Small Business and Climate Change

This assignment examines the crucial role of small businesses in addressing climate change. It delves into various aspects, including the impact of small businesses on environmental sustainability, the challenges they face due to climate change, and the potential for their contribution to climate change mitigation and adaptation. The focus is on understanding how small businesses can become agents of positive change in the context of global climate concerns.

SMALL BUSINESS
ENTERPRISE

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
1.1 Strength and weaknesses of selected firm.............................................................................1
1.2 Comparative measures of performance.................................................................................2
TASK 2 ...........................................................................................................................................4
2.1 Recommend with justification appropriate action over the identified..................................4
2.2 Analyse the ways through which existing performance could be strengthened...................5
2.3 Recommend with justification in which company could expand their business..................6
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................7
3.1 Assessment of business objectives and plans .......................................................................7
3.2 Revise business plans to implement appropriate changes.....................................................8
3.3 Prepare action plan to implement the changes......................................................................9
TASK 4..........................................................................................................................................10
4.1 Report on the impact of the proposed changes on the business and its personnel. ...........10
4.2 How the changes will be managed in the business. ...........................................................11
4.3 Monitor Improvement in the performance of business. .....................................................12
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................12
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................13

INTRODUCTION
Small business is the firm which is based on small scale. According to the company
legislation, small business turnover is around £2.8 million. Small business. Small scale
businesses generally have less than 50 employees in the business. In addition, these enterprises
have small amount of capital to be invested in the business. Government of UK tries to motivate
small start-ups to enhance the company performance. It prompts SME (small scale enterprises).
Furthermore, the government provides various facilities such as loans, low regulations, low tax
rates etc. as these small businesses give new opportunities to the economy. Small scale
enterprises are very important to enhance the growth of economy through job opportunities,
product and services etc. It also helps to grow national income. it has opportunity to grow its
business into big level. Small scale firms support the national income and give opportunity to
enhance the growth. Present report is based on small scale businesses. For this report, Softwire
Company limited will be taken under consideration. It is a software based company. Moreover,
the report will cover strength and weaknesses of Softwire technology. Apart from that, it will
focus on changes for betterment.
TASK 1
1.1 Strength and weaknesses of selected firm
Softwire technology is the small-scale company in United Kingdom. It was founded in
1999 on August, 13. Its headquarters are in London and Bristol. Softwire company deals with
three main products: Reservwire, job finder and Web map. On the basis of statistic data, this
company has 58 employees(Ackermann and Audretsch, 2013). The early turnover of Softwire
company is 5 million. It is the excellent it firms in UK. Small scale companies acquire heavy
profit from the market. The main target of this firm is to attract enterprises, service providers,
consumers and medium sized businesses. There are some strength and weaknesses of Softwire
companies as discussed below.
Strengths
 Working environment: Softwire technology have good working environment. Its
employees are the main strength of the company which creates healthy and positive
environment in the firm. However, employees of the company must be talented and skill
full. This is because they help company to accomplish their overall objectives.
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 Research and development: Research and development department of the company is
very different and talented. It creates many of the good services which gives profit to the
firm. Apart from this, it will also discover new technologies and corrective action plans to
accomplish the target in an effective way. R&D department of the cited firm invent new
security solution software for their clients. It helps in retaining the clients and enhancing
the overall sales.
 Brand Image: Softwire technology has good brand image in the competitive market. It
provides the latest technologies and good IT solution products by which customers are
very happy and satisfied(Bartlett, 2015). This activity assists in enhancing the company’s
brand value in the market.
 Small level of organisation gives benefit to focus on each activity.
 Flexible in work and quick follow up action.
Weaknesses
 Competitive Market: Soft wire technology is the small scale company. It has small and
limited resources to compete with the big organisations. Also, small scale company
always face high competition level as mostly, big companies grab the attraction of
customers and minimise the role of small businesses. To overcome from these issues,
Softwire technology needs adoption of the latest technologies and formulation of better
IT solution plans for the clients.
 Limited resources: It has limited number of resources which gives slow output to the
company. In addition, it has limited fund to acquire heavy range of technologies. Small
scale enterprises generally have limited expansion growth in the market.
