This module contains the following units:

2 The external Environment

This unit includes the study of the organizational environment to pinpoint environmental factors that can significantly influence operations. It will train the managers to understand what is happening both inside and outside their organization and how to integrate the environment in the strategies developed. In order to perform an environmental analysis, managers must understand how organizational environments are structured. The course will include contextual and transactual environment, Porters 5 forces model, Industry structure and strategic groups model. Competitive or technological threats are highlighted.

3 The internal Environment

The SME's strengths and weaknesses and areas of specialization are analyzed. Financial, strategic and operational factors and resources are considered and adequacy of cost is calculated. The opportunities open to the SME are diagnosed and its growth potential assessed. The critical information - business structure and operations, company history, major products and services, key skills, knowledge and abilities and executive biographies is updated. The SME's Strategy is checked of adequacy and is benchmarked in comparison with competitors. Finally a very short overview of motivation and leadership strategies is given.