Contemporary Developments in Business and Management

This document discusses the impact of external business environmental factors on organizational work and activities, and the significance of corporate social responsibility and sustainability in the chosen organization. It provides a brief overview of the primary external influences and analyzes their influence on the organization. The document also evaluates the effectiveness of the organizational response and suggests areas of improvement to remain competitive in the marketplace.

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Contemporary Developments
in Business and Management

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Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................................................2
MAIN BODY........................................................................................................................................2
Brief overview of the primary external influences.............................................................................2
TASK 2.................................................................................................................................................6
CONCLUSION...................................................................................................................................11
REFERENCES....................................................................................................................................12

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INTRODUCTION
The contemporary business world is very much competitive as today consumers are
very much demanding, to remain competitive it is important to access the consumers’ needs
and wants in potential manner. Now a days the interface of both the internal and external
factors or environment directly contributes in organisational development and enhancement
for achieving the desirable outcomes (Zin and Ibrahim, 2020). Organisations mostly
influenced by the internal environment and generally remain less influenced by the external
business environment. To remain always competitive, it is very much potential to conduct the
through research and development as it provides the through knowledge and information that
directly contributes in consumer purchasing decisions. Respective report is based on the
Parcelforce Worldwide which is the UK’s Largest private shopping service delivery
organisation as it render the more than one millions Parcels a day across the 34 European
nations and it is direct competitor of the delivery brands such as DHL, FedEx and UPS.
Respective report is based on the impact of external business environmental factors on the
organisation work and activities with evaluation the organisational position and response
against it. It also includes the analyse the significance of corporate social responsibility and
sustainability and way it influence the policies and decision making in the chosen

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organisation. Further it includes the critical evaluation of the effectiveness of organisational
response and various areas of improvement to remain always competitive in marketplace.
MAIN BODY
Brief overview of the primary external influences.
External influences are the business factors that may have little or no control over that
incudes political, economic, social, technology and many more factors that directly influence
the business works and activities in effective manner. In context of Parcelforce Worldwide
which is one of leading organisation in sector of courier services at the broad level influenced
by the external business environment that is uncontrollable in nature. Here are the description
of external business environment of respective organisation and its influence on its business
activities.
Political factors Political environment is very much important for the
organisation as observance of respective environment
firm can track its business environment (Waugh,
2019). By using it they can change in political factors
that directly affect the business strategy as stability of
political system directly influence the apparel of
specified local market. In context of Parcelforce
Worldwide as it deals in the UK marketplace that is
dynamic in nature. In political factors consist of
government regimes, taxation, regulations on entry
and exit and many more. It has been analyzed that
understand the political factor is very much important
as it directly influence the organisational work and
activities. In that regard it is very important to build
strategies and tactics in potential manner. It has been
evaluated that in context of Parcelforce Worldwide
due to advent of Brexit that largely impact the
business and related activities. Brexit lowering down
the purchasing capabilities of consumers that directly
influence the profitability of organisation. Further it

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also creates hurdle in recruiting and selecting the
talented personnel within the organisation that not
only affect level of profitability but also sustainability
in adverse manner. In that regards it is very much
potential for the organisation to take proper steps and
strategies to overcome from the respective influence
of political factor.
Economic factors Economic factor is very much significant for the
organisation, as it helps to determine the success or
failure of business (Tahir and et.al., 2019). It has been
analyze that for an organisation it is very much
important to analyze the economic factors. UK is the
5th highest GDP in the world, second in the Europe
only to Germany the characteristic of respective
market proved very much beneficial for Parcelforce
proved very much beneficial in achieving profitability
and sustainability in order to remain competitive
market.
On the other hand, it enables to access the
unemployment rate if it is high then business can
obtain the labour at cheaper cost in effective manner.
In economic factors consist of interest rate, taxation
and unemployment rate and many more. Respective
factors play very much important role in determining
the works and activities of organisation in potential
manner. In context of Parcelforce Worldwide as they
deal in UK due to rise in tax rate organisation may
encounter the fluctuations in their profitability that is
hazardous for organisation.
Social factors In social factors consist of change in taste and
preferences of consumers, it is the accountability of
organisation to continuously access the business
environment that assist in serving consumers in one of
best manner (Steccolini, 2019). Social factors proved

