Leadership and Management at Unilever: Roles, Theories, and Operation

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of leadership and management within Unilever, a multinational consumer goods company. It begins with an introduction to Unilever's organizational structure, emphasizing its hierarchical design and the roles of managers and leaders. The report defines and contrasts the responsibilities of managers and leaders, supported by examples and theoretical frameworks. Task 1 delves into the analysis of managerial and leadership roles in various scenarios, such as addressing miscommunication and fostering a safe work environment, using leadership and system management theories. Task 2 explores Unilever's key operational functions, including product development, quality management, and supply chain management, highlighting the roles of operations managers. The report evaluates the impact of external factors on the business environment and suggests improvements for operational efficiencies to meet business objectives. The conclusion summarizes the findings and offers recommendations for future improvements in leadership, management, and operational practices within Unilever. The report aims to offer valuable insights into effective leadership, management strategies, and operational excellence within a global business context.

LEADERSHIP
AND
MANAGEMENT

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
An introduction to the Unilever and it organisational structure.............................................1
Definition and roles of both manager and leaders..................................................................2
Analysis the different roles of manager and leader in different situation supported by the
theories...................................................................................................................................4
Strength and weakness of different approaches of leadership and management...................5
Conclusion and recommendation of the future improvement................................................6
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................6
An introduction to the key operation of Unilever..................................................................6
The key operation function, identify the roles and responsibilities of manager....................7
The key operational approaches to operation management...................................................8
Evaluation of external factor impact business environment.................................................10
Operational efficiencies be improved to successfully to meet business objectives.............11
Conclusion and recommendation for the future improvement.............................................11
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................12
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................13

INTRODUCTION
Leadership is sets the new direction or a vision for a group who are work within the team
for same gaols and objectives. Other hand management control and direct to peoples or resources
as per the principles or values. The management is a sets of processes of planning, organising,
budgeting, staffing and controlling. Leaders are focus on listening, building relationship,
motivate, teamwork and inspiring their follower (Amanchukwu, Stanley and Ololube, 2015). The
present study is based on the “Unilever” which is the British manufacturer company. It is
manufacture the consumers goods like beauty products, cleaning agents, personal care etc. The
study lays emphasis on the organisation structure of the Unilever and the roles of both manager
and leaders. Report will analysis by the different roles of management and leadership which will
supported by the theories and approaches and its strength and weakness. Study will introduced
by the key operations of the organisation and its detailed explantation by roles of leaders and
managers. This report will be supported by key operational approaches to the operation
management and their values. It will highlighted by the operational efficiency can improved to
meet business objectives and also recommended by the future improvements.
TASK 1
An introduction to the Unilever and it organisational structure.
Unilever is the British transnational consumer goods company. Its products include food,
cleaning, beauty products and personal care products. It is one biggest multinational company
and its products are available in around 190 countries. The company has the 155000 numbers of
employees with 9.808 million new income in 2018. the company was founded by the Dutch
margarine producer in September 2, 1929. the Unilever plc has a primary listing in the London
stock exchange.
Management structure of Unilever
Unilever's corporate structure is responsible for ensuring the support for the product
development and innovation in the firm at global business. The companies organisational
structure and corporate structure is design that defines arrangements and system for build various
organisational component (Bolden, 2016). The organisational structure is help to arrange
responsibilities, authorities and relationship between the peoples. The Unilever company is

follow the formal organisational structure this is codifies by hierarchical of relationship between
the jobs.
The organisational structure of Unilever is the arrangements of the responsibilities for the
peoples. To locate an observation with the hypercube. This organisational structure is mainly
consider with the hierarchical structure (Organizational structure, 2017). This contain the direct
chain of command from the top of the organisation. In that senior manager make a decision then
passed to subsidiary level of management. Bottom of this pyramid make decision they pass
request up through the chain od command for accept that.
Definition and roles of both manager and leaders.
Leaders and manager are very important part of the Unilever. They are plays their
effective role and responsibilities for achieving goals and objectives of company. Definition,
roles and responsibilities of leaders and manager are as follows:
Illustration 1: organisational structure of Unilever
(Source: Organizational structure, 2017)

Definition of leaders
Leaders are influences a group of peoples towards the achievement of goals and
objectives of Unilever.
Definition of manager
Manager is responsible for controlling, supervising and motivating employees and for
directing the progress of an organisation.
The roles and characteristics of leadership and management
Management Leadership
Management is the process of getting thinks and
managing all the activities of Unilever.
Leadership is a good of leading peoples
through encouraging them.
Manager build strategic vision for the team
members.
Leaders involve the team in plan a future
directing for work and task.
Roles of leaders and managers
Manager is responsible for controlling a group
and give clear direction to the leaders for the
work and achieve goals or objectives (Bush,
Bell and Middlewood, 2019).
The leaders are responsible for motivate the
employees to giving hard contribution for
achieve team goals and objectives.
Manager are responsible for accepting
challenges and direct. They are take daily
efforts and have analysis the resources and
anticipating needs for make changes according
to the situation.
Leaders are responsible for taking challenges.
Leaders of Unilever have their own style to
doing work and solve problems in correct
manner.
Characteristics of leaders and managers
Communication skill is the main characteristics
of the manager because by this they are able to
keep their employees for informed about the
rules and regulations of which are happing in
Unilever in present and future.
With the help of effective characteristics is
communi9cation skills by this they are
communicate with their employees and team
members regarding their task and job roles
(Chiu, Balkundi and Weinberg, 2017).
Honesty is very effective characteristics of Honesty is the main characteristics of leader.

