Environmental scanning
Environmental scanning is a process in which an organisation monitors its internal and external environment as a means of formulating or altering a strategic plan. It involves the ongoing tracking of trends, occurrences, patterns and relationships within its different environments and detecting early indications of opportunities or threats to the current and future plans of the organisation.
In a construction context, an organisation may gather information about the external environment; its competitors, pricing, technology, legislation, government policy, consumer behaviour, as well as information about its internal environment; its strengths and weaknesses.
This allows the state of the organisation to be assessed, and compared to the vision for where it plans to be in five or ten years’ time. This can be used to develop a forward strategy, identifying changes to company policy, objectives, activities and so on that can be made.
One popular method of environmental scanning is SWOT analysis. Each letter stands for one area to review: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. The strengths and opportunities are factors within the company, and the weaknesses and threats come from sources outside the company.
Most scans include a thorough look at competition, economics, technology, legal issues, and social/demographic factors.
[edit] Find out more
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
Featured articles and news
Listed despite problems with its design.
Zen and the art of cycling exploration.
Design Council Homes Taskforce launched
To support government 1.5 million homes target within UK climate commitments.
The story of this knowledge quarter building.
In ecology, in hydrology, in biology and in architecture.
Creating environments that promote physical, mental, and social well-being.
UK cases of neutral current diversion
Research project looks for example contributions.
Overstocking and macro-economics cause a decline.
The 2024 update of the Common Assessment Standard
Demonstrating organisational capability’ to fulfil roles under the Building Safety Act.
56 recommendations for a better built environment
Published by the CIC ahead of the King’s Speech.
SkillELECTRIC Top 8 Competitors Named
in annual search for the UK’s best student electrician.
CIOB Diversity and Inclusion technical information sheet
Step-by-step guide on implementing D and I practices.
Conservation and the Indian City. Book review.
Reversibility in conservation ethics
Learning from painting conservation.
Where It's AT Podcast launched!
New CIAT Architectural Technology Podcast goes live.