Business Environment, 2/e

Contents:
 

List of figures  • List of tables  • Preface to the second edition

Chapter 1: Organisations and their environments
Learning outcomes • What is the environment? • Analysing the environment • Why do we need to understand and manage the environment? • Tools for analysing the environment • SWOT and strategy • Criticisms of SWOT • E-V-R congruence • Managing the environment • Conclusions • Key learning points • Questions • Seminar activity: Activity holidays
Chapter 2: The competitive environment
Learning outcomes • Economic systems • The market economy • Mixed economies • Market structures • Perfect competition • Monopolistic competition • Monopoly • Oligopoly • Monopsony and bilateral monopoly • Competitive structure • Michael Porter's five forces model • Criticisms of five forces • Portfolio analysis • Boston matrix • Shell directional policy matrix • The public and voluntary sectors • HR implications of response to changes in the environment • Strategic responses • Conclusions • Key learning points • Questions • Trends to watch • Explore further • Seminar activity: Supermarkets: an oligopolistic industry
Chapter 3: The world economy
Learning outcomes • The European Union • The historical background to the European Union • The aims of the European Union • The institutions of the European Union • EU enlargement • The EU Constitution • The European Union and other regional blocs • International financial institutions • The Bretton Woods conference • The IMF • The World Bank • International trade and comparative advantage • The World Trade Organization (WTO) • The working of the WTO • Debt relief • Globalisation • Drivers of globalisation • Multinational and transnational corporations • The globalisation debate • Globalisation, growth and poverty • Multinationals and brands • Globalisation and the labour market • Conclusions • Key learning points • Questions • Trends to watch • Explore further • Seminar activity: Polish plumbers
Chapter 4: Government policy
Learning outcomes • Introduction • The legislative process in the United Kingdom and the European Union • The United Kingdom • The European Union • Informal influences on policy • Political parties • Pressure groups • The government and the economy • Some key definitions • Economic objectives • The tools of government policy • The link between unemployment and inflation • In terest rates • Central banks and interest rates • Public ownership, privatisation and PFI/PPP • Public ownership • Privatisation • Public interest companies • The Private Finance Initiative and public-private partnerships • Competitiveness • Productivity • Conclusions • Key learning points • Questions • Trends to watch • Explore further • Seminar activity: Economic development in India and China
Chapter 5: Regulation
Learning outcomes • Introduction • Legal contours • Legal concepts • Types of law • From where does the law originate? • The courts system • Law of contract • Regulating business and protecting the consumer • Controlling and enhancing competition • Consumer protection • Employment law • Sources of the employment contract • Employee rights • Benefits • Regulation of contracts through collective bargaining • Regulating health and safety • Introduction • Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (HASAWA) • The Health and Safety Commission and Health and Safety Executive • Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH) 1988 • Regulations arising from European Union Directives • Reporting of Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) 1995 • Enforcing the law • Risk assessment • Occupational stress • Role of Human Resources • Implications of regulation • Industry regulators - privatised utilities • Industry regulation - financial services (FSA) and communications (Ofcom) • Regulation and the public sector • Regulation and other sectors • Codes of practice • Key learning points • Questions • Trends to watch
Chapter 6: Demography
Learning outcomes • Introduction • Demography: the facts • Population growth • Drivers of population change • Ethnicity of the population • Other demographic changes • Trends to watch - and the future? • Implications of demographic predictions • Implications for organisations • Implications for governments, especially the UK government • Implications for international society • The world's resources • Key learning points • Questions
Chapter 7: Social trends
Learning outcomes • Introduction • Class • Karl Marx • Max Weber • Socioeconomic classifications • Social mobility • Inequality • Poverty • Trends in employment • Changes in the industrial structure • The feminisation of the workforce • Work organisation • The flexible organisation • The future of the workplace • The psychological contract • Work-life balance • Equal opportunities and diversity • Trade unions • Conclusions • Key learning points • Questions • Trends to watch • Explore further • Seminar activity: Social mobility, education and the meritocracy
Chapter 8: Technology
Learning outcomes • Introduction • What's happening in technology • Patterns of technological development • Types of technological change • Information technology • Communication technologies • Transportation technologies • The Internet • Biotechnology and medical technologies • Artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics • The impact on business strategy, goods and services • Effects on business strategies and operations • Specific products • Effects on labour markets and Human Resources • Increase in temporary labour • Recruitment/selection processes • Teleworking • Call centres • Effect on the structure of HR operations • Knowledge management • Technology - the darker side • Gene therapy • Lettuce leaves • Shared HR services • The darker side of employment • Trends to watch - what of the future? • Key learning points • Questions
Chapter 9: Ethics, social responsibility and sustainability
Learning outcomes • Introduction • Ethics • Ethical principles • Ethical dilemmas • Whistleblowing • The Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 • Professional ethics • Business ethics • Stakeholders • Values • Codes of ethics • Corporate governance • Corporate social responsibility • Sustainability • Corporate social responsibility and HR • Corporate social responsibility and the government • The bottom line • Conclusions • Key learning points • Questions • Trends to watch • Explore further • Seminar activity: Responsible tourism
Chapter 10: Strategic management
Learning outcomes • Introduction • What is strategic management? • Models of strategy • Corporate planning • Strategic management • The elements of strategic management • Strategic analysis • Gap analysis • Strategic choice • Strategic implementation • Strategic analysis • Vision, mission, values and objectives • The mission statement • Resource analysis • Strategic choice • Generic strategies • Selection of strategies • Evaluation of strategies • Suitability • Acceptability • Feasibility • Strategic option screening • Strategic implementation • Incremental and transformational change • Models of change • Managing change • Resistance to change • The role of HR in change management • Change leadership • Conclusions • Key learning points • Questions • Trends to watch • Explore further • Seminar activity: The Second World War
Chapter 11: Managing in a strategic business context • integrative case studies
Learning outcomes • Introduction • Strategy in the beer industry

Bibliography • Index

About the Authors:

John Kew is an educational consultant and has written flexible learning material for the ClPD's Professional Development Scheme.

John Stredwick is Senior Lecturer at University of Bedfordshire and has authored six books. He is Visiting Associate Professor at Webster University (US) based in Regents Park.