The business analysis of UNILEVER PLC

  Task 1: a. Analyse Unilever’s current strategic position. b. Identify and discuss 5 challenges the company faces over the next 3-5 years. In order to do that, the following models/frameworks will be used: • Balanced Scorecards, including o Financial Ratios o Comparator Financial Ratios • SWOT • STEEPLE –including Industry Lifecycle o Corporate Governance o Social Responsibility & Ethics • Porters Five Forces • Benchmarking against Industry/sector/competition/best practice(centres of excellence) • Strategic Position & capabilities/resources o Culture and its organisational past o Strategic Drift • VRIN Model (Value, rarity, Inimitability, non-substitutability) • McKinsey 7S – hard and soft Have you chosen your FIVE issues/challenges/problems for your organisation? Have you checked that the research done matches these FIVE issues/challenges/problems? Task 2: a. Identify and evaluate the various solutions the company could use to address ONE of these challenges The model/framework that may help you with this aspect of the question is: SAFe Matrix i. Suitability, - does it address key opportunities/constraints, does it fit? ii. Acceptability, - does it meet stakeholder expectations, risk level acceptable? iii. Feasibility – what transformation strategy, what resources required? b. Analyze how the chosen solution could be practically implemented at the company – Select best way forward – - Resources required – human/financial/capital/physical - Stakeholder mapping and communication plan Harvard Reference List 1. A full list of: a. Academic books covering models etc. b. Academic Journals c. Trade journals – company specific d. Third party analyst evidence - – company specific e. FT/quality newspaper/functional journals (e.g. Economist, etc) f. E-Library databases Q1a. What is your company’s strategic position? • Internal capabilities/competences/core values • External environment • Key Performance Indicators • Comparison with comparators – (Competitor 1 or 2, Industry, sector) • Vision, Mission Statement Q1b. What are the challenges the company is going to face over the next five years? • Have at least 5 highlighted. Q2. What challenge from Q1b are you picking? What are the current options you have? (How can you get this information into your research notes).