INTRODUCTION TO BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT

Business environment consist of all those factors that have a bearing on the business.
The term 'business environment implies those external forces, factors and institutions
that are beyond the control of individual business organizations and their management
and affect the business enterprise.
These forces are customer, creditors, competitors, government,
socio-cultural organizations, political parties
national and international organizations etc. some of those forces affect the
business directly which some others have indirect effect on the business.
FEATURES OF BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT

Totality of external forces: Business environment is the sum total of all things external
to business firms and, as such, is aggregative in nature.
Specific and general forces: Business environment includes both specific and
general forces. Specific forces affect enterprises in their day-to-day working.
General forces have impact on all enterprises and affect an individual firm only
indirectly.
 Dynamic nature: Business environment is dynamic in that it keeps on changing
whether in terms of technological improvement, shifts in consumer preferences or
entry of new competition in the market.
Uncertainty: Business environment is largely uncertain as it is very difficult to predict
future happenings, especially when environment changes are taking place too frequently
as in the case of information technology or fashion industries.

Nature of Business Environment:

The nature of Business Environment is simply and better explained by the following approaches:
(i) System Approach:
In original, business is a system by which it produces goods and services for the satisfaction of
wants, by using several inputs, such as, raw material, capital, labour etc. from the environment.
(ii) Social Responsibility Approach:
In this approach business should fulfill its responsibility towards several categories of the society
such as consumers, stockholders, employees, government etc.
(iii) Creative Approach:
As per this approach, business gives shape to the environment by facing the challenges and availing
the opportunities in time. The business brings about changes in the society by giving attention to
the needs of the people.
Significance of Business Environment:
Business Environment refers to the “Sum total of conditions which surround man at a given point
in space and time. In the past, the environment of man consisted of only the physical aspects of the
planet Earth (air, water and land) and the biotic communities. But in due course of time and
advancement of society, man extended his environment through his social, economic and political
function.”
In a globalised economy, the business environment plays an important role in almost all business
enterprises. The significance of business environment is explained with the help of the following
points:
(i) Help to understand internal Environment:
It is very much important for business enterprise to understand its internal environment, such as
business policy, organisation structure etc. In such case an effective management information
system will help to predict the business environmental changes.
(ii) Help to Understand Economic System:
The different kinds of economic systems influence the business in different ways. It is essential for
a businessman and business firm to know about the role of capitalists, socialist and mixed
economy.
(iii) Help to Understand Economic Policy:
Economic policy has its own importance in business environment and it has an important place in
business. The business environment helps to understand government policies such as, export-import
policy, price policy; monetary policy, foreign exchange policy, industrial policy etc. have much
effect on business.
(iv) Help to Understand Market Conditions:
It is necessary for an enterprise to have the knowledge of market structure and changes taking place
in it. The knowledge about increase and decrease in demand, supply, monopolistic practices,
government participation in business etc., is necessary for an enterprise.
TYPES OF ENVIRONMENT

On the basis of the extent of intimacy with the firm , the

environmental factors may be
classified into different types-
internal and external.
INTERNAL ENVIRONMENT

The internal environment is the environment that has a direct impact on the business. Here
there are some internal factors which are generally controllable because the company
has control over these factors. It can alter or modify such factors as its personnel,
physical facilities, and organization and functional means, like marketing, to suit the
environment.
A) VALUE SYSTEM

The value system of the founders and those at the helm of affairs has important bearing on
the choice of business, the mission and the objectives of the organization, business
policies and practices.
B) MISSION,VISION AND OBJECTIVES

Vision means the ability to think about the future with imagination and wisdom. Vision
is an important factor in achieving the objectives of the organization. The mission is
the medium through which the objectives are achieved.
C) MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE AND NATURE

The structure of the organization also influences the business decisions. The
organizational structure like the composition of board of directors , influences the
decisions of business as they are internal factors . The structure and style of the
organization may delay a decision making or some other helps in making quick
decisions.
EXTERNAL ENVIRONMENT

It refers to the environment that has an indirect influence on the business. The factors
are
uncontrollable by the business. There are two types of external environment:
Micro Environment
The micro environment is also known as the task environment and operating environment
because the micro environmental forces have a direct bearing on the operations of the
firm.
a)Suppliers
An important force in the micro environment of a company is the suppliers, i.e., those
who supply the inputs like raw materials and components to the company.
Customer
The major task of a business is to create and sustain customers. A business exists
only because of its customers.
Marketing Intermediaries
The marketing intermediaries include middlemen such as agents and merchants that help
the company find customers or close sales with them.
financers
The financers are also important factors of internal environment.
Public
Public can be said as any group that has an actual or potential interest in or on an
organization’s ability to achieve its interest. Public include media and citizens.
MACRO ENVIRONMENT

Macro environment is also known as General environment and remote environment.

Macro factors are generally more uncontrollable than micro environment factors.
When the macro factors become uncontrollable , the success of company
depends upon its adaptability to the environment.
Economic Environment
Economic environment refers to the aggregate of the nature of economic system of the
country, business cycles, the socio-economic infrastructure etc.
Social Environment
The social dimension or environment of a nation determines the value system of
the society which, in turn affects the functioning of the business. Sociological
factors such as costs structure, customs and conventions, mobility of labor etc.
have far-reaching impact on the business.
Political Environment
The political environment of a country is influenced by the political organizations
such as philosophy of political parties, ideology of government or party in power, nature
and extent of bureaucracy influence of primary groups etc.
Legal Environment
Legal environment includes flexibility and adaptability of law and other legal rules
governing the business. It may include the exact rulings and decision of the courts.
Technical Environment
The business in a country is greatly influenced by the technological development. The
technology adopted by the industries determines the type and quality of goods and
services to be produced and the type and quality of plant and equipment to be used.
Environmental audit
Environmental audit is a general term that can reflect various types of evaluations intended to
identify environmental compliance and management system implementation gaps, along with
related corrective actions. In this way they perform an analogous (similar) function to
financial audits. There are generally two different types of environmental audits: compliance
audits and management systems audits.