Management development in Unilever

Unilever uses management development (MD) as a strategic tool to help the organization meet its short and long term goals. In recent years, Unilever has undergone a process of rapid change and MD has been important in communicating that change throughout the organization and equipping staff to deal with it. Key features that have made the MD programme work in this way for Unilever were: joint ownership and responsibility (the business and the individual); identification of talent at all levels; explicit incorporation of own wishes; company interests can take precedence over group interests; one system worldwide; performance‐development related pay; and total transparency. In addition, performance development planning is highlighted as a major component of the programme.