Exploring Talent Management Challenges: A Case Study of UNILEVER

This report presents a comprehensive analysis of talent management challenges and obstacles faced by UNILEVER, a multinational company. The project includes a project management plan, literature review, and research methodology, focusing on the challenges of talent management. The report examines the concept of talent management, evaluates the challenges faced by organizations, and proposes ways for UNILEVER to overcome these issues. The literature review explores talent management processes, including planning, attracting, selecting, developing, retaining, and transforming employees. It also addresses challenges such as encouraging passion, embracing new interests, offering competitive salaries, providing engaging work, and being open-minded. The report suggests strategies for UNILEVER to improve talent management, such as identifying needs, considering career development, identifying goals, prioritizing results, and creating a healthy work environment. The report concludes with recommendations and a critical reflection on the project outcomes, offering valuable insights into effective talent management practices.

Managing a successful
business report

Table of Contents
Part 1: Project Plan and Execution.............................................................................................3
Introduction................................................................................................................................3
Project management plan...........................................................................................................3
Literature Review.......................................................................................................................5
To examine the concept of talent management......................................................................5
To evaluate the challenges facing by organisation in order to understand talent
management...........................................................................................................................6
To access the ways which can be implement by UNILEVER to overcome the issue and
obstacles of talent management.............................................................................................7
Gantt chart and WBS.................................................................................................................8
Research Methodology...............................................................................................................9
Questionnaire...........................................................................................................................10
Recommendations and conclusion...........................................................................................14
Part 2: Project Report and Reflection.......................................................................................14
References................................................................................................................................16

Part 1: Project Plan and Execution
Introduction
Talent management is the process where human resources are used within an organisation to
improve their conditions and sustain in market. This will give a positive impact on society
and also at the growth of business. Talent management is not the important part of talent
management, but it is the main role of leaders and managers to manage the talent and retain
their valuable employees within an organisation (Al Yaarubi, 2018). With the help of talent
management and its different strategies, create a particular need and structure of the business
and industry. In this project, for evaluating the different challenges and obstacles of talent
management the chosen organisation is UNILEVER. Which is a British multinational
company, and it’s headquarter is in London, England, It was started in 1929. This is the
organisation which are deal with day to day operations and complete the need of their
customer by serving them best quality of daily life products. So this is important to this
organisation to work in an effective and necessary to adopt talent management. To complete
this project, one part is related to project management plan, Gantt chart, Literature review on
the basis of designed objective and second part is critical reflection is done on project
outcomes.
Aim: To explore the challenges and obstacles facing by organisation in terms of
understanding talent management. A case study on UNILEVER.
Objectives:
 To examine the concept of talent management.
 To evaluate the challenges facing by organisation in order to understand talent
management.
 To access the ways which can be implement by UNILEVER to overcome the issue
and obstacles of talent management.
Project management plan
Project management plan should be available for all the project members as it will
provide an essential details that can be used to introduce project members (Bonneton, 2019).
This plan is must be able and probably the main way to communicate the whole plan with all
the team members. This will make a detailed and comprehensive detailed lined about the
whole project.

Aim: The main aim of this project is to make some better understanding in order to
develop and manage different type of challenges and obstacles in the company while working
on talent management. This aim of the project is to investigate, plan and execute a business
related research project which have main focus on the challenges which are comes by talent
management process. The aim of this project show and clarify the path of detailed objectives
for this project.
Time: For completing this project the time taken is approximately three months. Here
all the milestones are covers and activity is schedule on the fix time so that all the plan is
completed on time. This time management include the starting date of the project and steps
for completing the project till the last step.
Activities Time durations
Developing aims and objectives 10 days
Literature Review 15 days
Research Methodology 25 days
Data collection 15 days
Data analysis 20 days
Conclusion and
recommendation
5 days
Submission of project 3 days
Quality: This include the quality of the resources or material which are used in order
to maintain the standard. Quality which are given and provided by the top management after
completing this project. Furthermore to complete this project the chosen quality is with
ethical and all the data is contained with full of authenticity and applicability in daily
operations.
Communication: In this part the management and leader of the project try to make a
descriptive communication and help in others to make project performance documentation
that will be supportive and to develop the understanding for other stakeholders (Chopra,
2019). This will further include all the qualitative and quantitative data collection and records
which are helpful to make a strong communication with others.
Risk: This section will include the basic and detail risk management issues and
hurdle which must be face by during completion of the project. And what are the different
process and steps are to be taken in order to prevent risk and many more information is
provided on the behalf of risk management. While managing the risk it is needed to make