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very much beneficial for organisation as it directly
enhances the value and competitiveness in the
business environment by brining products that are
very much rare and unique in nature. It has been
analysed that consumers are demanded acute accuracy
and cost effectiveness in delivery of services in
effective manner. So it is very much potential for
Parcelforce Worldwide to evaluate the continuous
changes in taste and preferences of consumers to serve
them in best possible manner.
Technological factors In technological factors consist of using the advance
kind of tools and technology for producing and
serving consumers in one of best manner. the another
important factors that found in the UK economy is
quality innovation skill, effective laws related with
intellectual property and many more. With the help of
respective technological advancement in the market
organisation can that not only enhance their
profitability and sustainability into the wider
marketplace.
It is very much potential for organisation to use one of
advance tools as it directly contributes in amending
the consumers experience in potential manner. In
context of Parcelforce Worldwide they by using
online services that assist to reach at large no. of
consumers with tracking packages by using GPS as it
provides accuracy and effectiveness in outputs
(Nawaz, Syed and Dharejo, 2019.. By using advance
technology organisation can be able to reach at large
no. of consumers by identifying their potential needs
and demands in positive manner.
Environmental factor In environmental factors consist of the regimes for
saving the surroundings, various kinds of practices
and legal sections for protecting the environment. In

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context of Parcelforce force Worldwide they are very
much aware and concerned about the surroundings
and use various kinds of campaign for serving
consumers in one of best manner. By using the
environmental protection activities respective
organisation can be able to build distinctive image in
the market to remain competitive. It is one of leading
provider of guaranteed express deliveries by
complying vision to become the UK’s one of trusted
carrier services. (Moritz and et.al 2020)They are very
much concerned about the responsibilities towards
environment protection and committed towards the
compliances to aligned with the Royal Mail group
policies in order to remain competitive in
marketplace. respective organisation continue to
maintain the environmental management system in all
their sites that are affiliated with the ISO14001
standards to achieve the best outcomes. By using
respective attribute organisation can be able to build
the loyalty and perception to remain competitive in
marketplace.
Legal factor In legal factors consist of the various kinds of
practices and legislation that plays very much
important role within the organisation to direct their
works and activities in right direction for achieving
desirable outcomes. In context of Parcelforce
Worldwide they avail various kinds of HR practices
such as Equal wages for equal work, empowerment to
women and employee protection at workplace and
many more. By using respective factors organisation
should be able to build a distinctive trust in employees
as it directly contributes in their profitability and
sustainability. It has been evaluated that the UK
market is very much concerned for the legal

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regulations such as discrimination law, copyright law
and health & safety law that create coordination and
maintenance in organisational activities in achieving
the potential outcomes.
From the above analysis it has been evaluated that for an organisation external
business environment plays very much important role as it provides direction to move and
build strategies to remain competitive in marketplace (Mayne and et.al., 2020). In context of
Parcelforce Worldwide they by using respective factors such as political environment builds
strong relationship with other nation and enlarge business opportunities in potential manner.
Further by using the economic factors organisation coordinate own expenditures and set
prioritize for targeting tasks and duties in respective direction.
TASK 2
Theme: Corporate social responsibility and sustainability:
Sustainability is the one of comprehensive approach related to management of the
organisational works and activities that helps to focus on the building and framing the long
term economic, social and environmental values to remain competitive in business
environment. On other hand sustainability is the accountability from the side of organisation
for the impact that exerts from their side on the environment, business and social terms. The
concerned environment by using sustainability translates into lower cost, amend external
relations and for managing risk in potential manner (Parcelforce Worldwide, 2020).
Sustainability get aware people about the surrounded stakeholders and build positive work
relationship within the people based on the engagement and dialogue to remain competitive
in business environment.
Before demonstrating the CSR activities and its relevant for the organisation it is very much
important to focus on the approaches of CSR that are as follows:
Traditionally organizations existed for the sole purpose that is earning profitability but in
competitive world to attract the consumers organisations required to invest in the CSR
activities (Majid and Mahmud, 2019). There are three approaches of CSR that are:
Corporate social responsibility: The CSR has the two broad meaning as general show
emphasizes both on the responsibility to make money and to interact in ethical manner. The

