Includes index.

*The External Environment. *The Composition of the External Environment. *The Competitive Environment. *Inside Organisations. *Culture and Organisations. *Marketing. *Operations Management. *Finance. *Human Resource Management. *TOWS Analysis. *Stakeholder Analysis. *Managing a Changing Environment. *Future Trends

Based on the belief that organisational context is best understood by first examining the external environment, this introduction to the subject provides the student with a holistic learning experience - combining taught and self-managed elements. The methodological approach fully integrates the acquisition of knowledge with the development of practical, transferable skills. The text is suitable for students taking a level 1 unit on Business Studies courses, such as BA Business Studies and HND Business Studies, and those studying business as part of a degree course.First, the text analyses the external environment and the transactional dependencies between each organisation and its own particular environment. It then examines the elements of the internal environment, resources, structure and culture, and the functions common to all organisations. Always the link is made to the external environment, via the text, case studies and questions. Finally, in the same manner, the methods that organisations may employ for analysing and managing change are examined.