An introduction to a variety of tools, concepts and techniques that are used to analyse and understand the internal and external business environment of a firm.
Aims
This module introduces students to the external environments in which business organisations operate, and to some of the key issues that they face.
Learning outcomes
Having followed this module the student should be able to:
Define the term Business Environment.
Illustrate the Business Environment with the use of conceptual models.
List the different elements that comprise the Business Environment.
Critically analyse the influence of the different elements of the Business Environment on the company.
Apply the value chain to product development.
Identify the major changes that have taken place in the last 30 years.
Analyse the influence of these changes and their effect on the company
Transferable skills
On successful completion of this module students will:
understand the forces at work in the organisation’s external and internal environment;
understand the changes which have taken place in the external environment; understand the changes which have taken place in the internal environment;
familiar with the various forms of governance that organisations can adopt;
familiar with the kinds of issues (ethics; innovation) that organisations must deal with when responding to external and internal forces.
Content
1. Introduction to the Business Environment
2. The International Economic Environment
3. The Technological Environment
4. The Social and Demographic Environment
5. The Political and Legal Environment
6. Stakeholders and Organisational Purposes
7. Business Ethics
8. Current Issues in Corporate Governance
9. Challenges and Changes
Reading Lists
Books G Johnson and K Scholes. (1999)
Exploring Corporate Strategy. 5th edition. Prentice Hall Europe. Text Website: www.prenhall.com/bookbind/pubbooks/johnson/
** Recommended Text I Brooks, J Weatherston. (1994)
The Business Environment. 2nd edition. Prentice Hall