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second one is of that responsibility to profit by working for society welfare. There are
majorly the four obligations that comprised in respective approach that is the economic
responsibility, legal responsibility, philanthropic and ethical responsibility. In today’s world
organisation paid attention on every aspect for remain competitive in business environment.
In context of Parcelforce Worldwide they take huge interest in CSR activities as it build
distinctive image in marketplace.
Triple bottom line: Respective form of CSR depicts about the leaders of corporate that
tabulate the bottom-line results not only in form of economic but also in terms of organisation
effects for gaining desirable outcomes (Leonidou and Hultman, 2019). It focusses on the
economic sustainability, social responsibility and free trade movement that is very much
potential for an individual in gaining the desirable outcomes. In it taken proper regimes for
environment also plays very much important role as it contributes in gaining resources for
producing the products and services and serving to the end users.
Stakeholder theory: In respective approach of CSR consist of the actions of organisation to
evaluate the effects from their products, services and their activities on the environment and
consumers (Harmon, 2019). It is duty of organisation to understand the ethical obligation in
respective situation so that they can be able to deal with every kind of situation in positive
manner. For an example while an industry produces the industrial waste then respective
approach states that owner need to dispatch the waste safely before it proved harmful for
environment, animals and vegetation. In that regards it is accountability of an organisation to
firstly conduct the through analysis in regards of their business activities and people and
factors get affected by it.
In context of Parcelforce worldwide one of leading organisation of courier and other
services closely pay attention on various aspects related with CSR that helps to protect the
self interest of people in positive manner.
Analyse relevance of corporate social responsibility and sustainability to Parcelforce
Worldwide and how it influences policies and decision-making.
Parcelforce Worldwide is one of leading organization in the UK market as it provides
the guaranteed fast delivery of information and goods. They work on the vision to become the
most trusted brand at worldwidelevel of courier services. To remain always competitive
constantly pay attention on the CSR activities and sustainability for achieving the
environmental compliance by using the business activities. Actions of respective organization

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directly associated with the environment and committed towards the minimization of adverse
impact of surroundings. They constantly maintain the environmental management system at
their all websites that are committed towards the ISO14001 standard (Boella and Goss-
Turner, 2019). It has been analysing that they use various kinds of CSR activities that directly
engage their consumers with the organisational products and services and influence on their
purchasing decisions positively. By taking the environmental and responsibilities of
community very seriously. By using the comprehensive programme of various actions, they
should be able to lessen the adverse impact of environment by using the third-partyinitiatives.
Conducting the business in ethical manner consist of the protecting the environment and
work for safety of people, assist to human rights and engage learning from them, respect the
culture of community in which organisation work. By using respective practices of CSR and
sustainability directly influence the Parcelforce worldwide such as in respective of
environment they only use eco friendly products and services. Provides equal opportunities to
all employees as it come under their human right and provide workplace protection so that
pleasantly contribute one of their best efforts. They respect all people by not discriminating
on basis of religion, caste, creed and culture of people. Respective kind of organisation work
on the high context culture in which all people treated equally and smooth communication
should be used, and all people work in collaborative manner for achieving the organisational
goals and objectives in potential manner.By using respective practices Parcelforce reap
various kinds of advantages that are as follows:
By using sustainability approach Parcelforce worldwide can be able to identify the spheres
that provides organisation a long-term value to achieve growth and sustainability in the
business world (Benders, van Grinsven and Ingvaldsen, 2019). Parcelforce worldwide by
approaching CSR activities and by taking sustainable initiatives can be able to save cost and
deliver services to end user in effective manner. In their unique range of delivery of product
and redelivery options designed and supported as they think is the best first-time delivery
performance in the UK express in carrier industry. It is significant for them to reduce the
number of parcels in the second delivery chance as it directly consumes less fuel. In that
regards their all efforts help to protect the environment and build distinctive image in the
mind of consumers. In addition to proves beneficial in effective kind of economic, social and
environmental risk management, as it is very important for an organisation to predict the risk
factors and build strategies to neglect them significantly. In context of Parcelforce worldwide

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while economic challenges come across with the help of effective kind of CSR and
sustainability organisation can be able to remain ineffective from them.
They invest in buildings that installed smart gas and electricity meters for evaluating the
usage and evaluation of major areas for improvement and enables to tracking the energy
reduction initiatives (Bakytgul, Ahmed and Kim, 2019). All respective activities that are
hugely found in respective organisation plays very much important role in building the
distinctive image in the marketplace. Due to huge investment in CSR activities employees
and consumers remain always optimistic for organisation and their business activities.
Further respective organisation put focus on the training, recycling and waste management
that is important kind of factors for organisation in protection of environment and build a
distinctive image in the marketplace. By investing in training programs by taking assistance
from the side of MPG improvements targets play the important role in organisational
development and sustainability.
Hence all respective factors directly influence the organisational policies and decision
making in potential manner.
Critically evaluate the effectiveness of the organization’sresponse.
For an organisation it has been very much potential to engage oneself in various CSR
activities and sustainability as it is demand of today’s competitive world. While an
organisation adopt the various modes of CSR activities it directly influence on their
organisation growth and development in both the positive and negative manner:
In their CSR and sustainability practices consisted the vehicles as they have over 1100 eco
start delivery vans that not only saves cost and respective kinds of Van’s also lower down the
carbon emissions. All the initiatives directly influence the Policies of the organisation and
they positively respond against it (Amankwah-Amoah and Wang, 2019). They trailed the
electric and hybrid vehicles to ensure the responsible express carrier. Respective change in
their policies proved beneficial as it build distinctive image in the marketplace as well as
helps in consumer purchasing decision in positive manner. On other hand it takes too much
cost for maintenance and required huge investment.
Implying the HR practices: In context of Parcelforce Worldwide to maintain the positive
work environment and bring attention of employees organisational CSR activities they bring
change in their HR practices. They implied the equality act, protection at the workplace and

