This chapter provides us with valuable information about the importance and influence of the external environment. And it's a manager's responsibility to scan the environment for anything that could affect his/her organization in a positive or negative way. Now its time for you to think like a manager, so choose an organization that you are familiar with. Good choices would be an organization where you have worked, an organization where you would like to work, or maybe an organization where you regularly shop for goods/services. In other words, pick an organization that you know something about and that interests you.

Then consider how the four components of the general environment (economic, technological, sociocultural, and political/legal) and the five components of the specific environment (customers, competition, suppliers, industry regulation, and advocacy groups) are currently affecting it. Pay close attention to the definition of each component of the general and specific environments (as outlined in the text/lectures/notes). Remember that general environment components have an indirect impact on organizations and specific environment components will have a direct impact on day-to-day operations. Impacts can be positive or negative and may represent opportunities or threats. Dont be afraid to do some research if you are unsure about your chosen organization! Try to think like a manager would when scanning the environment and assessing the effect of the components of the environment.

For your initial posting in this forum, provide a brief description of the general environment components (choose 1-2) and the specific environment components (choose 1-2) that you believe are generating the greatest impact on your chosen organization. Make sure to outline how these components are affecting this organization, and whether you believe a manager of this organization would consider the components you discuss to be either threat (negative influences) or opportunities (positive influences). Remember, every organization is different. Make sure to back up your analysis with explanations and/or examples.