Environmental Scan
Environmental Scan
Nichole Strack
MGT/498
December 2, 2014
Timothy Fiscus
Environmental Scan
Environmental scanning is the evaluation of external and internal forces that are essential to the strategic planning and future development of the company. By identifying these forces an organization can map out how to create value and sustain a competitive edge in the market. Internal elements that effect an organization include, managers, employees, stakeholders, and the corporate culture of an organization. External factors that influence an organization can include politics, economics, technology, and social changes as well as competitors in the market. Barns and Noble, Apple, and Amazon are three very successful companies, which all have a similar product and through effective strategic planning and environmental scanning, hoping to be the leading provider of e-readers. The business word is ever evolving and changing, there for it is imperative for an organization to continually repeat these processes in order to adapt and stay competitive and successful (Wheelen & Hunger, 2010).
Barnes and Noble
Barns and Noble’s version of the e-reader is the Nook and has come out with a couple versions over the past few years. One of the leaders of e-books, Barns and Noble offers over 1 million book and magazine titles as well as other games and applications. The Nook offers competitive technology that includes a color touch screen and the ability to download content in a matter of seconds. Offered by multiple other distributers such as Sears and Best Buy but the main source is still Barns and Noble. Although one of the first on the market and considerably lower in price than many of its competitors, Nook sales have not produced as expected (About Barnes & Noble, 2013).
Competitive Advantage
Barns and Noble does have some distinct advantages with its Nook product. Within the Barns and Noble Nook library customer cannot only purchase items but have the ability to borrow many
Nichole Strack
MGT/498
December 2, 2014
Timothy Fiscus
Environmental Scan
Environmental scanning is the evaluation of external and internal forces that are essential to the strategic planning and future development of the company. By identifying these forces an organization can map out how to create value and sustain a competitive edge in the market. Internal elements that effect an organization include, managers, employees, stakeholders, and the corporate culture of an organization. External factors that influence an organization can include politics, economics, technology, and social changes as well as competitors in the market. Barns and Noble, Apple, and Amazon are three very successful companies, which all have a similar product and through effective strategic planning and environmental scanning, hoping to be the leading provider of e-readers. The business word is ever evolving and changing, there for it is imperative for an organization to continually repeat these processes in order to adapt and stay competitive and successful (Wheelen & Hunger, 2010).
Barnes and Noble
Barns and Noble’s version of the e-reader is the Nook and has come out with a couple versions over the past few years. One of the leaders of e-books, Barns and Noble offers over 1 million book and magazine titles as well as other games and applications. The Nook offers competitive technology that includes a color touch screen and the ability to download content in a matter of seconds. Offered by multiple other distributers such as Sears and Best Buy but the main source is still Barns and Noble. Although one of the first on the market and considerably lower in price than many of its competitors, Nook sales have not produced as expected (About Barnes & Noble, 2013).
Competitive Advantage
Barns and Noble does have some distinct advantages with its Nook product. Within the Barns and Noble Nook library customer cannot only purchase items but have the ability to borrow many
References: About Barnes & Noble. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.barnesandnoble.com/help/cds2.asp?PID=8184 Amazon.com FAQs. (2012). Retrieved from http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=97664&p=irol-faq#14296 Claburn, T. (2007). Steve Jobs Affirms Apple’s Commitment to Being Green, Retrieved from http://www.informationweek.com/news/199203350 Hot News. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.apple.com/hotnews/ Hunger, J. D., & Wheelen, T. L. (2010). Strategic Management and Business Policy Achieving Sustainability (12th ed.). Retrieved from The University of Phoenix eBook Collection.