An Analysis of Management and Operations at Unilever

This report provides a detailed analysis of management and operations within Unilever, a multinational consumer goods company. It begins by defining the roles of managers and leaders, differentiating their functions, and exploring various leadership theories such as situational, system, contingency, autocratic, and democratic leadership styles, contextualized within Unilever's operations. The report then delves into operations management, examining key approaches like lean production, total quality management, and just-in-time inventory, highlighting the roles of managers and leaders in these processes. Furthermore, it emphasizes the importance of operations management in achieving business goals, and identifies factors within the business environment that impact operational decision-making. The report concludes with an overview of the key findings and the implications of these management and operational strategies for Unilever's success.

MANAGEMENT AND
OPERATIONS

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................1
Activity 1.........................................................................................................................................1
Role of a manager and function of a leader ................................................................................1
Difference between the role of manger and function of manger ................................................1
Difference between leader and manger .......................................................................................2
Different theories and models of leadership ...............................................................................3
Activity 2.........................................................................................................................................6
Operations management and its key approaches along with the role that manager or leader
play...............................................................................................................................................6
The value or importance of operations management in achieving business goals or objectives.7
Factors of business environment that have an impact on operational management or decision
making by managers or leaders....................................................................................................9
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................11
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................12

INTRODUCTION
Management can be described as a procedure of planning, organising, co-ordinating
controlling, and managing the state of affairs in the organisation (Casanova, 2019). The objective
of management is to create a business environment where the employees can work with each
other. Management and operations looks after the internal working of the company so that it can
run effectively. This report shows management and operations of Unilever, and the impartance
of management in the company. Unilever is purely a British multinational company which deals
in food, energy drinks, pet food, toothpaste, beauty products, personal care and many more. This
report explains different role of leader and manger in Unilever, besides this, various leadership
theories has been elaborated in the context of Unilever. Apart from this numerous approaches of
operations management such as lean production, total quality management and just in time
inventory., have been described in this report. Importance and value of operations management
in achieving business objective has defined in detail in this report. Along with this, different
factors which affect the operational management and decision making of Unilever has described
in this report.
Activity 1
Role of a manager and function of a leader
Manager – It refers to the person who is liable for making plans and policies of the company. It
is the duty of manger to supervise and control the activities of the business (Kozioł, 2020).
Primarily manger divides the work among the workforce and administrate them to accomplish on
timely.
Leader - are those persons, who leads the employees and staff of any company or organisation
and deviate them towards a better vision by providing them right motivation. The duty of leader
is to improve the ongoing things and try to bring some change and innovation in the company.
Difference between the role of manger and function of manger
Manger of Unilever is responsible for maintaining day to day functioning of the
company, manager is responsible setting goals for each and every employee and guide them to
achieve those set targets so that it helps the company as well to attain the objectives. As Unilever
is a global brand so they believe that manger is a strategic tool of the company which assist them
to attain the short term, medium term and long term goals. Manager has to perform different
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functions of planning, executing, organising and controlling for the sustainable growth of the
company. The mangers of Unilever always ready to support its staff and workforce and as per
their capabilities they assign targets to the employees which will lead to the growth of employee
as well, this build an enthusiasm in them (Ferreira, 2017). Manger of Unilever has to give task
and targets to the employee in which they have to work in team which will develop mutual
understanding and trust in them, andwill help the company in the future, with the help of team-
task manager of Unilever tries to bring synergy in the company (Our strategy,2021).
Leader of Unilever Plc brings integrity in the company, because company can't
accomplish the goal in the absence of integrity. The leaders of Unilever are very innovative and
creative they always try to get something new for the company and motivate others as well to
think out of the box because Unilever believes that they are not satisfied which they have
achieved in the past and they focus on uninterrupted improvement in performance and this make
them different from other companies. Leader motivates workforce of the company and welcome
their suggestions (Covey, 2017). Besides this, leader contains the visionary approach through
which they keep updated and make changes on plans and never afraid to take risk. As the
company want to go beyond and far from just being average and better, for that Leaders have to
assist the employees how to give the best productivity and make them ready to face any
difficulties.
Difference between leader and manger
Leader Manger
They always work to bring out new
suggestions and ideas for the company.
They manage the work of entire company and
make plans for the upcoming future.
Leader is responsible to set vision and mission
for the company.
While manger tries to achieve those missions.
They are always ready to take risk for the sake
of innovation.
On the other hand, manger avoid taking risk so
that they don't have to face failure and the team
can perform the target on time.
The main of the leader is to motivate the work
force towards their individual goal.
Manger tells people what they need to do how
to do, and provide appropriate guidance so that
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business can achieve the set aims.
The main role of a leader is to regulate,
influence and inspire the employees.
On the other hand the function of manager is to
manage the day- to- day activity and make
sure that all the activities and tasks should
execute properly.
Leader and manger both work to attain the goal of the company. The aim of leader and
manger is similar so in different situation they always want that it doesn't affect the revenue of
the company. If the conflicts take place in the company so the manger and leader always try to
communicate with the employees to know what are the problem which they are facing and try to
come up on a solution which can satisfy their needs. If the employee gets a team task, so it
becomes the responsibility of the manager to put all the people together who have similar
qualities and skills, by doing so it will save time and team can deliver the task before the time
limit. (Offermann, 2018). Apart from this the leader will always try to motivate the employees so
that it will bring enthusiasm in them, and they can generate more productivity. It is the duty of
leader and manger to look for the health and safety needs, so employees get injured. Another
issue which Unilever facing is in recruitment, company wants highly qualified and skilled
employees in their company. so the management have to choose suitable candidate who can
fulfil the requirement of the company. Apart from this, it is the responsibility of leader and
manger to always appreciate such employees who are performing well in their work, it will boost
their confidence on the other hand if the manger doesn’t do so and remain partial, thus will bring
the situation of conflict in the organisation. It is not good for any company if management is
biased and it directly put impact of the reputation, goodwill, revenue and the profitability of the
company.
Different theories and models of leadership
As Unilever is the global brand in the world, it rules the market by providing consumer
goods. This company is serving millions of customer in a day by providing them various
necessary products (About Unilever,2021). For that comp-any need to follow accurate leadership
theories sop that employees can finish their work in the given time frame.
There are various leadership theories are given below
3.

