Demographic Trends Events Recently Aim example essay topic

Economic Trends & Events Kelton (2003) warns that South Australia will be hit hard by blackouts in the next 3 years for various reasons unless electricity prices rise as an alternative. This event would negatively impact upon AIM financially for if electricity were to rise suppliers' costs will increase which will increase the cost of goods purchased or if not, blackouts will disrupt training sessions and staff. An article in Management Today (June 2003) states investment in business training trends is on the rise by 52% in the last 6 years. As AIM's core business is education, it indicates an opportunity for AIM to capture a proportion of the increased market that is readily growing and increase their turnover. Political / Legal Trends and Events Cochrane (June 2002) discusses Internet and e-mail usage by employees and the monitoring of usage by employers.

It gives reasons why an employer should practice electronic monitoring, one reason given being to monitor to comply with legislation on equal opportunity as Chevron had paid out $US 2.2 million 3 years ago to workers who brought a sex harassment case over a dirty joke sent by e-mail. The impact on AIM could be negative as the organisation is exposed to legal implications as Chevron above. Should the monitoring occur the Privacy Act also comes into play and workers should be warned if their activities are being monitored and perhaps creating a distrustful working environment. Financially AIM would have to purchase monitoring software and pay for someone to analyse the monitored data. Knottenbelt (July 2003) talks about student unions protesting moves to allow universities to increase their fees. This offers an opportunity to AIM with their Graduate Programs to be competitive within the market place.

Socio-cultural Trends & Events I have identified 2 trends in the article by Owen (June 2003). One being that Australians are down shifting and reducing their incomes and consumption so to spend more time with their families and have a desire for healthier lifestyles. I see that a threat exists to AIM's turnover in the above article, as people may not seek higher education that AIM offers to enhance their opportunities to reach a professional position as they do not want or need large salaries. The second trend being that the 67% of small businesses are home-based operated and managed. Opportunities exist for AIM to adapt their training courses to grasp this market and enhance their income. Technological Trends & Events Davidson (Boss Magazine) refers to Davis (2003) who believes that some things that will impact of technology sector in the medium term will include Electric Paper and Retinal screens.

There may be the need in future to use these tools in educational industry so may be taken into consideration for future planning. I anticipate that this could be an opportunity to the organisation. Foster (2003) discusses how some educational providers have turned their attention towards on-line methods of training. The availability of on-line training exhibits the innovation of the organisation by displaying that it can move with the times and provide a more efficient way of study. Unless AIM is able to keep up with the technology and diversify into different ways of providing its services, it will be seen as old and traditional and may lose clients who seek modernisation.

For this reason, I see this as a threat but also an opportunity to become a market leader. Demographic Trends & Events Recently AIM held a Umanage Forum from which statistics were gathered using AIM'S TASS Database. Upon evaluation of the attendance by members and non members, it was determined that of the attendees, 45% were non members. This indicates an opportunity to target non members in a membership recruitment tactic and promote the benefits of becoming in a member. From the same report, I was able to ascertain that only 20% of AIM members attended Umanage. This is a threat to the organisation as 80% of members did not see the forum as a valuable event to attend.

Environmental Trends & Events Kemp's (2003) media release proposes the Code of Practice for the Management of Plastic Bags. I feel this will impact on AIM as at some functions, promotional material is issued within a plastic bag. For the organisation to be environmentally conscientious this will need to be addressed. I think that if AIM are environmentally responsible it can be a opportunity to set an example to others.

Semmler's (2003) newsletter discusses the building development around AIM. This building project has huge implications on the organisation. AIM are in the process of producing a risk management plan to deal with items such as the tentative booking of alternative facilities if training rooms are unusable due to the noise factor. This is an absolute threat to the organisation. AIM'S TASS Database Cochrane, N. June 2002, "Stay on Solid Ground", Management Today, p 12 Davidson, J. 2003, Tech Trends: a guide to the future [Online, accessed 3 Aug. 2003]. URL: web Foster, J 2003, "Virtual Universities" [Online, accessed 2 Aug. 2003].

URL: web "Investing in Training" June 2003, Management Today p. 9 Kelton, G. 2003, "Cheaper Power - It Won't Happen" Advertiser 02 Aug., p. 21 Kemp, D. 2003, Plastic Bags [Online, accessed 3 Aug. 2003] URL: web Knottenbelt, C, "Waiting for the fog to clear on higher education reform" web Owen, K, June 2003, "Getting Off The Merry-Go-Round", Management Today p. 23 Semmler, G. 2003, "Blueprint 2005" [Online, accessed 4 Aug. 2003].