Business Environment Overview
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Questions and Answers

Which factor is not part of the general environment that affects organizations?

  • Technological factors
  • Political factors
  • Vendor relationships (correct)
  • Socio-cultural factors

What describes a high degree of environmental uncertainty?

  • A predictable economic environment with low inflation
  • Frequent changes in technology and a complex market (correct)
  • A consistent demographic profile in the population
  • Stable political conditions with few changes

Which of the following is considered a technological factor in the general environment?

  • Interest rates
  • Cultural attitudes towards sustainability
  • Presence of advanced transportation infrastructure (correct)
  • Government regulations on employment protection

Which demographic characteristic is not typically included in the analysis of the general environment?

<p>Political party affiliations (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The competitive environment specifically includes which of the following?

<p>Relationships with suppliers and customers (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which statement accurately reflects the relationship between legal and political factors in the general environment?

<p>Political stability directly affects the legality of business operations. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What best defines the international aspect of the general environment?

<p>The impact of foreign investment policies on local businesses. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which environmental factor relates to the sustainability practices of an organization?

<p>Environmental impact of production methods (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary impact of high rivalry among competitors in an industry?

<p>Lower level of industry attractiveness (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which factor increases the threat of new entrants into an industry?

<p>Fewer regulatory barriers (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes a strong organizational culture?

<p>Widespread employee identification with company values (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following represents the invisible components of organizational culture?

<p>Values and beliefs (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In terms of stakeholders, what is expected of suppliers?

<p>To be paid fairly and promptly for inputs (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which dimension of organizational culture emphasizes the importance of teamwork?

<p>Team orientation (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant effect of high bargaining power of buyers?

<p>Lower industry profits (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of organizational culture is highlighted by adaptability?

<p>Encouragement of risk-taking and innovation (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes external stakeholders?

<p>Customers and suppliers (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What can weaken an organization's culture?

<p>Contradictory messages about values (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect is NOT considered a factor in the bargaining power of suppliers?

<p>Market share of competing companies (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What practice can help maintain an organization’s culture once it is established?

<p>Employee selection and socialization processes (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a key characteristic of the threats posed by substitute products?

<p>They meet similar needs from different industries (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best captures the essence of a weak organizational culture?

<p>Limited employee identification and mixed messages (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Business Environment

External factors that can influence an organization's performance, such as political, economic, social, technological, environmental, and legal forces.

Environmental Uncertainty

The degree to which change and complexity exist in an organization's environment.

Degree of Change

The frequency of changes in the components of the environment.

Complexity

The number of elements in the environment and the level of understanding about them.

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General Environment

Includes political, economic, socio-cultural, technological, environmental, and legal factors that influence all organizations.

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Competitive Environment

Specific to a particular industry, including customers, suppliers, and competitors.

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PESTEL Analysis

Analyzing the political, economic, socio-cultural, technological, environmental, and legal factors of a country or region, often used for international business.

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Economic Forces

The general environment includes factors like interest rates, inflation, unemployment, and economic growth.

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Porter's Five Forces Model

A model that analyzes the attractiveness of an industry by evaluating five forces: rivalry among competitors, threat of new entrants, bargaining power of suppliers, bargaining power of buyers, and threat of substitutes.

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Rivalry Among Competitors

The intensity of competition among existing players in an industry. It depends on factors like number of competitors, growth in demand, product differentiation, and barriers to exit.

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Threat of New Entrants

The ease or difficulty for new companies to enter a market. Determined by factors like capital investment, economies of scale, and special licenses.

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Bargaining Power of Suppliers

The power of suppliers to influence prices and negotiate terms. Depends on the number of suppliers, the customer's buying power, and the ability of suppliers to expand their own business.

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Bargaining Power of Buyers

The power of buyers to influence prices and negotiate terms. Depends on the number of buyers, the importance of the product to the buyer, and the ability of buyers to switch suppliers.

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Threat of Substitutes

The threat that products from other industries can meet the same customer needs. This can limit an industry's profit potential.

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Organizational Culture

The shared values, principles, traditions, and behaviors that influence how members of an organization act and differentiate it from others.

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Strong Culture

A culture that is strongly connected to shared values and behaviors, creating high employee identification and strong stories about the company.

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Weak Culture

A culture that lacks a strong connection between values and behaviors, with limited employee identification and conflicting messages.

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Visible Artefacts

Observable elements of an organization's culture that are easily seen, heard, and observed, such as dress style, behavior patterns, symbols, and ceremonies.

