Emerging Theme
The meso environment is the setting between the macro and micro opportunities. It shapes the framework of a business or organisation and can be considered as its infrastructure: policies, standard operating procedures, rules and guidelines.
The meso concept is a difficult one to understand, there is very little research relating to the idea, although I can recommend: Micro-Meso-Macro by: Dopfer, Kurt; Foster, John; Potts, Jason. Journal of Evolutionary Economics, 2004, Vol. 14 Issue 3, p263-279, 17p.
From a practitioner’s point of view, it is fair to say that the meso environment is rarely considered. In reality however, most companies are actually using it. Quality systems or staff hand-books are good examples of the meso. The big question is, “how many companies have considered the impact to the strategic processes when writing these documents”? A good example of where most businesses fail is with their IT policies. Technology has changed so much, yet most corporate organisations have failed to capitalise on the opportunities: social networking can bring a new perspective to the marketing plan but the team is unable to exploit it because of IT restrictions!
So the next time you sit down to write a policy, just think what strategic impact it will have.
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The Macro (Large) Environment – such as the economy, demographics, technology. The Meso (Middle) Environment – such as competitor activity or market activity. The Macro (Small) Environment – such as internal structures, staff development.
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Principles of the MESO analysis
A. Collect relevant data
To better study environmental aspects of the production process, it is necessary to understand the relations between economy and environment (doc 1 – PDF, French). The most pertinent aspects of this relation are highlighted.
In MESO analyses, the industrial sector or urban community studied is seen as a
The meso concept is a difficult one to understand, there is very little research relating to the idea, although I can recommend: Micro-Meso-Macro by: Dopfer, Kurt; Foster, John; Potts, Jason. Journal of Evolutionary Economics, 2004, Vol. 14 Issue 3, p263-279, 17p.
From a practitioner’s point of view, it is fair to say that the meso environment is rarely considered. In reality however, most companies are actually using it. Quality systems or staff hand-books are good examples of the meso. The big question is, “how many companies have considered the impact to the strategic processes when writing these documents”? A good example of where most businesses fail is with their IT policies. Technology has changed so much, yet most corporate organisations have failed to capitalise on the opportunities: social networking can bring a new perspective to the marketing plan but the team is unable to exploit it because of IT restrictions!
So the next time you sit down to write a policy, just think what strategic impact it will have.
-------------------------------------------------
The Macro (Large) Environment – such as the economy, demographics, technology. The Meso (Middle) Environment – such as competitor activity or market activity. The Macro (Small) Environment – such as internal structures, staff development.
-------------------------------------------------
Principles of the MESO analysis
A. Collect relevant data
To better study environmental aspects of the production process, it is necessary to understand the relations between economy and environment (doc 1 – PDF, French). The most pertinent aspects of this relation are highlighted.
In MESO analyses, the industrial sector or urban community studied is seen as a