Strategic Options for Hindustan Unilever Limited

You are asked to review a set of strategic options for Hindustan Unilever Limited and prepare a  report on your recommendations.  Critically evaluate the sources of competitive advantage available to Hindustan Unilever Limited, based upon identifying and evaluating their resources and capabilities. In your report you will be expected to provide information through a seven step scenario planning method

1.      Identify the type of company Hindustan Unilever Limited is and analyse the industry it operates in

2.      Critically evaluate the trends shaping the industry and HUL’s strategy.  Your evaluation should begin at this stage by undertaking an analysis of HUL’s macro-environmental and industry environments

3.      Evaluate the long list of factors in the external environment which are (a) uncertain and (b) likely to impact upon the future profitability of HUL; you may add or subtract factors

4.      Reduce the long list of factors evaluated to those which are (a) very uncertain and (b) very likely to positively or negatively impact upon the future profitability of HUL and develop a set of scenarios taking into account the external factors and the resources and competencies available to HUL

5.      Generate a set of future strategic options which leverage organisational strengths to take opportunities or rectify organisational weaknesses in order to overcome threats.