The Business Environment: Themes and Issues, 2nd Edition

Now in a new edition, The Business Environment provides a unique and stimulating introduction to the subject. Outlining the classic “PESTLE” structure in Part One, it goes on to explore such key issues as globalization, sustainability, equal opportunities, and entrepreneurship in Part Two. Employing a highly engaging and accessible writing style, the authors integrate coherent themes throughout the text, helping students to gain a holistic understanding of the business environment. They also introduce students to critical thinking with “Stop and Think” boxes.

FEATURES OF THE SECOND EDITION:

• Incorporates a large percentage of updated case and illustrative content, including material on the 2008 global financial crisis and its implications for the business environment
• Includes a new chapter (12) on equal business opportunities and restructures the rest of the chapters for greater consistency and accessibility
• Adopts an extremely student-friendly approach that includes a wide range of pedagogical features, an accessible writing style, and an attractive layout
• An extensive Companion Website includes numerous resources for students and instructors (click link at upper right)

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Introduction: ‘business’ and its ‘environments’

PART ONE: Environments
Chapter 2 The economic environment
Chapter 3 The technological environment
Chapter 4 The political environment
Chapter 5 The legal environment
Chapter 6 The social and cultural environment

PART TWO: Issues
Chapter 7 Keeping the economy stable
Chapter 8 Globalization of business: Good or bad?
Chapter 9 Can the marketplace be ethical? Corporate responsibility
Chapter 10 Global warming, pollution, resource depletion and sustainable development: Is business the problem, and can it be part of the solution?
Chapter 11 Does business have too much power?
Chapter 12 Are opportunities in business equal?
Chapter 13 European business: a deepening or widening Union?
Chapter 14 The changing public sector: becoming more ‘business-like’?
Chapter 15 Entrepreneurship and enterprise: national drivers of economic performance?
Chapter 16 Conclusion: themes and issues— looking ahead