Assignment Brief Academic Year 2024-25

Module code FY021 Introduction to Business Module leader: Diana Mladin

and title: Studies

Assignment CW1Portfolio (Patchwork Assessment 100%

No. and type: assessment incorporating Group weighting:
Presentation, Individual Poster
and Individual Report)

Submission Friday 20th December 2024 Target feedback 3 weeks after submission
time and date: before 2.00 pm time and date: deadline

Assignment task

Unilever is a well-known multinational consumer goods company. Established in 1929 as a result of the
merge between British soap maker Lever Brothers and Dutch margarine producer Margarine Unie, it has
grown into one of the leading global consumer goods companies. Unilever is known for its diverse portfolio
of food, beverages, cleaning agents, and personal care products. It boasts a range of more than 60 popular
brands such as Dove, Ben & Jerry’s, Lipton, Magnum and Axe. The company operates on a global scale
and is renowned for its strong emphasis on sustainability and social responsibility.

This assignment is a portfolio composed of three separate tasks, each specifically designed to evaluate
different areas of your comprehension of business ideas as they relate to Unilever. These tasks will be
completed throughout the module, and although a mark will not be awarded until the end of the module,
detailed formative feedback will be provided together with the opportunity for the student to submit work until
the final deadline providing formative developmental opportunities. The assessment will include:

• Task 1 – A 10 min in class Group PowerPoint Presentation. This will relate to the internal and external
factors which impact on Unilever business. You will need to demonstrate your ability to work effectively in
a team and communicate business concepts clearly and concisely (LO 2 and LO 3). Formative feedback
from your lecturers may be obtained in week 5 or after the presentation delivery in class. The
presentations will be delivered in class in week 6.

Guidelines for Task 1 - Group PowerPoint Presentation

Form a group of 2-4 students and confirm the group members' names with your lecturer. Your group will
prepare and deliver in class 10-minute PowerPoint presentation on Unilever. Through this task, you will
demonstrate your knowledge, understanding and ability to identify, discuss, and explain how specific internal
and external factors influence Unilever operations and business strategies.

Please note that oral presentations in class will be recorded for quality assurance purposes.

Internal approval: Name, Date

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Your presentation should follow the structure below:

1. Cover page
2. Introduction
3. Company Background
4. SWOT Analysis of Unilever
5. Analysis of one internal factor and one external factor affecting Unilever
6. Recommendations
7. Conclusion
8. References
9. Group Log
10. Q & A

• Task 2 – An Academic Poster (individual task). Create an academic poster related to one element of
Unilever’s Marketing Mix, either Product, Price, Place or Promotion. This individual task assesses your
grasp of marketing principles and your ability to present information in a clear, engaging format (LO 1).
This component of the portfolio must be completed by the end of week 8 to remain on schedule.
Formative feedback from your lecturers may be obtained in week 7.

Guidelines for Task 2 – Individual Academic Poster

For this task, you will create a single-page academic poster analysing one element of the Marketing Mix
for a Unilever product of your choice. Begin by selecting a specific Unilever product, then choose one
aspect of the Marketing Mix (product, price, place, or promotion) to focus on.

Your poster must include the following:

• A clear heading stating the chosen product and Marketing Mix element
• Your student’ ID
• A definition of the Marketing Mix, supported by appropriate citations
• A discussion of your chosen Marketing Mix element as it applies to the Unilever product
• Discuss the strengths and potential drawbacks of the selected Marketing Mix element
• Relevant images of the chosen product
• Reference list - Use the Harvard referencing style for any sources cited on the poster
• Ensure your poster is visually appealing and easy to read, balancing text and images effectively

• Task 3 – Individual Written Report (1500 words). Write a report examining Unilever's HR strategies,
financial management practices and the role of reporting. This task requires you to conduct research on
various elements of Unilever's operations, integrate the material you obtain, and discuss the strategies that
have the most impact on the company's success (LO1, LO2, LO4). Formative feedback for this
component may be obtained in week 10.

