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Scanning Business Environments

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... Indeed, knowledge acquisition by definition has an external focus as it demands efforts (e.g. in terms of depth and scope) for gathering external valuable information (Todorova & Durisin, 2007;Zahra & George, 2002). It includes different types of external scanning, ranging from formal or informal search to conditioned or undirected viewing (Aguilar, 1967;Saetre, 2016;Saunders & Jones, 1990). Social integration mechanisms, on the contrary, are internally focused (Armstrong & Lengnick-Hall, 2013;Distel, 2019). ...
... Yet, social integration mechanisms can still play a role in knowledge acquisition as they enable an organisation to develop a shared understanding of what information should be gathered and for what purpose. These aspects are key for formal and informal search types of scanning (Aguilar, 1967;Saunders & Jones, 1990). However, the acquisition scale of Flatten et al. (2011a), used in this study, is more focused on capturing 'undirected viewing' or 'conditioned viewing' in Aguilar (1967) and Saunders and Jones (1990) terms. ...
... These aspects are key for formal and informal search types of scanning (Aguilar, 1967;Saunders & Jones, 1990). However, the acquisition scale of Flatten et al. (2011a), used in this study, is more focused on capturing 'undirected viewing' or 'conditioned viewing' in Aguilar (1967) and Saunders and Jones (1990) terms. These are types of scanning that lack a particular purpose, are more general and are not confined to a specific pre-identified area (Aguilar, 1967;Saunders & Jones, 1990). ...
Article
With the increasing recognition of the value of external knowledge, organisations are interested in understanding how to boost their absorptive capacity. Social integration mechanisms have been theorised as a key predictor of absorptive capacity, both as a necessary condition for the development of its dimensions (knowledge acquisition, assimilation, transformation and application) and as a contingency factor that influences the relationships between these dimensions. However, the empirical evidence that explores these ideas is limited. To address this, we explore the survey data from 145 Brazilian firms and find that social integration mechanisms play a controversial role in absorptive capacity. Without a certain level of social integration mechanism usage, high levels of the absorptive capacity dimensions are not possible. However, social integration mechanisms also dampen the positive effects of knowledge acquisition on knowledge assimilation and transformation. Therefore, the highest level of usage of social integration mechanisms is not always beneficial for organisations.
... Merupakan aspek penting dari pemindaian lingkungan dalam manajemen strategis (Rothaermel, 2017;Aguilar, 1967). Lingkungan sosial-budaya mencakup nilai, cita-cita, sikap, dan harapan yang membedakan suatu kelompok masyarakat dari kelompok lainnya. ...
... Di sisi lain, perusahaan Indonesia menghadapi persaingan yang semakin meningkat. Oleh karena itu, diperlukan pemindaian lingkungan global (Hitt, & Hoskisson, 2017;Fleisher, & Bensoussan, 2007;Aguilar, 1967). Dari sudut pandang manajemen strategis, analisis diperlukan untuk membuka operasi di luar negeri dan memahami implikasi masuknya perusahaan multinasional di negara tersebut serta kebebasan impor produk dan layanan dari luar negeri (Rothaermel, 2017). ...
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Lingkungan manajemen bisnis internasional dapat didefinisikan sebagai lingkungan di berbagai negara dengan faktor-faktor yang umumnya ada dalam lingkungan asal perusahaan yang mempengaruhi pengambilan keputusan bisnis melalui penggunaan sumber daya dan kemampuan (Hill, 2022; Haslam, & Shenoy,2018). Lingkungan manajemen bisnis internasional didefinisikan sebagai serangkaian kegiatan yang berkaitan dengan industri dan perdagangan pada tingkat internasional. Lingkungan manajemen bisnis internasional berbeda dari lingkungan manajemen domestik. Oleh karena itu, kehati-hatian ekstra diperlukan terhadap perbedaan lingkungan ini. Lingkungan manajemen bisnis internasional mencakup lingkungan sosial, politik, ekonomi, regulasi, pajak, budaya, hukum, dan teknologi (Anderson, 2023; Wardhana, 2024; Suprapto, Jhohari., Deni, 2023; Hill, 2022; Czinkota, Ronkainen, et al, 2021; Cavusgil, Tamer., Knight, et al, 2019; Geringer, & Mcnett, 2019; Chandler, 2018; Pertiwi, & Priyono, 2018; Daniels, Radebaugh, et al, 2017; Schaffer, Agusti, et al, 2017).
... For this, we follow the steps of previous works [11], [12] and structure our created projections following the established PEST framework (political, economical, socio-cultural, and technological environment, cf. [13]). ...
... The PEST framework represents an established tool in strategic analysis to assess the macro environment in a structured manner [13]. It is also commonly used in the Delphi context [12], [57] as the framework's categories political, economical, socio-cultural, and technological dimension cover a wide range of crucial aspects [11]. ...
... Environmental scanning is conceptualised as a process that organisations adopt to monitor their environment with the determination of identifying the exploitable opportunities and avoidable threats that serve as constraints to their business with the intention of making informed decisions. Aguilar (1967) as cited by Zhang, Majid and Foo (2011) is arguable the first classical scholar to have carried out a research on the study of environmental scanning. He defined environmental scanning as the process through which organisations acquire facts and figures about the incidents and relationships in their external environment that enables the managers to perform their tasks of decision-making effectively for improved organisational performance (Zhang, Majid & Foo, 2011;Enemuo & Apkan, 2017). ...
... Several techniques have been suggested and used by previous researchers for conducting environmental scanning. They include techniques such as undirected viewing, conditioned viewing, informal searching, and formal searching (Aguilar, 1967). Morrison, Renfro, and Boucher (1984) disentangled the environmental scanning techniques to either passive or active environmental scanning while Fahey, King, and Narayanan (1981) as well as Babatunde and Adebisi (2012) viewed environmental scanning methods as irregular, periodic, and continuous. ...
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ABSTRACT Pharmaceutical firms in Nigeria face a difficult operating environment. In view of this, the need for them to carry out continuous environmental scanning is imperative to remain in operation. Open system theory anchored this quantitative-empirical study, which investigated the effect of environmental scanning on the profitability of pharmaceutical firms in Nigeria using May and Baker Plc as a case study. Secondary data were collected from the annual reports of May and Baker Plc., and the Central Bank of Nigeria within the period of 2010 to 2022. The study established that exchange rate, taxation, exports, inflation, imports, and investment have significant positive effects on the profitability of May and Baker Plc. Economic growth has a significant negative effect on the profitability of May and Baker Plc. Industrial production has a non-significant negative effect on the profitability of May and Baker Plc. Investment and exchange rate volatility have the strongest significant positive effects on the profitability of May and Baker Plc. within the period covered in this study. Continuous environmental scanning by pharmaceutical firms in Nigeria with focus on exchange rate, taxation, exports, inflation, imports, and investment cannot be ignored as they have significantly influenced their performance. Keywords: Environment, environmental scanning, exchange rate, inflation, pharmaceutical firms, profitability.
