Course Contents:
Unit 1. Introduction : 1.5 hours
Concept; Business system and environment; Characteristics of business environment; Classification of business environment; Strategic management and business environment.
Unit 2. Political Environment : 4.5 hours
Political system, its nature, features and significance for business; Political philosophy and structure; Political parties, Political stability issue; Operations of the party system and elections; Government’s structure; Government-business relations; Government’s role in business; Political risk factors and their assessment.
Unit 3. Regulatory Environment : 7.5 hours
Constitutional framework; Directive Principles; Fundamental rights; Division of legislative powers; Regulations related to business firm registration, foreign investment, finance and investment, taxation, intellectual property rights, labour, and consumer protection; Corporate governance issues; An overview of: Companies Act, 2006; Foreign Investment and Technology Transfer Act, 1992; Industrial Enterprise Act, 1992; Value Added Tax Act, 1996; Labor Act, 1992; Trade Union Act, 1992; Mines and Minerals Act, 1985; Patent Design and Trade Mark Act, 1965; and Copyright Act, 2002.
Unit 4. Economic Environment : 12 hours
- An overview of the economy: Economic structure and dimensions; Agriculture and industrial sectors; Major industries and the associated problems.
- Economic indices: National income; Distribution of income; Rate and growth of GNP, per capita; Rate of savings and investments; Foreign trade structure and related issues; Foreign employment and balance of payments.
- An overview of economic policies: Current monetary policy in Nepal and its effects on business; Privatization policy and practices in Nepal and their affects; Industrial Policy: Concept and objective of industrial policy in Nepal; Trade Policy: concept and objective of trade policy; Employment Policy: concept and objectives of employment policy; Tourism Policy: objectives and characteristics of tourism policy; Economic policy reforms and the emerging business environment in Nepal.
- Economic planning: Five year /three year plan’s impact assessment; An overview of the Current Plan - its objectives, targets and strategies applicable to business and industrial sectors.
- Economic planning: Five year /three year plan’s impact assessment; An overview of the Current Plan - its objectives, targets and strategies applicable to business and industrial sectors.
Unit 5. Socio-Cultural Environment : 4.5 hours
An introduction to socio-cultural environment; Demographic characteristics: Population, its density and distribution; Changes in population and age composition; Internal migration and rural urban mobility; Education level; Socio-cultural concerns: consumerism, corruption, use of mass media, the role of business in society and consumerism (corporate social responsibility); Socio-cultural attitudes and values: customs, beliefs, rituals and practices; Changing lifestyle patterns; Family structures and changes; Stratification of society and inter-stratum mobility.
Unit 6. International Environment : 7.5 hours
Globalization: concepts, forms, process, and direction; Regional groupings of nations: A brief overview of the regional economic groupings such as NAFTA; APEC; ASEAN; SAFTA and BIMSTEC and their impact on Nepalese Business; World Trade Organization (WTO) – Objectives, structure, principles and agreements; Nepal's membership and commitments: opportunities and threats for the Nepalese business; Growth potential of Nepalese business in South Asia.
Unit 7. Environment, Energy and Technology : 4.5 hours
- Environment and energy management: Natural environment and pollution issues; Environment protection legislation and programs; Demand and supply of energy; Environment and energy management issues.
- Concept; Science and Technology Policy; IT Policy; Status of technology in Nepalese businesses; Issues related to management of technology; Technology and human factors; Environmental effects of technology.
Unit 8. Environment Scanning : 3 hours
Concept; Approaches to environment scanning: Systematic, Ad-hoc, and Processed form; Sources of information for environment scanning; Identification of environmental factors; Environmental threat and opportunity profile (ETOP).
