Operations and Project Management Report: Unilever Case Study

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of operations and project management principles, using Unilever as a case study. It begins with an introduction to operations management and its significance, followed by a review and critique of the implementation of operation management principles, including reality, organization, fundamental, accountability, variance, and causality. The report then delves into a continuous improvement plan, exploring tools and techniques such as Six Sigma, Total Quality Management, Just-in-Time approach, and Lean principles, critiquing their application within Unilever. The second part of the report focuses on the project life cycle (PLC) and its documentation, followed by a critique of the PLC's effectiveness using relevant theories, concepts, and models. The report concludes with a summary of findings and a list of references.

Operations & Project
Management

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
PART 1............................................................................................................................................1
P1. Conduct review and critique of the implementation of operation management principles
................................................................................................................................................1
P2. Prepare a continuous improvement plan and critique of operations management principles
................................................................................................................................................3
PART 2............................................................................................................................................8
P3. Produce project life cycle and documentation for completing the project.......................8
P4. Critique the effectiveness of the PLC by using appropriate theories, concepts and models
..............................................................................................................................................11
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................12
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................13

INTRODUCTION
Operation administration is important for business organisation as it assists in different
activities as well as operation at large level. It is significant for management team of organisation
to make ensure that human resource follow rules and regulation in an appropriate manner within
business organisation. Projects are considered as a unique and have appropriate budget and their
objective is to earn more and more profit for operating their business. Project Administration is
considered as the activity of preparation implementation and concluding the task of member of
team that help in achieving objectives in timely manner. This report is depending upon Unilever
which is given by William lever in 1929. It is considered as a British transnational company
provide products and services to its user and its head quarter in London, UK. This assignment
will provide discussion regarding appropriateness of operation management and also the concept
of continuous development plan in context of operational management. Furthermore, they also
provide discussion regarding project life cycle as well as critique application related to PLC
(Berbegal, Gil and Alegre, 2017).
PART 1
P1. Conduct review and critique of the implementation of operation management principles
Unilever is considered as an international business organisation that provides consumer
goods such as personal care goods, beverages foods and many more. This organisation was
founded in the year of 1829 and it is located in London, UK. There are around 1, 63,000
subordinate to perform their work within an organisation and provide contribution for growth or
development of business organisation. Operating income or revenue of this organisation is
around €12.535 billion and also net income is around €9.8 808 billion. The organisation operates
its company in approx 100 countries that have more than 400 brands.
Operation signifies as a process of different functions or activity that is implemented by
management of organisation to finish a particular tasks and projects. For instance, if the
administrations of organisation manufacture innovative goods then they must perform different
activities such as planning, manufacturing as well as budgeting and many more. Operation
management signifies process of handling activities or functions in such a manner that help in
achieving goal as well as objective in timely manner. It is considered as the ongoing activities
1

that help in conducting different activity in an appropriate manner for handling manufacturing of
product and services.
Principles of operations management
Reality this principle signifies that operation administration should focus on problem
related to activities of organisation rather than techniques. The management team of Unilever
emphasized on present scenario of organisation by conducting investigation regarding market
whether the good introduce task will become successful or not. If management of organisation
will not emphasize on issue related to task than it impose direct affect on profit or productivity of
organisation. But if management team emphasized on strategies and techniques then it impose
positive impact on performance of employees (Eyers and Naim, 2019).
Organisation as per this principle, organisation signifies different department in which
working of each activity is linked with one another. The management team of Unilever focuses
on performing their operations in cooperation with any other department to handle
communication flow. It will assist in appropriate operations of process of production because
there are different department which provide their contribution or efforts in it.
Fundamental this principle assists in maintaining proper record of inventory, specific
system discipline and many more. This principle help company in eliminating cost related to
operation. It uses different options that assists organisation in reducing the price. Unilever
focuses on managing proper balance between cost and creativity that help in achieving goal in
timely manner. If organisation handle inventory and price that is connected to operation than it
impose positive impact on growth and development of business organisation. It also affects
innovation as well as creativity of subordinate in negative manner if cost imposes by company is
high.
Accountability this principle signifies that it is significant to manage appropriate record
related to accounts within organisations for successful assessment of profit as well as loss during
particular phase of time period. Accounting manager is responsible to conduct this role in an
appropriate manner. The accounting manager of Unilever focuses on executing policy and
conduct task in an appropriate manner and in timely manner. If management of organisation will
not adopt this principle then they do not maintain manufacturing budget in an appropriate
manner.
2

