Learning Outcomes

a) Examine the influence of the external environment on the organisation
b) Identify and apply appropriate frameworks and tools to the problems and challenges faced by organisations

Context:

Businesses in the modern marketplace cannot afford to ignore the environments in which they operate. To navigate this vast and everchanging landscape, businesses must keep a keen eye on external factors which influence it. Customer behaviour, government
regulatory and economic policy, competitor strategy and public opinion all can impact on a businesses success. The environmental scan report is an effort to identify these factors and propose solutions to the risks they pose.

Objectives:

• To more broadly understand the environmental factors which influence business;
• Assess and address the challenges and risks which businesses face due to external factors;
• Identify and present appropriate solutions to offset these risks;
• Propose strategies to prevent further risk

Linkages between Part A and Part B:

Part A of this assessment focuses on the broad assessment of the business environment. Identification and characterisation of risks as well as a comprehensive assessment of environmental factors influencing the business will be presented in this first part of the scan.

Part B serves to expand on Part A through developing strategies not only to counter the risks faced by the business as identified in Part A, but also to prevent future environmental challenges, as well as anticipate and deal with environmental shifts.

Instructions:

Part A of the environmental scan serves the purpose of collecting all of the useful information about a business’ environment in one place. You will work individually to identify any relevant information about the environment of a chosen organisation. You must choose an Australian business still in operation, and view the buusiness through the context of the four components of an organisations external environment, as discussed in the subject content. The development of the environmental scan must incorporate the following elements:

• Describe the four types of factors which can influence the environments in which businesses operate
• Identify and analyse environmental factors which influence Australian businesses specifically
• Examine the chosen business and catalogue the factors in its environment which exert pressure
• Discuss these factors in the context of the four components of the external business environment.
• The structure of the assignment should follow standard report structure
• Introduction and background information
• Body of information and discussion of relevant topics
• Conclusion and summary
• Referencing in the APA style

Submit copy of Environmental Scan Report in .docx or .pdf format via the Assessment link in the main navigation menu in BIZ202 The Business environment. The Learning Facilitator will provide feedback with reference to the criteria below via the Grade Centre in the LMS
portal. Feedback can be viewed in My Grades.