Research paper

Kimberly Clarks and Unilever

Outline

Introduction……………………………………….……………………………………………….3 The Ideal Company……………………………….……………………………………………….3 Company 1: Kimberly Clarks ……………………………………………………………………4 Background……………………………….……………………………………………….4 Products and Services…………………….……………………………………………….4 SWOT Analysis…….……………………………………………………………………..5 MY OPINION 5 Company 2: Unilever………….…………………………………………………………………...6 Background………………………………………………………………………………..6 Products and Services………………….………………………………………………….6 SWOT Analysis...………………….. ………………………………………………….....7 MY OPINION 7 Conclusion………………………………………………………………………………………...7 RECOMMENDATIONS 8 References………………………………………………………………………………………..8

WORKPLAN FOR CAREER RESEARCH PAPER

Introduction

I have been worked with Kimberly Clarks for three years. However, I have received a new offer from Unilever. There is closer to my hometown, and I can spend more time with my family. They pay a higher salary. I have to make a decision between them.

I want to find the best company that fit for me on this report. In selecting the organization of choice, so many factors may be considered from salary, work platform, company status, and social responsibility. A company which has stable records and good qualities can be the best choice. They both have disadvantages and advantages. Data collection will start with online research. There will be from the following sources: the companies’ official social media, published articles, and other online sources.

Selection Criteria

I have a few selection criteria when it comes to choose a workplace. The first criteria for me would be the salary. I am quite satisfied with what I do in my current company position. It’s also pleasant to get along with colleagues. I have no reason to leave my current position. However, if another company pay much higher than my current company. I would totally consider work with them. All aside, we go to work to make money. That’s the reality. The second criteria for me would be the platform. The platform is a very imaginary thing, but it is indeed a very real thing. The platform should be a company that has survived long-term market tests and is a competitive enterprise in the market. The platform should give you unlimited development possibilities and allow you to play all your potential.

The third criteria for me would be the company status. The status of the company refers to the company's current development in their industry. Are they losing? Are their sales slowing down? This determines whether you can get more opportunities to show yourself in this company. For general, companies that are developing rapidly will have more opportunities to vacate. You have the opportunity to further improve yourself in this company. The last criteria should be social responsibility. If an accident occurs, will the company take the initiative to take responsibility. It also includes the protection of the environment during the production process.

Company 1: Kimberly Clarks

Background, Product and Service, and Culture.

Kimberly-Clark Corporation is an American multinational company found in 1872 at Neenah, Wisconsin, and based in the Las Colinas section of Irving, Texas since 1985. They produce mostly paper-based consumer products. In the history of more than 140 years of entrepreneurship, it has numerous inventions and world firsts. Annual sales exceed 21.2 billion US dollars. The organization generally had 40, 000 employees. (wikipedia, 2020)

Kimberly-Clark has three major product fields: Personal health care products, household paper and commercial consumer products. Perfect quality, excellent service, and fair treatment are the reason that they have been known well. This famous international brand is slowly becoming an indispensable part of people's lives. Kimberly-Clark’s products are used by 25% of people worldwide every day. They rely on Kimberly-Clark's product and they have confidence on it to bring convenience and health. (Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, 2020)

Kimberly-Clark has a unique business culture that makes people want to work here, and customers are willing to cooperate with it. These points are the company has been promoting. Group collaboration, pursuit of excellence, brave competition, praise performance, environmental protection first. (Careersatkc, 2020)

One of strengths for Kimberly-Clark is strong ROIC and dividend payout. ROIC means the Return on Invested Capital. Kimberly-Clark’s ROIC has increased every years with their great sales. The second strength for Kimberly-Clark is fortune 500 company. This can give consumers greater confidence when buying their products. The third strength is sustainable business operations. This refers to protecting natural environment on producing. It can leave a good impression to the consumers and investors. (Kimberly-Clark SWOT & PESTLE Analysis, 2020)

On the other hand, Kimberly-Clark has some weaknesses. The rising input commodity costs impacting margins. For example, they want to protect the environment, and they need to invest more capital to develop new technologies and new materials. Moreover, the lack of diversity compared to key competitors is a big weakness for them. Now it is difficult for a company to survive on fewer categories of goods. Many large companies are seeking to transform and develop more new types. (Kimberly-Clark SWOT & PESTLE Analysis, 2020)

They are some opportunities when you in down time. The first opportunities for Kimberly-Clark is immense potential in developing and emerging markets. Kimberly-Clark had a great success in China. They can follow their past experienced to develop new markets. The second opportunities is strategic alliances and acquisitions. When a company reaches a certain scale, alliances and acquisitions are most of their expansion methods. (Kimberly-Clark SWOT & PESTLE Analysis, 2020)

However, Kimberly-Clark is facing some threat from their global competitors. Technology is now very advanced, and people don’t buy only one brand as before. At this time, there will be many emerging companies, and they will be robbed of market share if you are not paying attention. (Kimberly-Clark SWOT & PESTLE Analysis, 2020)

My Opinion

Kimberly Clarks is a company with a long history. They have maintained a good performance even during the economic depression. They have a very positive attitude towards employees. However, they also have the problems of the old company, products Simplification may slow down future development.

