Week 4 Discussion 1

Consider the elements of P.E.S.T. analysis that you learned earlier in the MBA program. These elements include:     Political (Legislative) and Legal Elements (regulatory  environment, market access, technology regulation, zoning restrictions,  industry specific, company specific legislation, anti-trust laws,  insurance/liability requirements, safety regulations, child workforce  protection laws, immigration laws, etc.) Economic Elements (interest rate and equity  market movements, capital liquidity, inflation prospects, exchange rate  movements, workforce availability, discretionary income levels, etc.) Societal Values and Ethics (risk taking  propensity, family dynamics and behavior, cultural “in” behaviors, taboo  activities, media focus, religious behaviors, ethical limitations on  business, etc.) Technology Elements (materials technology  advances, electronics advances, communications advances, infrastructure  access [communication, electricity, etc.], energy advances, etc.)  And an important and too often forgotten element: Demographic Changes (age distribution and trend,  absolute population size and trend, birth and death rates, gender  proportion and trend, ethnic mix and trend, location/mobility and  trends.)