Assessing the external environment: A case study of management practices of a computer services firm.

摘要

This research sought to ascertain "How do managers assess the external environment of the organization?" Further, the relationship between the organization and its environment and the effects of organizational culture on external environment practice were explored by the researcher.;The researcher interviewed the 12 most senior positional managers of a single organization. Additionally, company documents and interviews were compiled to develop a company history as a backdrop for the study. The investigator also developed an independent assessment of the subject organization's external environment to verify the executive group's characterization of the environment. Results from this research revealed the effects of a turbulent external environment on an individual organization and the influence of culture on an organization's ability to assess its environment and act on its discoveries.;The research indicated that the executives of the subject organization employed a few elementary quantitative techniques and multiple qualitative approaches to assess the external environment. The study suggested improvements to the organization's assessment practices, communication processes, conflict resolution approaches and coalition building initiatives.