Trying to make sense of the current business environment can be pretty confusing. The aim of this unit is to introduce you to some of the fundamental features of the Canadian business context. By the end of this unit you should be familiar with: the framework for examining the challenges facing business; the meaning of internal and external forces; current challenges in the Canadian business scene; basic characteristics of the Canadian economic and corporate sector.
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Module 1 - Introduction
This module underscores the need to engage in a systematic examination of the Canadian business context. News reports can present confusing messages regarding the health of the Canadian business sector. You are certainly encouraged to monitor the popular press, but the point raised here is that, we need to begin a serious examination in order to make clearer sense of our business environment.
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Module 2 - Making Sense
of Business and Management
Our learning goals are summarized here. This module summarizes our "game-plan" for all these units - what we will attempt to accomplish through our study. |
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Module 3 - The Internal
Challenges of Business
We will identify the fundamental internal forces that all organizations must successfully manage in order to survive. Those factors include: managing people, managing organizational structure and managing strategy. |
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Module 4 - The External
Challenges of Business
We will identify the fundamental external forces that all organizations must successfully manage in order to survive. Those forces include: economic, political, societal, competitive, technological and global forces. |
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Module 5 - Understanding
The External Forces In The
Canadian Context
We revisit the six external forces framework in order to briefly consider the relevance of these forces to businesses in the Canadian context. |
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Module 6 - The Corporate
Sector
It is useful to briefly consider some defining characteristics of the Canadian business environment in a little more detail, including the level of foreign-ownership, and the degree of industrial concentration which exists. In addition, we will examine the nature of Canadian corporate activity, and identify the "shift" that has occurred in the Canadian economy. |
Now that you have an overview of this unit, you should complete the following:
 | Do the assigned readings |
| Listen to the audio components |
| Make notes |
| Do the progress quiz |