different type of strategies which overcome the issue and hurdles which are assigning in order
to complete this project.
Resources: In order to complete this project, there are different kind of resources are used
such as questionnaire, primary data, secondary data, different type of books and online
portals. Which actually provide the brief details of related documents and project aims
(Elena, 2017). In order to complete the objective of this project, many resources are used and
analysis and try to develop very basic knowledge which are related to talent management.
Literature Review
To examine the concept of talent management
According to Ghosh, P.,(2021); This talent management is the strategic process which
is defined as right process where right talent management is assigned for completing the basic
need and objective of the company at the right time. This process is start in the organisation
when the gap is identify by the top management in order to complete the objectives of an
organisation. So after finding the gap in organisation, the need of HR is occur and they try to
find and recruit the new staff within an organisation in order to complete and fill that
particular gap. In most of the companies; mainly six steps are followed in order to fill that
gap and complete the need and objectives of the company (What is Talent Management?
Definition, Strategy, Process and Models, 2021). Which are described below:
Planning: This is the very first process of the talent management, which increase the
need of new talent recruiters within an organisation. The need occurs in organisation which
show the deficiency of human capital and formulate the necessary key roles and regulation
which are needed to be complete in order to plan for human resource.
Attracting: after making a plan, the next step is to attract different kind of employees
or human resource who are going to implement the objectives of company. For this HR of the
company take out some advertisement and make a detailed job description for the other
persons (Polo, 2021).
Selecting: Here, HR of the organisation are try to find out the right person who get fit
in the organisation and complete the gap which are identified. This could be done with some
major written test, group discussion, and many more test which are helpful for HR to select
the best candidate for the required post.

Developing: after hiring the candidate most of the organisation like UNILEVER, try
to develop their candidates and make some training programmes in order to enhance the
chance of organisation and ready for the development of company.
Retaining: All the steps are important but retaining is the main step, as it is best way
to make some successful steps for organisation. This is very important for organisation to
retain their employees for long in order to reduce extra cost (Sangapu, 2018). This could be
done through promotions, incentives and different offer opportunities.
Transforming: effective talent management must focus on make some collective
information and make evolution for the growth of employee or the organisation at the same
time. This could be done through different kind of benefits to the
To evaluate the challenges facing by organisation in order to understand talent management
As per the view of Andre, (2021); the 21st century become the battle ground when it
comes for the talent management process. Talent is the concept which has short supply in
market but it has high demand. And to complete this there are different type of challenges
and hurdles are occur while choosing talent management for the organisation (6
CHALLENGES OF TALENT MANAGEMENT, 2021.). Which are described below:
Encouraging passion: talented individuals are work for an organisation that create
their values, attitude and expectations. Which are not able to possible for all the organisation,
they are not going to adjust in the low circumstances just because the organisation are ready
to pay quite well and complete the need of job requirements.
Embracing new interest: The new challenge which are described and require due to
some unwanted changing environment, need and behaviour of young employees. This is very
difficult for the organisation as they need to complete the task and manage with new
generation employees. Mismatch of incomplete expectation become the hurdle in talent
management process (Sharma and Purohit, 2019).
Offering impressive salaries: another issue which are face by the organisation is that
many organisation are ready to pay above average for the jobs positions. But it is actually not
possible talented people are able to search their jobs where they feel comfortable and ready to
work where they feel satisfaction.
Giving engaging work: Talent management is important for the organisation, it is
important to the organisation that they should engage some interesting work and complete the

