BTEC Assignment Unit 1 The Business Environment P5

BTEC Assignment Unit 1 The Business Environment P5. Task 5 Describe the influence of two contrasting economic environments on business activities within a selected organisation Range of different businesses: local; national; international; global; public; private; not-for-profit/voluntary; sectors of business activity (primary, secondary and tertiary) Business purposes: supply of products or services; difference between profit and not-for profit organisations Ownership: public, private and voluntary sectors; types of ownership (sole trader, partnerships, private and public limited companies, government departments, government agencies, worker cooperatives, charitable trusts); main implications of different types of ownership on businesses (extent of liability, limitations to operation for public and charitable organisations) Key stakeholders: customers; employees; suppliers; owners; trade unions; employer associations; local and national communities; governments; influence of stakeholders on organisations 2 Understand how businesses are organised to achieve their purposes Organisational structures: purpose (division of work, lines of control and communication); types of structure (functional, geographic, product, type of customer); diagrammatic representation of structure (organisation charts); span of control Functional area: finance; marketing; production; customer service; sales; human resources. Strategic planning: mission and values; development of strategic aims and objectives; cascading of objectives throughout the organisation; strategic planning process; use of SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, resourced, time-bound) objectives Influencing factors: stakeholders; business environment; business type and ownership. Different aims: private sector aims (breakeven, survival, profit maximisation, growth); public sector aims (service provision, cost limitation, value for money, meeting government standards, growth of range of provision) 3 Know the impact of the economic environment on businesses Economic: importance of stability; impact on business of changes in the economic environment (growth, recession, ripple effect); levels of inflation; availability and cost of credit; labour; changes in government policy (legal, fiscal, monetary) Demand: influenced by affordability; competition; availability of substitutes; level of Gross Domestic Product (GDP); needs and aspirations of consumers Supply: Influenced by availability of raw materials and labour; logistics; ability to produce profitably; competition for raw materials; government support Changes in supply and demand: supply and demand curves; elasticity of demand; price sensitivity; influence of branding on price sensitivity Global interaction: levels and types of interdependence (supply chains, ownership of businesses, movement of capital and business operations, reducing ability of national governments to regulate global businesses) 4 Know how political, legal and social factors impact on businesses Political: political stability; government support for different types of organisations eg private, voluntary, public; fiscal eg levels and types of taxation; direct support eg grants, loans; providing infrastructure eg transport; internet; enhancing skills of the working population eg education, training, research; organisations to support businesses eg Business Link; membership of international trading communities eg European Union Legal: providing framework for business eg company law; protecting consumers and employees eg contract law, employment law, consumer protection; ensuring fair and honest trading eg competition law. Social: demographic issues eg population growth or decline; changes in structure eg ageing; households and families; education; attitude to work; religions; attitudes to male and female roles; ethics