Challenges and complexities of the global business environment: A case study of Sasol

This presentation explores the challenges and complexities of the global business environment through a case study of Sasol, a merged chemical and energy company based in South Africa. It covers PESTLE analysis, key driving factors of globalization, and impacts of digital technology on globalization. The presentation also discusses the global challenges faced by the organization and provides recommendations to overcome them.

GLOBAL
BUSINESS
ENVIRONMENT

TABLE OF CONTENT
 Introduction
 PESTLE analysis
 Key driving factors of globalization
 Impacts of digital technology over globalization

INTRODUCTION
 Globalization is described as the growth of interdependence of the economies,
populations and cultures of the world, brought by trade of goods and services, across
the borders.
 Sasol is a merged, chemical and energy company which is based in South Africa. It was
formed in the 1950s and today is dealing in developing and commercializing
technologies including production of various kind of liquid fuels, electricity, chemicals,
and synthetic fuels.
 This presentation will be composed of all the details of the company Sasol by critically
evaluating the challenges and complexities of the environment.

PESTLE ANALYSIS
 Political factors
 Economic factors
 Social factors
 Technological factors
 Legal factors
 Environmental factors

KEY DRIVING FACTORS OF
GLOBALIZATION
 Digital revolution
 Social cultural happenings
 International integration
 Financial liberalism
 Economies of scale
 Intense competition

IMPACTS OF DIGITAL
TECHNOLOGIES ON GLOBALIZATION
 Advanced technologies directly help to reduce the cost of the communication
and transportation across the globe and also facilitates sourcing of the raw
materials.
 This has facilitated the business to take place whenever and at whatever time,
making the scope of doing business even wider than before.

GLOBAL CHALLENGES FACED BY THE
ORGANIZATION
 Embryonic supply chains – It refers to the rudimentary
stage of product supply to international dealers where in
the suppliers have an incomplete knowledge of
industrial practices.
 Challenging global economy – the process of
globalization is fraught with economic instability that
affects the capital investment and financial regulations
of the chemical and energy companies like Sasol among
others.
 Dynamic decision making – it comprises the problem
of the evolutionary changes in the decision making
process that interferes with the solution-focused
approach of the organization.

RECOMMENDATIONS TO OVERCOME SUCH
CHALLENGES
 Training & development – the future oriented growth
strategies of Sasol can be comprehended in the form of
an evaluative analysis of the rudimentary knowledge
base of the suppliers by conducting training sessions
either in-person or through teleconferencing.
 New economic models – in order to maintain a strong
global presence, the organization needs to stabilize its
financial and economic stronghold by reshaping its
purpose driven international business strategies.
 Globally oriented decisions – the indecisiveness that
arises out of internationally diverse market platforms can
be converted into resolute decisions by emphasizing on
the long-term goals.

REFERENCES
 Alonso, E. and Vieira, L.N., 2020. The impact of technology on the role of the
translator in globalized production workflows. In The Routledge Handbook of
Translation and Globalization (pp. 391-405). Routledge.
 Boso, N., and et.al., 2019. The internationalization of African firms: Opportunities,
challenges, and risks. Thunderbird International Business Review. 61(1). pp.5-12.
 Dube, K., and et.al., 2021. Conclusion and recommendations: challenges and
opportunities in SDGs localisation and implementation. Sustainable Development
Goals for Society Vol. 1. pp.277-289