... The brief review of the general barriers to net zero follows the popular Political, Economic, Social, and Technological (PEST) framework. PEST analysis introduced by (Aguilar, 1967) is a strategic management tool to assess external factors (political, economic, social, and technological) that impact an organization's operations. This framework is selected in this study because it allows for broader analysis of UK government policies, economic conditions, societal trends, and technological advancements that has impacted the net zero roadmap. ...
... Thereafter step 4 -themes reviewing involved a detailed manual review of the components of each theme that emanated from the clustering and topic modelling to ensure that there is a pattern, and no anomalies were discovered. Finally, stage 5 is the theme or topic naming which was conducted in line with the modification of the four themes of the PEST (Aguilar, 1967) framework and a unique labelling that reflects the contents of the groups/clusters. ...
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The construction industry's operations heavily contribute almost half of the UK's carbon emissions and reportedly falling behind in achieving the net zero targets set out by the Paris Agreement. This necessitates a deeper understanding of the main barriers to achieving net zero in the construction industry. As such, this paper aims to gain an understanding of the barriers to procuring and building net zero assets through the lenses of the construction industry and the built environment's interdisciplinary workforces. The study adopted an exploratory qualitative research approach involving the use of semi-structured interviews conducted for 13 professionals working across a range of sectors, different sizes of organisations in the construction industry and built environment with varying levels of experience. The factors and discussions taken from the interview transcriptions were collected and subjected to thematic analysis using the K-Mean clustering learning algorithm and Latent Dirichlet Allocation topic modelling. The analysis produces thirty-two distinct factors clustered/modelled into five themes/topics referred to as barriers to net zero adoption in the UK construction sector. These barriers are financial and economic barriers, technological and expertise challenges, regulatory and policy issues, industry practices and cultural resistance, and supply chain and operational issues. The findings of this research indicated that net-zero construction is usually seen as inherently expensive, with financial budgets often being prioritised ahead of net-zero goals. Thus, financial support and incentives from the government are required to alleviate the high costs associated with net zero technologies, particularly for smaller organizations to drive the adoption of net zero practices.
... Dentro de la primera etapa Entendimiento del Contexto, se realizó un ejercicio reflexivo entre los autores utilizando la identificación de cambios esperados para el futuro, elaborando el árbol de competencias Marc Giget (1989) y enumerando los estereotipos que suelen estar ligados a los servicios de salud para dimensionar el estado actual del sistema estudiado donde se identificaron veintisiete variables divididas en diferentes familias con el potencial de generar cambios macroeconómicos sobre los factores políticos, económicos, sociales, tecnológicos, ambientales y legales (Aguilar, 1967), con lo cual se diseñó una primera ronda Delphi, la cual se envió vía electrónica a doce expertos invitados para la evaluación de los mismos mediante los criterios de la Matriz Pestal (Aguilar, 1967) para evaluar la importancia, tendencia e intensidad de las variables identificadas. ...
... Dentro de la primera etapa Entendimiento del Contexto, se realizó un ejercicio reflexivo entre los autores utilizando la identificación de cambios esperados para el futuro, elaborando el árbol de competencias Marc Giget (1989) y enumerando los estereotipos que suelen estar ligados a los servicios de salud para dimensionar el estado actual del sistema estudiado donde se identificaron veintisiete variables divididas en diferentes familias con el potencial de generar cambios macroeconómicos sobre los factores políticos, económicos, sociales, tecnológicos, ambientales y legales (Aguilar, 1967), con lo cual se diseñó una primera ronda Delphi, la cual se envió vía electrónica a doce expertos invitados para la evaluación de los mismos mediante los criterios de la Matriz Pestal (Aguilar, 1967) para evaluar la importancia, tendencia e intensidad de las variables identificadas. ...
... It can therefore be adapted to the topic being researched. (Schmieder-Ramirez & Mallette, 2007;Saldaña & Mallette, 2017;Aguilar, 1967) In this case, the areas of sustainability, economy, ecology and socio-culture, as well as politics, were chosen. The acronyms of these terms thus result in the ESCEP analysis. ...
... Secondly, the social aspect (Social) classically also considers the cultural sector. (Aguilar, 1967) However, the latter was separated out for important reasons. The effect on social educational opportunities and equal starting opportunities, job opportunities and rural exodus are taken into account. ...
Article
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Confucius is said to have said; Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. This paper attempts to clarify the impact of the tertiary education sector on sustainable development. For this purpose, 10 autonomous European micro-nations, i.e. the 4 so-called microstates Andorra, Monaco, Liechtenstein and San Marino, as well as the autonomous territories of Guernsey, Jersey, the Faroe Islands, Greenland, the Isle of Man and Gibraltar are used. All have an active tertiary education sector. One wonders why these territories, with few human and economic resources, can afford a rather expensive tertiary education sector. What can we learn from this for other comparable regions? The hypothesis to be tested is that the broader and stronger the tertiary education sector is developed, the more sustainably a society's prosperity grows. The ESCEP analysis, a variant of the PESTLE analysis, is used for this purpose. As an acronym, it includes the consideration of sustainability aspects, such aseconomic, social, cultural and economic aspects, as well as the political aspect. The paper concludes with a Conclusion, the bibliography and an annex.
... Adoption factors are important, as the transition towards circular business models must be supported by a variety of organisational capabilities and external factors. With regard to adoption factors, Lewandowski [26] includes the 'PEST factors', which were first described by Aguilar [35]: Political, Economic, Social and Technological factors that could influence business development. The PEST framework was later expanded into the PES-TLE framework by Nandonde et al. [36], with the addition of Legal and Environmental factors. ...
... These uses of by-products fit respectively within the business strategies of repurposing, radical innovation, recycling and organic feedstock. For each business strategy, we superficially analysed the environmental, economic, political, legal and technological adoption factors described by Nandonde et al. [36], the business level based on the building blocks of the BMC and the take-back infrastructure [26,35]; and the sustainability impact of the business models in terms of the positive and negative environmental and financial consequences of the business models' sustainability [44]. This part of the study was intended to generate an initial impression of how the framework could work. ...
