Product development
Product development has been defined as the process of creating new or dissimilar features that provides new or extra benefits to consumers. This could involve alteration of the prevailing product, its appearance, or design of a completely new product that gratifies a newly identified consumer preference or market niche. One of the most famous methods of facilitating product development is through research and development, also commonly referred to as R&D.
In the business world, research and development is considered as a stage in the life of a product that could be viewed a product’s conception. Essentially, this implies that science has to exist for a product to be viable, and if there is no science, it should be discovered. This is referred to as research phase. However, if there is already existing science, then converting it into valuable product is called the development phase. All in all, there has to be policies that govern research and development of any particular product.
Sort of research and development policy that Unilever should pursue
Unilever should always strive to pursue research and development to remain viable in the competitive world and to contribute to the well-being of their consumers. The sort of research and development policy that they pursue should meet the utmost standards in product superiority and stewardship, moral research and accountable sourcing.
This implies that while doing their research and development, it should be within the expected ethics and complies with great product quality requirements. The company should endeavor to maintain an environment of inventive product development. This does not only involve advancing their technologies internally, but also acquiring, investing in, and collaborating with other corporations to create new prospects that meet the demands of their customers and consumers.
In addition, Unilever should acknowledge the obligations that go together with sustaining the integrity of liable product development and research. Their laboratories and research center should embrace the uppermost ethical standards. Generally, their product development process should be directed by policies that assist them in managing and addressing significant issues like the welfare of their consumers and the environment (McDaniel 2002, P.222).
The policy could as well be interpreted within the ice cream product trade industry. Ice cream product comes in many different tastes and designs that are intended to attract consumers. In trying to conduct research and develop, new ice cream product, policies that embraces ethics and integrity becomes very essential. This involves using the right amount of chemicals, the appropriate pricing of the product, and advertisement amongst many other factors. The most important principle in research and development of an ice cream product business is taking the welfare of consumers into consideration.
There is a direct relation of this sort of policy and the objective of developing novel, sustainable, and probably completely biologically degradable, packing for the ice cream products. One of the most significant aspects of biologically degradable packaging is that it helps in preventing environmental destruction, whose impacts adversely affects the biodiversity. However, embracing policies that takes environmental issues into consideration while conducting research and developing packaging for ice cream, becomes very useful in enhancing the welfare of the society.
Description of the total process from the production plant to the consumer
The complete process from the production plant to the consumer is commonly referred to as the supply chain. Even though some supply chains are very simple, others could be relatively complicated. This depends on the business size and the complexity and quantity of the products manufactured by a particular company. However, a typical supply chain begins and ends with the consumer. The common elements of supply chain include consumer, planning, purchasing, inventory, production, transportation.
The customer starts the chain by contacting the company’s sales department, which records the sales order for a particular quantity to be supplied on a given date. All the orders taken from different customers are taken by planning department that plans for the production of the required products. Purchasing department buys the required raw materials according to orders.
The raw supplies are obtained from the suppliers, ascertained for quality and correctness and shifted to the warehouse. Depending of the production strategy, the raw materials are transferred to the production unit where manufacturing take place. The finished products are then delivered to customers. The supply chain is split to for purposes of accountability and efficiency in service delivery (Gattorna 2008, p. 124)
Determination of the contribution of business administration in the advice to the management
Business administration is very important in making offering advisory services to the management. It fosters a very comprehensive understanding of corporate management form the perspectives of finances and investment managements. This is very useful in advising the management of businesses on issues such investments decisions and insurance structures with developing social concerns.
Important production policies and theories, as well as investment theories and the relevance of such theories are very important to the management of businesses. The advice provided by the business administrators will be very useful in planning, developing, manufacturing and supplying company products. Information provided will not only be useful in production of commodities but will also be useful in the management of the workforce and welfare of consumers, which are all vital for successful business operations (Griffin 2007, P. 190).
References
Gattorna, J, 2008, Gower handbook of supply chain management, Aldershot, Gower.
Griffin, W, 2007, Principles of management, Houghton Mifflin publishers, Boston, MA
McDaniel, A, 2002, Entrepreneurship and innovation: an economic approach. Armonk, N.Y., Sharpe.