When managing an enterprise, it is important to consider not only internal variables, but also those that represent the external environment of the organization. They also affect the failure of managers at all levels to make decisions that enhance the efficiency of the company.
The external environment of the organization is those events and factors that are not dependent on its activities, but have a serious impact on it.
There are various classifications, for example, factors are divided into direct and indirect, but I would like to dwell in more detail on 10 sectors that are of interest in domestic practice.
1. Industry, or production.
In this sector, many elements are reflected, for example, competition, interaction with related industries, characteristic of the volume of activity of the enterprise, characteristic of competitive products.
2. Raw materials
It refers to suppliers, manufacturers of related industries, the real estate market.
Any company is interested in possessing sufficiently complete information about suppliers, for this, appropriate services are established and certain positions are introduced (procurement manager).
3. Human resources
The external environment of the organization is also a supplier of specialists for a particular enterprise. For example, universities, colleges enter into agreements with companies, according to which graduates can take an internship and subsequently get a permanent job.
4. Financial resources
The most prominent representatives of this sector are the banking system, stock exchanges, financial and credit institutions, and the system of private investors. As you know, many enterprises attract borrowed funds to form their resource base and ensure normal life, for which they turn to commercial banks or investors.
5. Technology
Scientific and technological progress, research, electronic commerce, information technology - all this is the external environment of the organization. Management does not reinvent the wheel, everyone knows that any enterprise seeks to maximize profits, but also to ensure that the products are the most competitive. To this end, fundamental research is being carried out for which appropriate services are being established in companies.
6. Market
The market is represented by consumers and users of goods and services. The external environment of the organization in Russian practice focuses only on the former.
7. Economic conditions
The external environment of the organization affects the activities of enterprises through indicators such as inflation, unemployment in the country, and the level of economic growth. The phase of the economic cycle at which the country is currently located is also of great importance.
8. Government
This sector includes legislative acts, the tax system and various political processes.
9. Socio-cultural sector
Here, various values prevailing in the country are considered, for example, a system of professional ethics, consumer protection and others.
10. The international sector
Exchange rates, competition from foreign companies, the ability to enter the world stage - all this is presented in the tenth sector.
Obviously, each item is divided into indicators by which the external environment of the organization is analyzed. Management offers various methods of analysis, for example, STEP, with the help of which it is possible to evaluate the influence of a single factor on the company's activities.
Thus, it is obvious that the external environment of the organization is an all-encompassing concept. It affects all internal variables, therefore, managers must take into account factors, develop a policy of timely response to certain events occurring "outside".