UNL1002 Business Environment: Pets at Home Group PLC Analysis

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the business environment of Pets at Home Group PLC, a British pet supplies retailer. It assesses the effects of technological change on the company, highlighting its impact on operating costs, information security, employee productivity, and communication. The report also evaluates the influence of business ethics and corporate social responsibility (CSR) on the organization, focusing on strengthening the economy, increasing the customer base, maintaining public relations, and providing a competitive edge. Furthermore, the analysis explores the factors influencing the company's decision-making processes, such as return on investment, resource utilization, the political environment, information and communication technology (ICT), and adherence to ethical standards and CSR principles. The report concludes by emphasizing the positive impact of these factors on Pets at Home Group PLC's overall performance and brand image. Desklib offers a wealth of similar resources, including past papers and solved assignments, to support students in their studies.

PETS AT HOME
GROUP PLC
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Contents
Contents...........................................................................................................................................2
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
Assess the effects of technological change on the company and its overall technology strategy
as a source of competitive advantage..........................................................................................3
Assess the impact of business ethics and corporate social responsibility (CSR) on modern
business organisations.................................................................................................................5
Assess what influences the businesses when making decisions and the impact this has on the
company.......................................................................................................................................6
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9
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INTRODUCTION
Business environment is the collection of internal and external factors that arises all around
and affected business. To start and running business it is important to conduct environment
analysis that can help to know which factor is impacting business positively and negatively.
Similarly, business environment involves customers, stakeholders, suppliers, industry trends, and
government activities that support a business and can create challenges. Companies are making
the use of new technology such as ICT for the purpose of running their business and attaining
competitive advantages by managing all functions as well as activities (Aras, 2016). To
understand about this, Pets at Home Group PLC has been taken that is British pet supplies
retailer selling pet products considering food, toys, medication, bedding, accessories and pets.
This company was founded in 1991 by Anthony Preston and beginning a chain of 140 stores
under Pets at Home branding. The management of such organization plays important role by
analysing environment and making right business decision that can help to operate the business
regularly. The report going to cover effect of technological change on the company, impact of
business ethics and corporate social responsibility and influence the business while making
decision.
Assess the effects of technological change on the company and its overall technology strategy as
a source of competitive advantage.
Technology is an important factor and aspect used by the company to introduce something
new and make tasks easier. If an organization wants to operate its business regularly then it has
to focus on technological changes that impact positively on the organization. The marketing
management is required to have proper knowledge and understanding about the market to know
what people want and how they could be satisfied. Technology has revolutionized the way an
industry conduct business by managing small businesses activities. The meaning of technological
change is an increase in the efficiency and effectiveness of products, processes, and services for
increasing organizational productivity. Pets at Home Group PLC is UK based company that
supplies pets at retail prices and their products which can help to operate their business
effectively (Benkert, 2020). The organization is using new technology by creating websites,
getting online orders, supplying pets, and selling pet products online as well as the offline
methods that impacted positively on business organizations and support to increase
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organizational productivity. The effect of technological change on the company is defined
below:
Impact on operating cost – To start any business and managing function there is a need to
have focused on the operational cost that uses to arrange sources and develop business activities.
The use of technology can help to reduce business costs. For instance, Pets at Home Group PLC
is using software with the help of new technology that supports to development of operational
activities. Thus the system is used to keep records of its daily buying, selling, and other activities
that relate to business (Cui, Jo, and Na, 2018).
Securing sensitive information – In starting a business there are different information
concerning business that should be secure and safe that can help to manage a business effective
effectively. Pets at Home Group PLC is using technology and software programs for maintaining
a user-friendly environment and keeping secure all information. This affects business in the right
way and supports increasing organizational performance.
Increase employee productivity – Business software and computer program allow
employees to develop their skills and information by working regularly and helping to achieve
business goals. About Pets at Home Group PLC, employees work continuously by using
computer programs and technology that makes perfect and provide future opportunities
(Drempetic, Klein, and Zwergel, 2020).
Improved communication process – To understand changing environment and demands of
customer’s communication is important that become easier with the use of technological
advancement. Pets at Home Group PLC is using e-mail, social media, and digital marketing for
the purpose of maintaining the right communication. This impacts effectively on the organization
by increasing sales and productivity (Franceschelli, Santoro, and Candelo, 2018).
Technology strategy as competitive advantages
To improve the way of distributing the pets and their related products by using new
technology could be an opportunity for Pets at Home Group PLC to operate its business and
distribute the products which can help to attain competitive advantages. To offer pets and
products at the retail process and maintaining proper records with the help of new technology is
also an opportunity that is used to manage all business functions and accomplish business goals
(Freudenreich, Lüdeke-Freund, and Schaltegger, 2020).
