BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT
Introduction
The process of starting up and developing a business is not just an adventure, but also a real challenge. In order to help entrepreneurs with this, it is essential to create a favourable business environment.Ensuring easier access to funding, making legislation clearer and more effective and developing an entrepreneurial culture and support networks for businesses are all instrumental as far as the setting up and growth of businesses are concerned.
However, creating a favourable business environment does not mean simply improving the growth potential of businesses. It also means turning Europe into a place in which it is advantageous to invest and work. In this way, the promotion of corporate social responsibility is contributing to making business in Europe more attractive.
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) make up 99% of European businesses. Their small size makes them very sensitive to changes in the industry and environment in which they operate. It is therefore vital for their well-being to be a focus of political attention.
What Is Business Environment?
The term Business Environment is composed of two words ‘Business’ and ‘Environment’. In simple terms, the state in which a person remains busy is known as Business. The word Business in its economic sense means human activities like production, extraction or purchase or sales of goods that are performed for earning profits.
On the other hand, the word ‘Environment’ refers to the aspects of surroundings. Therefore, Business Environment may be defined as a set of conditions – Social, Legal, Economical, Political or Institutional that are uncontrollable in nature and affects the functioning of organization. Business Environment has two components:
1. Internal Environment
2. External Environment
Internal Environment:
It includes 5 Ms i.e. man, material, money, machinery and management, usually within the control of business. Business can make changes in these factors according to the change in the functioning of enterprise.
External Environment:
Those factors which are beyond the control of business enterprise are included in external environment. These factors are: Government and Legal factors, Geo-Physical Factors, Political Factors, Socio-Cultural Factors, Demo-Graphical factors etc. It is of two Types:
1. Micro/Operating Environment
2. Macro/General Environment
Micro/Operating Environment: The environment which is close to business and affects its capacity to work is known as Micro or Operating Environment. It consists of Suppliers, Customers, Market Intermediaries, Competitors and Public.
(1) Suppliers:
They are the persons who supply raw material and required components to the company. They must be reliable and business must have multiple suppliers i.e. they should not depend upon only one supplier.
(2) Customers:
Customers are regarded as the king of the market. Success of every business depends upon the level of their customer’s satisfaction. Types of Customers:
(i) Wholesalers
(ii) Retailers
(iii) Industries
(iv) Government and Other Institutions
(v) Foreigners
(3) Market Intermediaries: -
They work as a link between business and final consumers. Types:-
(i) Middleman
(ii) Marketing Agencies
(iii) Financial Intermediaries
(iv) Physical Intermediaries
(4) Competitors: -
Every move of the competitors affects the business. Business has to adjust itself according to the strategies of the Competitors.
(5) Public: -
Any group who has actual interest in business enterprise is termed as public e.g. media and local public. They may be the users or non-users of the product.
Macro/General Environment: –
It includes factors that create opportunities and threats to business units. Following are the elements of Macro Environment:
(1) Economic Environment: -
It is very complex and dynamic in nature that keeps on changing with the change in policies or political situations. It has three elements:
(i) Economic Conditions of Public
(ii) Economic Policies of the country
(iii)Economic System
(iv) Other Economic Factors: –
Infrastructural Facilities, Banking, Insurance companies, money markets, capital markets etc.
(2) Non-Economic Environment: -
Following are included in non-economic environment:-
(i) Political Environment: -
It affects different business units extensively. Components:
(a) Political Belief of Government
(b) Political Strength of the Country
(c) Relation with other countries
(d) Defense and Military Policies
(e) Centre State Relationship in the Country
(ii) Socio-Cultural Environment: -
Influence exercised by social and cultural factors, not within the control of business, is known as Socio-Cultural Environment. These factors include: attitude of people to work, family system, caste system, religion, education, marriage etc.
(iii) Technological Environment: -
A systematic application of scientific knowledge to practical task is known as technology. Everyday there has been vast changes in products, services, lifestyles and living conditions, these changes must be analysed by every business unit and should adapt these changes.
(iv) Natural Environment: -
It includes natural resources, weather, climatic conditions, port facilities, topographical factors such as soil, sea, rivers, rainfall etc. Every business unit must look for these factors before choosing the location for their business.
(v) Demographic Environment :-
It is a study of perspective of population i.e. its size, standard of living, growth rate, age-sex composition, family size, income level (upper level, middle level and lower level), education level etc. Every business unit must see these features of population and recongnise their various need and produce accordingly.
(vi) International Environment: -
It is particularly important for industries directly depending on import or exports. The factors that affect the business are: Globalisation, Liberalisation, foreign business policies, cultural exchange.
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