need of single employee. As most of the employees feel bored while doing same work for
long period of time.
Being open-minded: The style which are adopted by most of organisation must be
open and different that actually fit for the young employees. New generations employees are
believe in smart work and being able to work in the cool and impressive nature environment.
To access the ways which can be implement by UNILEVER to overcome the issue and
obstacles of talent management
According to Anderson farnk, T., (2020); there are various methods which are defined
and manage the source which are helpful for the company in order to solve the hurdles of
talent management. This is the pool that can help the managers to work within your talent
management process (7 Ways to Improve Talent Management, 2020). Which are defined
below:
Identify the need and importance: According to the need, importance and goals of
the organisation, talent is different in nature. Talent doesn’t refers to explicit knowledge but it
have many skills such as compassion, emotional intelligence and the ability to seek different
kind of languages which are helpful in the growth of the company.
Consider the career development: With the help of training and development
process, the management team must consider the different career management and
development programme. Human’s nature are curious and usually work as the strong desire
to improve themselves (Suraiya, 2017). Lack of career development opportunity create many
unwanted issues and hurdles in managing the talent management process within organisation.
Identifying the goals: Before hiring the human resource in organisation, it is
important to learn and identify the talent management process in short and long term goals.
With the help of making goals, it is important to managers to identify the goals and find out
right employee at right place and in needed time management.
Prioritize the result: everyone get frustrate very easily if organisation keep an eye
on them at their single steps. Si it is important to focus on employee’s performance and their
growth not on their result process (Mukuna, 2019). Giving some amount of flexibility in
employee’s give higher satisfaction level and productivity within an organisation.
Create healthy work environment: This is most easy and sensible approach to make
effective talent management process and overcome their all hurdles. To make some healthy

and environment friendly environment in workplace will be beneficial for both employee and
organisation. Successful talent management need to be some more depended structure and
goals of the organisation. This will further help the organisation to work in smooth way.
Gantt chart and WBS
Work Breakdown Structure
Gantt chart

Research Methodology
This is the method where which strategy is used to conduct the research and what
policies are used by the researcher is evaluated. This will include mainly six steps or layer
which are necessary for the growth and successful nature of the project.
Research philosophy: This is the philosophy which are used and helpful for making the
research easy for researcher. This help in collecting and analysing the data to work in an
effective manner that will provide an appropriate result. There are two type of research which
is conducted positivism and interpretivism (Ternikov and Lapov, 2018). In this particular
research project, positivism research is concluded and used as it help the researcher to make
some introspective outcomes and analysis them in an easy manner.
Research approach: This is defined that different kind of policies and approaches are
used by the researcher in order to complete the need of project in an ethical and effective
manner. For this the researcher should select their best opinion and make selective approach
which are helpful for conducting this research. Mainly there are two main type of approaches
are used by researcher either deductive or inductive. For completing this assignment the
chosen research approach is inductive as it is easy to understand and applicable in the growth
of company’s nature. This help the researcher to conduct the research and collect the data in
supportive manner.

Research Strategies: In this the best strategy is used and opted by the researcher in order to
complete their actions and literature review. This could be include experimental research,
interviews, surveys and different type of case study. All these methods are useful and
analysing by the company to evaluate the objectives of research and solve the problem which
are arises by the company. This will be very helpful for the growth of research it is important
to conduct, research strategies for getting right and accurate outcome (Tlaiss, Martin and
Hofaidhllaoui, 2017).
Choice of methods: There are different choices for the methods which can be adopted
by the researcher in order to complete the research. Mainly there are two type of methods
qualitative and quantitative methods. For completing this research, quantitative method are
used as it help in analysing and making result very easily.
Time Horizons: This will refers as the time frame which are required to complete the
research. This could be again two type cross sectional and longitudinal. To complete this
research longitudinal research is used as it takes mainly three to four months to complete this
business project report.
Data collections: This is the final layer of the research methodology. In this different
type of techniques and procedures are used that clearly explain the main purpose of the
research. At many stages researcher had to choose in between primary or secondary research
and qualitative and quantitative research (Mukuna, 2019). So this is very important for the
organisation to make some right step in order to collect the data, as data is considered for the
central piece in research onion framework.
Questionnaire
Questionnaire
Qus.1 What are the concept of talent management and its role in organisation?
a) Planning
b) Selection
c) Retaining
d) Developments
Qus.2 What are the major challenges which are arises through talent management process?
a) Encouraging passion
b) Embracing new interest