Article
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Sustainable approaches in the agricultural sector are important to addressing problems relating to food security and nutrition around the globe. To obviate these problems, it has become crucial to administer methods of farming that are ecologically compatible, holistic and organic in nature. Dutch farmers are moving towards more sustainable and circular production methods to respond to the various challenges, including biodiversity loss and climate change, whilst maintaining a viable business model. To generate further insight into circular and nature-inclusive or nature-positive agricultural business models (CNABM), we describe a conceptual framework that could help farmers, their advisers and, possibly, funding organisations to identify critical success factors for the implementation of circular and nature-inclusive or nature-positive business models in a qualitative way. The framework was built on a synthesis of existing literature and seven empirical case studies drawing on in-depth interviews. Prior to the case studies, the framework was tested through a desk study focused on sugar-beet cultivation. Based on existing literature and the pilot case on sugar-beet cultivation, we found that three conditions are needed in order to identify these critical success factors. (1) It is important to consider the barriers and drivers in the social and physical contexts within which entrepreneurs involved in such business models operate (‘adoption factors’). (2) Sustainable business models should go beyond delivering economic value and include other forms of value for a broader range of stakeholders. Moreover, attention should be paid to strengths and weaknesses of the business model. (3) Traditional business models (e.g. the business model canvas, or BMC) should be extended to include sustainability-related elements (sustainability impact). The framework proved useful for identifying the business models, along with their vulnerabilities and potential opportunities. Although the framework is meant for use with circular and nature-inclusive or nature-positive agricultural business models, it can be applied to other sustainable agricultural business models as well.
... Source: Generated by the author based on Aguilar (1967) PESTLE PESTLE, or PEST analysis, is a strategic framework developed in 1967 by Francis Aguilar, a Harvard professor. It analyses the external macro-environmental factors that can impact an organisation's operations and performance (Aithal, 2017;Lin, 2006). ...
... By conducting the PESTLE analysis, this study identifies opportunities and threats from the external environment and adapts strategies accordingly to position Vital Health Systems for long-term success (Table 1). Aguilar (1967) The most critical factor in using the PESTLE analysis is that Vital Health Systems should devote more attention to political issues, such as government regulations impacting healthcare logistics and disaster response strategies. Similarly, as shown in Table 1, economic factors significantly influence suppliers' stability and pricing of health and safety products. ...
Article
Effective and uninterrupted management of the healthcare supply chain and healthcare system preparedness for natural disasters (e.g., pandemics, earthquakes, forest fires, etc.) is essential to ensure that victims receive critical healthcare services and products with minimal disruption, even in the event of damage to transport and logistics infrastructure as a result of significant disasters. The article examines this issue using the example of Vital Health Systems, a prominent hospital system with multiple facilities across a wide region. The qualitative data for the study was collected through interviews and focus groups with key stakeholders in Vital Health Systems, including supply chain managers, procurement specialists, frontline staff, etc. The quantitative data for the study were based on reports, internal documentation and archival documents, industry reports, market research, government databases. Analysis of the supply chain resilience of Vital Health Systems to natural disasters was carried out using the PESTLE framework, based on which a comprehensive risk reduction strategy was proposed. This strategy, while rooted in theory, is highly practical and feasible, with measures to optimise stocks, creation of alternative transport routes and logistics networks, and use of technological solutions. Organisational and managerial proposals for minimising supply chain disruptions for Vital Health Systems in the event of natural disasters are based on the theory of transformational leadership, Denison’s organisational culture, Levitt’s diamond model, and McKinsey’s theory of strategic horizons. The role of healthcare professionals, supply chain managers, procurement specialists, and researchers in healthcare management and disaster preparedness is crucial in implementing these strategies.
... This framework, used by many researchers, takes into account the Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Environmental and Legal factors affecting an organization under study. PESTEL has been shaped by several researchers as an extension of the original PEST analysis as proposed by Aguilar (1967). The framework makes it possible for organizations to identify and interpret long-term trends in the environment external to them. ...
Thesis
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This study explored the integration of futures studies into business strategy, focusing on the development of a nоvel theoretical framework and computational methods for forecasting future operational environments. Recognizing the critical role of anticipating technological paradigm shifts, as evi-denced by the downfall of companies such as Blockbuster, Palm and Nokia, we proposed a new framework called MLPESTEL or Multilayer PESTEL. The framework combines PESTEL analysis with Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems Theory. This amalgamation aims to provide a more holis-tic understanding of a company's operational environment, extending from macro to micro levels. However, adapting Bronfenbrenner's model, originally focused on children's social development, to a business context presents a unique challenge. Our methodology involved employing advanced AI tools, specifically large language models (LLMs), to analyze and predict changes in various business environments. This approach marks a significant shift from traditional AI applications, which predominantly rely on numerical data, to leveraging LLMs for textual data analysis. Our goal was not to focus on specific companies but to develop and validate generic models applicable across different organizational contexts. By analyzing forecasts for several existing companies, we aimed to validate our model's reliability.
... Popular tools to analyse a business's global and macro environment are stakeholder analysis and the Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Legal, and Environmental (PESTLE) strategic planning tool. Originally developed by Aguilar (1967), the PESTLE strategic planning tool examines the broader macro-environment in which a business operates and over which it has limited control. The PESTLE factors can shape opportunities and pose threats in varying degrees of significance, depending on the type of business (Yüksel, 2012 within an industry and the attractiveness of that market. ...
Thesis
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In the dynamic business landscape characterised by rapid economic fluctuations, technological advancements, and evolving consumer behaviours, Customer Experience Management (CXM)'s role as a key differentiator for sustainable competitive advantage and enhanced financial performance gained widespread recognition (Grønholdt et al., 2015; Klink et al., 2021; Holmlund et al., 2020; Homburg et al., 2017). Despite the acknowledged positive impact of CXM on differentiation and market performance, gaps in the operationalisation and measurement of CXM constructs persisted (Homburg et al., 2017; Lemon & Verhoef, 2016). This research aimed to enhance the CXM construct, deepening understanding of its effects on market and financial performance. Adopting an explanatory quantitative research design, the study surveyed over 174 senior and executive managers and CX practitioners from a broad spectrum of industries, drawn from the Customer Experience Professional Association (CXPA) and Qualtrics XM Institute panel. By applying Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM), it examined essential CXM dimensions—Customer Understanding and Insight, Experience Design, and Performance Metrics & Measurement—to reveal complex relationships and latent variables within the CXM framework. The findings highlighted the collective role of Customer Data Collection (CDC) and Analysis (CDA) in driving CXM differentiation (DIF), indicating these processes alone do not guarantee competitive advantage. It also emphasised the importance of routine innovation in Customer Journey Touchpoints (CJTI) for enhancing CXM differentiation (DIF) and Financial Performance (FP). The indirect relationship between CXM-driven differentiation (DIF) and financial outcomes (FP) was mediated by market performance (MP). The introduction of two empirically validated CXM Maturity Diagnostic Instruments revealed that higher maturity levels in Customer Experience Design and related practices of the Mapping and Innovation of Customer Journey Touchpoints (CJTM and CJTI) significantly influenced market Differentiation (DIF) and Financial Performance (FP). The study advocated integrating CXM into broader business strategies, recommending the Balanced Scorecard framework and a CX-centric Strategy Map prioritising the customer perspective, thus embedding CXM into daily management practices. Through this comprehensive exploration, the research underscored the intricate relationship between essential CXM dimensions and sustained business success, bridging the gap between theoretical insights and their practical applications.