Guidelines for Task 3 – Individual Report

Task 3 requires you to write an individual report of 1500 words focusing on Unilever's Human Resources
and Financial Management strategies. Your report should explore how these crucial functions operate within
the company and contribute to its success.

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Your report should follow the structure below:

1. Executive Summary
2. Table of Contents
3. Introduction - This part should give the reader a clear idea of what to expect in your report.

• Explain you will be studying Unilever for this case analysis, focusing your research on the
company's human resources and financial strategies.
• Explain why you are doing this report
• List the main parts of your report
• Mention that you will be looking at recent sources of information

4. Company background - In this section of your report, provide a concise overview of Unilever's history
and current market position. Include the following elements:

• Founding date and original companies involved in Unilever's creation

• Key milestones in the company's growth and development
• Evolution of Unilever's product portfolio
• Current global presence (number of countries, approximate workforce)
• Brief mention of Unilever's commitment to sustainability
• Recent significant developments or strategic shifts (last 3 years)

5. Human Resource Strategies

• Describe the Human Resource management and its role for an organisation.
• Conduct research and describe Unilever's HR practices, including recruitment, training, and
employee development programs. Examine how these strategies support the company's
goals and foster a productive work environment.

6. Collaborative working practices

• Briefly explain why teamwork is important for organisations.

• Consider the role of teamwork in Unilever's operations and how collaborative practices
contribute to its performance.

7. Financial management strategies

• Explain the importance of Financial Management within an organisation and the role of
financial management in effective decision making.
• Discuss the role and highlight the important functions of the finance department within
Unilever.
• Describe the main financial reports such as Income Statement and Balance Sheet and its
importance to evaluate a company’s performance and financial position.
• Review the Unilever’s annual reports and discuss the financial performance for the last year.
• Identify some trends that might affect the company’s future strategies.

8. Recommendations - In this section, provide 2-3 specific, actionable suggestions for improving
Unilever's HR and financial management strategies. Briefly explain each suggestion, why it is
important, and how it could benefit Unilever. Keep your ideas realistic and directly related to your
report's findings.

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 9. Conclusion - The conclusion section of your report serves to summarize your key findings and
reinforce the main points of your analysis. In this final part, you should restate the purpose of your
report and briefly recap the major insights you've gained about Unilever's HR and financial
management strategies.

10. References - using a range of credible sources and referencing them correctly adds authority to
your work and shows your ability to conduct proper academic research.

• Use at least 8 different sources of information in your report.

• Ensure your sources are reliable and up-to-date. These may include Unilever's official
website and annual reports, academic journals and books, reputable business publications and
news sources, industry reports and analyses
• Properly cite all sources within your text using Harvard referencing style.
• Ensure that your reference list matches the citations in your text.

11. Appendices - These attachments would provide concrete evidence to back up the analysis and
conclusions presented in the main body of the report, e.g., screenshots from Unilever's annual
reports, charts and graphs, and images.

Please note: The detailed Assessment criteria is provided at the end of the Assignment Brief
Assessment Criteria for your portfolio. You will obtain marks as the following: Weighting

Task 1 – Group Presentation 30%

Task 2 – An Individual Academic Poster 20%
Task 3 – An Individual Report 30%
Transferable Skills 20%
If you are registered with the Disability and Inclusion Services or have a disability, please contact your
module leader to discuss how your reasonable adjustments will be applied to this assignment.

This assignment has been designed to provide you with an opportunity to demonstrate your
achievement of the following module learning outcomes:

LO 1 Describe the role of HR, Marketing and finance functions within organisations

LO 2 Develop an understanding of collaborative working practices

LO 3 Demonstrate an understanding of the main factors, both internal and external, which impact
businesses

LO 4 Demonstrate knowledge of the role of financial management and reporting within the organisation

Practicalities: Referencing, presenting and submitting your work

For this assignment, you are required to submit all three tasks - the PowerPoint presentation slides, the
individual academic poster, and the individual report - in one consolidated document file. This can be in
either Word or PDF format. Please follow these guidelines:
1. Create a cover page of your portfolio.