 It also has limited investing amount to grow the business. Furthermore, the company also
have limited plans and strategies.
1.2 Comparative measures of performance
Comparative measure of performance is the process to identify the actual performance
out of desired performance. It also helps to measure the company’s actual position in the market.
The major rival companies of Softwire are Icreon and DCSL. Rival companies may increase the
pressure on the company. To evaluate those issues and conflicts, company adopt some evaluation
methods as given below(Blackburn, Hart and Wainwright, 2013).
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 Ration Analysis: It is the method to measure the company’s performance. This method
helps in measuring its own performance with the aid of various tools. Company assets
and liabilities are the two tools through which performance will be calculated. Being a
small firm may be company liability is fewer. Apart from that, they try to enhance the
company assets to maintain the performance. Softwire needs adopting better strategies
and business plans to enhance the performance of the company(Burrows, 2015).
Table 1: Liquidity ratio
Year DCSL Software
(£)
Softwire
(£)
2015 6826 6570
2014 6200 6150
2013 5850 5780
2012 5110 5020
2011 4250 4700
 Customer survey: It is another tool of measuring the actual performance of the company
that is through customer feedback. This is the most effective tool to analyse the actual
performance of the company in the customer preference. Apart from that, company also
analyse its own performance with the rival firms as well. It helps company to determine
its own facts and low factors. Through this, company make the best plans and strategies
to compete with the competitors.
Scale: 1 = Lowest
6 = Highest
Year ending 2015 Softwire DCSL Software
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Is Softwire providing good services? 6 5
Are facilities given by Softwire fulfilling your
needs or not?
5 4
Rank the firm 5 4
Business Statement: Business statement is another tool of measuring the actual performance of
the company. It includes company balance sheet, cash flow statement, liability and assets and
loss account(Cassar, Ittner and Cavalluzzo, 2015). Softwire company measures its performance
on the basis of its past data. Its compares their data of past years which helps in measuring the
actual sales revenue of the company.
TASK 2
2.1 Recommend with justification appropriate action over the identified.
Softwire needs adoption of some techno-logic development through which they can
accomplish their target on time. Softwire company is having issue regarding performance. To
overcome from these effects, company need to manage their work on time. Apart from that,
company also make their plans after analysing the power of competitors. Along with this,
company also arrange their resources according to the work. It helps to enhance the performance
of the company. There are some issues which are important for Softwire to be removed
effectively.
Limited Market
Suggestions: Softwire technology has limited store through which customer cannot reach to the
company easily. To increase the sales, company needs to expand their market on the basis of
geographical terms. By opening more stores in new country, company can easily attract more
new customers(Curran and Storey, 2016).
Brand Image:
Suggestions: Softwire company is a small-scale company through which they have limited brand
image and popularity. To enhance the brand image, company need to promote their products
through various promotional activities like advertisement, newspaper, online, etc.
Improper management
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Suggestions: Softwire company has low managerial skills to manage the work properly. To
overcome from these facts, they need to adopt some managerial concepts and skills to enhance
the management position. Managers of the company are not give quality of services to the
customers(Drucker, 2017). Apart from that, they cannot address the query of the client properly.
This may decrease the band quality. To overcome from this issue, company has to train their
employees effectively to manage their work performance. Besides, leaders enable to motivate
employees towards the effective work performance. Softwire needs to trained their leader, so that
they enhance their leadership quality(Edenhofer, 2014).
Investment
Suggestions: Softwire has limited strategies power to make effective investment. To overcome
from these facts, company need to make new effective investment strategies to enhance the profit
revenue.
Technology Development
Suggestions: Company need to enhance their technological development to improve its brand
image and effective performance. Besides this, company should also adopt quality in
technologies and resources to maintain its position in the market.
