1. BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT MODULE 1 BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS & ENVIRONMENT

2. Social & Cultural Opportunities & Threats  The attitudes of a society will greatly affect what goods and services are provided in the economy  For example, the growing knowledge and support for environmental protection has greatly altered business behavior  Demographic changes leading to a more educated public and wider acceptability of visible minorities –Exercise – Demographic Changes

3. Technological Opportunities  Technology affects all aspects of business –Recruitment –E-commerce –Published on-line reports  Speed of access to information  Reducing language and cultural barriers  Reducing costs of production

4. Technological Threats  Price transparency –Customers can easily compare prices of rival firms  Online crime –Hackers cost Canadian businesses millions of dollars per year –This may drive away consumers and potential on-line sales  Higher costs of maintenance –Maintenance and training of on-line services; shut down and upgrade costs

5. Other Technological Ideas…  New working practices –Working from home –Video conferencing  Increased productivity –Robotics are a much faster and more reliable production alternative –Increased stock control  Quicker product development  New products and markets  Job creation –Exercise – Nintendo & Apple