Strategic Planning for Unilever: A Critical Assessment of the Process and Impact of Internal and External Environmental Variation on Organisational Strategy

Strategic planning

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................3
TASK ..............................................................................................................................................3
A critical assessment of the process used by organisations to determine their strategy.............3
A critical evaluation of the impact of internal and external environmental variation on
organisational strategy................................................................................................................4
A review of an organisation’s strategic plan ..............................................................................8
REFERNCES:................................................................................................................................10
Books and Journals:..................................................................................................................10
Online........................................................................................................................................11

INTRODUCTION
The report aims to provide knowledge about strategic planning. It is process of taking
decisions and makes plans for strategy formulation. There are many functions performed by each
department in the organisation. It require appropriate strategy and plans in order to carry out the
work is systematic manner. Therefore, strategic management is necessary and helpful to achieve
strategic goals. It takes a lot of research, observation, implementation and execution in order to
make a successful strategy which could contribute in gaining success and growth of organisation
in competitive market (Cardoni, and.et.al, 2018). This report is going to showcase the strategic
management plan of Unilever. It is one of the to manufacture of consumer goods. The company
was founded in 1929. in London, UK. The company provides all the consumer goods and has
different department for different production. Their products include beauty soap, detergents,
beauty essentials and other daily purpose goods. The report will present the discussion about the
internal and external environment of company through exercising models. Also, how company
will manage their strategies will be defined through presenting strategic plan. It is required to
take necessary action by analysing weak areas where improvements are required.
MAIN BODY
TASK
A critical assessment of the process used by organisations to determine their strategy.
Strategic planning process is an important documentation and process for an organisation.
It consist all the necessary details and actions which will give benefits in future. It helps in
achieving competitive advantage and convert failure into winning. The strategic process plays
vital role in systematically represent the mission, vision and objectives of organisation. This
process helps in achieving objectives by outlining key strength and weakness of company. The
key elements of strategic plan of Unilever is described below:
Determine strategic position: It is the first process of strategic panning. In which,
organisation ascertain its position by identifying top most stakeholders. The company analyse
the key its internal and external environment to identify their strength, weakness and
opportunity. This will help In identifying that what resource they have to achieve mission and
vision. Unilever determine their strategy through analysing market environment by conducting

research on customers trends, market expectations, shareholder needs and legal interferences. It
is an effective process to make strategies by keeping all the factors in mind.
Prioritizing objectives: once the company identify its position and capabilities to make
strategies, the next step will be setting objectives for overall department. In this process and plan,
organisation will make strategies for the prioritise areas of their research. For instance, Unilever
needs to grow in market after the pandemic crises (Marshall, 2018). So, the company focus on
fulfilling customer needs which is their foremost priority. Therefore, the company start making
objective for engaging large customer towards organisation by making changes in products
features, taste and price.
Develop a plan: once objectives get achieved, the organisation will lead to start
developing effective plans for implementation. Unilever prepare plans to reach their goals in
effective manner. These plan will include all the details regarding changes required, competition,
risk factors, resources and budgets. The company focus on formulating plan which support long
terms initiatives as Unilever works on global level which require high concentration and wide
scope of strategies.
Execute and manage plan: once the plan has made, the time come for its execution and
managing all strategies in appropriate manner. It include communicating and regulating the plans
in all over the company. Make employees familiar with mission, objectives and strategies in
order to achieve the same. Process mapping is also determine by Unilever at this stage, the
managers put control over all the responsibility, tasks and activities that are must to perform on
daily basis.
Review and revise the plan: the organisation needs to regular review and revise their
strategies and actions (Al-Dhaafri, and Alosani, 2020). This process helps in analysing mistakes
and unforeseen circumstances that might affect on the strategies and planning which involve
huge cost and efforts. Unilever exercise this activity by tracking progress through KPI
techniques, regular supervision and effective leadership.
A critical evaluation of the impact of internal and external environmental variation on
organisational strategy.
Strategic planning involve creation of plans and strategies by analysing internal and
external environment of company. There are a lot of factors which impact on the organisation
performance, strategies and functions. In order to manage and implement good strategies and