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 2. PowerPoint Presentation Slides: Convert your PowerPoint slides into images and insert them into
your Word document or PDF. Ensure each slide is clearly visible and readable.
3. Individual Academic Poster: Include your poster as a full-page image in your document. Make sure
it is high-resolution and all text is readable.
4. Individual Report: Type your report directly into the Word document in Arial 12 font and 1.5 line
spacing or include it in the PDF.
This assignment should be submitted electronically. Please use the relevant Turnitin submission point in the
Upload My Assignment area on LSST Connect. Please ensure that your work has been saved in an
appropriate file format. Turnitin will only accept the following file types: Microsoft Word and PDF. Your file
must also contain at least 20 words of text, consist of fewer than 400 pages and be less than 40MB in size.
You can submit your work as many times as you like before the submission date. If you do submit your work
more than once, your earlier submission will be replaced by the most recent version. Once you have
submitted your work, you will receive a digital receipt as proof of submission, which will be sent to your LSST
e-mail address. Please keep this receipt for future reference, along with the original electronic copy of your
assignment.
The work you submit for assessment must be properly referenced – a guide to Harvard referencing can be
found on LSST Connect clicking on this link or as defined in the Cite them Right Online
“https://www.citethemrightonline.com/category-list?docid=CTRHarvard
Please also note that work that is submitted up to 10 working days beyond the submission date will be
considered a late submission. Late submissions will be marked, and the actual mark recorded but will be
capped at the pass mark (typically 40%), provided that the work is of a passing standard. Work submitted
after this period will not be marked and will be treated as a non-submission.

Confidentiality

You should maintain and respect confidentiality in relation to the protection of personal, technical and/or
commercial information of a sensitive nature in your assessed work.
For further information and guidance, please see your programme handbook.

Academic integrity

Academic integrity means taking responsibility for your own work. When you submit an assignment, you
are making a declaration that it is your own work and that you have acknowledged the contribution of
others and their ideas in its development (for example, by referencing them appropriately).
For further information and guidance, please see the University website: https://www.bnu.ac.uk/current-
students/registry-helpdesk-and-academic-advice/academic-integrity-and-misconduct

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Assessment Criteria Academic Year 2024-25

0-34 (F) – 35-39 E – 40-49 (D) 50-59 (C) 60-69 (B) 70-79 (A) 80-100 (A+)
Fail Marginal fail Pass Pass Pass Pass Pass
Not successful Below required Satisfactory Good Very Good Excellent Outstanding
standard
Task 1 Group The work The work The work The work The work The work The work
Presentation (LO2, demonstrates a demonstrates demonstrates a basic demonstrates a good demonstrates a very demonstrates an demonstrates an
LO3) 30% severe lack of insufficient level of knowledge level of knowledge good level of excellent level of exceptional level of
knowledge and knowledge and and understanding. and understanding. knowledge and knowledge and knowledge and
This should include understanding. understanding. -The introduction -The introduction understanding. understanding. understanding.
evidence of: -The introduction -The introduction provides a simple provides clear -The introduction -The introduction -The introduction is
fails to clearly provides a vague overview of purpose overview of the effectively presents engagingly presents captivating, expertly
-Introduction: present the purpose, overview of purpose with an evident but purpose with a well- the purpose with a the purpose with an presenting the
Clear introduction of and lacks a coherent with a poorly sometimes unclear structured very well-structured expertly structured purpose with an
presentation purpose structure. structured presentation presentation outline. presentation outline. presentation outline. outstandingly
-The SWOT analysis presentation outline. structure. -The SWOT analysis -The SWOT analysis -The SWOT analysis structured
-Knowledge and is either missing or -The SWOT analysis -The SWOT analysis is comprehensive, is thorough and is highly presentation outline.
Understanding: contains major is attempted but covers main points and there is a good insightful, accomplished, -The SWOT analysis
Comprehensive errors, with no clear contains significant but lacks depth, and explanation of one accompanied by a offering perceptive is exemplary, offering
SWOT analysis, identification or gaps or inaccuracies. there is a basic internal and one detailed explanation insights, unique and
Detailed explanation explanation of -There is limited explanation of one external factor of one internal and accompanied by a innovative insights,
of one internal and internal and external explanation of internal and one affecting Unilever. one external factor nuanced and critical accompanied
one external factor factors affecting internal and external external factor -The presentation affecting Unilever. explanation of one detailed and critical
affecting Unilever Unilever. factors affecting affecting Unilever. shows a solid -The presentation internal and one explanation of one
-There is little to no Unilever. -The presentation understanding of exhibits a external factor internal and one
-Analysis and evidence of -The presentation shows a basic Unilever's comprehensive affecting Unilever. external factor
criticality: understanding shows minimal understanding of background and understanding of -The presentation affecting Unilever.
Thorough Unilever's understanding of Unilever's current market Unilever's exhibits a superior -The presentation
understanding of background or Unilever's background and position, providing a background and understanding of exhibits a superior
Unilever's current market background and current position, with clear explanation of current market Unilever's understanding of
background and position, and the current position, with some attempt to how the chosen position, offering an background and Unilever's
current position, impact of chosen weak attempts to explain the impact of factors impact the in-depth explanation current market background and
Clear explanation of factors on the explain the impact of chosen factors, company. of how the chosen position, providing an current position,
how chosen factors company is not chosen factors. though without much factors impact the insightful and providing an
impact Unilever addressed. depth or insight. company. sophisticated innovative
explanation of how explanation of how
the chosen factors the chosen factors
impact the company. impact the company.

