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Business Environment

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Business Environment

All organisations, whatever their size and whether in the public or private sector, operate in a constantly changing environment. As it changes, this business environment offers organisations the opportunities they need to develop and grow. It may, for example, offer new markets to exploit, new technology to develop new products and new processes, ideas on how to manage operations better, new sources of raw materials or new ventures with new partners. The changes also, however, may present threats to organisations. These may be new competitors, changing fashions and tastes, new technology making existing products and processes obsolete, changing terms of trade making imported inputs expensive, and government policies changing the competitive or operating environment. The legal implications of what organisations do are extensive and varied; effectively, the legal infrastructure constrains their activities.

All successful organisations continually monitor the environment in which they operate, both formally and informally, in order at least to react to the changes taking place through reactive management. At best, organisations seek to anticipate and take advantage of changes through proactive management. Any actions need to match an organisation's basic philosophy and its resources and abilities. We look at how an organisation does this, but the first step is recognising what is happening in the environment and evaluating its importance.

After participating in this course, you should be able to:

monitor changes to the business environment and appreciate their significance for an organisation
identify potential environmental opportunities and threats for particular organisations
describe the components of a PEST or STEEP analysis
detail the structure of the social and demographic environment
detail the structure of the economic environment
identify relevant factors in the industrial environment
assess the implications of government policies for an organisation
identify relevant factors in the political environment, including the law, society and international trade
identify significant technological developments driving organisational and competitive change.

Entry Requirements

There is no experience or previous qualifications required for enrolment on this course. It is available to all students, of all academic backgrounds

Course Syllabus

Introduction

Objectives

Section 1: Environmental Opportunities and Threats

Introduction

1.1 The organisation and its environment

1.2 Environmental analysis

Summary

Section 2: Social Environment

Introduction

2.1 Demographics and organisations

2.2 Social structures and behaviour patterns

Summary

Section 3: Economic Environment

Introduction

3.1 Macroeconomy and governments

3.2 Industrial environment

3.3 Changing economic policies

Summary

Section 4: Political Environment

Introduction

4.1 Politics and power

4.2 International business environment

4.3 Environmentalism and social responsibility

Summary

Section 5: Technological Environment

Introduction

5.1 The new industrial revolution

5.2 New products and processes

Summary

Course Review Activity

Course Summary

References

Recommended Reading

Tutor Marked Question Paper

Tutor Support

With this course you will have unlimited access to your own personal tutor who specialises in their field of study. It is your personal tutor's role to ensure that you receive constructive feedback and to deal with any queries you may have. You are more than welcome to telephone, fax or email your personal tutor.

You will also have access to a dedicated and friendly team of administrators and course advisors who offer sound and professional guidance and advice when you need it. This ensures that you will never feel neglected and that you will always succeed!

Study Hours

This is only an approximate figure and is dependant upon how much time you can dedicate to your studies and how well you grasp the learning concepts in the course material. Furthermore, at the end of each lesson there is a question paper that needs to be completed and returned to your tutor. You should allow at least 1 - 2 hours of study to complete each question paper.

The approximate amount of time required to complete the course is: 20 hrs.

Qualification

Qualification 1: Business Environment (Byte Size) Certificate

Business Environment (Byte Size) Certificate issued by Stonebridge Associated Colleges, entitling you to use the letters SAC Cert after your name.

Additional Information

Assessment Method

After each lesson there will be a question paper, which needs to be completed and submitted to your personal tutor for marking. This method of continual assessment ensures that your personal tutor can consistently monitor your progress and provide you with assistance throughout the duration of the course.

What's Included