Group Activity 1.

1. Surf the internet and select a company. Read its annual report and other related
documents and answer the following questions:
a. Does the company practice strategic management? Why or why not?
- Yes, Unilever employs strategic management because they have a plan in
place to deliver consistent, profitable, and responsible growth. Their plan is as follows:
1. Develop their portfolio into high growth spaces - Recent acquisitions like
Paula's Choice helped their prestige beauty business grow significantly. Their
functional nutrition portfolio expanded thanks to the success of brands like Liquid
I.V., Olly, and Horlicks. plus Onnit. Through the Vegetarian Butcher, Hellmann's, and
their ice cream brands like Magnum, they kept improving their plant-based menu.
2. Win with their brands as a force for good, powered by purpose and
innovation - Their innovation program contributed to a €1 billion increase in revenue.
In tests, their products now outperform the competition by more than 70% of tested
turnover. 13 of their brands, which account for more than half of their overall revenue
and are among their most valuable.
3. Accelerate in USA, India, China, and key growth markets - The US
expanded by 3.7% thanks to ground-breaking innovations from their mission-driven
brands and the scaling of their recently acquired brands. India grew by 13.4% thanks
to scale expansion in new categories, market expansion, and premiumization. By
converting their portfolio into high growth areas and boosting sales through e-
commerce channels, China grew by 14.3%.
4. Lead in the channels of the future - They are structuring their business more
and more; e-commerce sales increased by 44% and now account for 13% of total
revenue. They are taking advantage of the trend toward swift commerce. Their
platform for instant ice cream delivery, ice cream now, increased by 60%. To increase
sales with their retail customers, they are using digital sales platforms like Shikhar in
India and Compra Agora in Brazil.
5. Build a purpose-led, future-fit organization and growth culture - Their
culture is centered on purpose, which aids in drawing in the best talent. In more than
50 markets, they are the top FMCG employer of choice for recent graduates and young
professionals.

b. How does the company give importance to strategic management?

- One of Unilever's most effective tools for achieving coordination and integration of
various strategies are culture. These strategies include financial strategies, human
resource strategies, acquisition, and merger strategies when they arise and are required,
product development and innovation strategies, and cooperate strategies in the pursuit
of the growth strategy.
 c. Who are involved in the practice of strategic management?
- The Management Committee needs to decide who should be involved in the strategic
planning process.  Generally, it should involve as appropriate:
 Those who will implementing the plan (management, staff, and volunteers)
 Those who will be affected (members, users, etc.)
 Those who will monitor its implementation (Management Committee)
 Other who can contribute to its development (community activists, funding
bodies, etc.)
d. What advantages did the business obtain in practicing strategic management?  
- This part of the SWOT analysis lists the organizational and commercial strengths of
Unilever. Strengths are internal strategic elements that are based on the current conditions of
the business and include things like human resources, production methods, organizational
structure, and investments. Significant strengths for Unilever's consumer goods division
include the following:

1. Strong brands
2. Broad product mix
3. Economies of scale
4. Strong global market presence

Some of the strongest brands in the consumer goods sector belong to Unilever. Due to this
advantage, the business can enter new markets and successfully compete with rival companies.
The diverse product mix demonstrates the breadth of Unilever's business expansion. The
marketing mix for Unilever demonstrates how economies of scale support the production
efficiency needed for aggressive pricing strategies. The company has grown its market presence
through years of international expansion, which is a strength that supports the popularity of the
brand. Unilever's SWOT analysis's internal strategic factors highlight strengths that the company
can leverage to maintain global growth and success in the consumer goods industry.

