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uk

External Influences
Technology and Changing Social Attitudes

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http://www.bized.co.uk

External Influences
New Technology:
New business opportunities Creation of substitutes Opening up of new markets Technical progress in foreign countries Productivity Ways of working Communication Cost of investment versus return
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http://www.bized.co.uk

External Influences
New business opportunities:
Within the same industry? (Core business) Totally new markets/opportunities Amount of investment needed Market research do consumers need the product?

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External Influences
e.g. Canon core business, optical technologies:
cameras, photocopiers, scanners, projectors, calculators, binoculars, digital cameras, printers, projectors

New markets Discmans? DVD players? Flat Screen TVs? Plasma TVs? Risk versus gain

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External Influences
Threats:
Cheaper alternatives from abroad CFC technology, bio-technology, computer and micro-processor technology (especially China?) Rivals producing substitutes PS2, X-Box and Game Cube

How to react?
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External Influences
Working practices:
Technology and productivity impact on workers, morale, motivation? Implications for old plants (e.g. Longbridge versus Sunderland? Flexible working working from home, hot desking, mobile computing (wireless networks) video-conferencing

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External Influences
Communication:
Faster? More efficient? if so why have some firms banned the use of e-mail at work for any purpose? Impact on motivation, morale and worker attitudes To what extent does the message get through?
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http://www.bized.co.uk

External Influences
Changing Social Attitudes:
Social class changing socioeconomic groupings Links with behaviour and demand (e.g. growing number of pensioners; those who smoke or drink certain types of alcohol) Changing tastes concern for green production, attitudes to fur, wine versus beer, vegetarians (long term or short term?) Changing lifestyles convenience and fast foods, use of freezers, use of cars, amount of leisure time and how it is used, etc.

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External Influences
Changing income structures
Distribution of income Regional distribution of income Impact of government taxation on disposable incomes Relative income elasticity of demand for different goods and services

Copyright 2007 Biz/ed