2.2 Analyse the ways through which existing performance could be strengthened
Being a software development technology, company needs to deal with different
situations as well as customers(Eid and El-Gohary, 2013). The main purpose of the company is
analysing the needs of the clients. Softwire revenue become low due to lack of customer
services. Company environment must be positive and attractive to enhance the company
strengthened and opportunity. There are many ways through which company enhance their
performance effectively. High productivity: Company needs to start the day in effective manner. Employees needs
to be highly motivated from their work. This increase the high productivity in employees
towards the work(Ellis, 2016). Manager of the company has duty to explain the all
business plans among the employees it helps employees to understand in better way. It
gives better performance and maintains the performance level in the company. Promote Brand Image: Company needs to promote their product and services timely. It
gives more power to the company to promote their work in an effective manner.
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Competitors always try to beat the performance by giving high quality of advertisement
to attract customers. Compare its own Performance: It is another tool for making performance better. It is
necessary to evaluate the actual position of the company(Goss, 2015). Softwire needs to
measure its performance on the basis of profit ratio, brand positioning, customer
feedback, sales revenue etc.It helps company to take new further efforts to overcome
from the issues. Measure Individual Performance: It is the another way to measure the actual
performance of the employees. Employees are the most important factor to increase the
value of the company. Manager needs to check the individual efforts towards the work. It
helps to motivate employees towards their works. Sometimes employees performance get
low due to lack of support of manager in that case they feel discomfort. This happens
decrease the performance of employees(Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change,
2014). Manager and leader needs to give proper training skills to employees to enhance
their competency level.
 Increase customer service: Customers are the key factor for the company. It gives profit
revenue and brand name, Customer service is the crucial part for every company. To
enhance the performance company needs to listen the query and requirement of the client
and try to satisfied them. This process increases the image of the company in front of the
clients.
2.3 Recommend with justification in which company could expand their business.
Business expansion plan is the positive approach to enhance the profit revenue. Softwire
needs to make business expansion plans to maintain the position in the market. In many ways in
which company can expand their business and earn enough amount of money(Obeng and
Blundel, 2015).
 Franchise or License: it is the most effective way to expand the company
business. It is the quick way to grow. In this method Softwire company may open
franchise into another country or city. It the gig expansion for the company to
earn more profit revenue. It also helps to enhance brand image of the company
was ell.
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 Strategic Alliance: It is the another way to boom the business growth. Many
companies merge their business with big companies. It is the combination of two
companies. It helps to improve company productivity, market expansion, capital
expansion and operational efficiency. It gives more new opportunities to the
Softwire technology company(Power, 2014).
 New Market Segment: Apart from different ways Softwire also may adopt new
market segment strategy for expansion. It gives new opportunities and growth to
the company. In this process company may give new product and services to their
clients. It helps to attract new customers. This increase the customer faith and
trust towards the company. It also provides other services to maintain its stability
ion the market as long term(Ratten, 2014). Company needs to give different
solution and products to retain existing clients. It also makes healthy relations
with the clients.
 Expand Globally: Softwire also start their business globally. It is the greatest
expansion for the company to enhance business performance. It gives various
opportunity to the company to increase profit revenue.
 Target other Market: Softwire can expand their business by providing new
product range to the customers. For example Softwire also give their service to
big institution. It increases the customer reach and sales revenue. Apart from this,
it may grow business image in the market.
From the above, all methods for expansion is very essential for company
growth in long term. It helps company into many forms like give better environment, future
opportunities, profit revenue, customer attraction etc(Schaper, Volery, Weber, and Gibson,
2014). apart from that it also help to increase the competition level in the market which create
competitive market.
TASK 3
3.1 Assessment of business objectives and plans
Business plans generally contain the methods and strategies of the company is
mentioned. Thorough business venture would achieve success. It includes many important
factors through which company accomplish their objectives and goals. There are different ways
through which Softwire full fill their current business plan successfully.
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 Objectives and aims should be proper:The first way to get success in business plan is
company must be know its target and objectives. Employees must be know what business
plan includes such as purpose, motives, methods etc. it helps employees and other
persons to know its roles and responsibilities towards the target(Storey, 2016). Financial Information: Before implementing the plans' manager needs to analyse the
financial information regarding cash flow, liabilities, assets. It is the important factor to
be consider. Training and development:Softwire needs to give proper training and development
secession to employees for its better performance. It helps to enhance employee
performance to accomplish the organisational objectives(Wheeler and Von Braun, 2013).
