Q2. Definition of a manager and leader
A manager is an employee in an organization who plan and manage the activities of the company. Managers give directions on the strategies that are essential for the achievement of the goals and objectives of an organization. Managers lay down objectives and come up with the best policies to enable employees to carry out their activities in a manner that benefits the company. Managers are of various professional levels for effective management of company departments. On the other hand, a leader is a person who directly influences the working of employees to achieve the aim of the company. Leaders are essential in motivating workers and always use practical communication skills to guide employees in working towards the company’s vision. The roles of managers and leaders in a company are closely related, but they have significant differences. In Unilever Company, the functions of managers and leaders are distinct. The managers develop strategies that help workers to increase the general company productivity. Leaders in the Unilever Company guide employees to follow the directives of managers to execute their duties. Management and leadership work together to achieve the goal of the company.
Roles of managers
Planning is one of the roles of a manager in Unilever Company. The manager is responsible for planning and setting of goals whose aim is to influence the revenue from the sale of consumer goods of Unilever Company. The manager also outlines strategies that help the company to improve production processes and the quality of products.
Managers at the Unilever Company organize all the activities of the company. The managers ensure that there is an effective utilization of company resources to achieve the objectives of the organization. The managers assign duties and give orders on how the execution of work in the company.
Staffing is also a role of managers at Unilever Company. A manager is responsible for the identification of vacancies in their department, selection, recruitment, development of workers. The managers of the company employ new staff and assign duties to them according to their qualifications.
Managers at Unilever Company also coordinate the activities of employees to foster better production. The mangers coach, assist and motivate employees to carry out their duties effectively and produce high-quality consumer goods.
Managers are also responsible for controlling all production activities of Unilever Company. Managers regularly verify work progress against company goals to ensure they run simultaneously. The managers also formulate strategies and take the necessary corrective measures to ensure that their departmental plans align with the company goals.
Managers also direct various tasks to employees in their departments. They identify work, subdivide it, and delegate to employees for execution.
Roles of leaders
On the other hand, leaders at Unilever Company play the role of motivating employees to perform better. Leaders recognize and reward the efforts of hardworking employees. Motivation encourages employees to work effectively and meet company production targets. Motivation involves evaluation of employee’s performance and solving work-related challenges. Leaders give employees time off to help them relax and gain energy to perform better at the office.
Leaders also mentor employees to be successful in their jobs. The leaders at Unilever Company give employees the necessary advice and mental support when they face challenges in their office duties. Mentoring also involves conducting team building activities and mentorship programs for employees. Team building activities are vital because they allow employees to refresh, meet new workers, and learn new ideas.
Strategizing is also the role of leaders in any business environment. Leaders think about how to align departmental policies with the ultimate goal of the company. Unilever Company leaders always focus on strategies from managers to direct how employees should carry out their jobs. The focus involves discerning and giving the right directions and methods essential for achieving the production goals of the company.
Leaders at Unilever Company are also responsible for decision making. Leaders should listen, discern, and decide on matters that affect the welfare of their team members. The decisions that leaders take should help workers to improve their overall production. In some situations, leaders make unpopular choices as long as they help to improve the quality of products of the company.
Leaders play the role of executing ideas from managers into real business deals. Leaders at Unilever Company plan activities and communicate to inspire their team members to work smart and implement business strategies for better production results.
Leaders delegate duties to employees according to their qualifications. Delegation involves breakings a process into tasks that are them given to team members for effective execution. Leaders also strategically motivate employees to take up challenging assignments that help them to be more proficient in their careers.
Leaders also have the responsibility to coach their team members. At Unilever Company, team leaders train and guide employees on how to carry out their official duties for the benefit of the company. Leaders motivate new employees and assign them tasks that help them to develop their careers.
History and management structure
Unilever Company is a result of a merger between Lever Sunlight and Margarine Unie in 1929. The two companies had excellent export-import business relations in Africa and Asia. The companies independently sought for ways to expand their business territories to other parts of the globe for more sources of raw materials. Initially, the company had two main branches and two headquarters; London and Rotterdam. Unilever PLC was the branch in London while Unilever NV was at Rotterdam. In 1930, there was another merger between Unilever and the United Africa Company. Unilever gradually developed to an international business company exporting its consumer goods to various parts of the world. The company made improvements from the production of oil and fat products to worldwide business operations. The company has two main competitors; Nestle and Procter and Gamble Company.
The expansion of Unilever’s company operations was intense in Europe between 1945 and 1980. Diversification of Unilever products was in the areas of; animal feeds, chemicals, transport, fish production, and frozen foods. Unilever is now a multinational consumer goods company and has over 400 brands. The company deals in a wide range of products like; personal care products, food, beauty products, ice cream, cleaning agents, and beverages. The company is one of the transnational operating companies and the biggest soap producer in the world. Unilever is also one of the oldest international organizations, and it supplies its products to approximately 190 countries around the globe. Unilever Company is a dual-listed corporate where Unilever PLC and Unilever NV carry out their business operations as single businesses and share a joint board of executives. The company has intense research and development centers in different countries. The management structure of Unilever Company is dual, consisting of two holdings firms, Unilever PLC, and Unilever NV. The two companies have independent headquarters, one in London and another at Rotterdam, and a joint board of managers.