The International Business Environment: Challenges and Changes

Cover
The International Business Environment
Contents
Preface
Guided Tour
Maps
Acknowledgements
The international business environment
	Learning outcomes
	Key concepts
	Environmental forces
		The international business environment: a definition
		A classification of environmental forces
		Environmental stakeholders
		Geo-political scales
		The organisation–environment relationship
	A model of the business environment
		Perceptual filters
		Dynamism and complexity
	The organisation
		Types of organisations
	Environmental forecasting
		Forecasting in a dynamic and complex environment
		An approach to forecasting
		Forecasting techniques
		Impact analysis
	Environmental analysis and strategic process
		Strategy, structure and environmental influence
		Strategic planning
	Conclusion
	Summary of main points
	Discussion questions
	Further reading/sources of information
	References
The competitive environment
	Learning outcomes
	Key concepts
	Introduction
	The traditional economic view
		The command economy
		The market economy and the price mechanism
	The market for goods and services
		Monopoly
		Oligopoly
		Monopolistic competition
		Summary
	Contestable markets
	Structural analysis of competitive forces
		Rivalry among competitors
		Threat of entry
		Threat of substitution
		Bargaining power of buyers and suppliers
	Competitor analysis
	Conclusion
	Summary of main points
	Discussion questions
	Further reading/sources of information
	References
The international economic environment
	Learning outcomes
	Key concepts
	Introduction
	Measures of macroeconomic activity
	The role of the state in the economy
		Economic cycles
	Macroeconomic goals
		Economic growth
		Inflation
		Employment
		International trade
	Exchange rate systems
		Fixed exchange rate
		Floating exchange rate
		The Bretton Woods System
		Current exchange rate systems
	European integration
		The impact of the Single European Market
		Maastricht and beyond
		The impact of EMU on government economic policy
		The impact of the European single currency on business
		Enlargement of the EU
	Commodity prices
	Corporate social responsibility
	Conclusion
	Summary of main points
	Discussion questions
	Further reading/sources of information
	References
The technological environment
	Learning outcomes
	Key concepts
	Introduction
	Why is technology important?
		What is technology?
		Technology and modern organisations
	Funding of research and development
		National differences
		Indicators of scientific and technological progress
		Other indicators
		Sectoral differences
	Some general technologies
		Information and communication technologies
		Advanced manufacturing technology
		Supply chain management and just-in-time
		Business use of the World Wide Web
		Future technologies
	Technology and organisations
		Technology and organisation structure
		Technology and industry structure
		Technology, jobs and skills
		Technology and productivity
		Technological change and job stress
		Teleworking and working from home
	Managing technology
		Technology development
		The organisation of research and development
	Technological change and society
		Ethical aspects of technological change
		Workplace surveillance
		Technology and safety
		Technological change and vulnerability
		Technology and waste
	Conclusion
	Summary of main points
	Discussion questions
	Further reading/sources of information
	References
The international cultural, demographic and social environment
	Learning outcomes
	Key concepts
	Introduction
	The national cultural environment
		Definitions of national culture
		National culture and globalisation
		Identifying differences in national culture
		The impact of national culture on business practices
	The demographic environment
		Key drivers of population change
		Birth rate factors
		Death rate factors
		Migration factors
	Patterns of population change
		The impact of population growth
		The distribution of population
		Wider implications of population change
	Social dynamics
		The changing family
		Changing lifestyles
		Health
		Smoking and alcohol
		Crime
		Terrorism
		Education
		Work trends
	Conclusion
	Summary of main points
	Discussion questions
	Further reading/sources of information
	References
The ecological environment
	Learning outcomes
	Key concepts
	Introduction
	The impact of the marketplace on the ecological environment: an economic perspective
		The theory of demand
		The theory of supply
		Price determination
	Market forces and the environment
		Externalities
		Actions by companies which affect other companies
		Actions by companies which affect individuals
		Actions by individuals which affect companies
		Actions by individuals which affect other individuals
		Summary
	Measures available to limit externalities
		Property rights
		Market solutions
		Tradeable permits
		Regulation and legislation
	Government regulation at different geo-political scales
		Regulation at global level
		Regulation at regional level
		Regulation at national level
		Regulation at local level
	Organisational agendas
		Corporate social responsibility
		The environment and stakeholders
		The influence of stakeholder power
		Environmental options
		The importance of the organisation’s environmental context
		Self-regulation
	The position of the consumer
	Conclusion
	Summary of main points
	Discussion questions
	Further reading/sources of information
	References
The international political environment
	Learning outcomes
	Key concepts
	Introduction
	The different geo-political levels
		Global scale
		Regional scale
		National scale
		Local scale
	The nation state
		Systems of government
		Functions of government
	The changing attitudes of governments and institutions
		The role of government
		Changing attitudes in the UK
		Regulation, deregulation, markets and planning
	The impact of governments and institutions
		Political risk, stability and the attitudes of policy-makers
		Global challenges – corruption, terrorism and climate change
	Conclusion
		Change and stability, liberalisation and privatisation
	Summary of main points
	Discussion questions
	Further reading/sources of information
	References
The legal environment
	Learning outcomes
	Key concepts
	Introduction
	The law
		The law and morality
		The law and national boundaries
		National law
	The English system of law
		Courts in England and Wales
	European Union law
	Business law
		Forming a business entity
		Contract law
		Tort – Negligence and liability
		International business law
	Criminal law
	Consumer protection
		Competition law
	Intellectual property rights (IPR)
	Employer relationships
		Health and safety
	International law
		Nationally legislated laws affecting international business
		Sanctions
		Embargos
		Extraterritoriality
		Nationalisation
		Expropriation
	International laws and treaties
		International conventions
	Terrorism and security
		Legal risks
		International dispute resolution
	Conclusion
	Summary of main points
	Discussion questions
	Further reading/sources of information
	References
Globalisation, challenges and changes
	Learning outcomes
	Key concepts
	Introduction
	Globalisation
	The consequences of globalisation
	Changes in the international business environment
	The nature of the international business environment
		Implications for individuals and groups
		Implications for organisations
		Implications for governments
	Flexible working
		Forms of flexible of working
	The public sector
		The changing scope of the public sector
	Future trends?
	Conclusion
	Summary of main points
	Discussion questions
	Further reading/sources of information
	References
Index