Variance this principle signifies the business organisation help in eliminating cause
related to operation. It uses different operations that help the organisation in eliminating cost.
Unilever focus is on maintaining appropriate balance in cost and also intensifies creativity
between employees by using this principle. If company will show more creativity as well as
innovation in its goods as per need of customer than it adversely affect the organisation in
context of increasing cost of production.
Causality every business organisation confronted issue in administration such as
requirement of crucial shipment, capital administration as well as additional need of resources.
To resolve this kind of issues, Unilever focuses on adopting this principle thus it results in
appropriate execution of performing daily operation in an appropriate manner. This principle is
considered as an advantageous to handle problem related to capital management and also offer
additional resources but it adversely affect the stock and waste administration procedure
(Kerzner, 2019).
There are different theories of Operation Management which is adopted by chosen
organisation such a six sigma, Lean manufacturing, business process redesign as well as many
more. Therefore herein, the concept related to business process redesign is going to be mentioned
below:
BPR is determined as a theory which is given in 1993 and it is determined as a business
administration strategy that emphasis on assessing and also designing workflow and processes of
organisation during particular phase of time period. Therefore, the BPR is used as a management
strategy in order to conduct different work in an appropriate manner.
Six -sigma: Six -sigma is considered as another theory which is adopted by business
organisation for optimum utilisation of resources and also focuses on minimizing wastage during
particular phase of time period. Therefore, this approach is useful for increasing productivity and
efficiency level in future period of time.
P2. Prepare a continuous improvement plan and critique of operations management principles
There are various tools and techniques which are adopted by company for reducing
wastage that is going to be mentioned below:
Six -sigma: This approach is adopted by business organisation for optimum utilisation of
resources and also focuses on minimizing wastage during particular phase of time period.
3

Therefore, this approach is useful for increasing productivity and efficiency level in future period
of time.
Total quality management: Herein, this tool is used for maintaining quality of products
and services and reducing unnecessary wastage that helps in attracting customer towards
products and services of company.
Just in time approach: In this approach, the management team focuses on providing
products and services according to the need of customer. They provide the products in right time
at right place in an improved manner.
After that company focuses on implementing PLC for smooth running of operations of
business organisation during particular phase of time period.
Lean principles
By using this principle, operation management team of company focuses on generating
innovative ideas in reference of making improvement in process of production in appropriate
way. There are five techniques of these method and that are considered as relevant to production
of innovative product. In context of Unilever, they focus on manufacturing innovative product
and the management of organisation in better way. This technique or principle which is going to
be mentioned below:
Define value in first step of this method, the management of organisation can consider
the need or requirement of user and also assess income of an individual person. In context of
Unilever, the management making appropriate use of resources that help in production of
appropriate products or goods or eliminate wastage.
.
4

Source: Lean principles,(2019).
Map value system this is the principle of lean approach that offer proper direction in
respect of process of production. This is connected to buying raw material from producer and
provides finished goods to its end user. In context of Unilever, the management team of
organisation can control all procedure related to task in an appropriate manner by implementing
appropriate plan during particular period of time.
Create flow in this step; the whole procedure of producing innovative product is
conducted in an appropriate manner. In context of Unilever, t is advantageous for organisation to
fulfil need and requirement of user in an appropriate manner.
Established pull this technique obey the same procedure as just in time approach used by
Unilever. By using this approach, the Unilever manufactured goods according to the need of
customer or user. Therefore, by using this in an appropriate manner help in satisfying the
demand of its user (Lee, 2018).
Pursue perfection as per this; all goods of organisation cannot produce in similar way.
Therefore, the manager of Unilever executes innovative technology to producing product and
services as per need or requirement of user.
Six Sigma
5
Illustration: Lean principles

It is monitored, controlled, statistical support that helps in providing commodity to its
user. In context of Unilever, this approach is adopted by administration of organisation to resolve
different issue in an appropriate manner. Through this, the organisation can make appropriate
improvement in product quality during particular phase of time period. This approach possesses
five factors which are going to be given below:
Define In this phase, the administration of organisation manufactured products and
services as per need of user with aim of offerings satisfaction to them. It can be useful for
Unilever because it provide proper guidance or direction that helps in fulfilling need of its user
by providing products as per them.
Measure in this level, the manager of Unilever can monitor and control the present
situation of manufacturing and if there is any need related to improving them in an appropriate
manner that help in production of good as per need of its user.
Analysed in this level, their management of business organisation can assess issues that
is related to different activity of process of production. Through this, they can control
requirements for improvement in wants of its user.
Improved this level is connected to bring modification or alteration in product and
services of Organisation. In reference of Unilever, the operation management focuses on
monitoring and controlling requirement of its user. Through this, they can focus on improving
need or wants by providing goods as per them.
Control in final level, the manager offer proper solution to maintain balance between
actions and operation related to production. In context of Unilever, the operation management
team can offer goods to its user for satisfying them (Ravindran, 2016).
Continuous improvement
It indicates an ongoing process of making improvement in goods, services and
procedures. In context of organisation, companies make innovation in their products and services
due to changes in taste & preferences of their target audiences so that they can offer products and
services to them as per their demands.
Continuous improvement plan
Basis Current methodology Proposed methodology
Cost Unilever PLC focuses on using the
principle related to variance in
To control demand or need of consumer
they bring creativity with an
6