... A common analysis technique for such frameworks is the PESTEL analysis technique. PESTEL is an acronym standing for political, economic, social, technological, environmental, and legal factors in an environment external to an organisation [1]. Tjondronegoro notes that a PESTEL analysis of AI adoption barriers and themes suggests that "Data availability, quality, and structure" fall under the technology rubric [65]. ...
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This paper provides a primer on Large Language Models (LLMs) and identifies their strengths, limitations, applications and research directions. It is intended to be useful to those in academia and industry who are interested in gaining an understanding of the key LLM concepts and technologies, and in utilising this knowledge in both day to day tasks and in more complex scenarios where this technology can enhance current practices and processes.
... Driving forces are external factors that will shape future dynamics in unpredictable ways (Alizadeh et al. 2016). When developing scenarios, these driving forces can be clustered into a structured framework such as political, economic, social, and technological (PEST) drivers (Aguilar 1967). Recently, additional dimensions have been added including legal and environmental (PESTLE), as well as ethical considerations (STEEPLE). ...
Article
In a modern world faced by increasing uncertainty and crises, the importance of scenarios to inform the strategic decision-making processes of governments and corporations has become paramount. This necessitates that those scenarios are rigorous and of high quality. A challenge is that research articulating how to classify and ensure the quality of a scenario is not prolific. This paper addresses this challenge by developing a framework of criteria for assessing scenario quality based on the futures and foresight literature and then using this to offer a new method for specifically assessing the quality of scenarios in the context of crisis management. The Scenario Quality Assessment Method infuses both the critical thinking and creativity required to develop quality scenarios. The method was empirically verified with scholars and practitioners in the industry to determine inter-rater reliability before its intended use in the analysis of a data set for a scenario planning research project in the context of crisis management. This paper contributes theoretically to future and foresight research by including the concept of creativity when assessing the quality of scenarios and offers practitioners in crisis management an effective technique to assess the quality of their own scenarios.
... A process of modelling the relevant country context for all cases has been developed using PESTEL analysis as the grouping framework for the selected variables. This framework was originally called PEST analysis (Aguilar, 1967) and was widely used in the strategic management knowledge field to understand the determinant variables of a specific environment or context. The acronym PEST stands for the initial letters of the analyzed dimensions: political, economic, social, and technological. ...
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Three different interoperable social protection information systems (SIIS) in Türkiye, Rajasthan (India) and Ghana, emerging on top of its respective government-as-a-platform (GaaP) ecosystems were analyzed in terms of their structure and their relationships with their respective relevant national contexts. The contexts were modelled using variables selected for their global availability and their relevance to digital social protection within the framework of the six PESTEL dimensions. The structures were analyzed by developing a harmonized understanding of a SIIS on top of a GaaP ecosystem. Finally, 21 theoretical propositions are presented as a result of the analysis of relationships of influence between specific contextual variables: strengths / weaknesses and specific observed variables in the government-as-a-platform (GaaP) ecosystem and the interoperable social protection information system (SIIS).
... This finding aligns with a wide range of studies that emphasize the value of environmental scanning in strategic decision-making. Research suggests that SMEs that actively engage in environmental scanning are better positioned to anticipate changes in their external environment and respond effectively (Aguilar, 1967;Choo, 2001). In emerging markets, where rapid changes in economic conditions, customer preferences, and regulatory landscapes are common, the ability to detect early signals of change through environmental scanning can provide SMEs with a strategic advantage. ...
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This study examines the strategic management practices adopted by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in emerging markets and their impact on organizational performance through a comprehensive literature review. SMEs play a crucial role in economic development, especially in emerging markets, where they drive innovation, employment, and growth. However, their ability to sustain competitive advantage often depends on the effectiveness of their strategic management practices. This research aims to identify the strategic management practices that most significantly influence organizational performance and to analyze the contextual factors that affect their adoption and effectiveness in SMEs within emerging markets. By systematically reviewing existing academic literature, the study synthesizes findings on key practices such as strategic planning, environmental scanning, and adaptive capabilities, highlighting their role in enhancing organizational performance. The review also identifies external factors, such as market volatility, regulatory challenges, and resource limitations, that constrain the effectiveness of these practices. The study provides practical recommendations for SME managers to optimize their strategic management processes and offers insights for policymakers to create supportive environments for SME growth in emerging markets.
... 1 An extension of the ETPS framework by Aguilar (1967). 2 Opposite to trends, weak signals are seemingly insignificant events that hold the potential to shape the future (Kamppinen et al., 2002, as translated in Holopainen & Toivonen, 2012. ...
... Analisis risiko, di sisi lain, membantu manajer dalam mengidentifikasi risiko potensial dan menentukan tindakan mitigasi yang diperlukan untuk mengurangi dampaknya. Menurut Aguilar (1967), analisis PESTEL membantu organisasi untuk mengidentifikasi peluang dan ancaman yang ada di lingkungan eksternal dan menyesuaikan strategi mereka untuk merespons perubahan dalam lingkungan tersebut. Misalnya, perusahaan di sektor energi mungkin harus menyesuaikan strategi mereka berdasarkan regulasi lingkungan yang semakin ketat. ...
Book
Manajemen dan Bisnis merupakan dua aspek yang saling terkait dalam mengelola suatu organisasi atau perusahaan untuk mencapai tujuan yang diinginkan. Manajemen adalah proses merencanakan, mengorganisasi, memimpin, dan mengendalikan sumber daya organisasi, seperti manusia, keuangan, dan informasi, untuk mencapai target yang telah ditetapkan secara efektif dan efisien. Ini melibatkan peran manajer dalam memastikan semua elemen organisasi bekerja harmonis dan sesuai dengan strategi yang dirancang. Sementara itu, bisnis adalah kegiatan atau usaha yang berfokus pada produksi, distribusi, dan penjualan barang atau jasa kepada konsumen dengan tujuan utama menghasilkan keuntungan. Dalam konteks bisnis, manajemen menjadi alat vital untuk mengarahkan operasi, membuat keputusan yang tepat, dan berinovasi guna menghadapi persaingan. Kombinasi yang efektif antara manajemen yang baik dan strategi bisnis yang tepat memungkinkan sebuah organisasi atau perusahaan untuk berkembang, berinovasi, dan bertahan dalam lingkungan pasar yang dinamis serta kompetitif. Buku ini membahas tentang: Bab 1 Konsep Dasar Manajemen Bab 2 Konsep Perencanaan (Planning) Bab 3 Pengorganisasian (Organizing) Bab 4 Kepemimpinan (Leading) Bab 5 Pengendalian (Controlling) Bab 6 Manajemen Sumber Daya Manusia Bab 7 Manajemen Strategis Bab 8 Konsep Dasar Bisnis Bab 9 Lingkungan Bisnis Bab 10 Manajemen Bisnis Bab 11 Keuangan Bisnis Bab 12 Manajemen Operasi Dan Rantai Pasok Bab 13 Tren dan Tantangan Bisnis di Masa Depan
... This adaption was made to better indicate that the analysis will include policies that may come from a range of organisations including, but not exclusively, government departments. PESTEL analysis builds on the ETPS (Economic, Technological, Political and Social) approach, originally conceived by Aguilar (1967), by adding legal and environmental factors (Yüksel, 2012;Yudha et al., 2018). PESTEL is used to examine and track situational factors and to perform both internal and external evaluations of stakeholders and their interactions that may influence an organisation, industry, or sector (Gregorić, 2014;Nicula and Spanu, 2019;Fasa et al., 2023). ...
