MNN3701
ASSIGNMENT 2
SEMESTER 1 (2020)
Unilever Annual Report and Accounts 2018 Instructions to access the Unilever Annual Report
and Accounts 2018: The report is accessible by using the following link:
https://www.unilever.com/Images/unilever-annual-report-and-accounts-2018_tcm244-534881_en.pdf
Answer all the questions.
Read the instructions in Annexure A and then answer questions 1 to 30.
QUESTION 1
During the _______ phase of the strategic management process, the focus is on integrating and
applying drivers necessary for the delivery of the projects specified in the planning phase and the
removal of any impediments to the achievement of goals or targets.
1 managing
2 planning
3 monitoring
4 implementation
Explanation:
The strategic management process consists of a series of management decisions relating to strategy
planning and development, strategy implementation, performance measurement and control. This was
a theory question challenging students to obtain an understanding of the main phases in the strategic
management process. Reference: Section 7.2.1 in Botha (2016: 163)
QUESTION 2
A corporate has achieved a competitive advantage when it _______.
1 administers citizenship rights to its consumers, on the same level as its competitors
2 achieves the goals of realising the advantages of implementing a successful strategic
sustainability programme
3 is more profitable than its competitors by creating products or offering services that
are of a higher quality, lower cost or better value than that of its competitors
4 has implemented a strategic sustainability programme which focuses on sustainable
development, social responsibility, “green initiatives” and corporate citizenship
1
,Explanation:
This question relates to competitive advantage in its broader sense, without considering corporate
citizenship or sustainability. Option 3 is the correct answer. Reference: Section 7.2.1 in Botha (2016:
164)
QUESTION 3
A clear example of Unilever embedding sustainability into the strategic direction of the corporate
is _______.
1 the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan (USLP)
2 the Unilever Greenhouse Gas reduction targets
3 by unlocking growth opportunities from the Sustainable Development Goals
4 by shifting to a sustainable supply chain involving carbon pricing and sustainable agriculture
Explanation:
A corporate’s strategic direction includes a corporate’s vision, mission and value statements for how
the corporate is to achieve its objectives. At Unilever, the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan (USLP) was
developed as a means for Unilever to deliver the organisation’s vision. The Unilever vision is to grow
their business whilst decoupling the growth from their environmental footprint and to increase their
positive social impact. According to Unilever, this vision recognises that sustainable growth is the only
way to create long-term value for all their stakeholders. Option 1 is therefore the correct answer.
Reference: Section 7.4 in Botha (2016: 166)
QUESTION 4
Unilever most prominently makes use of a _______ level strategy as a means to embed sustainability
into the organisation.
1 business
2 corporate
3 differentiation
4 sustainability
Explanation:
Formulating and choosing strategies is a process corporates use to create, or sustain, a competitive
advantage. There are two specific levels of strategy that corporates can choose from when selecting
their strategies, namely: business and corporate level strategies. A business level strategy deals with
how corporates plan to compete successfully with existing market conditions. On the other hand, a
corporate level strategy is aimed at growing the business or defending the business.
2
, Considering the Unilever Annual Report and Accounts 2018 document, the corporate predominantly
adopts a corporate level strategy to embed sustainability into the organisation. Therefore option 2 is
the correct answer.
Reference: Section 7.6.2 in Botha (2016: 172-174)
QUESTIONS 5 AND 6
Consider the following strategic implementation drivers for sustainability and answer questions 5 and
6.
(a) culture
(b) structure
(c) leadership
(d) reward systems
(e) training and education
(f) policies and procedures
QUESTION 5
A successfully implemented strategy relies on the support of an aligned corporate _______
that positions business units and individuals to deliver on their tasks.
1 (a) (b)
2 (b) (c)
3 (c) (f)
4 (e) (f)
Explanation:
It is essential that various departments within an organisation operate interdependently with one
another, and not in silos, in order to successfully implement corporate strategies. For instance, a
corporate’s sustainability department includes employees who are formally tasked with implementing
sustainability initiatives; however, they often operate in a silo. This inhibits the achievement of
sustainability initiatives and goals within the organisation. It is therefore necessary for interdependency
between departments to exist. This interdependency positions individuals and business units to deliver
on their tasks and to achieve corporate goals. Successfully implemented strategies therefore rely on
the support of an aligned structure and culture within a corporate. Reference: Sections 7.7.2 and 7.7.3
in Botha (2016: 177-178)
3
ASSIGNMENT 2
SEMESTER 1 (2020)
Unilever Annual Report and Accounts 2018 Instructions to access the Unilever Annual Report
and Accounts 2018: The report is accessible by using the following link:
https://www.unilever.com/Images/unilever-annual-report-and-accounts-2018_tcm244-534881_en.pdf
Answer all the questions.
