Asia Pacific Institute of Information Technology

MODULE TITLE AND CODE Credit and level: Prerequisites: LEARNING TIME Class contact: Minimum independent study: Total learning time:

Business Environment ABUS001-3-1 4 Credits, Level 0 None 56 hours 104 hours 160 hours

Aims The aims of this module are to: introduce the learning skills, techniques and practices necessary to support students in their study of business and assist in their development throughout the learning process; provide fundamental knowledge about the business environment enhance students understanding and ability to analyse the business environment. __________________________________________________________________________________________ Learning Strategy The learning strategy for this module is to: provide lecture guidance to students; provide tutorial opportunities to practice the skills required; support students in their preparation of a portfolio to demonstrate proficiency in the learning outcomes of the module; Prepare students for life long learning. __________________________________________________________________________________________ Learning Outcomes On completion of this module, the student will be able to : Identify and understand the significance of the Political / Legal environment changes and challenges to organisations in the present and in the future; Identify and understand the significance of the Economic environment changes and challenges to organisations in the present and in the future; Identify and understand the significance of the Social environment changes and challenges to organisations in the present and in the future; Identify and understand the significance of the Technological environment changes and challenges to organisations in the present and in the future; Understand the key sources of internal and external information for identifying environmental trends; Which will be demonstrated by: Review of case studies and articles on the relevant topics studied. Students learn cognitive skills through lectures, class discussions, and formative assignments. Individual assignments and tutor-led discussions will be assigned to reinforce students understanding & analytical skills. Group projects and brainstorming sessions with students on how a particular environment influences on and brings implications on an organization. Individual and team project works and essay writing will be assigned in which students will learn to apply environmental knowledge to relevant real world scenarios. Group discussions are to be carried out to assimilate and exchange information among students. Student would be required to write short reports of the current environmental trends observed by the group for a particular industry of choice. Students will be required to analyse and provide solutions to many short case studies and current articles to identify the internal and external environmental problems arising. Version: September 2010

Examine the impact of changes in the internal organisational environment & its implications on an organization.

Module Specification APIIT Level 0

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Asia Pacific Institute of Information Technology Indicative Content 1) The Nature of the Business environment, What does the business environment comprise? What are the influences and drivers for change? Use of PEST analysis Contemporary changes and their effects Glocalisation and its threats and opportunities

2) Political Issues Stability of a country Legal framework for contract enforcement Intellectual property protection Trade regulations & tariffs Favoured trading partners Pricing regulations Taxation - tax rates and incentives wage legislation - minimum wage and overtime

2) Economic Issues Exchange rates & stability of host country currency Efficiency of financial markets Business cycle stage (e.g. prosperity, recession, recovery) Economic growth rate Discretionary income Unemployment rate Inflation rate Interest rates

3) Social issues Demographics Class structure Education Health status Attitudes (environmental consciousness, etc.) Spending habits

4) Technological issues New materials, processes and technologies Computer technology and automation Impact on cost structure Impact on value chain

5) Internal Environments People(employees) skills and ability, resistance to change Limited resources technical, finance Management style, leaders

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Version: September 2010

Asia Pacific Institute of Information Technology Assessment Methods and Weighting 1. In-course Assessments: Total Individual Assignment Group Assignment 50% 25% 25%

2. Examination 2 Hours: 50% __________________________________________________________________________________________ Essential Reading Brooks I & Weatherston J, (2000), The Business Environment: Challenges and Change Prentice Hall. (ISBN 0273646907) Additional Reading Maitland, I. (1994) The Business Environment Heinemann. (ISBN 0750609540) Britton & Worthington, I, (2000), The Business Environment 3rd Edition. Prentice Hall (ISBN 0273641638)

Other Essential Learning Resources CD-Roms a range of electronic resources to help students study the environments, including case studies, revision notes and many useful web links. __________________________________________________________________________________________

Module Specification APIIT Level 0

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Version: September 2010