manager and they have to maintain in
organisation. Manager of Unilever is very
honesty about their work and team.
By this leaders are believe their followers and
shows them path to employees.
Analysis the different roles of manager and leader in different situation supported by the
theories.
Leaders and manager have various roles and responsibilities at different situation which
are happing in the Unilever (Thorpe, 2016). In that, different approaches are help to leaders and
manager to give perfect solution as per the situation which are as follows:
Miscommunication and feedback
Communication is the very essential part of the organisation. This make the effective
collaboration at team work and plays their roles in Unilever or it can be oral, written.
Communication gap is creating miscommunication between the peoples and this affect to result
of work. For example: at the time of work distribution in that miscommunication and poor
listening is happing the it create miscommunication in the organisation. This give negative
impact on the result of work. In that role of manager make sure about their information and
knowledge which is communicate to the employees. They have to tries reduce noise at the time
of meeting. Other hand, the roles of leader is sure before conveying their messages to team
members and give proper direction to them (Crawshaw and Game, 2015). It will help to improve
productivity of team as well Unilever.
For that situation leadership theory, is help handle this situation in effective manner.
According to this their leader of Unilever, handle miscommunication and in that leaders are use
the effective and easy language to communicate with their team members. This help to
understand the needs of followers and gain their trust and make changes as per situation and
condition.
Unsafe and unhealthy work environment
Safe and healthy work environment is very important for the organisation to maintain
their goodwill and employees at workplace. With the help of safe and healthy work environment
employees are always attract employees towards the Unilever. It is effective and valuable for the
manager and leaders to give safe working environment to their employees. Like female
employees are not feel safe from their workplace location. In that role of leaders make the

positive and safe work culture at their team (Pardey, 2016). Also, give motivation to their
employees by they are feel safe at team. Meanwhile, manager is responsible for setting goals for
organisation. Organized effective and safe working environment for their employees as well as
female staff members. By this employees are feel safe from their workplace.
For that system management theory, is support to manager of Unilever by making
effective solution at the time of work (Green and Piel, 2015). In that manger making healthy
work environment at organisation. They can use the different safe tools and equipments for
safety issues like can be provide cab facilities to female staff and free working hours.
Strength and weakness of different approaches of leadership and management.
The situation leadership theory and system management theory is help to leaders and
managers of Unilever for handle any type of situation at organisation. This theory have strength
and weakness which are as follows:
Theory Strength Weakness
Situational leadership theory  This theory have
strength by their group
environment remains
comfortable and
effective. This help to
build better team unity
at Unilever (Jackson,
Sørense and Møller,
2019).
 This help to enhance
awareness in
employees and also
boost motivation by
involving in decision
making process.
 Lack of understanding
the demographic
differences by lacking
high quality
experience.
 By this theory
possibility of creating
confusion within the
group and team.
System management theory  This provide the proper
framework for the
 This process is lengthy
and big in the nature.

presentation and
interpretation of the
realities.
 This have strength to
clarify the complexity
and dynamism of the
environment.
 It has not widely
popular by acceptance
less numbers of leaders
(Larson and Gray,
2017).
Conclusion and recommendation of the future improvement.
Form the above leaders and managers have made impact on the organisation and its
growth. They are hardly contribute in growth and goodwill of the company. It is effective and
valuable way of the business. They has give proper and prefect solution and guidances to their
followers for work. Leaders and mangers has give positive impact on Unilever's growth and
policies. Both have effective and valuable roles and responsibilities for maintain organisation
goals and achieving it in effective manner. Manager and leaders has influences on employees
and they has primary function of the organisation (Meng and Boyd, 2017).
For the future improvement recommendations are here for manager, use the effective
communication skills for convey their message to others. Organise training and development
program for employees to train them for the work. Recommendation related to the safe and
healthy working environment is to provide the safe and healthy working environment like before
starting work check all the equipments and machinery. By this employees are not harm at the
time of work. For leaders use easy communication language for communicate with peoples.
TASK 2
An introduction to the key operation of Unilever.
The Unilever's is the biggest manufacturing company which manufacture the beauty,
food and beverages for customers. Unilever's operation management is responsible for keep the
high productivity in all over world for best and goods business and its profits (Thorpe, 2016).
The operation managers is develop the effective and valuable goods and services with best
quality of product. By this more customers are attract towards growth of company. Operation
manager develop process to support the organisation for achieving higher performance in the

