As a parting gift Claudia has left us with her drawing of the acronym we made up for External Sources of Change. From the syllabus;

Charging Elephants Fall, Giraffes Sleep, Lions Play Tag

nature and sources of change in business
– external influences —

• the changing nature of markets;
• economic,
• financial,
• geographic,
• social,
• legal,
• political and
• technological developments

Leading Edge is a supplier of student resources such as HSC lectures, textbooks and study guides. You can sign up at their website for free Business Studies (and Economics) resources.

The following questions come from their website. The answers to each question can be found here. It is worth taking your time to answer each of these questions and then see the suggested answers given by Leading Edge.

1. Briefly discuss how management theory evolved.

2. Identify the key function of classical-scientific management theory.

3. Using the classical-scientific management theory, justify the use of rigid hierarchies in a business.

4. Lianne is thinking of starting up her own fashion business for women. It would employaround ten full-time designers and retail workers. Discuss two functions of management that the classical-scientific school suggests Lianne will need to perform.

5. Compare and contrast the views of the worker in both the classical-scientific and behavioural schools of management.

6. Examine how Lianne’s management functions would differ from those identified in Question 4, if you used the behavioural approach to management.

7. Briefly examine the role of flat organisational structures and teams in behavioural management.

8. Summarise the role of politics and coalitions in a business as seen by political management theory.

9. Consider a large corporation such as Coles. Explain how the systems approach to management would assist in the management of this company.

10. Explain the link between the contingency theory of management and the othertheories you have studied.