References:

https://www.unilever.com/investors/annual-report-and-accounts/
https://ivypanda.com/essays/unilever-strategic-management-implementation/
https://www.diycommitteeguide.org/strategic-plan-step-1-who-should-be-involved
https://panmore.com/unilever-swot-analysis-recommendations
2. Mini-case. Read the mini-case of Equity Technologies Corporation and answer the
discussion questions comprehensively.
1. Does Equity Technologies Corporation practice strategic management? Why or why
not?
- Yes, because Equity Technologies Corporation is always ready for inclement
weather and has a system in place for employees as well as a way to communicate
with your family when it threatens.
2. Why does Equity Technologies Corporation give or not give importance to strategic
management?
- Strategic management is highly valued by them because, without it, all their goals
and objectives would be meaningless. They constantly review their methods to
remain successful as their environments alter.
3. Do you agree with the steps taken by President and CEO Cathy Anderson-Giles to
become competitive? Why or why not?

4. According to Mr.
Anderson-Giles “We are a
small company which does
business around
5. the world. To be
competitive, my clients must
feel confident that we are
ready for everything,” and
6. also “Being prepared
means being ready for
any kind of emergency,
be it hurricane, utility
7. disruption, or manmade
disaster.” Being competitive
is both good and bad, but in
my opinion, it is
8. the key to their
success because they
provide plans and
procedures for any threat
to the
9. company that may arise,
and they communicate this to
the rest of the company. I
agree, but being
10. too competitive is also bad
because sometimes our ideas
 aren't ready for the situation,
but you
11. just come up with or
don't have any plans or
bases for that. The
equity and technologies
12. corporation demonstrates
their preparedness and
readiness to assist others,
demonstrating that
13. they have a competitive
mindset as well as a backup
plan.
14. According to Mr.
Anderson-Giles “We are a
 small company which does
business around
15. the world. To be
competitive, my clients must
feel confident that we are
ready for everything,” and
16. also “Being prepared
means being ready for
any kind of emergency,
be it hurricane, utility
17. disruption, or manmade
disaster.” Being competitive
is both good and bad, but in
my opinion, it is
18. the key to their
success because they
provide plans and
procedures for any threat
to the
19. company that may arise,
and they communicate this to
the rest of the company. I
agree, but being
20. too competitive is also bad
because sometimes our ideas
aren't ready for the situation,
but you
21. just come up with or
don't have any plans or
 bases for that. The
equity and technologies
22. corporation demonstrates
their preparedness and
readiness to assist others,
demonstrating that
23. they have a competitive
mindset as well as a backup
plan.
24. According to Mr.
Anderson-Giles “We are a
small company which does
business around
25. the world. To be
competitive, my clients must
 feel confident that we are
ready for everything,” and
26. also “Being prepared
means being ready for
any kind of emergency,
be it hurricane, utility
27. disruption, or manmade
disaster.” Being competitive
is both good and bad, but in
my opinion, it is
28. the key to their
success because they
provide plans and
procedures for any threat
to the
29. company that may arise,
and they communicate this to
the rest of the company. I
agree, but being
30. too competitive is also bad
because sometimes our ideas
aren't ready for the situation,
but you
31. just come up with or
don't have any plans or
bases for that. The
equity and technologies
32. corporation demonstrates
their preparedness and
 readiness to assist others,
demonstrating that
33. they have a competitive
mindset as well as a backup
plan.
- According to Mr. Anderson-Giles “We are a small company which does business
around the world. To be competitive, my clients must feel confident that we are
ready for everything,” and “Being prepared means being ready for any
kind of emergency, be it hurricane, utility disruption, or manmade disaster.”
Being competitive is both good and bad, but in our opinion, it is the key to their
success because they provide plans and procedures for any threat to
the company that may arise, and they communicate this to the rest of the company.
We agree but being too competitive is also bad because sometimes our ideas aren't
ready for the situation, but you just come up with or don't have any plans
or bases for that. The equity and technologies corporation demonstrates
their preparedness and readiness to assist others, demonstrating that they have a
competitive mindset as well as a backup plan.
4.What other actions will you consider to provide future direction to Equity Technologies
Corporation?
- Given that Equity Technologies Corporation offers excellent services to its
customers, our advice or suggested course of action is for them to continue offering
similar services. They should also improve or construct much more robust security
and safety measures, as well as emergency plans for their employees or business.
Communication needs to have a wide range to help them and increase the
organization's competitiveness in the future.