Article
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Tea is an important global commodity, with important tea-growing regions spanning across South America, Africa, and Asia, and burgeoning smaller-scale and artisanal tea production in the UK and Europe. In each of these regions, the quality and quantity of tea production, with their economic and social consequences, are highly sensitive to variations in the climate on both short-term weather, seasonal and climate change timescales. The provision of tailored climate information in a timely and accessible manner through the development, delivery and use of climate services can help tea-farmers and other relevant stakeholders better understand the impacts of climate variability and climate change on decision-making and a range of adaptive actions. This paper presents an overview of the Tea-CUP project (Co-developing Useful Predictions), a joint initiative between UK and Chinese partners, which aims to develop and implement solutions for improving robust decision-making. Co-production principles are core, ensuring that the resultant climate services are usable and useful; users’ needs are met through close engagement and joint research and decision-making. The paper also reports on the exchange of knowledge and experiences, such as between tea growers in China and the UK, which has resulted from this collaborative work, fostering global knowledge sharing, enriching understanding, and driving innovation by integrating diverse perspectives and expertise from different countries. This is an unintended but valuable side-effect of the collaborative approach taken and highlights the benefits of a highly relational and multidisciplinary approach to climate services development that will inform future work in the field.
... In 1967, Francis Aguilar, a professor at Harvard Business School, coined the term 'environmental scan' to describe the action of observing and gathering data on competing companies and overall market performance in order to improve a company's output and performance. 2 The term environmental scan is frequently defined in the literature as: ...
Article
Objective: The objective of this environmental scan is to synthesize the published, peer-reviewed literature specific to the term ‘environmental scan’ to determine how it is currently being used in health research and to propose some promising practices. Background: Environmental scans are becoming increasingly popular in synthesizing information on emergent topics and describing practice and research scope. Despite the growing use of environmental scans in health research, including nursing and rehabilitation, limited attention is given to methodological best practices. It is essential that we develop knowledge in this area to assist researchers, trainees, healthcare professionals, educators, and decision-makers with the use and reporting of environmental scans. Study design and methods: This environmental scan included a search of four health databases: CINAHL, Embase, MEDLINE, and PsycINFO. We included peer-reviewed studies published between 2000-2024 in English using two key terms, ‘environmental scan’ and ‘health’. Studies were included that described methods used in conducting an environmental scan. Results: We identified 56 studies describing methods for conducting environmental scans. A synthesis of these studies revealed four promising practices: 1) consider environmental/contextual influences, 2) use of multiple data sources and approaches, 3) engage stakeholders to ensure relevance/need and increase uptake, and 4) use of outcomes to address knowledge or service gap to optimise impact. Conclusion: The findings of this environmental scan are among the first to examine methodological studies to determine promising practices for conducting environmental scans across health disciplines. Implications for research, policy, and practice: The findings of this novel environmental scan are beneficial for health professionals, researchers, trainees, educators, and decision-makers in informing research, practice, and policy change What is already known about the topic? The use of environmental scans is becoming increasingly popular in health research, including nursing and rehabilitation. There is a lack of consistency in the use and reporting of environmental scans across health disciplines. What this paper adds This environmental scan is among the first to contribute foundational knowledge and innovation in promising best practices for the conduct of environmental scans in health research. The novel findings will assist in promoting consistency in the use and reporting of environmental scans.
... Rather than trying to adapt Indigenous ways into westernized frameworks, there could instead be space to open dialogues with Indigenous stakeholders, that invite other perspectives and insights into the possibility of foresight. (von Kármán, 1947;Kahn 1960;Gray, 1999), business and corporate strategy (Porter, 1980), systems theory (Checkland, 1981), futurism and futurology (Toffler, 1970), science fiction and speculative fiction (Asimov, 1951), and Environmental Scanning and Trend Analysis (Aguilar, 1967). The private sector has also contributed to the development of the field to inform their long-term strategies (Vecchiato, 2012). ...
... In other words, we do not investigate anthropospheres that have completely collapsed to the point of human extinction or are on the verge of particular turning points that are effectively special occasions of discontinuity in the duration of 1000year civilizational timescales. We break down the problem using the widely applied PEST (political, economic, social, and technological) framework (Aguilar, 1967), which provides four factors that can provide meaningful and important descriptions of future scenarios. Our interest in this study is specifically in understanding the possibility space for Earth's future technosphere, so we further decompose our parameter space into two sets: one focusing on political, economic, and social factors ( §2.1) and another focusing specifically on technology factors ( §2.2). ...
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This study uses methods from futures studies to develop a set of ten self-consistent scenarios for Earth's 1000-year future, which can serve as examples for defining technosignature search strategies. We apply a novel worldbuilding pipeline that evaluates the dimensions of human needs in each scenario as a basis for defining the observable properties of the technosphere. Our scenarios include three with zero-growth stability, two that have collapsed into a stable state, one that oscillates between growth and collapse, and four that continue to grow. Only one scenario includes rapid growth that could lead to interstellar expansion. We examine absorption spectral features for a few scenarios to illustrate that nitrogen dioxide can serve as a technosignature to distinguish between present-day Earth, pre-agricultural Earth, and an industrial 1000-year future Earth. Three of our scenarios are spectrally indistinguishable from pre-agricultural Earth, even though these scenarios include expansive technospheres. Up to nine of these scenarios could represent steady-state examples that could persist for much longer timescales, and it remains possible that short-duration technospheres could be the most abundant. Our scenario set provides the basis for further systematic thinking about technosignature detection as well as for imagining a broad range of possibilities for Earth's future.
... Indeed, anticipatory monitoring was born out of a fundamental need of companies, in general, and family-owned SMEs, in particular, to look far into the future (Chouk and Lesca, 2004). An idea that originated in the army (Aguilar, 1967), like strategy, the concept of anticipatory monitoring is based on the collection of information from the environment capable of providing factual and true knowledge about the future that really awaits the company (Chalus-Sauvannet, 2006). Anticipatory monitoring has the advantages of surveillance cameras, in a turbulent environment, with the aim of watching and monitoring all movements that could be a source of acts likely to disturb the serenity of an environment. ...