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Assess the impact of business ethics and corporate social responsibility (CSR) on modern
business organisations.
Business Ethics is the study of appropriate business policies and practices that are used by
business concerns in order to run their business systematically. This is important for management
and employer to follow all business ethics and practices which could support the development of
organizational performance. It has been seen that many problems arise while running a business
where ethics are followed to manage all functions and activities. There are different problems
that arise in a different organization but problems that arise in the technology industry are
completely different. It is important for companies to maintain standards and transparency for
ethics and suitability in their organization. The technology industry has a unique position as it
has the ability for redefining different ways of conducting business and it also provides a
position related to different challenges that occur in an industry. Pets at Home Group PLC is the
following business ethics by managing all business activities, receiving orders, supplying pets,
and distributing the pet food ethically. The management focused on the ethical principle that
helps to stop from doing anything wrong (Fu, Tang, and Chen, 2020).
Corporate social responsibility is the self-regulating business framework used by business
concerns to make a business socially responsible and accountable for its functions and activities.
As the environment is changing day by day where it became important for companies to
understand and participate in CSR activities as it supports to develop the organizational
productivity as well as brand image. Assess what influences the businesses when making
decisions and the impact this has on the company. Pets at Home Group PLC is following the
corporate social responsibility practices where it assures society that the organization is
providing the best quality of products and services. This also contributes a fixed percentage of
profits in social activities that influence people and improve brand image in changing
environment. This also helps to develop the organizational activities and functions effectively
(Yadava, and Sinha, 2016).
Impact of CSR and business ethics on Pets at Home Group PLC
Strengthening economy – By following ethical standards and participating in corporate
social responsibility helps to improve the economy by increasing selling and buying
opportunities. The economic situation of Pets at Home Group PLC and the UK is improving by
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managing business ethics and CSR as it supports managing the business functions and influences
people to make a buying decision (Grewatsch, and Kleindienst, 2017).
Increasing customer base – To maintain an effective supply chain and doing work for
society creates awareness between people and helps to make buying decisions. The people who
are interested to keep a pet at their homes and spending their time make the decision of buying
pets from Pets at Home Group PLC as it provides after-sale services also. This activity helps to
increase organizational sales and productivity effectively.
Maintaining public relations – Ethics and CSR are important for a business organization as
it used by business concern for the purpose of maintaining good relations with people and
managing all functions effectively. In relation to Pets at Home Group PLC, management is
maintaining good relationships with customers and other people as it develops social insights and
ensures the organization is doing for people's welfare (Herremans, Nazari, and Mahmoudian,
2016).
Providing competitive edge - Pets at Home Group PLC is getting competitive benefits by
following the ethical standard, and corporate social responsibility where it becomes responsible
to handle all functions of the supply chain of pets and its related products. This can help to
operate a business effectively and attain competitive advantages.
From the above discussion, it can be evaluated that CSR and Ethics are impacting
attractively and positively on Pets at Home Group PLC as it helps to influence the number of
people and increase organizational sales. The management focuses on CSR activities such as
reducing carbon footprint, minimizing wastages, and creating an effective working environment
at the workplace that supports operating a business and developing a brand image.
Assess what influences the businesses when making decisions and the impact this has on the
company.
The aim of businesses is to develop the organizational sales and productivity by satisfying
their customers. Businesses is operating by management after understanding the changing trend
and providing products. To reach targeted customers new technology and innovation used by
managers that can help to operate the business and maintaining higher performance. To analysis
business environment is an important task for business industry it helps to know which factor
might be affect decision making process and its impact on organization. Pets at Home Group
PLC is UK based organization that sales pets and their products of better quality that can help to
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operate a business and develop productivity (Jain, and Winner, 2016). There are different aspects
which needs to consider while making decision along with impact on selected organization
defined below:
Return on investment – This is major influence which consider by companies while
making business decision and it impact on company. To start any activities and functions there is
need to focus on return on investment that can help to know how it will give return. Pets at Home
Group PLC is using return on investment by preparing a budget that can help to allocate the fund
in to different activities. This impacts positively on organization by increasing number of
business activities and managing operations (Sharma, and Gupta, 2020).
Use of resources – To starting and managing a business there is need to have resources
properly as it influences to decision making. If there is proper resources and capital, then it will
be opportunity for organization to run their business and manage all functions effectively. Pets at
Home Group PLC is having different resources which used by management for the purpose of
managing effective operation and increasing business (Lee, Ham, and Koh, 2019).
Political environment – To decide about selling of products and services in other location
there is need to have government approval that can support in making right decision and
increasing business performance. Pets at Home Group PLC is following this factor for making
decision of running its business in UK by selling pets and products which can help to develop
organizational productivity.
