The Dynamic Nature of Business (AQA GCSE Business)

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Lisa Eades

Written by: Lisa Eades

Reviewed by: Steve Vorster

Businesses & Change

  • The external environment in which businesses operate is constantly changing

    • Changes in technology, consumer needs, wants and expectations, as well as the economic and legal climate, can all have an impact on demand for products and the way a business operates

  • New business ideas emerge as entrepreneurs recognise opportunities created by changes in the market

  • Change can also mean that demand for the products a business sells falls

  • Successful businesses can identify opportunities, plan for changes that could have a negative effect, and develop innovative solutions that meet the changing needs of customers

Diagram: Aspects of the Dynamic Business Environment

The dynamic environment, where change in technology, legal, economic factors and consumer expectations change over time

Demand and business operations are affected by technological developments, changes in the economy and legal framework, environmental expectations of consumers and obsolescence

Changes in technology

  • Advances in technology can create new opportunities for businesses to develop innovative products and services

    • E.g. The emergence of smartphones and social media platforms created new opportunities for businesses to reach customers through mobile apps and digital marketing

Changes in the environmental expectations of consumers

  • Consumer demand for environmentally responsible products has changed over time, with more and more people making green buying choices

  • This has created opportunities for businesses to develop new products that are less damaging to the natural world

    • E.g. The growing demand for plant-based food products has led to the emergence of new businesses in the food industry, such as Impossible Foods

Products and services becoming obsolete

  • Products and services can become outdated due to changes in technology or changes in consumer demand

  • This can create opportunities for businesses to develop new products and services that meet the needs of consumers in new and innovative ways

    • E.g. The decline of physical media like CDs and DVDs created opportunities for businesses like Netflix and Spotify to develop digital streaming services

Changes in the economic situation

  • Factors such as changing interest rates, inflation, the level of unemployment and economic growth (or contraction) can affect demand for a businesses products

    • E.g. a business selling products that consumers normally purchase using credit, such as electrical consumer durables, is likely to face a fall in demand when interest rates rise

Changes in law

  • The introduction or amendment of laws and regulations can change consumer behaviour and require businesses to make changes to their operations

    • E.g. the introduction of legislation banning smoking in indoor spaces in 2007 meant that many hospitality businesses in the UK invested in outdoor spaces to accommodate smokers

Examiner Tips and Tricks

External factors are considered in greater depth later in the course. At this stage, understanding that entrepreneurs face external challenges over which they have no control is an important factor in the level of risk they face in starting up a business.

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Lisa Eades

Author: Lisa Eades

Expertise: Business Content Creator

Lisa has taught A Level, GCSE, BTEC and IBDP Business for over 20 years and is a senior Examiner for Edexcel. Lisa has been a successful Head of Department in Kent and has offered private Business tuition to students across the UK. Lisa loves to create imaginative and accessible resources which engage learners and build their passion for the subject.

Steve Vorster

Author: Steve Vorster

Expertise: Economics & Business Subject Lead

Steve has taught A Level, GCSE, IGCSE Business and Economics - as well as IBDP Economics and Business Management. He is an IBDP Examiner and IGCSE textbook author. His students regularly achieve 90-100% in their final exams. Steve has been the Assistant Head of Sixth Form for a school in Devon, and Head of Economics at the world's largest International school in Singapore. He loves to create resources which speed up student learning and are easily accessible by all.