It also helps to utilise all resources in effective and efficient manner. Training and
development process enhance the employee competency level and give motivational
power to finish the task. This increase the quality of management. Innovation: Innovation factor is important to increase company image and sustainability
in the competitive market. Softwire needs to adopt some different business plan to
discover new product and services. It increases the customer attraction towards the
company services. For Growth it is necessary for the Softwire to introduce new services
or products.
 Coordination: Employees Coordination between their managers and their subordinated
must be proper and clear. It helps to accomplish the objective in effective way.
Employees coordination gives more quality of services to the customers. It increases the
performance and healthy environment in the company(Obeng and Blundel, 2015 ).
Business plan needs proper attainment of employees and managers. It is the
responsibility of manager to implement the business plans in systematic way Before making any
business plans company needs to analyse past review performance to take corrective action
plans.
3.2 Revise business plans to implement appropriate changes.
Revision of business plans gives more new opportunities to correct measure changes.
External environment is dynamic in nature it is important to modify updated changes in the
business plans according to the customer needs and wants. It helps to determine the actual
requirement in business plans. It helps manager to implement correction active plans to
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accomplish the overall target of the company. Besides, soft wire needs to analyse the external
environment on regular basis(Power, 2014). It helps company to minimize the future
opportunities. Business needs to adopt some strategy foe effective working in the organisation.
Today's market has increase in rapidly to compete with the big organisation Softwire needs to
modify their business plans accordingly. Organisation shall have clear objectives to accomplish
the target on time. Company needs to measure these negative growth.
From the above discussion it was concluded that company has to reduce their weaknesses
and find some new corrective plans to overcome. Company follow these points to minimize its
future risk.
 Company needs to determine regular marketing position accordingly then make changes.
 Company also needs to focus on their product and services on the basis of customer
needs and wants.
 Make business plans on the basis of current trends and technologies.
 Softwire needs to adopt new techniques and strategies to make their business plan more
effective and efficient(Curran, and Storey, 2016).
 Softwire also need to analyse the actual position out of desired position. Apart from this,
company also needs to analyse its competitor position and make modification
accordingly.
 Softwire also needs to adopt training and development session for their employees to
enhance the performance level. It also gives more productivity among employees towards
the growth.
 To give better services Company needs to give quality of services to the customers and
help them if they get stuck at any point. Apart from this, they also provide feedback
services to their customers in case of any query.
Overall business plans is very important to implement the objectives perfectly.
Company needs to motivate their employees to accomplish the overall target. It gives more
flexibility in working. Beside business plan of the company pesticides weather company achieve
profit or not. But on the basis of market changes company needs to modify their plans if it is
required(Bartlett, 2015).
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3.3 Prepare action plan to implement the changes.
Technologies. Innovation and business expansion create heavy competition in the market.
Company make action plan on the basis of changes and modification. Company needs to be
changes oriented and future oriented. Which adopts changes quickly and make better strategies.
Every business model require changes and modification according to the market demand.
Ongoing changes make company more competitive and successful in future times. Besides new
changes may give higher profit to the organisation. Furthermore, Changes comes with the kind of
risk and some discomfort for the employees. But now changes plan should be norm rather than
exception. To overcome from the facts' software needs to make sure some important step given
below.
 Identifying the changes objective: Before making changes company needs to discuss
the plan with other members as well especially with the employees. It gives better flow of
communication with the employees. Besides, clear objective of the change plan gives
more clarity to implement the actual plans. All employees know the purpose of this
change and their responsibilities as well.
 Develop communication Plan: To implement action plan successfully top level
engagement needs to flow this information to the lower level group. It helps to
communicate information perfectly. Explain why this changes are important and needed
for the company(Blackburn, Hart and Wainwright, 2013). It is the responsibility of
manger to communicate with the employees about all particular changes besides,
manager needs to explain the benefits and positive impact of changes. Through which
employees get motivated and accomplish their business action plan in effective way.
Manager needs to explain all other points to the employees like, time frame, progress
updates etc. also encourage department for better performance.