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equal wages and many other regimes that directly influence the working of employees and
the enhance their level of motivation in positive manner. The major benefit of respective HR
practices that organisation can be able to direct the efforts of employees in definite direction
that enhance their productivity and retention within the organisation. But on other hand
sometimes it creates chaos in the organisation as respective organisation operates in different
nations so managing various kinds of HR practices create misunderstanding and hinders
organisational self interest in gaining desirable outcomes.
Change in culture: Culture in the organisation plays very much important role, by using the
high context culture organisation can be able to direct the employees works and efforts in the
definite direction (Ahmed, 2019). It helps them to engage with the organisational goals and
objectives by assigning roles and responsibilities in potential manner. In context of
Parcelforce Worldwide by using organized communication channel and structure of
organisation with flexibility in working directly contributes in motivation and development of
employees. Respective organisation provides smart remuneration and other kinds of benefits
to their employees and on continuous basis training should be provided to them that not only
proved beneficial for organisation but also for organisational development in potential
manner. But due to change in culture sometimes it create problem in front of people that they
not easily ready to accept changes as it bring uncertainty in their heart. So sometimes changes
take too much time and cost for effectively implementation of changes in organisation for
involved each and every employee in respective process.
Hence it can be stated that for an organisation changes plays very much important role
and people have to prepare for it as it enhance their value. Without change organisation can
not survive for long time in business environment.
Demonstrate some areas for improvement in the response of the organization.
CSR activates and sustainability is very crucial for organisation and this will
lead to have positive impact on organisation and its activities. Parcelforce worldwide is a
well-established company that is conducting different corporate social responsibility for
benefits of society. This will lead to impact on various areas of improvement in organisation
and assist in attaining desired goals of organisation. areas of improvement in context of
Parcelforce worldwide organisation is mention below.
Profitability of organisation – This company will be able to increase its profits by
conducting different CSR activities. Through these activities Parcelforce worldwide will be

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able to provide information about its products and services in market area and it will lead to
attract more and more customers towards business (Ahmed and Ogalo, 2019). CSR activities
and sustainability is considered to be beneficial in creating awareness about company and its
product to potential market area. This will assist in increase sale of respective company and
have positive impact on its profitability.
Performance of employees – By considering CSR activities and sustainability in
organisation, respective company is able to develop and create positive working environment.
This is useful in increasing the level of employee’s performance. This company is focusing in
benefits of employees through this CSR activities and ethical consideration assist in
motivating staff member of respective company. Through this performance of employee’s
area will be improved as worker will be using their full potential and capability to conduct
business task.
Enhance brand image – CSR activities will lead to have significant impact on brand
image of Parcelforce worldwide organisation. this area will be improved with the benefits of
corporate social activities and welfare of society (Ackermann, Bock and Bürger, 2020). It is
helpful in developing strong relationship with company and customers will be attracted
towards to products and services offered by respective organisation. Brand image and value
of Parcelforce worldwide company will be improved in market area.
CONCLUSION
From the above report it has been concluded that for an organisation it is very much
important to understand or evaluate the business environment as it is one of most significant
factor that directly affects business works and activities in direct manner. In business
environment internal and external factors consisted which influence purchasing decisions of
consumers. It is accountability of organisation to always work for building the positive
experience of consumers as they are one of most valuable assets of organisation. In today’s
business environment corporate social responsibility is very much important as it contribute
in build the positive perception in mind of consumers and provide sustainability in business
environment. So putting some efforts in terms of money and time for the welfare of society is
very much important to gain competitive edge.

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Online:
Parcelforce Worldwide, 2020. [Online]. Available through.
<https://www.parcelforce.com/about-parcelforce-worldwide/our-environmental-
programme>.