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Invisible Culture

Less visible elements of an organization's culture including values, beliefs, and underlying assumptions that influence behavior and decisions.

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Stakeholders

Individuals or groups with an interest, claim, or stake in the company's success, operations, and performance.

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External Stakeholders

External parties who have an interest in the company, such as customers, suppliers, creditors, governments, unions, local communities, and the general public.

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Internal Stakeholders

Internal parties who have an interest in the company, such as stockholders, employees, managers, senior executives, and board members.

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Study Notes

Business Environment

  • Environment encompasses external institutions influencing an organization's performance.
  • Environmental uncertainty: Degree of change and complexity impacting an organization.
    • Degree of change: Frequency of components' alterations.
    • Complexity: Number of components and knowledge about them.

General Environment

  • General environment affects all organizations, including:
    • Political, economical, socio-cultural, technological, environmental, and legal factors.
  • Major forces within the general environment:
    • Economic: Rates, inflation, unemployment, growth.
    • Technological: Infrastructure, industrial innovations, advancements in production/distribution.
    • Political and legal: Political climate, regulations, and legal changes.
    • Socio-cultural: Customs, values, lifestyles, behaviors.
    • Demographic: Characteristics of population (age, gender, etc.).
    • Environmental: Pollution, sustainable energy, climate change.
    • International: Involvement in, or impact from, international business.
  • International PESTEL Analysis:
    • Political: Government attitudes to foreign investment, political stability, and IP policy.
    • Economic: Growth rate, wealth distribution, currency stability, and exchange rates.
    • Socio-cultural: National cultures, attitudes to foreign companies and staff.
    • Technological: Telecommunications, power supply, import/export infrastructure.
    • Environmental: Natural resources, environmental quality, and climate change effects.
    • Legal: Tariff policies, trade pacts, employment protection, company taxes.

Competitive Environment

  • Competitive environment: Forces from suppliers, distributors, customers, and competitors affecting inputs/outputs.
    • Suppliers: Provide input resources, receive payment.
    • Distributors: Help organizations sell to customers.
    • Customers: Individuals/groups purchasing goods/services.
    • Competitors: Organizations producing similar goods/services.

Porter's Five Forces Model

  • Analyzing industry attractiveness.
  • Rivalry among competitors: Higher rivalry, lower profits.
    • Number of competitors, demand growth, product differentiation, barriers to exit.
  • Threat of new entrants: Lower barriers = lower profits.
    • Barriers to entry: Capital investment, economies of scale, licenses, customer loyalty.
  • Bargaining power of suppliers: Higher power, lower profits.
    • Number of suppliers, customer type, supplier expansion, supplier cost to switch.
  • Bargaining power of buyers: Higher power, lower profits.
  • Threat of substitutes: Similar products from other industries.

Organizational Culture

  • Organizational culture: Shared values, principles, traditions, influencing behaviors.
    • Strong culture: Shared values, employee identification with culture.
    • Weak culture: Values limited to top management, employees do not identify with it.
  • Levels of organizational culture:
    • Visible artifacts: Dress, behavior, symbols, ceremonies, office layout.
    • Invisible: Values and beliefs (interpreted from language, symbols, stories), underlying assumptions and deep beliefs (role modeling, legends, nicknames).

Organizational culture dimensions:

  • Adaptability, attention to detail, outcome orientation, people orientation, team orientation, and integrity.

How culture is established

  • Founders' vision.
  • Transmission through stories, symbols, and language.
  • Maintenance through employee selection, socialization, and top managers' actions.

Stakeholders

  • Stakeholders: Individuals/groups with interest/claims/stake in a company.
  • External Stakeholders: Customers, suppliers, creditors, governments, unions, communities, general public.
  • Internal Stakeholders: Stockholders, employees, managers, executives, board members.
  • Stakeholder Claims:
    • Stockholders: Maximize return on investment.
    • Managers: Decide on goals benefiting stakeholders.
    • Employees: Performance-based rewards.
    • Suppliers: Fair payment and promptness.
    • Distributors: Quality products, agreed-upon prices.
    • Customers: Attraction for company survival.
    • Community: Physical/social infrastructure for operations.

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Description

This quiz explores the various factors that shape the business environment, focusing on external institutions and their influence on organizational performance. It covers concepts such as environmental uncertainty, general environmental factors, and major forces affecting businesses today. Test your understanding of the political, economic, social, technological, and legal dimensions in this context.

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