Situational leadership theory
According to the name, this theory states that only one leadership style is not best for the
company. If the Unilever, adopts same leadership style in different situation then company may
bear loss, because different conditions and situations need different ways to sort out them.
Therefore, this theory elaborates that a leader can only be known as efficient leader when they
able to make changes in existing leadership style as per the different situations.
This theory prescribes four main leadership approaches
Telling – in such style, leader don't ask any suggestion from the employees they simply tell
them what kind of work they need to do and how to accomplish them. Unilever is a big company
so it has thousands of employees, sometimes it becomes difficult for the leader to ask each and
every employee instead of asking to employee, leader can directly lot work to all the employees.
Selling – Leader directly impose worker the employees and make them bound to fulfil the
allotted work on the given time duration. . Unilever doesn't follow this approach as it demotivate
the employee and it is against of their values (Rahbi, 2017).
Participating - As per this approach leader don't give order to employees but stay open for their
ideas and suggestion while making any decision. Unilever can adopt this approach.
Delegation – In this approach leader don't show interest and even don't get involved in the work,
simply give freedom to employees and they can take the decisions. This is not suitable for
Unilever as they believe in team work and synergy.
Strength Weakness
 It provides an option to the leader to
select suitable style for different
situations.
 By this style all the employees get
involve in the process of decision
making.
 This can build confusion among
employees, as they need to work in
different situation under different
leadership style.
 The long term goal of the company
becomes difficult to achieve as leader
focuses on the current situation only.
System leadership style
This defines that how the manger leads its employees and workforce beyond the
boundaries. It shows the working when leader faces different challenges and difficulties and how
4.

they guide the employees at the same time (Raziq, 2018). This style believes that leader has to
be smart, skilled and ambitious to face any difficulty and motives the employee as well. This
approach can be suitable for Unilever. As it goes with their core values and rituals.
Strength Weaknesses
It simplifies the complexity of the different
work situations.
Employees show believe and trust in the leader
It is a time consuming style.
Contingency- It describes that leadership purely depends on the situation. A leader must be
aware about the current situation of the organisation and as per the situation and condition they
should implement specific leadership style so company should not bear loss (Al-Sada, 2017).
This theory can only come on force when Unilever wants to increase the productivity instead of
fulfilling the goal.
Strength Weakness
It considers the time frame of the work.
As per the timing work get distributed among
employees.
It can only use when the company wants
productivity.
Autocratic leadership
This style speaks that leader make all the decisions without asking to its employees, this
leadership style can't get followed in the Unilever as they focus on working together.
Strength Weakness
It gives order to the employees so it saves
time.
Employees feel lagging behind from the
decision making process.
Democratic leadership
leader involve its staff and workforce in making any decision and ask for their views and
suggestions, this style is suitable for the company as it goes with the flow of the company
(Simbolon, 2020).
5.