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Purpose : In a highly competitive environment, the question of the sustainability of family-owned SMEs has become a major concern for managers and academics. With this in mind, the objective of this research is to identify how anticipations contribute to the sustainability of family-owned SMEs. Design/Approach / Methodology : To do this, a qualitative methodology is used, through semi-structured interviews, with thirty-six actors in the field. Findings : It appears that anticipation as a life-giving force, a catalyst for the future, a vector of sustainability and a tool for good governance helps family-owned SMEs to live for a long time in an uncertain geographical sphere. Practical implications : It implies that SMEs should build their internal system such in a way that they are able to anticipate challenges in order to enhance their organisational sustainability.
... Another approach is to assume that Dx is iterative, as businesses change from the inside out. For this process to occur, the business must engage in activity over its life course that allows for self-assessment of its needs and its environment (Aguilar, 1967). As monitoring or assessment processes take place, senior leaders constantly evaluate the strategies in need of change or the business areas that no longer support the objectives or continuity of the business, as described by Drucker (1994). ...
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In the current climate of economic uncertainty and social unrest, biopharmaceutical (biopharma) companies face the challenges of changes in consumer behavior, cyber threats, and technological advancement. At the same time, their top priorities are global market growth, strengthening R&D, and undergoing digital transformation (Dx). Given these developments, biopharma organizations must choose a Dx framework as they engage in the digital transformation of their businesses in this high-stakes environment. However, there are significant problems with existing Dx frameworks. Most models are generalized frameworks designed to sell consulting services, while some focus either on the enterprise or the manufacturing operations, but not both, and emphasize technology over strategies to address patient needs. However, the biggest problem is that the most commonly used frameworks are high-level models that do not provide guiding pathways for practitioners to follow. This study explores the evolution of the life science industry and explicitly addresses the challenges of adopting effective Dx frameworks in the biopharma manufacturing sector. Using a design science research (DSR) approach combined with Kumar's (2012) seven modes of the design innovation process, the study leverages existing research to determine the critical dimensions of any Dx process. After cross-referencing up-to-date research, the study offers a novel DSR Dx framework covering both the enterprise and manufacturing landscapes to provide IT leaders with a series of tools to assist in their Dx process.
... PESTLE is an analytical tool that was first introduced in 1967 by Francis Aguilar, an American scholar specializing in strategic planning [18]. PESTLE stands for six factors. ...
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A significant number of first-generation offshore wind turbines (OWTs) have either reached or are approaching the end of their operational lifespan and need to be upgraded or replaced with more modern units. In response to this concern, governments, regulatory bodies and industries have initiated the development of effective end-of-life (EOL) management strategies for offshore wind infrastructure. Lifetime extension is a relatively new concept that has recently gained significant attention within the offshore wind energy community. Extending the service lifetime of OWTs can yield many benefits, such as reduced capital cost, increased return on investment (ROI), improved overall energy output, and reduced toxic gas emissions. Nevertheless, it is important to identify and prepare for the challenges that may limit the full exploitation of the potential for OWT lifetime extension projects. The objective of this paper is to present a detailed PESTLE analysis to evaluate the various political, economic, sociological, technological, legal, and environmental challenges that must be overcome to successfully implement lifetime extension projects in the offshore wind energy sector. We propose a decision framework for extending the lifetime of OWTs, involving the degradation mechanisms and failure modes of components, remaining useful life estimation processes, safety and structural integrity assessments, economic and environmental evaluations, and the selection of lifetime extension technologies among remanufacturing, retrofitting, and reconditioning. Finally, we outline some of the opportunities that lifetime extension can offer for the wind energy industry to foster a more circular and sustainable economy in the future.
... The guidance for making high-quality PESTEL analysis is offered in the following points: 1. Brainstorming ideas, consulting and gathering opinions, 2. Researching information for each area in the framework, 3. Evaluation of the size of the impact and refining ideas, [12]. In the past, authors saw the biggest advantages of the mentioned analysis as having enough information about potential opportunities and threats and understanding external trends, [13]. Nowadays, it is a valuable tool in decision-making, even in wide and complicated areas, such as the healthcare system, [14], [15]. ...
Article
The negative effects of fossil fuels use on the environment and their non-renewability force economists to think about other options and ways of obtaining energy, on the one hand, from sources that are quickly renewable and, on the other hand, from those that during the process of obtaining energy do not cause excessive environmental pollution. The importance of the circular economy as a new direction of economic development is increasingly contributing to sustainable development. The diversification and expansion of economic activities are considered through biofuel production to be an effective way of increasing the share of renewable sources in solving the world's ecological problems. For governments to guarantee clean home energy access, biogas energy must be produced and used sustainably. The production of biogas from biomass has various economic effects that can significantly support sustainable development objectives. Strategic planning, cooperation, and innovation are required to optimize these economic gains to overcome governmental and regulatory difficulties, market dynamics, technological restrictions, and budgetary restraints. Market risks—classified as political, economic, social, technological, legal, and environmental (PESTLE)—impact this. To determine the PESTLE restrictions and evaluate their effects on the sustainable development of technology in the EU, this study reviews peer-reviewed literature. The Pestel method is used to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats because the market is subject to constant changes and is characterized by dynamics. PESTEL analysis can detect new opportunities in the biofuels market that a company can use for its growth and overtake potential competition in strategic steps.
... Perlu diketahui bahwa walaupun BMC merupakan salah satu alat untuk pemetaan model bisnis yang paling populer, BMC sendiri tetap memilki beberapa kekurangan seperti misalnya BMC tidak mempertimbangkan pengaruh dari faktor eksternal. Untuk mengatasi kekurangan tersebut, kegiatan PkM selanjutnya dapat membuat mempertimbangkan untuk menggabungkan BMC dengan analisis PESTEL [27] yang sering digunakan untuk menganalisis faktor-faktor eksternal seperti politik, ekonomi, sosial, teknologi, lingkungan, maupun hukum yang mungkin bisa mempengaruhi model bisnis. Pengembangan artefak kartu untuk PESTEL analisis juga merupakan kegiatan PkM yang menarik untuk dilakukan. ...
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Kegiatan Pengabdian kepada Masyarakat (PkM) ini bertujuan untuk memberikan pendampingan kepada Badan Pengurus Cabang Himpunan Pengusaha Muda Indonesia Bantul (BPC HIPMI Bantul) dalam mengembangkan artefak kartu yang dapat dimanfaatkan dalam proses pemetaan model bisnis melalui business model canvas (BMC). Salah satu permasalahan yang dihadapi BPC HIPMI Bantul adalah kurangnya literasi bisnis yang membuat proses pemetaan dengan BMC maupun upaya untuk berinovasi menjadi kurang maksimal. Dengan menggunakan metode design science research methodology, artefak kartu dikembangkan, didemonstrasikan dan dievaluasi manfaatnya melalui dua workshop BMC. Berdasarkan hasil evaluasi yang didapatkan workshop, artefak kartu yang dikembangkan melalui PkM ini memiliki peran positif dalam membantu proses pemetaan model bisnis BMC menjadi lebih terarah, mudah, dan menarik. Artefak kartu juga diyakini dapat meningkatkan kreatifitas, kemampuan berpikir kritis, dan pada saat yang sama, juga mampu meningkatkan literasi bisnis peserta. Pengembangan artefak kartu menjadi kontribusi utama yang menjadikan kegiatan PkM ini berbeda dibandingkan dengan program-program PkM sebelumnya di bidang pemetaan model bisnis yang hanya berfokus pada pelatihan ataupun implementasi BMC.