Read the instructions in Annexure A and then answer questions 1 to 30.
QUESTION 1
During the _______ phase of the strategic management process, the focus is on integrating and
applying drivers necessary for the delivery of the projects specified in the planning phase and the
removal of any impediments to the achievement of goals or targets.
1 managing
2 planning
3 monitoring
4 implementation
Explanation:
The strategic management process consists of a series of management decisions relating to strategy
planning and development, strategy implementation, performance measurement and control. This was
a theory question challenging students to obtain an understanding of the main phases in the strategic
management process. Reference: Section 7.2.1 in Botha (2016: 163)
QUESTION 2
A corporate has achieved a competitive advantage when it _______.
1 administers citizenship rights to its consumers, on the same level as its competitors
2 achieves the goals of realising the advantages of implementing a successful strategic
sustainability programme
3 is more profitable than its competitors by creating products or offering services that
are of a higher quality, lower cost or better value than that of its competitors
4 has implemented a strategic sustainability programme which focuses on sustainable
development, social responsibility, “green initiatives” and corporate citizenship
1
,Explanation:
This question relates to competitive advantage in its broader sense, without considering corporate
citizenship or sustainability. Option 3 is the correct answer. Reference: Section 7.2.1 in Botha (2016:
164)
QUESTION 3
A clear example of Unilever embedding sustainability into the strategic direction of the corporate
is _______.
1 the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan (USLP)
2 the Unilever Greenhouse Gas reduction targets
3 by unlocking growth opportunities from the Sustainable Development Goals
4 by shifting to a sustainable supply chain involving carbon pricing and sustainable agriculture
Explanation:
A corporate’s strategic direction includes a corporate’s vision, mission and value statements for how
the corporate is to achieve its objectives. At Unilever, the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan (USLP) was
developed as a means for Unilever to deliver the organisation’s vision. The Unilever vision is to grow
their business whilst decoupling the growth from their environmental footprint and to increase their
positive social impact. According to Unilever, this vision recognises that sustainable growth is the only
way to create long-term value for all their stakeholders. Option 1 is therefore the correct answer.
Reference: Section 7.4 in Botha (2016: 166)
QUESTION 4
Unilever most prominently makes use of a _______ level strategy as a means to embed sustainability
into the organisation.
1 business
2 corporate
3 differentiation
4 sustainability
Explanation:
Formulating and choosing strategies is a process corporates use to create, or sustain, a competitive
advantage. There are two specific levels of strategy that corporates can choose from when selecting
their strategies, namely: business and corporate level strategies. A business level strategy deals with
how corporates plan to compete successfully with existing market conditions. On the other hand, a
corporate level strategy is aimed at growing the business or defending the business.
2
, Considering the Unilever Annual Report and Accounts 2018 document, the corporate predominantly
adopts a corporate level strategy to embed sustainability into the organisation. Therefore option 2 is
the correct answer.
Reference: Section 7.6.2 in Botha (2016: 172-174)
QUESTIONS 5 AND 6
Consider the following strategic implementation drivers for sustainability and answer questions 5 and
6.
(a) culture
(b) structure
(c) leadership
(d) reward systems
(e) training and education
(f) policies and procedures
QUESTION 5
A successfully implemented strategy relies on the support of an aligned corporate _______
that positions business units and individuals to deliver on their tasks.
1 (a) (b)
2 (b) (c)
3 (c) (f)
4 (e) (f)
Explanation:
It is essential that various departments within an organisation operate interdependently with one
another, and not in silos, in order to successfully implement corporate strategies. For instance, a
corporate’s sustainability department includes employees who are formally tasked with implementing
sustainability initiatives; however, they often operate in a silo. This inhibits the achievement of
sustainability initiatives and goals within the organisation. It is therefore necessary for interdependency
between departments to exist. This interdependency positions individuals and business units to deliver
on their tasks and to achieve corporate goals. Successfully implemented strategies therefore rely on
the support of an aligned structure and culture within a corporate. Reference: Sections 7.7.2 and 7.7.3
in Botha (2016: 177-178)
3