Strength Weakness
Employees feel motivated when they get
involved in the decision making process.
Difficult to come up on the result.
Activity 2
Operations management and its key approaches along with the role that manager or leader play.
Operations management play a vital role in process of production or operations of
organisation in order to make it more efficient. The below paragraph will give more detail about
the key approaches of operation management:
Lean Production
It is a method that defines the systematic process of waste elimination in manufacturing
system. It is an essential process that bring so many advantages in Unilever if implementation is
done in the operational management. First of all, it improves quality of goods, provide ease in
overall management process, lower down the use of workforce, bring improvement in visual
management and improves efficiency in the process of production (Lou, 2017). This lean
production is being used by several types of companies that includes IT industries, auto-mobiles
companies and clothing firms etc.
Role of manager or leader – Leader provide guidance in increasing production to
subordinates so that it improves the efficiency. It helps workers to understand their responsibility
in lean production process. Manager will bring out the effectiveness of goods and examine them
so that no useful products will be eliminated. Manger should need to provide all the report
related with progress to higher authority.
Just in Time Inventory
This process refers as applying strategy which decreases the waste by receiving only those
gods that are necessary in the process of production so that it increases an efficiency and
reducing the inventory cost in Unilever. Just in time inventory helps Unilever to reduce the
storage space because products only being stored when they are use by company and it saves
money for Unilever (Yu,and et.al 2018). This also helps to reduce the overall wastage of
production in operations management if the application of Just in time inventory is achieved by
Unilever.
6.

The manager will take care of time for accurate orders of outputs in product process. They
also make sure that the correct amount of goods is being placed only after correct analysation of
demand. A Leader is responsible to check the correct utilization of stock so that wastage is
reduced at Unilever. Leader also make sure that the worker is aware about their roles or
responsibility in this process.
TQM- Total Quality Management
This approach is one of the essential in operations management as it examine all the task and
overall activities that involves the creation or implementation of quality planning and assure the
quality improvement so that it results higher level of excellence. TQM in Unilever focus in order
to bring improvement on all the departments, functions or processes, hence it accomplish in
providing quality level of products or services that satisfy the customer satisfaction (Ivanov,
Tsipoulanidis, and Schönberger 2017).
A leader establishes the measurement of performance of employees in all processes .
They also provide support to all authority from top to bottom to remain committed to their role.
Leader also ensure that the effectiveness or involvement is achieved by workforce. On the other
hand, Manager is try to provide equally treatment to all suppl A Leader is responsible to check
the correct utilization of stock so that wastage is reduced at Unilever.iers as business partner.
They also make sure that continuous modification of the Unilever business and its process of
production. In this process, Manager also focus on both consumers whether its internal or
external.
The value or importance of operations management in achieving business goals or objectives.
Operation Management is refers as the plans that help in controlling, planning or supervising all
those processes which is related with manufacturing an production. It’s essential for Unilever to
perform functions of operation management as it helps to control, manage or supervise goods
effectively (Qi and Shen, 2019). Following are the various roles and importance that operations'
management plays.
Productivity
This process is defined as implementing the ratio of all output or input of workforce at
Unilever. It ensures that accurate staffing of workforce so that the desired results are acquired.
The productivity is only achieving at Unilever with the help of effective operations' management.
Quality of product
7.

