How has today's business environment changed from that of 10-20 years ago??
79121
Competition in most fields not heavily regulated by the government is much higher.\n\nIn many cases, managment didn't adapt, and those businesses shrank or were bought.
951111
This is such a big area that it is senseless to even try addressing it! You need to specify the area of business communications that you are interested in, and also the time frame with which you are working... is it over the next year, next decade, or is it looking at trends over the last century?\n\nYour business report will be worthless if it is not focused!
1078466
In one word, I think 'reality' would be the main reason.\n\nAs the fervour grew in the late 90's for tech stocks, everyone believed that the 'new paradigm' for business would change everything. Market share was more important than profits ... eyeballs more important than income ... making a huge loss was ok if there were profits forecasted for the future ... any business doing anything online was 'exciting' ... etc etc.\n\nThen reality started to dawn on investors, venture capitalists, business owners and managers that the old ways of business needed to apply to the web. The internet was and is not immune. \n\nHuge speculation is just that. Huge speculation. The massive market valuations were based on many strange ideas and the companies could not operate in the way that the market needed - profitably.\n\nI believe that reality arrived.
1005171
The work environment for everyone in every country is not about local competition anymore.  People are competing for their local openings with others from around the world.  There is no more working for a lifetime for the same company.  The bottom line has made sure of that.
620994
I'm not sure what your homework answer is supposed to be, but the primary changes that occurred were the expansion of consumer credit and television advertising.\n\nTV ads made products more visible to large numbers of people (consumers) and credit allowed people to buy more than they could otherwise.
524616
I think the IT market in the US is doing very well.  It seems like there are more opportunities now than there was 6 months ago.  \n\nI've been in IT for 16 years.  It's not as good as it was back in the mid to late 90's, but it's better than it has been in the last year or so.\n\nI'm sure there are some areas that are more popular than the rest.  You might look at publications like ComputerWorld to see what they think are the hot IT markets. \n\nScott....
284351
The baby boomer generation reaching retirement will drastically change the overall look of the US.  As they have with every station in life they have reached. (ie... Education, Housing, Childcare, Employment) So... if you look at what is required NOW by seniors... believe that these industries will EXPLODE in the next 5-10 years as the Baby Boomers reach full retirement.\n\nWe also have to keep in mind that as we grow older, we are also now living longer... many of these "boomers" are still quite active and are looking for change.  Given that the majority of them will be able to collect social securtiy at age 65-68... many may be looking for part-time supplimental income, travel, housing, health and wellness, recreational activities.\n\nAs a society we should be prepared for the change that will occur when the over 60 become the majority population.  Many believe that this generation will bankrupt social security and put a tremendous strain on our health care system.\n\nPersonally, I am working to finance my own retirement.  I wouldn't want to get caught unprepared as so many of todays baby boomers are. (many have counted on large pensions from companies they have worked for for years...many such companies are not able to afford such pensions.)\n\nI love reading on this subject and there are some wonderful ideas and philosophies out there... contact me through my 360 page if you would like more info or to discuss this further.
378621
Our technology and communications is changing at a rapid rate.\n\nThink about the fact that when I was 3 years old, we had a black and white TV, a rotary dial telephone, a washing machine, an oven and a refrigerator.  We had a car and a truck.  I grew up on a farm.\n\nMy grandparents did not have TV, they had radio.  They had no cars.  \n\nMy first grade teacher graduated college - called normal school - in 1919.  Her father made saddles for a living.  When she started teaching, there were only a few cars on the road.\n\nOur society is changing because we are changing.  How many people do you know who make their living on a farm?\n\nIn 1996 how many people had personal computers?  How many people do not have them now?  Ten years ago, a computer was not a necessity in a home.  We haven't even touched on TV, satellites, and all of the choices available in how we use them.
822764
agree with you as the best times I remember were family orientated. seems as though modern society in having to make a living has taken over
1187190
I believe there are 4 factors involved.\n\n1) People are generally more incompetent today. I used to manage a custom metal fabrication shop and I couldn't believe what basic concepts people don't know. 40 years ago people in this industry had to do everything by hand so they needed to know more about how things worked. Now they just stand in front of a machine and push a button. The more we stop learning from experience (i.e. too much weight on one side of the see-saw keeps the other side from going down) and rely on observation (TV, etc) the worst we are going to get at applying useful information to new situations.\n\n2) Tying in with number one, people put too much emphasis on a sheep skin (degree). I know one guy who has a degree in business and another guy with a degree in engineering. They both own businesses but the one with the business degree is a better engineer and the opposite is true of the other guy. People learn better when they have to learn something in order to put food on the table. When someone has a degree in a certain area they tend to stop learning in that area because they think, "I have already learned it all.", even when what they learned doesn't actually apply to what is happening.\n\n3) Managers do not know how to manage people. That is their job. They are supposed to help you do your job, NOT try to do your job for you. They best managers are the ones who let their employees do what they know how to do.\n\n4) Companies are looking to spend less. I have found over time that the value of having a knowledgeable person in a position is hard to justify to the bean counters. Instead of having a purchasing agent that knows what he is ordering and what type of service they are getting, companies put a glorified Secretary in the position, who simply orders the numbers and goes with the lowest price.\n\nAs for starting your own business, you are going to go from having stupid bosses to having stupid employees.\n\nHopefully you will eventually find a place where everything comes together for you.
1064759
As much as modern organizations would like to think things have changed, in reality the organizational pyramid is alive and well, with the workers on the bottome, supervisors in the middle, and managers on top.  While there is some cross functional work meaning managers doing tasks(remember the typing pool and "take a letter" days) the vast majority of decision making regarding the goals of the organization, future outlook, rules and regulations, are still done by upper management.  Organizatons tout the idea that "it's their people that make the difference" yet in reality, "their people" are no better than anyone else's people.  For all the hoopla about pushing decision making to the people closet to the work, for cross functional teaming, for empowering the worker, look around and see if that is really occurring where you work.  Modern Times still makes us laugh because not much has changed and the modern worker can relate to it, just as the worker 70 years ago did.
149737
pet businesses are always popular. people go crazy with pet stuff.\n\nanything medical care based is now and will be big for a long time. aging population will need nursing and home care services. maybe a temp agency for nursing and medical people.
1027278
What type of business?
278482
ERP was huge in 2000.  I don't know if it's still huge in 2006 -- you might have missed the boat.  I'd do some serious research on what's hot today before making a decision like this, but then again, remember to keep your actual skill set fairly broad so you don't get pigeonholed.\n\nGood luck!
190351
Well that is a tricky question, because do you mean environmental like related to the planet or environmental as in a company's surroundings.\n\nEnvironmentally, all natural occurances affect business.  For example, snow could shut down a distribution center for a company in Florida, limiting the arrival of a new product.  But on the counterside, it increases business for a snow lodge, which is a positive effect, but one none the less.\n\nAs for surroundings, look at Porter's Five Forces.  Everything affects business, legal issues  consumer trends, new technology, all have an effect on how business runs.
820503
things change...thats just how it is
464594
1. Globalisation. \n   \nNo longer can management think in the box. Focus is on the world much more than localities.\n\n2. Information Superhighway.\n\nThe World Wide Web has changed the way we market. Various options will need to be looked at before money is committed to any form of marketting.\n\n3. Delivery\n\nShipping used to be easy. With the world as your market, logistics have to be in place to meet these needs.\n\n4. International Laws\n\nThe boderless world however necessitates that we know and appreciate international laws which can affect us.\n\n5. Foreign Currency.\n\nHedging, Conversions, exchange rates etc all these are key to operating in the changing world .