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MBA817Management Sciences3 Unitsintermediate

Environment Of Business

This course explores the multifaceted environment in which businesses operate, encompassing internal, task, and general environments. It examines environmental scanning techniques, political, legal, economic, socio-cultural, technological, and demographic forces. The course also delves into ethics, social responsibility, and the international business landscape, equipping students with skills for strategic decision-making and sustainable organizational practices in a global context.

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208h
Study Time
13
Weeks
16h
Per Week
basic
Math Level
Course Keywords
Business EnvironmentEnvironmental ScanningEthicsSocial ResponsibilityInternational Business

Course Overview

Everything you need to know about this course

Course Difficulty

Intermediate Level
Builds on foundational knowledge
65%
intermediate
➕
Math Level
Basic Math
📖
Learning Type
Theoretical Focus

Course Topics

Key areas covered in this course

1

Business Environment

2

Environmental Scanning

3

Political Environment

4

Legal Environment

5

Economic Environment

6

Ethics and Social Responsibility

Total Topics6 topics

Ready to Start

No specific requirements needed

This course is designed to be accessible to all students. You can start immediately without any prior knowledge or specific preparation.

Assessment Methods

How your progress will be evaluated (3 methods)

Assignments

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

Tutor-Marked Assessments

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

Final Examination

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

Career Opportunities

Explore the career paths this course opens up for you

Business Analyst

Apply your skills in this growing field

Management Consultant

Apply your skills in this growing field

Policy Advisor

Apply your skills in this growing field

International Business Manager

Apply your skills in this growing field

Industry Applications

Real-world sectors where you can apply your knowledge

ConsultingGovernmentMultinational CorporationsNon-Profit Organizations

Study Schedule Beta

A structured 13-week journey through the course content

Week
1

Module 1: The Nature of Business Environment and Environmental Scanning

3h

Unit 1: The nature of business environment

3 study hours
  • •Define the business environment and its components.
  • •Distinguish between internal and external factors.
  • •Analyze the roles of owners, directors, and employees.
  • •Examine the physical work environment and organizational structure.
Week
2

Module 1: The Nature of Business Environment and Environmental Scanning

3h

Unit 2: The task environment

3 study hours
  • •Identify suppliers, distributors, customers, and competitors.
  • •Analyze their impact on organizational performance.
  • •Evaluate the effects of changing distribution methods.
  • •Discuss the importance of customer satisfaction.
Week
3

Module 1: The Nature of Business Environment and Environmental Scanning

3h

Unit 3: Environmental Analysis

3 study hours
  • •Explain the meaning of environmental analysis and scanning.
  • •Compare irregular, regular, and continuous scanning systems.
  • •Apply techniques such as scenario planning and forecasting.
  • •Understand the limitations of environmental analysis.
Week
4

Module 2: The General/External Business Environment

3h

Unit 4: Political Environment

3 study hours
  • •Describe political systems and their effects on business.
  • •Explain the functions of government and their impact.
  • •Analyze the electoral, party, and representative systems.
  • •Discuss checks and balances in democracies.
Week
5

Module 2: The General/External Business Environment

3h

Unit 5: Legal Environment

3 study hours
  • •Identify types of laws and their sources.
  • •Explain the legal system and its components.
  • •Discuss business organizations and the law.
  • •Understand contract law and agency.
Week
6

Module 2: The General/External Business Environment

3h

Unit 6: The Economic Environment

3 study hours
  • •Explain economic scarcity and alternative economic systems.
  • •Illustrate income flows in a market economy.
  • •Analyze the role of government in the macroeconomy.
  • •Identify key international economic institutions.
Week
7

Module 2: The General/External Business Environment

3h

Unit 7: The Technological Forces

3 study hours
  • •Define technology and its impact on business.
  • •Discuss information technology and its effects.
  • •Explain the relationship between technology and investment.
  • •Understand innovation and research and development.
Week
8

Module 2: The General/External Business Environment

6h

Unit 8: The Demographical Forces

3 study hours
  • •Explain the meaning of demography and its importance.
  • •Analyze age and sex distribution of the population.
  • •Discuss population change and its drivers.
  • •Understand the social context and influences.

Unit 9: The Cultural Environment

3 study hours
  • •Explain the meaning of culture and its components.
  • •Discuss sub-cultures and their impact.
  • •Understand market segmentation and its application.
  • •Analyze cultural differences.
Week
9

Module 3: Ethics and Social Responsibility

3h

Unit 10: Ethics

3 study hours
  • •Define ethics and its importance.
  • •Discuss areas of managerial ethics.
  • •Explain ethics in an organizational context.
  • •Understand ethical behavior and decision-making.
Week
10

Module 3: Ethics and Social Responsibility

3h

Unit 11: Social Responsibility

3 study hours
  • •Explain the meaning of social responsibility.
  • •Discuss areas of social responsibility.
  • •Analyze arguments for and against social responsibility.
  • •Understand organizational approaches to social responsibility.
Week
11

Module 3: Ethics and Social Responsibility

3h

Unit 12: Managing Social Responsibility

3 study hours
  • •Discuss formal organizational dimensions.
  • •Explain informal organizational dimensions.
  • •Understand ways of evaluating social responsibility.
Week
12

Module 4: The International Business Environment

6h

Unit 13: The nature of International Business

3 study hours
  • •Explain the meaning of international business.
  • •Discuss stages of global organizations.
  • •Understand the structure of the global economy.

Unit 14: Environmental challenges of international Business

3 study hours
  • •Explain the international economic environment.
  • •Discuss the international political/legal environment.
  • •Understand the international cultural environment.
Week
13

Module 4: The International Business Environment

6h

Unit 15: Global comparative management

3 study hours
  • •Explain factors influencing managing in Western countries.
  • •Discuss management in Korean.
  • •Understand management in Japan.
  • •Analyze management in Germany.

Unit 16: Management challenges in a Global Environment

3 study hours
  • •Discuss planning in an international environment.
  • •Explain organizing in an international environment.
  • •Understand leading in an international environment.
  • •Analyze controlling in an international environment.

This study schedule is in beta and may not be accurate. Please use it as a guide and consult the course outline for the most accurate information.

Course PDF Material

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Study Tips & Exam Preparation

Expert tips to help you succeed in this course

1

Review key concepts from each unit weekly.

2

Create summaries of major environmental factors.

3

Practice applying environmental scanning techniques.

4

Analyze case studies of ethical dilemmas.

5

Prepare for essay questions on social responsibility.

6

Study international business strategies and challenges.

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