In business you need to be aware of the changes happening around the world and how it can impact your business.

Sometimes these changes create opportunities and other times it closes the window of opportunity.

Changes can come from a range of areas, just consider;

• Political and legal changes (including government policy changes)
• Social, attitudinal and demographic changes
• Macroeconomic changes (state of the economy)
• Technological developments (constant change)
• Global market changes (global shift and internet delivery)
• Environment changes (climate change - eg, lack of water)

These areas can often overlap and changes in one area can often have ramifications in other areas.

Have you considered where your competitors are coming from? Do you know them by name and where they are based?

• Are they local competitors?
• Any new competitors entering the global market.
• What about the threat of substitute products or services?
• How many competing firms? (risk of intense rivalry)

We have all seen, bargaining power of suppliers change. Manufactures are supplying directly to purchasers (your customers) effectively eliminating some traditional sales stores or resellers. Want some examples?

• Just look at e-bay as an example of purchase and supplier going direct.
• Dell computers - you can buy direct
• Software providers - internet purchases

Looking ahead you need to have protection.

• Do you have a business action plan to address these threats?
• Where is your SWAT analysis for your business? (Strengths Weaknesses Opportunity and Threats)
• Human resourcing is a supply that is becoming a challenge with skills shorage (are you prepared)

The “Did You Know” presentation takes about 5 minutes and shows you some of the changes our world is experiencing.

Consider the near future (3 years) and what you need to do in business to prepare for these changes and demographic shifts.

The information contained within this presentation is provided from resources in and outside Australia.

Enjoy your journey in our new world.

Regards,

Kelvin Davis

PS: The original version this content was based on from http://shifthappens.wikispaces.com/

PSS: References are attached.