Business Environment

2. Introduction

The purpose of this report is to assess the attractiveness of the industry sector, the discussion of the strategic position and how the business environment is likely to affect the organisation over the next two years.

2.1. What is the Business Environment

Business Environment is the combination of internal and external factors that influence a company's operating situation. According to Palmer and Hartley (2009 p4) “…an environment can be defined as everything that surrounds the system”, It includes all the factors that affect a company's operation that includes customers, competitors, suppliers and distributors. Business environment focuses at what affects the business, the external influences and internal influences of a business.

2.2. Background of Marks and Spencer

Marks and Spencer, also known as M&S group is a (PLC)- Public Limited Company, one of UK's biggest companies that specialises in the selling of clothing and luxury food products. “Marks & Spencer is among the top 6 UK retailers. It operates over 300 stores in the UK and is present abroad, in 29 countries. Its international operations consist mainly of franchises but it also owns a number of stores in Hong Kong”. (Marks and Spencer 2012)

2.3. Reason for Report

The report is aimed at looking at how Marks and Spencer has transformed potential threats into strengths and opportunities which is analysed through a PESTEL analysis, GDP- recession and the Porter's Forces analysis and many more effects. This statement is supported by Johnson, Scholes, and Whittington (2008 p54) who state that “The environment is what gives organisations their means of survival. In the private sector, satisfied customers are what keep an organisation