How would you characterize the business environment? Explain with examples, the difference between general and specific environment.
Business environment means all the external and internal forces that affect the performance of the organization directly or indirectly. Business environment ha the following features:
1. Totality of external forces: Business environment is aggregative in nature because it is the sum total of all the things external to business enterprise. One single factor does not make a business environment.
2. Specific and general forces: Business environment consists of both specific and general forces. General forces refers to social, political, economical, legal and technological conditions, which affects every organization indirectly. On the other hand specific forces are investors, customers, competitors and suppliers that affect individual organization directly.
3. Inter-relatedness: Every element of business environment are inter-related. For example an increase in the income of consumers (economic environment) will help in improving their living standard (social environment).
4. Dynamic Nature: Business environment is dynamic in nature because it keeps on changing in terms of technologies, consumer taste and preference, change in government policy or trend and traditions that is why it is important to monitor the environment continuously.
5. Uncertainty: Business environment is uncertain because it is difficult to predict future events such as technological changes, change in government policies etc, especially when the changes are taking place at a fast pace.
6. Complexity: Business environment is complex because it consists of numerous, inter-related factors affecting business enterprises at the same time. It is easier to understand the components in parts, but difficult to understand in totality.
7. Relativity: Business environment is a relative concept as it differs from country to country and region to region. For example government policy, regulations, consumers’ preference etc all differs from one region to another.
General environment and specific environment
General environment means that the forces that affect all the business enterprises indirectly. It does not only affect any particular organization but affects the performance of all the organizations. General environment consists of general forces that are economic, social, political, legal and technological conditions. For example change in any political condition affects all the organizations.
And on the other hand a specific environment means that the forces that affect an organization directly. Unlike the general environment it does not affect the performance of all organizations, it affects the performance of any particular organization. Specific environments consist of specific forces that are investors, customers, competitors and suppliers. For example, change in the taste and preference of the consumer will directly affect the demand of that product of that particular organization/company.
The government of India announced Demonetization of ₹ 500 and ₹ 1,000 currency notes with effect from the midnight of November 8, 2016. As a result, the existing ₹ 500 and ₹ 1,000 currency notes ceased to be legal tender from that date. New currency notes of the denomination of ₹ 500 and ₹ 2,000 were issued by Reserve Bank of India after the announcement.
This step resulted in a substantial increase in the awareness about and use of Point of Sale machines, e-wallets, digital cash and other modes of cashless transactions. Also, increased transparency in monetary transactions and disclosure led to a rise in government revenue in the form of tax collection.
a. Enumerate the dimensions of the business environment highlighted above.
b. State the features of Demonetization.
National Digital Library of India (NDL India) is a pilot project initiated by the HRD ministry. It works towards developing a framework of virtual repository of learning resources with a single-window search facility. It provides support to all academic levels including researchers, life-long learners and differently-abled learners free of cost. State the dimensions of business environment highlighted above.
Why it is important for business enterprises to understand their environment? Explain.
How would you argue that the success of a business enterprise is significantly influenced by its environment?
Briefly discuss the impact of Government policy changes on business and industry.
What are the essential features of:
a. Liberalisation,
b. Privatization and
c. Globalisation?
What economic changes were initiated by the Government under the Industrial Policy, 1991? What impact have these changes made on business and industry?
How does understanding of business environment help in improving performance of a business?
Give an example to show that a business firm operates within numerous inter related factors constituting the business environment.(Hint: example highlighting the inter relatedness of dimensions of business environment).
State the impact of demonetization on interest rates, private wealth and real estate.
How does planning provide direction?
What is meant by staffing?
Identify the network of social relationships which arises spontaneously due to interaction at work.
What is informal communication?
State the meaning of controlling.
What is meant by capital structure?v
What is meant by management?
What is a Treasury Bill?
State any two advantages of branding to marketers of goods and services?
What makes principles of management flexible?
A marketer of colour TV having 20% of the current market share of the country aims at enhancing the market share to 50 per cent in next three years. For achieving this objective he specified an action programme. Name the function of marketing being discussed above. (Ans. Marketing planning.)
How does branding help in differential pricing?
What is marketing mix? What are its main elements? Explain.
Draw a diagram depicting a functional structure.
Do you think management has the characteristics of a full-fledged profession?
A company, which manufactures a popular brand of toys, has been enjoying good market reputation. It has a functional organisational structure with separate departments for Production, Marketing, Finance, Human Resources and Research and Development. Lately to use its brand name and also to cash on to new business opportunities it is thinking to diversify into manufacture of new range of electronic toys for which a new market is emerging. Which organisation structure should be adopted in this situation? Give concrete reasons with regard to benefits the company will derive from the steps it should take.
Distinguish between convenience product and shopping product.
What are semantic barriers of communication?
Why is management considered to be a multi-dimensional concept?
Examine the relevance of Taylor’s scientific management principles in the service sector.