Reference no: EM133933141 , Length: Word Count:2500
Organisational Strategy and Sustainability
Assessment Brief
To achieve a pass for this module, you need to demonstrate that you have achieved the following module Learning Outcomes:
LO1 - Critically analyse internal and external factors for business entities using strategic management concepts and frameworks within a global context.
LO2 - Critically assess the impact of corporate social responsibility, sustainability and ethical practices on contemporary leadership.
LO3 - Critically evaluate business strategies considering current and future challenges and complexity.
LO4 - Critically reflect on personal leadership and sustainability perspectives.
As a management consultant of BPP Consulting Group, you are required to provide a strategic evaluation and analysis of Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL's) strategic and sustainability initiatives to their Board of Directors.
You are required to evaluate HUL's strategic management, sustainability, and responsible leadership within a global context. You will explore how internal capabilities, external environments, cultural contexts, and ethical leadership practices shape HUL's business strategy.
You will apply strategic frameworks and critically assess organisational responses to global pressures such as sustainability, technological change, and cultural differences. The assignment concludes with a personal leadership reflection grounded in comparative learning. An upgrade of HUL's current strategy is urgently required where necessary for the organisation to embark on new ventures and geographical areas to meet the needs of the contemporary global business environment.
Case Study: Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL)
Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) is India's largest Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) company, serving Indian consumers for over 90 years. Guided by the belief that "What is good for India is good for HUL," (Mehta, 2023) ..." we have built a diverse and resilient portfolio, reaching 9 out of 10 Indian households with one or more of our trusted brands through a robust distribution network" (Hindustan Unilever Limited, 2025).
The company stays attuned to the evolving needs and aspirations of their consumers by focusing on innovation and delivering high-quality, value-driven products. At the core of operations is a deep commitment to understanding and serving their consumers, backed by powerful, socially engaged marketing They're enhancing their presence across emerging channels and leveraging our unique strengths to drive sustainable, long-term growth for all our stakeholders.
Our journey to "Unlock a Billion Aspirations" (HUL, 2024) is anchored in the twin pillars of Sustainability and Culture, and guided by our core values: Integrity, Respect, Responsibility, and Pioneering. HUL's industry-leading ESG ratings and consistent recognition as the #1 Employer of Choice reflect our dedication to responsible practices and our people, reinforcing our leadership in the FMCG sector.
HUL is a subsidiary of Unilever, one of the world's foremost companies in Foods & Refreshment, Home Care, Beauty
& Wellbeing, and Personal Care, with a presence in over 190 countries.
Your analysis will explore Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL)'s internal capabilities, external pressures, global
strategic decisions, sustainability initiatives, and leadership culture in the context of current market challenges.
De Wit (2024), Strategy: An International Perspective and the complimentary text, Cavusgil et al., (2019)
International Business: The New Realities (which are available on Hub)
It is recommended that you should carry out a substantial amount of independent and individual research to strengthen your understanding of the business context and the preferred style of management practice. You can find journals such as Business Source Premier, Science Direct, and HeinOnline on the BPP Online Library. Apart from these sources, Google Scholar is also available. It is important to show that you have used a multitude of appropriate articles from the academic and business literature (refrain from sourcing content presented during lectures, non- academic websites such as Wikipedia)
Assessment Learning Outcomes (LOs)
LO1: Strategic Environmental Analysis
Critically analyse Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL)'s internal resources, capabilities, and external environment using strategic management concepts and frameworks (e.g., PESTEL or Porter's Five Forces).
LO2: Ethical, Sustainable, and Responsible Practices
Critically assess how HUL can integrate corporate social responsibility (CSR), sustainability, and ethical practices
into its business strategy, based on your analysis in LO1.
LO3: Evaluating Strategic Options in a Complex Global Environment
Critically evaluate HUL's strategic responses to challenges identified in LO1 and LO2 (e.g., climate change, AI, digital disruption).
LO4: Reflection on Personal Leadership and Sustainability Perspective
Reflect on the leadership approaches observed in LO1, LO2 and LO3 and how this will influence your own career development. Reflect on your personal development, career goals and aspiration which can be achieved by attaining a good profession as well as furthering future career progression through newly acquired Personal Leadership Skills)
Assessment Guidelines
Introduction:
Introduce the organisation and provide a brief context of your report.