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Assessment Criteria Academic Year 2024-25

0-34 (F) – 35-39 E – 40-49 (D) 50-59 (C) 60-69 (B) 70-79 (A) 80-100 (A+)
Fail Marginal fail Pass Pass Pass Pass Pass
Not successful Below required Satisfactory Good Very Good Excellent Outstanding
standard
Task 2 Individual The work The work The work The work The work The work The work
Academic Poster demonstrates no demonstrates an demonstrates a demonstrates a good demonstrates a very demonstrates an demonstrates an
(LO1) 20% focus on a Unilever unclear focus on a satisfactory focus on focus on a Unilever good focus on a excellent focus on a exceptional focus on
product or Marketing Unilever product and a Unilever product product and one Unilever product and Unilever product and a Unilever product
This should include Mix element. Marketing Mix and one Marketing Marketing Mix one Marketing Mix one Marketing Mix and one Marketing
evidence of: -It fails to provide a element. Mix element. element. element. element. Mix element.
heading or focus on -It presents an -It provides a simple -It presents a clear -It features an -It presents an -It features an
-Heading a Unilever product. unclear heading and heading and focuses heading and effective heading and excellent heading outstanding heading
-There is no minimal focus on a on a Unilever maintains good focus maintains consistent and maintains sharp and maintains
-Knowledge and evidence of Unilever product. product. on a Unilever focus on a Unilever focus on a Unilever exemplary focus on a
Understanding: comprehending -It shows limited -It shows satisfactory product. product. product. Unilever product.
Clear focus on one Marketing Mix grasp of Marketing knowledge of -It shows solid -It shows in-depth -It shows mastery of -It shows expert
element of the theory. Mix theory. Marketing Mix comprehension of knowledge of Marketing Mix command of
Marketing Mix theory -The application of a -The application of a theory. Marketing Mix Marketing Mix theory. Marketing Mix
Marketing Mix Marketing Mix -The application theory. theory. -The application of theory.
-Application: element is missing or element is covers one -The application of -The application of one Marketing Mix -The application of
Comprehensive fundamentally superficial, with Marketing Mix one Marketing Mix one Marketing Mix element is one Marketing Mix
application of one flawed, without limited or no element, with some element is element is detailed, sophisticated, element is
element of the addressing application of mention of comprehensive, providing insightful offering critical exemplary, offering
Marketing Mix to the advantages and advantages and advantages and covering main coverage of analysis of innovative insights
chosen Unilever disadvantages. disadvantages. disadvantages. advantages and advantages and advantages and into advantages and
product; Covers -The poster's visual -The poster's visual -The poster's visual disadvantages. disadvantages. disadvantages disadvantages.
advantages and design demonstrates design demonstrates design demonstrates -The poster's -The poster's visual -The poster's visual -The poster's visual
disadvantages of the poor execution, weak execution, with basic execution, aesthetic design showcases design demonstrates design exhibits
chosen element lacking appeal and limited appeal and being simple but presentation is well- very good execution, excellent execution, outstanding
clarity. organization. generally clear. executed, featuring being attractive with being visually execution, being
-Visual design: an engaging design a well-organized impressive with a strikingly attractive
Poster is visually and a logically layout. highly effective with an expertly
appealing; Layout is structured layout. layout. crafted layout that
clear and easy to enhances content
follow delivery.