c) Providing impressive knowledge
d) Being Open-minded
Qus.3 What are the suggestion you think for overcome the issues of talent management?
a) Identify the need within an organisation
b) Consider career development programme
c) Identify the gaols
d) Give priority to result
Qus.4 Do you think human resource management and talent management are linked with
each other?
a) Yes
b) No
Qus.5 Do you want some suggestions and strategies which are related to talent
management?
Ans….
Questionnaire Frequency
Qus.1 What are the concept of talent management and its role in
organisation
a) Planning 10
b) Selection 10
c) Retaining 12
d) Developments 18
Qus.2 What are the major challenges which are arises through talent
management process?
a) Encouraging passion 12
b) Embracing new interest 15
c) Providing impressive knowledge 13
d) Being Open-minded 10
Qus.3 What are the suggestion you think for overcome the issues of
talent management?
a) Identify the need within an organisation 18
b) Consider career development programme 15
c) Identify the gaols 12

d) Give priority to result 5
Qus.4 Do you think human resource management and talent
management are linked with each other?
a) Yes 40
b) No 10
Data analysis and interpretation
Chart Title
Qus.1 What are the concept of talent management and its role in organisation
a) Planning
b) Selection
c) Retaining
d) Developments
Interpretation
It is analysis that most of the employees know about talent management and they are known
about different type of roles which are used in organisation. Planning and selection are
chosen by 20 respondent from 50 respondent and 18 think that development is the main
reason for efficient talent management process.

Chart Title
Qus.2 What are the major challenges which are arises through talent management process?a) Encouraging passionb) Embracing new interestc) Providing impressive knowledged) Being Open-minded
Interpretation
To know more about challenges it is analysis that nit having the interest in new
generation is become the highest reason for inefficient talent management process. Out of 50,
15 respondent think that having interest in work is the main obstacle for talent management.
Rest think different other reason for talent management and as a hurdle for that.
Chart Title
Qus.3 What are the suggestion you think for overcome the issues of talent management?
a) Identify the need within an organisation
b) Consider career development programme
c) Identify the gaols
d) Give priority to result
Interpretation
After having the analysis for making some suggestion in regards to talent
management team, it is find that out of 50 respondents 18 think that first identify the need and
culture of the organisation is the best solution or suggestion to overcome the issue of talent
management. And rest think that other options are more significant.

Chart Title
Qus.4 Do you think human resource management and talent management are linked with each
other?
a) Yesb) No
Interpretation
After completing this research and conduct an questionnaire it is conclude that out of
50 respondents 40 thinks that HR management and talent management are linked with each
other and work in an smooth function. And out of 50, 10 thinks that there are no link of HR
and talent management, as talent management can be find out by top management also.
Recommendations and conclusion
After completing this research, it is concluded that there are various hurdles and
obstacles are facing by different type of organisation like unilever. But they have to find
some strategic approach and different type of plans which help them to work and solve their
issues which are related to talent management. This will be very effective and appropriate for
the growth of the company. Talent management is very important tool for the effective
growth and work in the new environment with some efficient workers.
This is recommended for the company to recruit more and more employees in order to
complete the need and identifying the gap of organisation and their human resource. Another
way which are adopted by company is to motivate their employee which are helpful for their
employees to stay longer and achieve their daily operational targets within organisation. This
is very important to know the need of their employee so time to time feedback analysis or
interview is conducted to know more about the employees need and their performance
growth.