Company 2: Unilever

Background, Product and Service, and Culture.

Unilever is a British–Dutch multinational company founded in 1929. Their company name came from the merge of the Dutch Margarine Unie margarine company and the British Lever Brothers soap company. Unilever later became the largest soap producer in the world. The headquarter in Rotterdam, the Netherlands in charge of food business, and headquarter in London, England in charge of the detergent business. Unilever has come a long way in history. They have been through economic prosperity, depression, world wars, and new technological progress. They are still a strong brand in the end. (wikipedia, 2020)

Unilever is one of the strong brands in the world that produce fast moving consumer goods. Household and personal care products are the major product fields of Unilever. More than 160 million people buy Unilever products from all over the world every day, and their brand is strong for consumers all around the world. Unilever is also very supportive of developing new products. In 2009, they invested nearly 891 million euros in cutting-edge research and development. They also set up six global R&D centers in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, the United States, India, and China. (bbc, 2017)

Unilever is a company driven by a strong sense of mission. They want to make sustainable living the norm. They are really care about the environment. Unilever has initiated many projects seeking sustainable product materials to protect the environment for many years. They also have education program in their company, they offer to their employee to learn more skill and apply their knowledge to the workplace. (Unilever, 2020)

SWOT Analysis

Unilever is a strong popular brand with strong financial performance and strategy. This is the biggest strength for Unilever. It has established 300 operating organizations in 88 countries, has more than 1,000 very successful brands, and sells its products in more than 150 countries. It has 51,980 million euros revenues in 2019. It also has substantial strategic investments to drive growth. They want to develop some great products to the consumers. (Unilever SWOT & PESTLE Analysis, 2020)

However, Unilever is dependence on distributors and retailers. This sales method can easily bring them harm. If there are more useful or cheaper products on the market, and they are willing to pay more to the distributors and retailers. This will divide Unilever’s market share which is not good for their company. (Unilever SWOT & PESTLE Analysis, 2020)

As we aware, Unilever’s products have been producing daily life-level products. They is a growing demand for premium and specialized high-end products in skin care segment. The economy is getting better, and people know how to enjoy life better than before. They want to buy all kinds of high-end skin care products previously seen in magazines. (Unilever SWOT & PESTLE Analysis, 2020)

They are also receiving threats from all over the world. There are a lot new companies building up. They may experience from some big company, and they are building their new company. They have a lot of professional knowledge. Global and regional competitors and Private label brands from retailers. There are the threat for old traditional company. (Unilever SWOT & PESTLE Analysis, 2020)

My Opinion

Unilever is also a company with a long history. They have almost a hundred years of experience in the household business. They are also a company that likes innovation very much. Such a company is very suitable for young people like me. Choosing Unilever will bring me greater enthusiasm for work.

Conclusion

After many days of careful consideration, I made a better decision for myself. Both of there two company have a great workplace culture and great branding. As a person who has worked in Kimberly Clarks for three years, I would be more excited to change my work environment. There is no bad thing to Kimberly Clarks. It is a great company, and I learned a lot from them. Sometimes we change the environment may be more beneficial to our work.

References (n.d.). Retrieved from www.kimberly-clark: https://www.kimberly-clark.com/en (2017, February 17). Retrieved from bbc: https://www.bbc.com/news/business-39009072 (2020). Retrieved from Careersatkc: https://www.careersatkc.com/en/our-culture#:~:text=Our%20values%20%E2%80%93%20being%20innovative%2C%20accountable,bring%20those%20values%20to%20life. Kimberly-Clark SWOT & PESTLE Analysis. (2020, October 26). Retrieved from swotandpestle: https://www.swotandpestle.com/kimberly-clark/ Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, I. (2020). Retrieved from kcprofessional: https://www.kcprofessional.com/en-us Unilever. (2020). Retrieved from Themuse: https://www.themuse.com/profiles/unilever Unilever SWOT & PESTLE Analysis. (2020, september). Retrieved from swotandpestle: https://www.swotandpestle.com/unilever/ wikipedia. (2020, October 21). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kimberly-Clark wikipedia. (2020). wikipedia. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unilever

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