Why is the understanding of business environment important for managers? State any five points.
The understanding of business environment is important for managers because:
(i) Determining strategies and policies: The study of the environment helps a business to develop broad strategies and long-term policies, which aims at devisings specific methods, plans, rules and guidelines leading to a desired future or goals of the organisation.
(ii) Ensuring optimum utilisation of resources : A thorough understanding of internal and external environment will enable a business to optimally utilise the resources.
(iii) Analysing competitors’ strategies : The business environment continuously keeps collecting and displaying strategies adopted by competitors so that, business can formulate effective counter-plans to face them.
(iv) Maintaining business dynamism and innovation : A business can become alert and dynamic by being aware of changes in their surroundings and can accordingly, either expand their businesses when market is favourable and / or prepare them if there are any possible unfavourable conditions.
(v) Determining strengths and weaknesses : Awareness on business environment can assist in identifying the strengths or weaknesses or positive or negative aspects which are generally in direct control of the business or the decision-maker. These aspects can be weighed and compared to determine their performance vis-à-vis their competitive standing in the market.