the change. Though, appropriate info
will be directed to the employees for executing the change.
M3 Analysing the influences use force field analysis.
Force field evaluation – It offers the structure for understand the elements that impacts a
circumstance. This framework is utilised at the time when a problem is reduce in situation by the
communication among two anti sets of elements and such try to restraining and driving the
forces. In case of Unilever, management can adopt force field analysis in order to implement
change in a proper way. This framework can assist the leader of the firm in understanding the

perks of executing and understanding the changes (Chan and Gibbs, 2022)). There are two kinds
of forces such are restraining force as well as driving force. In relation to the company Unilever,
if the consumer needs new and better offering then it is considered to be in driving force and if
the firm is not able to handle technology later then it is called as restraining force.
D2 Critically evaluate the force field analysis.
Force field evaluation is the method which need to be utilised for the accomplishment of
objectives in a particular time period. This evaluation will be advantageous to the workers and
for the company as well. Driving force will be beneficial for the firm to opt the changes in an
optimistic way because it supports in accomplishing the required goals as well as objectives of
the firm. In comparison to it restraining forces can effect the growth of the firm in a negative
way because it enhances the level of stress among the workers (Carpenter, 2022).
P5 Apply the different leadership approaches.
Leadership has an essential role in all the firms to execute the changes in the company. It
is very crucial for the managers of the Unilever to adapt the effective approach of leadership in
order to encourage the worker in accomplishment of the objectives in an efficient way. Few of
the leadership style is utilised in Unilever is mentioned below briefly:
 Autocratic Leadership – This leadership style focuses on entire control of all the
decisions of the workers. It is one of the most used type of leadership. In case of the
company Unilever, organisation can utilise this style of leadership because it is more
appropriate for the workers to learn the things and the leaders following it need not be
concerned about the acceptance and reactions of the members. Moreover to this, one of
its main disadvantage like manager who follows this style of leadership are busy in
managing their burden of work which can be the reason for their health problems as well
as stress (Cao and et. al., 2022).
 Democratic Leadership – This leadership style assist in participative management. In
case of Unilever, organisation can adopt this style to make effectual bonds with the
workers and appreciate their ideas and opinions for the decision making. Moreover to
this, it is time consuming method as it takes lots of time to communicate and gathers
different ideas.
 Situational leadership – It helps in maintaining the several situations in the company
and it can be utilised by the leaders in order to make effectual decisions. In context to the

management of Unilever, leaders can utilise this way to execute changes and tacking
conflicts which are encountered by the workers. The nature of this approach is flexible as
it focuses in dealing several issues.
M4 Evaluate the approaches of leadership by applying appropriate model.
In order to assess the leadership method, management of Unilever can utilised Kotter's
theory for executing changes in the organisation (Brooks And et. al., 2022). It is mentioned
below:
Kotter's Theory – This framework is concentrates on the employees not on the changes.
It involves several stages in which all the steps are concentrated on the vital principles which is
linked with the response of members to change. In case of Unilever, Enhance the urgency in
people to encourage them in accomplishing the goals. It will assist in getting g knowledgable as
well as skilled building of team. Making a clear vision by involving techniques and goals. It need
to be interact with the members of the team in order to change which is linked to taking an action
by taking assistance, using in an appropriate way and eliminating barriers as well. In order to
accomplish the every goals of the firm it requires to concentrate on the short term goals by
separating them and gain more growth without any stress.
D3 Critically evaluate the effectiveness of leadership approaches and models for change
management.
After evaluating the leadership methods, democratic style of leadership is most
appropriate for the respective firm, as it is proper for the leaders and the members of the
organisation. Whereas, it is beneficial for the leaders in increasing the performance and
effectualness of the company (Applebaum, Nessim and Cho, 2022) . Moreover to this, it is
tough for the leaders for selecting the appropriate decisions and this method is also a bit of time
consuming as it includes several people to provide their opinion. In addition to this, Kotter's
framework can be utilised for the effectual leadership and change management of the company
Unilever. The evaluation of Kotter's model in the company Unilever, requires to pay more
attention on to their techniques of feedback.
CONCLUSION
From the above report it has been concluded that, all the organisations requires change on
the consistent way in order to manage their business in effectual way. The change driver which is

external as well as internal has an essential role in order to opt changes and endure in the
fluctuating environment with their whole capability. In accordance to execute and adopt effectual
changes, evaluation of several barriers is mandatory which impacts the leadership decision
making. Moreover to this, the force field framework can be utilised by the organisation in order
to identify the elements which impacts the situations. In accordance to manage the changes in an
effective way leadership methods are utilised to create constructive decisions.