Part 2: Project Report and Reflection
With the completion of this business research, I come to understand that, there are
different type of talent management. The need which are arises by the different organisation
are related to their own identity and aim of company which make them different from others
company. I developed different skills and knowledge which are related to different type of
aspects that may or may not be related to the concept of talent management. I come to know
that the need of talent management in the different type of industry is different but
compulsory. For accomplishing the need of talent management, I understand that the
companies try different approaches which make them high position in market. Because all the
technologies and machines can be copied but only human resource or talent management is
the tool which cannot be copied from each other in market. So to become more efficient and
effective organisation in market, the competition is become tough and people are ready to
hire talented employee at any cost. Which will increase the demand but the supply of the
talented people in market is fixed or limited.
While completing this research, I understand that there are various rules and regulation
which are needed to fulfil by the organisation and their managers in order to complete their
basic needs. While conducting a research on Unilever, I understand that there are various
ways which should be adopted by the companies in order to complete their basic objectives
and aim. To accomplish the need and aim of this research, I conduct different type of theories
and make primary and secondary data to know more about the talent management in the
particular organisation. I make a survey for their employee near about 50 people and
understand that what they actually think about talent management team and their responsive
nature towards them. I am happy that I got a chance to conduct this research and come to that
point about talent management and tits role in different kind of organisation. I conduct a
primary research with the help of questionnaire. And after that I make secondary research too
with the help of many books and online access portals which wright about talent
management. I study different online books and website which provide me different aspect
and developed an understanding for the talent management pool in the particular industry.
Either fashion or retail or IT industry all are need talent management tool and developed an
understanding regarding the concept of talented people and arise the basic need of talent
people in organisation.

References
Books and Journals
Al Yaarubi, H.A., 2018, November. Talent Management Strategies, Programs and Results.
In Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition & Conference. Society of
Petroleum Engineers.
Bonneton, D., 2019, July. Exclusive Talent Management Practices: Reconciling
Organizational and Boundaryless Careers?. In Academy of Management
Proceedings (Vol. 2019, No. 1, p. 16699). Briarcliff Manor, NY 10510: Academy of
Management.
Chopra, S., 2019. Assessment Centers for Talent Management: A Handbook for Identifying
and Assessing Competencies and Developing Potential. South Asian Journal of
Management, 26(3), pp.188-192.
Elena, G., 2017. Talent management in modern organisations: A sociological analysis.
Polo, Y.E.P., 2021. Strategy From Human Talent. In Handbook of Research on International
Business and Models for Global Purpose-Driven Companies (pp. 235-252). IGI
Global.
Sangapu, I., 2018. Talent Management with Big Data Analytics: A Review. Available at
SSRN 3308985.
Sharma, D. and Purohit, C.P., 2019. Talent Management: The India Way. LBS Journal of
Management & Research, 17(1), pp.26-32.
Suraiya, L., 2017. An unconstructive outlook on talent management. International Journal of
Marketing and Technology, 7(2), pp.23-29.
Ternikov, A.A. and Lapov, I.S., 2018. Global talent management challenges. Скиф.
Вопросы студенческой науки, (7), pp.107-113.
Tlaiss, H.A., Martin, P. and Hofaidhllaoui, M., 2017. Talent retention: evidence from a
multinational firm in France. Employee Relations.
Mukuna, S.W., 2019. Talent Management Strategies in the Retention of Millenials &
Generation Z (Doctoral dissertation, United States International University-Africa).
Online
6 CHALLENGES OF TALENT MANAGEMENT, 2021. [Online] available through:<
https://babington.co.uk/blog/leadership-management/6-challenges-of-talent-
management/>.
7 Ways to Improve Talent Management, 2020. [Online]. Available through:<
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talent-management/>.
What is Talent Management? Definition, Strategy, Process and Models, 2021. [Online].
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