The Business Environment

In a fast-paced and constantly changing world, it is more important than ever to have a sound appreciation of the context in which business organisations exist and operate. Now in its 7th edition, this best-selling textbook offers a comprehensive, yet accessible, introduction to the wide range of external influences that affect business operations and decisions in today's increasingly globalised world. How do changing, and often unpredictable, economic or political conditions impact on business? How are business organisations affected by globalisation? What role do environmental responsibility and ethics have to play in business decisions? Using well-known examples and case studies from a broad range of international organisations, this 7th edition of The Business Environment addresses these key questions and many more. It includes a chapter on the global context of business together with International Business in Action case studies, both of which clearly illustrate the global nature of today's world of business. With this book you can: * Explore all the issues which are critical to understanding the business environment and learn how these impact on organisations of all types and sizes. * Benefit from up-to-date information and accessible analysis of both the macro- and micro-environmental influences that affect business organisations today. * Put theory into practice, using a wide range of contemporary mini cases and case studies on (1) organisations including Microsoft, Facebook, Gazprom and Serco (2) issues such as foreign direct investment, fracking, the Eurozone crisis and Quantitative Easing. Ian Worthington is Emeritus Professor of Corporate Sustainability and Chris Britton was formerly Principal Lecturer in the Leicester Business School, De Montfort University, Leicester, UK.Brief contents Contributors xviii Preface to the first edition xix Preface to the sixth edition xx Guided tour xxii Part One INTRODUCTION 1 1 Business organisations: the external environment 3 2 Business organisations: the internal environment 17 3 The global context of business 38 International business in action: The car industry 53 Part Two CONTEXTS 55 4 The political environment 57 5 The macroeconomic environment 96 6 The demographic, social and cultural context of business 135 7 The resource context: people, technology and natural resources 160 8 The legal environment 186 9 The ethical and ecological environment 210 International business in action: Migration 233 Part Three FIRMS 235 10 Legal structures 237 11 Size structure of firms 268 12 Industrial structure 295 13 Government and business 321 International business in action: A lot of bottle 345 Part Four MARKETS 347 14 The market system 349 15 Market structure 373 16 International markets and trade 397 17 Governments and markets 426 International business in action: The global financial crisis 453 Part Five CONCLUSION 455 18 Strategy and the changing environment 457 Glossary 485 Index 503