LO1: Strategic Environmental Analysis:
Use one model for the internal and one model for the external environment analysis.
From the environmental analyses, briefly indicate/note the internal competencies and external opportunities and threats.
Include a critical analysis on how HUL may respond the dynamic and complex market forces in any key regions (e.g. European Union (EU), Asia, North America).
There should be brief suggestions made indicatively, to show the complexities found in the complex business environment. A sentence for each suggestion will suffice.
These indicative suggestion(s) can be expanded when completing subsequent LOs as they come up.
Mention some sources of competitive advantage that can be deduced from the study of the internal environment.
LO2: Ethical, Sustainable, and Responsible Practices:
Use one model such as the Triple Bottom Line (TBL) or Sustainable Supply Chain Management (SSCM) to assess HUL's approach to either its CSR, sustainability, or ethical practices (choose only one) in response to the global concerns identified in LO1.
From this evaluation, highlight how HUL's leadership has used a framework to shape or respond to these practices. Include stakeholder engagement (e.g., suppliers, customers, NGOs) and the impact of regulatory frameworks, e.g., United Nations Sustainable Development Goals UNSDGs, European Union (EU) legislation. Get top-notch online assignment help.
In the discussion above, use one of HUL's sustainability initiatives such as product lifecycle management, eco-design principles, renewable energy integration, or supply chain transparency. The discussion should be brief.
LO3: Evaluating Strategic Options in a Complex Global Environment:
Apply one strategic model such as the Ansoff Matrix, Blue Ocean Strategy, or VRIO to critically evaluate HUL's strategic responses to the challenges identified in LO1 and LO2 (e.g., climate change, digital disruption, AI).
From this evaluation, suggest appropriate strategic options that would enhance HUL's long-term sustainable competitive advantage, global competitiveness, and market relevance.
LO4: Reflection on Personal Leadership and Sustainability Perspective:
Leadership Model Select only one leadership theory or model, such as:
Goleman's Emotional Intelligence
Hofstede's Cultural Dimensions
Transformational Leadership
To reflect on the leadership insights gained across the module's previous tasks (LO1, LO2, LO3), particularly those relating to strategy, ethics, and sustainability.
Personal
Development Reflection Discuss how your understanding of how ONE of these concepts: ethical, cross-
cultural, and sustainable leadership, from your studies, enabled you to identify your position as a more diverse and inclusive individual.
Career and Aspirations Explain how these insights might influence ONE of these areas: your future
leadership goals, management style, or career trajectory including a reflection on role models or mentors.
Values-Driven Leadership Consider how your learning will guide your future decision-making or
communication, or ability to lead in diverse, inclusive, and ethically aware environments.
Conclusion
Provide a conclusion summarising your recommended changes that HUL should implement to improve its organisational strategy and sustainability initiatives.
Report Structure
Cover page (BPP University Administration Cover Sheet)
Table of Contents
List of Abbreviations (if appropriate)
Introduction (Suggested word allocation: 50 words)
LO1: Strategic Environmental Analysis (suggested word allocation: 600 words)
LO2: Ethical, Sustainable, and Responsible Practices (suggested word allocation: 600 words)
LO3: Evaluating Strategic Options in a Complex Global Environment (suggested word allocation: 600 words)
LO4: Reflection on Personal Leadership and Sustainability Perspective (suggested word allocation: 600 words)
Conclusion (Suggested word allocation: 50 words)
References
References list: If you have consulted any source, printed, online or any other format, e.g. video, you must include it in alphabetical list of your references presented in Harvard style -with dates of internet access, where applicable. Please also ensure that these sources are duly cited in the main body of your report
Appendices (optional): Appendices contain additional information that is too detailed to include in the main body. Typical examples of information included in appendices can be glossaries (if it is a technical report), tables with supporting statistical data, examples of research, and so on.
Word count: 2500 words. The word count only applies to the main body (shown in bold); i.e., cover page, table of contents, introduction, conclusion, references and appendix are not part of the 2500-word count.