This process accomplished when Unilever should able to meet all its demand or exceed in
providing the satisfaction to customers. Operation management at Unilever ensures that all goods
meets the quality standard or identify all opportunities in finding those areas where changes are
required. Applying quality process in management can help Unilever in ensuring efficient
delivery of services or goods that buyers can depend upon (Lee, and Tang, 2018).
Customer Satisfaction
It’s a vital function for operation of manufacturing in every business because it ensures
the successful sustainability of an organisation for the current customers. Operations
management should satisfy the quality all the products or services, while meeting the customer's
requirements. If Unilever is focusing on smoothly running of operations management than its
allows timely delivery of products to all buyers and exceeding their satisfaction. Moreover, if
processes improve than it will decrease time lead of production, allows Unilever to deliver
quality goods in shorty duration of time.
Strategic Decisions
Operations Manager is responsible in providing assistance to senior level management in
order to make the strategic decisions. For instance, Unilever will take the decision of merger or
bring technological changes that directly affects its core business area (Popovič, and et.al 2018).
This decision involves consideration of existing issues or the current conditions so that it
formulate system effectively and to achieve the competitive advantages.
Design of Products
It’s one of the essential role that operations' manager plays at Unilever that includes the
designing of goods as per demand occurrence or market trend. Manager should ensure that
creative techniques are utilized in all products and ensures that the quality is maintained as per
the standard.
Finance
This is also including as the main role at operations management. Operations Manager should
need to carefully analyse all the production or manufacturing processes so that it will not waste
funds in unproductive task. Their role also involves that overall funds of company should be
utilized for manufacturing of beneficial services or products which directly satisfy wants of
buyers. Strategic Decisions
8.

Operations Manager is responsible in providing assistance to senior level management in
order to make the strategic decisions. For instance, Unilever will take the de Operations Manager
should need to carefully analyse all the production or manufacturing processes so that it will not
waste funds in unproductive task. Their role also involves that overall funds of company should
be utilized for manufacturing of beneficial services or products which directly satisfy wants of
buyers. Strategic Decisions
Operations Manager is responsible in providing assistance to senior level management in
order to make the strategic decisions. For instance, Unilever will take the de Operations Manager
should need to carefully analyse all the production or manufacturing processes so that it will not
waste funds in unproductive task. Their role also involves that overall funds of company should
be utilized for manufacturing of beneficial services or products which directly satisfy wants of
buyers. Strategic Decisions
cision of merger or bring technological changes that directly affcision of merger or bring
technological changes that directly affects its core business area (Popovič, and et.al 2018). This
decision involves consideration of existing issues or the current conditions so that it formulate
system effectively and to achieve the competitive advantages.
Design of Products
Reduction of waste
The operation manager should need to perform this function so that the company will increase
its profit by eliminating waste in operation as it results in cut down irrelevant costs that definitely
improving the overall production (Barnes, 2018) (Prasad, 2020. Different techniques can be
used by Unilever for example, Lean production, so that the identification of waste is done and
later eliminate in manufacturing process that automatically results in increasing profits.
Factors of business environment that have an impact on operational management or decision
making by managers or leaders.
There are different environmental factors that affect the decision making at Unilever.
The various decisions are taken by manager or leader in operations management that affects an
organisational goal. All these factors are elaborate below in paragraph :
External factors of business environment :
Market Trends
9.

The market trends are dynamic in nature as they remain changes or everyday a new trend is
arFurther, how the leader or manger's role changes as per the situational contexts like in
delegating, selling or participating situation. The different leadership theories or styles is
explained for example the autocratic leadership, contingency leadership. All these theories works
for the employment benefits so that their performance increases. ising in the market. All of these
market trends should be carefully analyse by Unilever because these helps in correct evaluation
of customer’s needs. If Unilever accurately examine their market trends than it will bring growth
to the organisation and if they are fail in proper analysation, than it might be possible that the
company cannot survive for a longer period of time. So, manager or leader should need to
carefully work in this factor.
Technological
Nowadays, there are frequent changes occur in technology like artificial intelligence, smart
internet, and other technology functions, all these has been use in the businesses for many years.
For example, Unilever is now try to invest more in research and development and bring
environmental friendly products so that it strengthen its brand in the market. This factor create a
huge impact on the decision making processes for manger or leader as the cost of technology is
increases in which product life cycle is short (Bai Satir,and Sarkis, 2019). However, technology
can help Unilever to generate higher profits and develop the results as per demand of the
customers. Hence, efficiency or culture of a Unilever are largely affected by the technological
advancement. So, it hugely depends upon an organisation as how they can use the technology, as
it can break or make them in this emerging market.
Political or legal changes
The political or legal changes can affect the overall operational management in positive or
negative way in which the decisions taken by the manager or leader. Modifications are needed as
per the policies being imposed in the Unilever and it may affect the process of planning that
occur within the organisation (Abubakar, and et.al 2019). Therefore, a leader decides or predict
the future changes that might happen in the market and then the manger should need to make the
implementation of all the resource and fulfil its duties on time.
Internal factors of business environment:
Capital Resources
10.