Explain, with examples, the various dimensions of the business environment.
Following are the dimensions of the business environment:
1. Economic Environment: The economic environment consists of the factors and forces concerned with means of production and distribution of the wealth. It comprises interest rate, rate of inflation, value of GDP, per capita income, tax rates, disposable income etc. For example a rise in the per capita and disposable income of the consumer will lead to an increase in the demand for goods and services.
2. Social Environment: The social environment consists of all the social and cultural forces within which business firms operate. It comprises customs and traditions, values, social trends etc. For example, the emerging trend of health and physical fitness provides opportunities to businesses like gyms, diet drinks, mineral water, food supplements etc.
3. Technological Environment: It refers to the changes taking place in the method of production and use of equipment to improve the quality of product.
In other words, the technological environment includes forces relating to scientific improvement and innovations, which provide new ways of producing goods and services and methods and techniques of operating a business. For example, innovation and improvement in the area of food preservation has not only provided vast opportunities to firms producing jams, jelly, pickles, ready to cook foods, etc but also increased the demand and consumption of such products in society.
4. Political Environment: The political environment consists of the forces concerning management of public affairs and their impact on business. It includes political conditions in the country and attitude of the government towards business and business policy. For example political unrest and threat to law and order adversely affect confidence of investors and reduce the level of investment in the economy.
5. Legal Environment: Business has to function within the framework of laws and regulations of the country. Non-compliance of these regulations can create legal problems for business enterprises.
A number of laws have been implemented by the government through the enactment of the companies Act, Foreign Exchange Management Act, Factories Act, competitions Act etc. For example, products like tobacco and cigarettes are required to carry a statutory warning on their packages, ‘smoking is injurious to health’.
How would you characterize the business environment? Explain with examples, the difference between general and specific environment.
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.
Why it is important for business enterprises to understand their environment? Explain.
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.
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 economic changes were initiated by the Government under the Industrial Policy, 1991? What impact have these changes made on business and industry?
What are the essential features of:
a. Liberalisation,
b. Privatization and
c. Globalisation?
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).
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?
Distinguish between Capital Market and Money Market.
Differentiate between Money Market and Capital Market.
A company manufacturing sewing machines set up in 1945 by the British promoters follows formal organisation culture in totality. It is facing lot of problems in delays in decision making. As the result it is not able to adapt to changing business environment. The work force is also not motivated since they cannot vent their grievances except through formal channels, which involve red tape. Employee turnover is high. Its market share is also declining due to changed circumstances and business environment. You are to advise the company with regard to change it should bring about in its organisation structure to overcome the problems faced by it. Give reasons in terms of benefits it will derive from the changes suggested by you.
(Further information related to the above question 6) The management of company Bhasin Limited now realised its folly. In order to rectify the situation it appointed a management consultant -Mukti Consultants - to recommend a restructure plan to bring the company back on the rails. Mukti Consultants undertook a study of the production process at the plant of the company Bhasin Limited and recommended the following changes —
• The company should introduce scientific management with regard to production.
• Production Planning including routing, scheduling, dispatching and feedback should be implemented.
• In order to separate planning from operational management ’Functional foremanship’ should be introduced.
• ‘Work study’ should be undertaken to optimise the use of resources.
• ‘Standardisation’ of all activities should be implemented to increase efficiency and accountability.
• To motivate the workers ‘Differential Piece Rate System’ should be implemented.
(The above changes should be introduced apart from the steps recommended as an answer to Part c - case problem 6 above.) It was expected that the changes will bring about a radical transformation in the working of the company and it will regain its pristine glory.
a. Do you think that introduction of scientific management as recommended by M consultants will result in intended outcome?
b. What precautions should the company undertake to implement the changes?
c. Give your answer with regard to each technique separately as enunciated in points 1 through 6 in the case problem.
Distinguish between training and development.
Explain the technique of ‘Functional Foremanship’ and the concept of ‘Mental Revolution’ as enunciated by Taylor.
What is meant by recruitment? How is it different from selection?
Coordination is the essence of management. Do you agree? Give reasons.
The quality of production is not as per standards. On investigation it was observed that most of the workers were not fully aware of the proper operation of the machinery. What could be the way to improve the quality of production to meet the standards? (training)
What is the importance of setting objectives in the planning process?