 Remove Implementation Barriers: at the time of implementation of action plan many
risks and hurdles comes into ways. Company needs to remove all such barriers and try to
complete the work on time. At the time of implementation manager needs to make aware
itself about low performance and analysing the individual performance of the company. It
helps to accomplish the target more effectively.
 Develop change plans: It is the after analysing the situation and environment manager
make development plan fort the company. It gives more flexibility in management. It also
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gives better quality of services to the customers according to the needs and wants of the
customers(Drucker, 2017).
TASK 4
4.1 Report on the impact of the proposed changes on the business and its personnel.
Changes are the continuous process in the organisation. It gives many positive and
negative impact on the business activities. It depends on the situation. Changes give positive
impact on long terms as compare to short term changes. Changes always give strength to the
company to face many big challenges. It provides many positive and negative impact on the
business and its personnel.
Positive impacts
 Staying connected: Changes always connect company to the customers and market as
well. Adding to more that, current changes make business environment positive and
fresh. It gives many potential customers to the company growth.
 New Opportunities: To make new changes company get many profitable opportunities
to earn new sales revenue for the company. Employees adopt new changes through which
they get to learn new techniques and methods to enhance their own capabilities. This
opportunity enhance employee productivity through which they get good position in the
company.
 Encouraging innovation: Changes always gives innovation and development plans to
enhance their business opportunities. New services of Softwire technology may attract
number of customers towards the company(Eid and El-Gohary, 2013).
Negative Impact
 Mental Stress: New changes sometimes give heavy stress to the employees. Changes are
uncertain it depends on the market position. When changes occurred some employees
doesn't feel comfort and happy. In the business organisation there are many levels
through which stress has come between the employees.
 Loss of Loyalty: Sometimes company decrease the employees' salary due to having high
cost involvement in the company. At that time employees will not find other option for
work.
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4.2 How the changes will be managed in the business.
In order to implement new changes in the organisation. Softwire needs to understand
change management. Change management can ensure the organisation management for better
performance. Changes is very important to mange the business in systematic form. Changes
gives new business opportunities and growth for organisation development. Kurt Lewis's model
of resistance of change is very effective to implement the changing plan, As given below.
 Unfreezing: In this process people have resistance level. In this first step of process
company need to explain benefits of changes to the employees. It also explains the
requirement of new changes. It helps employees to aspects the new changes in the
organisation. Softwire needs to adopt some training and development programs for
employees. Besides, they also need to adopt promotional activities to promote the
activities(Goss, 2015).
 Transform: In this next process company implement the plan to accomplish the
objectives. In this situation employees feel discomfort and feel fear against new changes.
Manager needs to motivate and guide employees to enhance the employee productivity
 Refreezing: In the final stage after implementation manager has responsibility to control
the action pans and monitor the activities perfectly.
4.3 Monitor Improvement in the performance of business.
Monitoring is the most important process to accomplish the overall task of the
organisation. This monitoring process helps Softwire to adopt corrective action plan. This
increase the better environment in the company. Along with that, it gives new idea and plans
through which company perform better. Besides, monitoring process helps to determine the
actual performance out of desired performance. Successful organisation require regular
monitoring process in the company it gives new way of doing the work. Monitoring process also
helps to analyse the financial performance to manage the work properly. Adding to more
monitoring process measure the individual performance of the employees towards the
organisation goals. How much serious they are. It gives information about talented employees
name who perform excellent in the company(Obeng and Blundel, 2015). Manager needs to give
some benefits and promotion benefits to those employees. Monitoring process is the positive
process to implement the plans successful. It helps to make quality of management which attracts
number of customers.
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CONCLUSION
From the above report it concluded that small scale businesses have big opportunity for
growth. Besides, it has limited and insufficient resources to adopt high technologies. Limited
market and low managerial skills is the big issue in Softwire. Softwire needs to adopt some more
techniques to maintain its position in the market. It concluded the model of Kurt Lewis's which
helps company to implement changes perfectly. Softwire also needs to expand their business into
new level to get success in long term. Apart from that, this report also covers the positive and
negative impacts of changes which gives opportunity and threats as well.
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