Business Environment Persuasive

You are working as a business journalist for the Express and Star newspaper which is planning to run a monthly feature article on local businesses. Produce an article on two contrasting businesses which operate in the local area, covering purpose, ownership, organisational structure and strategic planning.

Business Type
You need to highlight what category the business comes under and provide some facts and figures to support your claim. The options available include; Local, National, International, Global, Public, Private, Not-for-profit, Voluntary, Primary, Secondary, Tertiary Purpose

Why does the business exist?
Does the business have a mission statement?
How was the business started? How has it grown?
What is the businesses core activity?
Does the business have any secondary activities?
Ownership
Identify the following;
Public or private sector or charity
Type of private sector ownership; sole trader, partnership, private limited
company, public limited company, franchise, cooperative. What are the liabilities of the owners?
Explain how the type of ownership is suited to each business

This task covers P1 – Describe the type of business, purpose and ownership of each business

Task 2 – Submission date – 11/10/2012 (P2) 25/10/2012 (M1) 25/10/2012 (D1)

Your next months feature for the Express and Star is to write a report on the stakeholders who influence the purpose of two businesses, which operate in the local area

For P2 in your article you should:
1. Define the term stakeholder
2. Identify the main stakeholders for each business
3. Explain what each stakeholder is hoping to achieve and how they try to influence the activities of the organisation For M1
1. Explain the point of view of each stakeholder, how does this compare to the aims and objectives of the orgainsation?
2. Highlight how there could be conflicts of interest or interdependencies between stakeholders For D1 – Using one organisation only

1. Who are the most powerful stakeholders in that organisation and why?
2. Use evidence of independent research to back up your arguments to show how those stakeholders have influenced the organisation.

This task covers;
P2 – Describe the different stakeholders who influence the purpose of two contrasting businesses M1 -Explain the points of view of different stakeholders seeking to influence the aims and objectives of two contrasting organisations D1 – Evaluate the influence different stakeholders exert in one organization

Task 3 – Submission date – 24/10/2012 (P3) 15/11/2012 (P4) The Express and
Star are very pleased with your work for them so far, for next month the feature is an article on how two businesses which operate in the local area are organised.

For P3 – Your article should include:
An organisational chart for each business which highlights the span of control and chain of command An outline some of the activities carried out in each functional area, highlighting roles and responsibilities How are strategic plans are made in each business

Tip –
For a medium to large business use research to find an example of their organisational structure and make your own comments on how the business is organised. For a small business draw your own organisational structure outling possible job roles based on your knowledge of the business

For P4 your article should include:
An outline the main values, aims and objectives of each business including SMART objectives An explanation of how the organisational structure and strategic planning help the business achieve their purpose and aims

Tip – For a small business which does not have a written mission statement or aims and SMART objectives written down, you can write your own based on your knowledge of the business

This task covers;
P3 – Describe how two businesses are organized
P4 – Explain how the style of the organisation helps them to fulfil their purpose

Task 4 – Submission date – 29/11/2012 (P5) 29/11/2012 (M2) Your editor is very excited about this months feature, which is an article featuring two businesses, this time one in the local area and one abroad. You can choose the businesses and the location of the business overseas. You are to produce an article describing how economic factors affect each of the
selected businesses.

For P5
1. Select 2 organisations;
1 local
1 overseas
2. Give an outline of the economic environment that each business is operating in (which can include, economy, government policy demand, supply, global interaction) 3. For each economy include at least 2 economic topics (e.g. recession, credit crunch, unemployment, housing, oil prices, inflation, exchange rates, interest rates etc.). 4. Describe how each economic topic you have outlined will influence each business

For M2
1. Compare the economic challenges faced by the businesses in the two economic environments 2. Identify 3 business activities which have been adapted to suit their environment ( You can include any activities carried out by the functional areas of the business e.g. recruitment)

This task covers:
P5 – Describe the influence of two contrasting economic environments on business activities within a selected organisation M2 – Compare the challenges to selected business activities within a selected organisation, in two different economic environments

Task 5 – Submission date – 13/12/2012 (P6) 13/12/2012 (M3) 20/12/2012 (D2) Your editor was so pleased with last months feature that she wants to develop it for next month. Again, a local business is to be contrasted with a business overseas in terms of the influences of political, legal and social factors.

For P6 – Your article should:
1. Identify what is happening in the external environment in terms of the following factors; Describe the legal framework the businesses operate in terms of an outline of business law Describe the political framework the business operates in (E.g. a change in government, taxation, infrastructure, grants, education, support such as Business Link) Describe the social framework the business operates in (E.g. More people from overseas working in the UK, aging population, ethics, attitudes to work etc.) 2. Describe how each of these external factors impacts on the business and its stakeholders

For M3
1. Analyse the political, legal and social challenges faced by the businesses in the two economic environments. 2. Identify 3 business activities which have been adapted to suit their environment ( You can include any activities carried out by the functional areas of the business e.g. product development)

D2
1. Build on your work for M2 and M3 evaluate the responsiveness of each business to their different economic environments, consider (a) What are the likely new challenges?
(b) What changes are taking place in society?
(c) What are the forecasts for the economy?
2. Make justified recommendations for the future development of business activities in the two different business environments.
This task covers;
P6 – Describe how political, legal and social factors are impacting upon the business activities of the selected organisations and their stakeholders M3 – Analyse how political, legal and social factors have impacted on the two contrasting organisations D2 – Evaluate how future changes in economic political, legal and social factors, may impact on the strategy of a specified organisation

Resources
A good assignment will include information obtained from a variety of resources, including textbooks, journals, internet, along with business sections of newspapers and magazines. It is important to reference your work carefully and include a list of sources of information when you hand in your work.