... The drivers were then ranked in ascending order of frequency and categorised using the PESTLE analysis approach (political, economic, social, technological, legal, and environmental). Professor Francis Aguilar is credited with creating the ETPS analysis in 1967 [34]. This strategic tool helps identify the key external factors influencing an organisation and can be applied across various scenarios to assist professionals and senior managers in making strategic decisions. ...
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With the rapid pace of global urbanisation, construction demolition waste (CDW) constitutes roughly 36% of the total solid waste deposited in landfill sites worldwide, thereby posing a significant challenge to the sustainability of the construction industry. To address this issue, circular economy strategies are proposed as a solution. This paper systematically analyses 55 research articles published in leading peer-reviewed English-language scholarly journals over the past decade. It aims to identify and categorise drivers for enhanced CDW management by synthesising findings from previous research to support the principles of a circular economy. Utilising a PESTLE model for classification and analysis provides valuable insights into disparities and distinctions among categories, regions, and countries. The resulting analysis yields valuable insights into enablers and trends, with the aim of making a substantial contribution to mitigating the impact of construction activities and thus fostering the establishment of an efficient circular economy within the sector.
... Almost all methods applied in daily practice to analyse and assess risk(s), independently of their nature, have been conceptualised and created in the last thirty years of the past century. Amongst the most known and widely used, one can chronologically find the Failure Mode, Effects and Criticality Analysis (FMECA) (MIL-P-1629(MIL-P- , 1949, the Delphi Method (DM) (Dalkey and Helmer, 1963;Woudenberg, 1991), the Preliminary Hazard Analysis (PHA) method (MIL-S-38130, 1963;MIL-STD-882, 2012), the Fault Tree Analysis (FTA) method (Haasl, 1965;Hauptmanns, 1988;Watson, 1961), the Political, Economic, Social, and Technological (PEST) method (Aguilar, 1967), the Strength, Weaknesses, Opportunity and Threats (SWOT) method (Andrews, 1971;Porter, 1980;Porter, 1985), the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) method (Bourland, 1993), the Hazard and Operability (HAZOP) method (Lawley, 1974;CIS&HCCIA, 1977), The Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) method (Boustead, 1972;Hannon, 1972;Sundstrom, 1973;Boustead, 1974), the Event Tree Analysis (ETA) (WASH-1400-MR, 1975, the Bow-Tie Method (BTM) (Gill, 1979), the Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Environmental, and Legal (PESTEL) method (Fahey and Narayanan, 1986), the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) method (Saaty, 1980;Saaty, 1987), Ecological Footprint (EF) method (Wackernagel and Rees, 1996), and the Cross-Impact Analysis (CIA) method (Glenn & Gordon, 2009). All these methods have the common traits of 1) requiring the analyst to manually create scenarios and/or 2) being static. ...
... Environmental analysis is the process of seeking and collecting information on events, trends and changes external to the firm that will guide its future course of action [29]. It is relevant then the type of information being analysed. ...
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This article identifies the opportunities and threats perceived by winery managers in the new general environment after to Covid-19. The sample comprised 66 wineries located in the Canary Islands (Spain), whose managers answered a questionnaire. This region has a long wine tradition and it has been re-developed and reborn via quality since the 1990s. Rasch analysis and its Differential Item Functioning (DIF) were used to process the information as novel competitive analysis tools. The main opportunities found are the islands’ climate, in addition to the social values and lifestyle. The main threats are the unemployment rate and, with less much negative influence, all the restrictions and regulations derived from Covid-19. The only difference considering age and size of wineries is the influence of the climate: wineries that have been active for more than 30 years perceive it even as a greater opportunity, than the youngest ones. The results are useful both for existing wineries and for potential entrepreneurs who want to open a business in this sector to effectively focus their efforts on the existing opportunities.
... Selecting a tool is directly linked to how it is going to be used and the decisions that are needed to be made. Such tools include the following: Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Legal, and Environmental factors (PESTLE) for institutional risk assessment that takes into account major factors surrounding the institution (Aguilar, 1967;Narayanan and Fahey, 1994;Schmieder-Ramirez and Mallette, 2015), Fishbone analysis (Ishikawa diagram) for cause and effect analysis (Ishikawa, 1986), Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) for quantification of risk and severity of failures in a process (International Electrotechnical Commission, 2018), Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats (SWOT) for long-term/strategic planning (Puyt et al., 2023), and, risk matrix (Baybutt, 2015;Elmontsri, 2021) among others. Considering the variation among such tools, a situation may necessitate multiple tools being used at the same time for effective assessment and management of risks. ...
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Introduction: Risk governance is central for the successful and ethical operation of biobanks and the continued social license for being custodians of samples and data. Risks in biobanking are often framed as risks for participants, whereas the biobank’s risks are often considered as technical ones. Risk governance relies on identifying, assessing, mitigating and communicating all risks based on technical and standardized procedures. However, within such processes, biobank staff are often involved tangentially. In this study, the aim has been to conduct a risk mapping exercise bringing biobank staff as key actors into the process, making better sense of emerging structure of biobanks. Methods: Based on the qualitative research method of situational analysis as well as the card-based discussion and stakeholder engagement processes, risk mapping was conducted at the biobank setting as an interactive engagement exercise. The analyzed material comprises mainly of moderated group discussions. Results: The findings from the risk mapping activity are framed through an organismic metaphor: the biobank as a growing, living organism in a changing environment, where trust and sustainability are cross-cutting elements in making sense of the risks. Focusing on the situatedness of the dynamics within biobanking activity highlights the importance of prioritizing relations at the core of risk governance and promoting ethicality in the biobanking process by expanding the repertoire of considered risks. Conclusion: With the organismic metaphor, the research brings the diverse group of biobank staff to the central stage for risk governance, highlighting how accounting for such diversity and interdependencies at the biobank setting is a prerequisite for an adaptive risk governance.
Chapter
This chapter describes the experience of creating four alternative scenarios to 2043 for Mexico City, a project convened by Chilango magazine in 2023 with the aim of opening up a citizen conversation about the impact of everyday decisions on the future. The work sequence, which draws on Joseph Voros’ generic futures model, included the application of the Institute for the Future (IFTF) toolbox, as well as the ideation of four written and illustrated scenarios that occur in different areas of Mexico City, inspired by James Dator’s archetypes. The process brought together faculty and specialists in Design for Tomorrow who graduated from the postgraduate programme at CENTRO (Mexico City), so the narrative is not only about a design process, but also about co-creation.
