Case Subject Electronics Stores (NAICS code: 443142) Industry Description: This U.S. industry comprises: (1) establishments known as consumer electronics stores primarily engaged in retailing a general line of new consumer-type electronic products such as televisions, computers, and cameras; (2) establishments specializing in retailing a single line of consumer type electronic products; (3) establishments primarily engaged in retailing these new electronic products in combination with repair and support services; (4) establishments primarily engaged in retailing new prepackaged computer software; and/or (5) establishments primarily engaged in retailing prerecorded audio and video media, such as CDs, DVDs, and tapes. Illustrative Examples: Cellular telephone accessories stores Consumer-type electronic stores (e.g., televisions, computers, cameras) Stereo stores (except automotive) Radio and television stores Computer stores.

Tasks: Please analyze the external environment of the Retail Industry, specifically Electronics Stores, based on the following three segments: Socio-Cultural, Technological, and Global

Knowledge Base for General Environmental Analysis

The general environment is composed of factors that can have dramatic effects on firm strategy. We divide the general environment into six segments: demographic, sociocultural, political/legal, technological, economic, and global. Here is a description of each segment. Some factors in each segment are also listed at the end for you to consider, although many of them may not be quite relevant to the industry in our case analysis.

The Socio-cultural Segment

Socio-cultural forces influence the values, beliefs, and lifestyles of a society. Examples include a higher percentage of women in the workforce, dual-income families, increases in the number of temporary workers, greater concern for healthy diets and physical fitness, greater interest in the environment, and postponement of having children. Such forces enhance sales of products and services in many industries but depress sales in others. The increased number of women in the workforce has increased the need for business clothing merchandise but decreased the demand for baking product staples (since people would have less time to cook from scratch). This health and fitness trend has helped industries that manufacture exercise equipment and healthful foods but harmed industries that produce unhealthful foods.

The Technological Segment

Developments in technology lead to new products and services and improve how they are produced and delivered to the end user. Innovations can create entirely new industries and alter the boundaries of existing industries. Technological developments and trends include genetic engineering, Internet technology, computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM), research in artificial and exotic materials, and, on the downside, pollution and global warming. Petroleum and primary metals industries spend significantly to reduce their pollution. Engineering and consulting firms that work with polluting industries derive financial benefits from solving such problems.

The Global Segment

More firms are expanding their operations and market reach beyond the borders of their home country. Globalization provides both opportunities to access larger potential markets and a broad base of production factors such as raw materials, labor, skilled managers, and technical professionals. However, such endeavors also carry many political, social, and economic risks. Examples of key elements include currency exchange rates, increasing global trade and international production, outsourcing and off-shoring, trade agreements among regional blocs (e.g., North American Free Trade Agreement, European Union), and the World Trade Organization (lowering of tariffs). As an example of the impact of globalization, increases in trade across national boundaries also provide benefits to air cargo and shipping industries but have a minimal impact on service industries such as bookkeeping and routine medical services.

Relationships among Elements of the General Environment

In our discussion of the general environment, we see many relationships among the various elements. For example, a demographic trend in the United States, the aging of the population, has important implications for the economic segment (in terms of tax policies to provide benefits to increasing numbers of older citizens). Another example is the emergence of information technology as a means to increase the rate of productivity gains in the United States and other developed countries. Such use of IT results in lower inflation (an important element of the economic segment) and helps offset costs associated with higher labor rates. The effects of a trend or event in the general environment vary across industries. Governmental legislation (political/legal) to permit the importation of prescription drugs from foreign countries is a very positive development for drugstores but a very negative event for U.S. drug manufacturers.

PLEASE ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS: ANY REFERENCES/SOURCES CAN BE FROM THE INTERNET. NO WIKI

1. What factors in the socio-cultural segment can significantly impact the Electronics Stores Industry (NAICS 443142)? How does each of these factors shape the growth and changes of the industry? What are the future trend of each factor and the resulting changes of the industry? Please list any references you found to support your findings following APA format.
2. What factors in the technological segment can significantly impact the Electronics Stores Industry (NAICS 443142)? How does each of these factors shape the growth and changes of the industry? What are the future trend of each factor and the resulting changes of the industry? Please list any references you found to support your findings following APA format.
3. What factors in the global segment can significantly impact the Electronics Stores Industry (NAICS 443142)? How does each of these factors shape the growth and changes of the industry? What are the future trend of each factor and the resulting changes of the industry? Please list any references you found to support your findings following APA format.

LIST OF FACTORS FOR EACH SEGMENT TO CHOOSE FROM. AT LEAST CHOOSE 3-4 FOR EACH SEGMENT/QUESTIONS ABOVE (3)AND PLEASE INDICATE WHICH WERE CHOSEN FOR EACH SEGMENT QUESTION.

List 1: Some Key Economic Variables to Be Monitored

Shift to a service economy in the USA

Availability of credit

Level of disposable income

Propensity of people to spend

Interest rates Inflation rates

Money market rates

Federal government budget deficits

Gross domestic product trend

Consumption patterns

Unemployment trends

Worker productivity levels

Value of the dollar in world markets

Stock market trends

Foreign countries economic conditions

Import/export factors

Demand shifts for different categories of goods and services

Income differences by region and consumer groups

Price fluctuations

Export of labor and capital from the USA

Monetary policies

Fiscal policies

Tax rates

European Economic Community (EEC) policies

Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) policies

Coalitions of Lesser Developed Countries (LDC) policies

List 2: Some Key Social, Cultural, and Natural Environment Variables

Population changes by race, age, sex, and level of affluence

Immigration and emigration rates

Social Security programs

Life expectancy rates

Per capita income

Location of retailing, manufacturing, and service businesses

Attitudes toward business

Lifestyles

Traffic congestion

Inner-city environments

Average disposable income

Trust in government

Attitudes toward government

Attitudes toward work

Buying habits

Ethical concerns

Attitudes toward saving

Sex roles

Attitudes toward investing Racial equality

Use of birth control

Average level of education

Attitudes toward retirement

Attitudes toward leisure time

Attitudes toward product quality

Attitudes toward customer service

Pollution control Attitudes toward foreign peoples

Energy conservation

Social programs

Attitudes toward careers

Attitudes toward authority

Value placed on leisure time

Regional changes in tastes and preferences

Number of women and minority workers

Number of high school and college graduates by geographic area

Recycling

Waste management

Air pollution

Water pollution

Ozone depletion

Endangered species

List 3: Some Governmental and Legal Variables

Government regulations or deregulations

Changes in tax laws

Special tariffs

Political action committees

Voter participation rates

Number, severity, and location of government protests

Number of patents

Changes in patent laws

Environmental protection laws

Level of defense expenditures

Legislation on equal employment

Level of government subsidies

Antitrust legislation

Political relationships between US and other countries

Importexport regulations

Government fiscal and monetary policy changes

Political conditions in foreign countries

Special local, state, and federal laws

Lobbying activities

Size of government budgets

World oil, currency, and labor markets

Location and severity of terrorist activities

Local, state, and national elections