effective strategic decision of operation and productivity. Its operation are directly support to the
financial performance of company and also to maintain high productivity.
Unilever is involves operation management approaches to keep the effective business and
high productive products. The key operation functions of Unilever are concerned with the
planning, organising, directing and controlling all the activities of the organisation. Other hand,
Unilever's operation manager includes design of good and services, quality management, process
and capacity design, job design and human resource, supply chain management, inventory
management etc. (Takeuchi, 2016). those are the functions which are maintain by operation
manager of company. With the help of effective operation management, the result of product and
services are good in manner or in effective way. The description of key operation function with
roles of manager is described in next step.
The key operation function, identify the roles and responsibilities of manager.
The key operation function of Unilever with roles of manager are as follows:
Design of goods and services
The design of goods and services are effective and valuable to maintain is very important
and effective for positive growth of company. Operation management of Unilever attend to
product development issues and challenges. For develop the product and its services here is

required the best process for best consumer products (Furterer, 2016). In that Unilever manager
plays an effective role by ensuring design for effective output level and result.
Quality management
The quality management is also important function of Unilever to produces and satisfied
customers needs and wants about product quality. Company is involves in their operation
function is implementing quality requirements. In that role of manager, to maintain high
productivity of quality management, corporate standard or with local standard. This support to
product development and its strategies.
Supply chain management
The supply chain management support the business strategies. With the help of effective
and best supply chain management, manager is able to supply their products and services to
customer and marketplace. By this customers are highly attract (Jacobs, Swink and Linderman,
2015). The manager of Unilever is plays an effective roles by focusing decision making which
are based on supply and demand at target market with minimal managerial times is consumed.
Also, the operational efficiency of the company supply chain maintain by regular monitoring and
effective problem solving.
Those are key operational functions of operation management with effective roles of
manager. Manager of Unilever is plays an effective role for growth and increase profit margin of
company.
The key operational approaches to operation management.
There are various key operational approaches to manage operation process of Unilever
such as total quality management, six sigma and Just in time inventory. With the help of those
approaches manager is able to reduce wastage from their production process. Its description are
as follows;
Total quality management
The total quality management is refers the act for see all task and activities for maintain
the desired level of excellence by including creating and implementing effective planning of
quality control and improvement. The approach is focus on the improvement of quality and
performance in all functions, department and process (Ross, 2017). By this company is able to
provide quality of product and services this help to increase customers expectation and also help
to satisfying them. This approach is highly valuable for Unilever to reduce wastage from

production process. This help to combining the talent of all employees at team work. Producing
more than the consume. This theory focus on customers and involvement of employees in work.
This approach is important because this help to continues improvement in process of production
by reducing wastage.
Six sigma
The six sigma is a methodology which is help to improve business process with the help
of statical analysis. With the help of this approach manager is ensure about the elimination of
defects in any business and product manufacturing. This is disciplined in nature and data driven
in approach.
With the help of Six sigma approach in the operational management to achieve maximum
customers satisfaction with minimize defects from, improve return on sales, investment, improve
production process and achieve employment growth and stock value growth (Six sigma
Illustration 2: Six Sigma
(Source: Six sigma approach, 2017)

approach, 2017). It is important for mapping of process with specific business process. This
valuable for eliminating the wastage from production process.
Those are the operation approaches which are help to reduce defects form production
process with focus on potential customers.
Evaluation of external factor impact business environment.
The external factors are impact to the business and its environment by making changes
which are as follows:
Political factor
The political is the legal factors which is impact to the Unilever by making some
changes. This includes ethics, corporate social responsibilities, stability, intervention and
attitude. CSR is defined as a business approaches that are contribute to the sustainable
development with delivers economic, social and environmental benefits (Kiran, 2016). This
affect to the decision making of Unilever because CSR are make their own decision related to the
ethical in nature.
Social factor
Social factor is also impact to the business and its growth. This influences a products
peoples, price of product, specific promotion, Culture, lifestyle and so on. The culture is also
plays an important role in decision making process of Unilever because in that Unilever manager
have to take care of the needs and current expectation of customers.
Technological factor
The technological factor is also impact to the business and its environment. New and
advanced technology are continues improved which is impact to the decision making process of
Unilever (Haines, 2016). For better improvement manager of Unilever have to take decision to
add and follows new technology in their production process. By this it impact to business
environment.
Economic factor
The economic factor is also impact to the business and its environment. This includes
income, inflation, interest rate, exchanges rate and so on. The income of customers are also
impact to Unilever environment like customer income is fewer in that they are not purchase
products which has high prices. In that Unilever business environment affected by the decrease
sales of product.