Use of ICT information – To use of new technology and information could be opportunity
for business as it influences number of people and helps them to make right decision. To start
and running a business in changing environment use of information and communication
technology is becoming most important as it helps to reach the targeted customers and support to
make decision. This also helps to managing changes and developing organizational productivity
effectively (Nicholson, and Kurucz, 2019).
Use of ethics and CSR – To run a business and improving brand image there is need to
focus over ethical standard and corporate social responsibility that can help to influence society
and making effective decision. In relation to Pets at Home Group PLC, appropriate use of
resources providing right information, ethical principles and participation in CSR activities
impacting positively on business organization that can help to develop productivity and
profitability (Nicolaides, 2017).
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CONCLUSION
From the report it can be concluded that business environment is related to internal and
external factors that arises around and affects business. To develop organizational performance
and image ethics and CSR has main role as it influences the society and encourage them to make
buying decision. Ethics are used to run a business systematically and ethically that helps to
improve brand image. CSR is major activity that improve insight of people toward organization
and make buying decision that helps to improve economy and maintain higher performance.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Aras, G., 2016. The Future Perspectives: What Do We Need for Market and Business
Sustainability?. In Sustainable Markets for Sustainable Business (pp. 281-296).
Routledge.
Benkert, J., 2020. Reframing Business Sustainability Decision-Making with Value-Focussed
Thinking. Journal of Business Ethics, pp.1-16.
Cui, J., Jo, H. and Na, H., 2018. Does corporate social responsibility affect information
asymmetry?. Journal of Business Ethics, 148(3), pp.549-572.
Drempetic, S., Klein, C. and Zwergel, B., 2020. The influence of firm size on the ESG score:
Corporate sustainability ratings under review. Journal of Business Ethics, 167(2),
pp.333-360.
Franceschelli, M.V., Santoro, G. and Candelo, E., 2018. Business model innovation for
sustainability: a food start-up case study. British Food Journal.
Freudenreich, B., Lüdeke-Freund, F. and Schaltegger, S., 2020. A stakeholder theory perspective
on business models: Value creation for sustainability. Journal of Business
Ethics, 166(1), pp.3-18.
Fu, R., Tang, Y. and Chen, G., 2020. Chief sustainability officers and corporate social (Ir)
responsibility. Strategic Management Journal, 41(4), pp.656-680.
Grewatsch, S. and Kleindienst, I., 2017. When does it pay to be good? Moderators and mediators
in the corporate sustainability–corporate financial performance relationship: A critical
review. Journal of Business Ethics, 145(2), pp.383-416.
Herremans, I.M., Nazari, J.A. and Mahmoudian, F., 2016. Stakeholder relationships,
engagement, and sustainability reporting. Journal of business ethics, 138(3), pp.417-
435.
Jain, R. and Winner, L.H., 2016. CSR and sustainability reporting practices of top companies in
India. Corporate Communications: An International Journal.
Lee, S., Ham, S. and Koh, Y., 2019. Special issue on economic implications of corporate social
responsibility and sustainability in tourism and hospitality.
Nicholson, J. and Kurucz, E., 2019. Relational leadership for sustainability: Building an ethical
framework from the moral theory of ‘ethics of care’. Journal of Business Ethics, 156(1),
pp.25-43.
Nicolaides, A., 2017. Ethical Practices, Eco-centric Business and Environmental
Sustainability. Journal of Human Ecology, 57(1-2), pp.1-10.
Sharma, G. and Gupta, S., 2020. Modelling the impact of corporate sustainability on economic
performance with reference to Indian financial industry. World Review of
Entrepreneurship, Management and Sustainable Development, 16(3), pp.317-328.
Yadava, R.N. and Sinha, B., 2016. Scoring sustainability reports using GRI 2011 guidelines for
assessing environmental, economic, and social dimensions of leading public and private
Indian companies. Journal of Business Ethics, 138(3), pp.549-558.
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Aras, 2016 Benkert, 2020 Cui, Jo, and Na, 2018 Drempetic, Klein, and Zwergel, 2020
Franceschelli, Santoro, and Candelo, 2018 Freudenreich, Lüdeke-Freund, and Schaltegger, 2020
Fu, Tang, and Chen, 2020 Grewatsch, and Kleindienst, 2017 Herremans, Nazari, and
Mahmoudian, 2016 Jain, and Winner, 2016. Lee, Ham, and Koh, 2019 Nicholson, and Kurucz,
2019. Nicolaides, 2017 Sharma, and Gupta, 2020 Yadava, and Sinha, 2016
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