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Assessment Criteria Academic Year 2024-25

Task 3 Individual The work The work The work The work The work The work The work
Report (LO1, LO2, demonstrates limited demonstrates demonstrates demonstrates good demonstrates very demonstrates demonstrates
LO4) 30% or no understanding insufficient satisfactory understanding of HR good understanding excellent exceptional
of HR and financial understanding of HR understanding of HR and financial of HR and financial understanding of HR understanding of HR
This should include management and financial and financial management management and financial and financial
evidence of: strategies at management management strategies at strategies at management management
Unilever. strategies at strategies at Unilever. Unilever. strategies at strategies at
-Introduction: Clear -The introduction is Unilever. Unilever. -The introduction -The introduction is Unilever. Unilever.
and concise missing or is -The discussion on -The introduction provides a detailed concise and -The introduction is -The introduction is
introduction to the irrelevant. HR strategies and provides a simple overview of the topic. engaging. clear, concise, and exemplary, setting a
report topic -The discussion on financial overview of the topic. -The discussion on -The discussion on compelling. clear and engaging
HR strategies and management -The discussion HR strategies and HR strategies and -The discussion on direction.
-Discussion: financial functions is covers HR strategies financial financial HR strategies and -The discussion on
Detailed discussion management superficial and and financial management management financial HR strategies and
on HR strategies; functions is absent or contains significant management functions is thorough. functions is detailed management financial
Discussion on fundamentally errors. functions at a basic -There is good and insightful. functions is management
financial flawed. -There is minimal level. comprehension of -There is proficient comprehensive and functions is
management -There is no understanding of the -There is satisfactory the Income understanding of the analytically authoritative and
functions evidence of Income Statement level of knowledge of Statement and Income Statement sophisticated. offers original
understanding the and Balance Sheet the Income Balance Sheet and Balance Sheet -There is advanced insights.
-Knowledge and Income Statement reports. Statement and reports. reports. understanding of the -There is expert
Understanding: and Balance Sheet -The evaluation of Balance Sheet -The evaluation of -The evaluation of Income Statement knowledge of the
Income Statement reports. Unilever's financial reports. Unilever's financial Unilever's financial and Balance Sheet Income Statement
and Balance Sheet -The evaluation of performance and -The evaluation of performance and performance and reports. and Balance Sheet.
Unilever's financial strategy contribution Unilever's financial strategy contribution strategy contribution -The evaluation of -The evaluation of
-Evaluation: performance and is weak and largely performance and is sound, using is critical and well- Unilever's financial Unilever's financial
Evaluation of strategy contribution inaccurate. strategy contribution annual report data supported by annual performance and performance and
Unilever’s financial is missing or entirely -The conclusion is attempted but effectively. report data. strategy contribution strategy contribution
performance for the inaccurate. lacks coherence and lacks depth. -The conclusion is -The conclusion is is insightful, using is outstanding,
current year -The conclusion is supporting evidence. -The conclusion is logical and supported well-reasoned and annual report data demonstrating
Evaluation of which absent or illogical. present but may lack by evidence. perceptive. expertly. innovative analysis of
strategy contributes strong reasoning. -The conclusion is annual report data.
most to business perceptive and -The conclusion is
success. strongly supported compelling,
by evidence. showcasing original
-Well-reasoned thinking and robust
conclusion evidence.