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In an increasingly interconnected and globalized world, the field of International Management has become essential for understanding how businesses operate across diverse cultural, economic, and regulatory environments. As companies expand beyond national borders, managers face challenges that demand a nuanced understanding of different management practices, cultural sensitivities, and the complexities of operating within various institutional frameworks. This book addresses these challenges by providing a comprehensive guide to the key concepts, theories, and practical insights necessary for effective international management. Designed for a broad audience-including academics, students, and practitioners in management, international business, and organizational studies—it offers a framework supported by empirical studies, making it an indispensable resource for today’s business leaders and scholars.
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This paper examines business environmental imperatives and the sustainable survival of food and beverage firms in developing economies with particular reference to Nigeria. The constraints associated with Food and Beverage sub sector of the economy has resulted in deterioration thereby robbing this unique sector of its unique roles associated with sustainable growth. The business environment is characterized by dynamic variables impacting on this subsector of the economy. The effect becomes severe on its performance and performance is measured in terms of profitability. In recognition of the constraints therefore, this paper therefore serves as a report of investigation of the implications of complex business environmental imperatives on the growth of food and beverage firms. The Ordinary Least Square Technique is adopted in the methodology and the result reveals positive relationship between environmental variables and profitability of the food and beverage firms. The study advocates a conducive business environment between government and stake holders of food and beverage firms capable of enhancing greater productivity and sustainable growth. A negation of this, the paper argues, is capable of jeopardizing the fortunes of this sector. The converse of this holds.
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The significance of information in companies, businesses, and organizations is now widely recognized. Information serves as the foundation from which knowledge and corporate experience are derived. Managers are entrusted with guiding organizations toward their objectives by making informed decisions. As a result, organizations increasingly prioritize access to data and information to gain a competitive edge. While the importance of technology is acknowledged, so too is its complexity. In this chapter, we will explore how a well-informed decision-making process supported by effective information management can serve as a crucial tool for controlling corporate risk.
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In Sub-Saharan Africa, female entrepreneurs are well-represented in the healthcare sector but face significant challenges in accessing financial services. Digital financing technologies have the potential to close this gender-gap. This study aimed to assess the readiness, perspectives and gender disparities in (digital) loan characteristics among Kenyan health Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). We interviewed and surveyed 24 and 410 health SME owners respectively. Additionally, we analyzed real-world loan-history data from 850 health SMEs to compare loan profiles of traditional versus digital loans, with a focus on evaluating gender disparities. The IDIs identified low trust in digital lenders, but the survey results indicate a strong demand for loans among health SMEs, regardless of gender. Their digital infrastructure is well-equipped to support the adoption of digital loans. Health SME owners were more likely to take up a digital loan if they were above 50, prepared to take a risk, had monthly financial needs and a positive perception of digital loans. The loan-history data showed a gender difference in the initial traditional loan amount, with women-owned businesses receiving less, but this gap disappeared for digital loans. We also found that women-owned businesses benefit significantly from digital loans, since over 50% experienced substantial growth over time, indicating an increase in their digital revenues likely associated with these loans. This study shows that there is a financing gap among health SMEs in Kenya and underscore the potential of digital loans to boost financial inclusion in the healthcare sector. Trust in digital lenders remains low, especially among those without direct experience, underscoring the need for better information dissemination to build trust in digital financial products.
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Este artículo presenta el estado del arte como algo más que una simple técnica de investigación. Se trata de una búsqueda de nuevos sentidos, que va más allá del nivel descriptivo de los datos para establecer nuevas relaciones de análisis dentro de las categorías del objeto de estudio en diferentes trabajos de investigación, y proponer nuevos enfoques de investigación y formación. Para ello, se sugiere un nuevo enfoque conceptual sobre el estado del arte, sus orígenes y su definición. Además, se sugiere firmemente que los métodos de investigación alternativos incluyen tres elementos esenciales. Es recomendable avanzar en los campos teóricos y metodológicos del estado del arte, como propuesta para obtener una visión crítica de las estrategias metodológicas del objeto de estudio que promuevan la implicación, la autocrítica y la reflexión dentro de las comunidades educativas.
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This chapter examines the critical diversity and inclusion challenges at VitalTech Health Systems, a leading healthcare provider dealing with significant underrepresentation of African-American and Latino-American employees and women, alongside rising discrimination and sexual harassment complaints. VitalTech has reassessed its strategic objectives, emphasizing a comprehensive Diversity and Inclusion Performance Management Strategy. This includes setting explicit diversity goals for managers, introducing supportive policies, and implementing effective evaluation processes to monitor progress. The chapter discusses the importance of integrating diversity and inclusion into the organization's core ethos to create an inclusive workplace that reflects its diverse client base, ensuring long-term success and ethical commitments. Applying theories of leadership, organizational culture, and change management outlines VitalTech's efforts to foster a workplace that promotes diversity and inclusion, aligning with its broader corporate values and operational goals.
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The advent of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Agenda 2030 ushered in a new way of thinking about the forces that drive change in the business environment. Literature suggests that sustainable development is a megaforce driving change globally and envelops the traditional political, economic, social, technological, and ecological (PESTE) forces approach. This article reframes the external environmental analysis to integrate SDGs into the business strategy of a beverage manufacturing industry. A qualitative design using snowball sampling resulted in semi-structured, face-to-face interviews that were audio recorded. Interviews were held with eight executives, one former executive, and three non-executive staff from four companies of a southern African country’s beverage manufacturing industry. The data exposed some ignorance on sustainable development. Many executives understood the importance of sustainable development without consensus on its exact nature and implementation in the organisational context. Thematic data analysis confirmed the relevance of sustainable development and the need to incorporate it in external environmental analysis. Categorising SDGs into a 5-P framework (people, prosperity, planet, peace, partnerships) and integrating it with the PESTE framework, the study provides a new approach/tool for external environmental analysis. This approach facilitates identification of SDGs that are relevant to business during strategic planning.
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The construction of China’s Xiongan New Area aims to create a smart city characterized by green, low-carbon, intelligent information, livability, business-friendliness, and harmony between humans and nature, with energy Internet services as a crucial foundation. Using macro-environmental (PEST), situational (SWOT) analyses and ANP analysis, this research explores the sustainability of Xiongan’s energy Internet system. The findings reveal that economic factors are particularly significant, with “abundance and easy extraction of resources” being the primary strength (12.25%). The most pronounced weakness is “insufficient integration of the Internet with energy”, a social factor (52.60%). Opportunities are mainly economic, with “strong financial support” as the primary driver (46.58%). Technological barriers, such as “monopolistic practices hindering progress”, are the chief threat (38.73%). This comprehensive analysis forms the basis for proposing targeted sustainable development strategies for Xiongan’s energy Internet system, offering valuable insights for similar initiatives elsewhere.
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