Purpose of the strategic plan Key objectives: Market development and how your ideas fit Process improvement Development of people Product/service – How do you deliver? Is there a wa

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Strategic Plan Research

The selected organization is Ben & Jerry's, an American corporation that operates as a subsidiary of the multinational conglomerate, British Dutch Unilever. The establishment of the firm occurred in 1978, with its founders being Jerry Greenfield and Ben Cohen. The company specializes in the production of frozen yogurt, ice cream, ice cream novelty goods, and sorbet. The operational strategy of the organization demonstrates effectiveness by incorporating clearly defined roles and responsibilities for each category (Michalak, 2019). The Ben & Jerry's company has been around for a very long time, and in that time it has demonstrated its capabilities to the rest of the globe on several occasions, as well as continually come up with original ideas to enhance its standing in the industry (Michalak, 2019). Additionally, the business plan of Ben & Jerry's is really effectively presented and examined due to the fact that it is highly clear in terms of the objectives and goals that it outlines.

The strategic plan provides a comprehensive outline of the organization's intended direction and the strategies it will employ to achieve its goals. Within the dairy product market, the organization is strategically positioning itself to emerge as the foremost brand (Mei, 2018). This objective is explicitly articulated through their intention to actively collaborate with professionals, including research and development executives, consultants, as well as food and diet specialists, whom they want to recruit and integrate into their operations (Mei, 2018). By engaging in this practice, individuals will be able to actualize their objectives, using the expertise, information, and competencies possessed by these experts.

Ben & Jerry's encounters a dynamic external milieu distinguished by rigorous FDA regulations pertaining to product labelling, which serve to uphold health and quality benchmarks (Marchese, 2020). The imposition of import tariffs on exports originating from the United States presents a formidable predicament, as it engenders a rise in retail expenditures and exerts a discernible influence on the ability to compete effectively. Additionally, the economic environments of the firm's key markets have a significant impact on its performance (Marchese, 2020). The ice cream industry is greatly influenced by natural factors, like agricultural items like bananas, milk, and chocolate.

Ben & Jerry's possesses several internal characteristics, which contribute to its success in the market. These strengths encompass a significant portion of the market share, a strong and well-established brand image, stable and reliable partnerships with suppliers, and an extensive global distribution network. Nevertheless, the company faces the predicament of diminished profit margins, obstacles in achieving complete regulatory adherence, and substantial investments in projects pertaining to social responsibility. The potential increase in demand for ice cream and sweets that are of superior quality and meet safety standards offers favorable prospects, however the presence of intense competition and regulatory limitations continue to provide ongoing challenges (Marchese, 2020). Notwithstanding these obstacles, the organization possesses invaluable, scarce, and difficult-to-duplicate assets, hence enhancing its capacity to sustain a competitive advantage.

The plan also encompasses a comprehensive strategy that incorporates a people's plan and focuses on promoting workforce diversity. The Ben & Jerry's brand has emerged as a significant representation for various ethnicities, cultures, and religions, leading to positive impacts on society (Marchese, 2020). The company aims to foster growth and cultivate an inclusive environment that recognizes diversity as a valuable asset. Additionally, an Equity Team has been established to provide oversight for the project, and significant progress has already been made.

Finally, the organization incorporates principles of corporate social responsibility and environmental sustainability. According to their declared long-term objectives, Ben & Jerry's demonstrates a commitment to fulfilling their social responsibility by utilizing their company as a means to promote justice and peace. One of the strategies businesses can employ to promote economic and social fairness is by increasing their procurement of Fair Trade ingredients (Sorensen, 2020). Furthermore, it is at the forefront of advancing the promotion of Global Sustainable Dairy Products. This is achieved by its endorsement of ecologically friendly dairy farming practices in collaboration with milk supplier’s worldwide, thereby assuring rigorous oversight and regulation of cloned animals. The primary objective of the company's ecological sustainability efforts is to address the issue of residual plastic present in its ice cream cartons.

The company aims to eradicate the utilization of petroleum-derived plastic in the entirety of our packaging materials. By the year 2025, there is a collective aspiration to ensure that all objects and materials are subjected to the principles of reusability, biodegradability, or recyclability. Over the course of numerous years, the enterprise has diligently tried to mitigate its overall ecological footprint, while astutely acknowledging the existence of further endeavours that lie ahead.

References

Marchese, D. (2020). Ben & Jerry's Radical Ice Cream Dreams.

Mei, S. (2018).  The impact of acquisitions of small social enterprises by giant multinational corporations on the consumers' brand perception of the acquired firm: the case of Ben & Jerry's (Doctoral dissertation).

Michalak, R. (2019). Ben & Jerry’s: Continuing to turn values into value through Linked Prosperity. In Perspectives on Purpose (pp. 172-180). Routledge.

Sorensen, L. (2020). Analyzing the Adoption of Corporate Social Responsibility Strategies.