Client Name

Unilever Pakistan

Faculty Advisor

Dr. Abdulbasad Shaikh

SBS Thought Leadership Areas

Entrepreneurship and Innovation

SBS Thought Leadership Area Justification

The project aligns with Entrepreneurship and Innovation as it focuses on redesigning and improving a core organizational process through structured innovation. Refreshing RPM norms requires challenging legacy planning practices and introducing more adaptive, data-driven approaches that enhance efficiency and responsiveness.

The initiative demonstrates innovation at an operational and strategic level by integrating cross-functional inputs and introducing standardized yet flexible planning frameworks. It reflects an entrepreneurial mindset within a corporate setting, where existing systems are critically evaluated and improved to create greater value.

Additionally, the project contributes to process innovation by enabling better coordination between finance, supply chain, and commercial teams. This improves decision-making quality and reduces inefficiencies caused by misaligned assumptions and fragmented planning.

By linking RPM improvements with longer-term autonomous operations readiness, the project also sets the stage for future technological innovation, including advanced analytics and automated planning systems. This forward-looking approach reinforces the role of innovation in driving sustained competitiveness.

Overall, the project embodies entrepreneurship through internal transformation and innovation through the redesign of planning systems tailored to the local business environment in Pakistan.

Aligned SDGs

GOAL 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

Aligned SDGs Justification

Goal 9 strongly aligns with this project as it promotes innovation and improved industrial processes. The refresh of RPM norms contributes directly to enhancing operational infrastructure within Unilever by strengthening planning systems and enabling more efficient resource allocation.

The project introduces improved frameworks for demand forecasting, financial planning, and cross-functional alignment, all of which contribute to more resilient and efficient business operations. These improvements serve as building blocks for future adoption of advanced technologies and integrated planning systems.

Additionally, by addressing inefficiencies and standardizing planning practices, the project supports the development of more robust operational systems that can adapt to market changes. This aligns with the goal of fostering sustainable industrialization and improving organizational productivity.

The focus on modernization and continuous improvement makes Goal 9 the most appropriate alignment, as the project is fundamentally centered on enhancing systems, processes, and innovation within an industrial and corporate context.

NDA

Yes

Abstract

This project, Integrated Planning - Autonomous Operations Readiness for Pakistan, focuses on refreshing RPM norms for business groups within Unilever Pakistan to improve planning accuracy, operational efficiency, and decision-making effectiveness. The study evaluates the limitations of existing RPM frameworks, particularly in handling dynamic market conditions, demand variability, and cross-functional alignment.

Through internal analysis and benchmarking, the project identifies inconsistencies in planning assumptions, inefficiencies in resource allocation, and gaps in coordination between finance, supply chain, and commercial teams. It proposes a revised RPM structure that integrates standardized norms, improved demand planning inputs, and enhanced alignment across business units.

The project further links RPM optimization with the broader goal of achieving integrated and semi-autonomous planning systems. By strengthening foundational planning processes, organizations can enable more data-driven, responsive, and scalable operations. The recommendations support improved forecast reliability, better cost management, and more agile resource deployment.

Overall, this study provides a practical framework for refining planning norms within a large FMCG context while laying the groundwork for future adoption of advanced analytics and autonomous decision-making capabilities in Pakistan.

Document Type

Restricted Access

Document Name for Citation

Experiential Learning Project

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Available for download on Monday, June 09, 2031

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