operation but they do not follow in
proper manner. Creativity between
employees can increase cost of
production.
organisation. The organisation can
adopt different principle related to
variance that helps in making
appropriate balance between production
costs and enhancing productivity of
organisation.
Quality In present time, the organisation use
fundamental principle related to
maintain price or intensify innovation
and creativity among worker. Due to
bringing innovation as well as
creativity, the company is capable to
manage cost of production.
To maintain balance in cost of
production and administration of
organisation can execute the principle
related to casualty because it is
advantageous to handle problem related
to capital that help in handling cost of
production.
Delivery In current time, the organisation
adopts principle related to
accountability that helps in attaining
work in timely manner.
By using this principle, it help in
handling budget before is smooth
running of activity that is connected to
manufacturing of products and services.
Through this, the employees of
organisation achieve task in an
appropriate manner because the cost
related to production is already
handling as per activities.
Control In present context, the organisation
adopts principal related to casualty
which is appropriately used for
monitoring and control the issue or
problem related to Capital
administration. It imposes direct
impact on performance of
organisation in unfavourable manner
By executing different principle of
organisation, the management team of
company can handle issues related to
inventory, capital administration and
many more. The organisation is
dependent on different department for
various activities that help in reducing
wastage and inventory and so on
7

due to problem or issue related to
wastage.
(Ravindran, 2016).
Agile methodology
It signifies methodologies that are depending upon iterative improvement in which need
or solution evolve by using collaboration between cross functional team (Lientz and Rea, 2016).
It helps in enhancing frequent inspection as well as stimulates team work and accountability.
PRINCE2 Methodology: It is considered as a procedure depends upon method for appropriate
project administration. This methodology adopted by national authority at UK, widely popular
and it is practised in private industry at UK.
T
8

Recommendation
According to above-mentioned plan, it has been analysed that organisation confronted
various issues at the time of manufacturing of product and services. The operation management
of organisation adopts principle of organisation that helps in smooth running of organisation and
also the company interconnect with other activities of administration. The marketing department
assists in monitoring and controlling need or requirement of users that help organisation to
produce or manufactured goods as per the need of user. It can also recommend to Unilever that
they follow principle related to administration of organisations that help in maintaining budget
before the smooth running of activities of manufacturing that help in perform their work in an
appropriate manner as per their budget.
PART 2
P3. Produce project life cycle and documentation for completing the project
Overview of case study: The construction program of London 2012 offer venues as well as
infrastructure requirement to stage games. This program was extensively political as well as
technical challenges and they have a fixed deadline of opening ceremony related to games. The
vision of this Olympic bid into reality of road, bridges and stadia was considered as a job of
Olympic. The objective of this Olympic is to deliver construction work that is mainly built on
largely polluted site in East London in order to satisfy different stakeholders such as government
public and media and so on(Rowe, 2020).
Before implementing Plc, It is necessary to consider validity, reliability, timeliness as well
as success of project that is going to be mentioned below:
Validity: The project must be valid in context of performing it in timely manner.
Reliability: It is necessary for organisation to use the products and services in reliable
manner for success and growth of project during particular phase of time period.
Timeliness: It is necessary for company to complete project in timely manner that helps in
achieving goal and objective in stipulated period of time.
Project life cycle
9

It is considered as a sequence that helps in undergoing particular project form from
starting to end. This stages or level of project life cycle that is going to be mentioned below:
Initiation stage in this level, the management of organisation conducts or implement
objective of organisation to perform task, control project and also manages project in an
appropriate manner. In this level, the administration of organisation will assess need or
requirement of its employee in order to satisfy them. In context of construction programme, the
management of organisation focus on providing appropriate service to its public. The program
baseline report helps in provide description of program risk as well as budget that help in
allocating risk among ODA and its funder.
Planning herein the large project get separated into small work and implement a program
that helps in completing or finishing task in an appropriate manner. In context of construction
programme, the management of organisation can focuses on adopting program baseline report
that help in allocating risk in an appropriate manner and also complete the project in timely
manner. To improve all procedure, the management of organisation will needed 4 to 5 weeks.
Execution In this phase, the management focuses on converting plants into actions. The
project administrator of organisation improve task and provide reliable information to team
member that is connected to project and also maintain budget. In context of construction
program, the manager of organisation can design objective that help in operating advanced
technology and conduct program of baseline in an appropriate manner. In reference of adopting
this plan the management of organisation will require 25 to 30 days. The ODA has accomplish
objective both for delivery of its physical infrastructure and also this is important in achieving
priority theme like health and safety as well as sustainability and many more.
Monitoring: In this phase, the management focuses on monitoring activities related to
project. The project administrator of organisation improve task and provide reliable information
to team member that is connected to project and also maintain budget.
Controlling: The management team focuses on controlling different types of functions in
an appropriate manner. It assists in increasing performance level of subordinates that helps in
performing different task in better way.
Closure it is considered as the last step of project life cycle in that the management of
organisation offer different things to complete a project in timely manner. In context of
construction program, the administration can control implementation of task and coordinating
10