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Assessment Criteria Academic Year 2024-25

Transferable Skills The work The work The work The work The work The work The work
20% demonstrates poor demonstrates demonstrates basic demonstrates good demonstrates very demonstrates demonstrates
transferable skills. insufficient transferable skills. transferable skills. good transferable excellent transferable outstanding
This should include -Presentation skills transferable skills. -Presentation skills -Presentation skills skills. skills. transferable skills.
evidence of: are poor. There is no -Presentation skills are adequate, with are sound, with clear -Presentation skills -Presentation skills -The presentation is
engagement with the are weak, with often generally clear speech, good are strong, with clear are superior, with very impressive, with
audience, lack of eye unclear speech, speech. There is pronunciation, and and confident articulate and clear and interesting
-Presentation skills: contact, and no inconsistent some engagement appropriate volume. speech. There is engaging speech. speech. During the
Clarity of speech; enthusiasm. Content pronunciation, and with the audience, There is good very good There is excellent presentation
Clear pronunciation knowledge is absent inappropriate occasional eye engagement with the engagement with the engagement with the excellent audience
and appropriate or fundamentally volume. Audience contact, and some audience, consistent audience, sustained audience, natural engagement, with
volume; Engagement flawed, and time engagement is enthusiasm. Content eye contact, and eye contact, and high eye contact, and effective eye contact
with audience; management is poor. minimal, with limited knowledge is evident enthusiasm. enthusiasm. Content infectious and clear enthusiasm
Maintains eye Teamwork is eye contact and little satisfactory, and time Content knowledge knowledge is enthusiasm. Content for the topic were
contact and shows ineffective, with enthusiasm. Content management is is solid, and time comprehensive, and knowledge is evidenced. Everyone
enthusiasm; unequal participation knowledge is adequate. Teamwork management time management is extensive, and time contributes equally
Demonstrates and sudden superficial, and time shows some balance adheres to the limit. effective. Teamwork management is and switches
understanding of the transitions. management is poor. in participation with Teamwork shows shows well-balanced precise. Teamwork between speakers
topic; Time Teamwork shows occasionally smooth balanced participation with shows ideally smoothly.
management skills; -Written imbalances in transitions. participation with seamless transitions. balanced
Teamwork; Equal communication is participation and smooth transitions. participation with -The writing uses
participation and under academic awkward transitions. -Written -Written flawless transitions. proper academic
smooth transitions standards, with communication uses -Written communication uses -Written words and is
between speakers inappropriate -Written mostly appropriate communication uses appropriate communication uses exceptionally clear
language use, lack of communication is language, with some appropriate academic language sophisticated and well-organised.
-Written clarity and weak, with frequent clarity and academic language, skilfully, academic language, There are no
Communication: coherence, and use of inappropriate coherence. There demonstrating clarity demonstrating high demonstrating mistakes in spelling,
Uses appropriate numerous errors in to the academic are some errors in and coherence. clarity and excellent clarity and punctuation, or
academic language; spelling, punctuation, standards language, spelling, punctuation, There are minor coherence. There coherence. Spelling, grammar. The ideas
Demonstrates clarity and grammar. There lack of clarity and and grammar, but errors in spelling, are very few errors in punctuation, and are presented in a
and coherence in is no logical flow of coherence, and they do not punctuation, and spelling, punctuation, grammar are nearly very logical order. All
expression; Correct ideas, and multiple errors in significantly impede grammar. The flow of and grammar. The flawless. The flow of sources are correctly
spelling, punctuation referencing is either spelling, punctuation, understanding. The ideas is logical, and flow of ideas is very ideas is highly logical cited using the
and grammar absent or and grammar. The flow of ideas is referencing logical and well- and effectively Harvard style, which
throughout all tasks; consistently flow of ideas is generally logical, and consistently follows structured, and structured, and makes the work look
Consistent use of incorrect. disjointed, and there referencing follows Harvard style with referencing follows referencing very professional and
Harvard referencing are significant errors Harvard style with few errors. Harvard style. accurately follows scholarly.
style in referencing. some errors. Harvard style.

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Assessment Criteria Academic Year 2024-25

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