home | about/terms | contact | index | site map
related materials
acronyms and abbreviations for learning and fun brainstorming - process and tips business planning process and templates business process modelling diagrams and other free tools decision-making and problem-solving marketing theory and methods personality theories, models and types swot market analysis - free template porter's five forces model sostac market planning model workshops - format and how to run See main subjects index for more materials, ideas and resources. home business/selling pest market analysis tool
pest market analysis tool
PEST analysis method and examples, with free PEST template
The PEST analysis is a useful tool for understanding market growth or decline, and as such the position, potential and direction for a business. A PEST analysis is a business measurement tool. PEST is an acronym for Political, Economic, Social and Technological factors, which are used to assess the market for a business or organizational unit. The PEST analysis headings are a framework for reviewing a situation, and can also, like SWOT analysis, and Porter's Five Forces model, be used to review a strategy or position, direction of a company, a marketing proposition, or idea. Completing a PEST analysis is very simple, and is a good subject for workshop sessions. PEST analysis also works well in brainstorming meetings. Use PEST analysis for business and strategic planning, marketing planning, business and product development and research reports. You can also use PEST analysis exercises for team building games. PEST analysis is similar to SWOT analysis - it's simple, quick, and uses four key perspectives. As PEST factors are essentially external, completing a PEST analysis is helpful prior to completing a SWOT analysis (a SWOT analysis - Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats - is based broadly on half internal and half external factors).
free pest analysis template tool
PEST analysis template - doc format (thanks N Silva) PEST analysis template - pdf format
pest variations
The PEST model, like most very good simple concepts, has prompted several variations on the theme. For example, the PEST acronym is sometimes shown as STEP, which obviously represents the same factors. Stick with PEST - nearly everyone else does. More confusingly (and some would say unnecessarily) PEST is also extended to seven or even more factors, by adding Ecological (or Environmental), Legislative (or Legal), and Industry Analysis, which produces the PESTELI model. Other variations on the theme include STEEP and PESTLE, which allow for a dedicated Ethical section. STEEPLED is another interpretation which includes pretty well everything except the kitchen sink: Political, Economic, Social and Technological - plus Ecological or Environmental, Ethical, Demographic and Legal. It's a matter of personal choice, but for most situations the original PEST analysis model arguably covers all of the 'additional' factors within the original four main sections. For example Ecological or Environmental factors can be positioned under any or all of the four main PEST headings, depending on their effect. Legislative factors would normally be covered under the Political heading since they will generally be politically motivated. Demographics usually are an aspect of the larger Social issue. Industry Analysis is effectively covered under the Economic heading. Ethical considerations would typically be included in the Social and/or Political areas, depending on the perspective and the effect. Thus we can often see these 'additional' factors as 'sub-items' or perspectives within the four main sections.
Keeping to four fundamental perspectives also imposes a discipline of considering strategic context and effect. Many potential 'additional' factors (ethical, legislative, environmental for example) will commonly be contributory causes which act on one or some of the main four headings, rather than be big strategic factors in their own right. The shape and simplicity of a four-part model is also somehow more strategically appealing and easier to manipulate and convey. Ultimately you must use what version works best for you, and importantly for others who need to understand you, which is another good reason perhaps for sticking with PEST, because everyone knows it, and you'll not need to spend half the presentation explaining the meaning of STEEPLED or some other quirky interpretation. If you have come across any other weird and wonderful extended interpretations of PEST I'd love to see them. On which point (thanks D Taylor) I am informed of one such variation, which featured in some 2010 coursework: PEST LIED. The PEST element represents the usual factors - Political, Economic, Social and Technological. The LIED add-on stands for Legal, International, Environment and Demography. Suggestions of origin gratefully received, and any other variations of the PEST model.
pest or swot
A PEST analysis most commonly measures a market; a SWOT analysis measures a business unit, a proposition or idea. Generally speaking a SWOT analysis measures a business unit or proposition, whereas a PEST analysis measures the market potential and situation, particularly indicating growth or decline, and thereby market attractiveness, business potential, and suitability of access - market potential and 'fit' in other words. PEST analysis uses four perspectives, which give a logical structure, in this case organized by the PEST format, that helps understanding, presentation, discussion and decision-making. The four dimensions are an extension of a basic two heading list of pro's and con's (free pro's and con's template here). PEST analysis can be used for marketing and business development assessment and decisionmaking, and the PEST template encourages proactive thinking, rather than relying on habitual or instinctive reactions. Here the PEST analysis template is presented as a grid, comprising four sections, one for each of the PEST headings: Political, Economic, Social and Technological. As previously explained, extended variations of PEST (eg., PESTELI and STEEP, etc) include other factors, such as Environmental, Ethical, Legal or Legislative, etc., however in most
situations you will find that these 'additional' factors are actually contributory causes or detailed perspectives which then manifest or take effect in the form or one or several of the original four main PEST factors. For example, Ethical and Environmental factors will always tend to produce an effect in at least one of the main four headings (Political, Economic, Social, Technological), but it will tend not to work the other way. Hence why the basic PEST model is often the most powerful - it puts more pressure on strategic appreciation and analysis than a longer list of headings. When you next see a PESTELI or a STEEPLED analysis ask yourself (or the author): "Okay, I understand that customers tend to be more ethically minded now, but what does that mean in terms of the basic four PEST factors - what's the effect going to be?..." or: "Okay we know that carbon emissions is an issue, but tell me where in the main four PEST factors will it impact..? You will gather I am not a fan nor a particular advocate of extending the PEST model. It works great as it is - why make it more complicated and less specific? If you are worried about missing or forgetting a crucial point of ethics or legislation (or anything else) keep a reference list of these headings, and only build them into the model if you are sure that doing so will make it work better as a strategic tool. The free PEST template below includes sample questions or prompts, whose answers are can be inserted into the relevant section of the PEST grid. The questions are examples of discussion points, and obviously can be altered depending on the subject of the PEST analysis, and how you want to use it. Make up your own PEST questions and prompts to suit the issue being analysed and the situation (ie., the people doing the work and the expectations of them). Like SWOT analysis, it is important to clearly identify the subject of a PEST analysis, because a PEST analysis is four-way perspective in relation to a particular business unit or proposition - if you blur the focus you will produce a blurred picture - so be clear about the market that you use PEST to analyse. A market is defined by what is addressing it, be it a product, company, brand, business unit, proposition, idea, etc, so be clear about how you define the market being analysed, particularly if you use PEST analysis in workshops, team exercises or as a delegated task. The PEST subject should be a clear definition of the market being addressed, which might be from any of the following standpoints:
a company looking at its market a product looking at its market a brand in relation to its market a local business unit a strategic option, such as entering a new market or launching a new product a potential acquisition a potential partnership an investment opportunity
Be sure to describe the subject for the PEST analysis clearly so that people contributing to the analysis, and those seeing the finished PEST analysis, properly understand the purpose of the PEST assessment and implications.
PEST analysis template
Other than the four main headings, the questions and issues in the template below are examples and not exhaustive - add your own and amend these prompts to suit your situation, the experience and skill level of whoever is completing the analysis, and what you aim to produce from the analysis. Ensure you consider the additional PESTELI/STEEPLED headings, and any others you feel are relevant, but avoid building these into the final analysis model unless you gain some strategic planning or presentation benefit from doing so. If helpful refer to a list of these other 'headings', for example: Ecological/ Environmental, Legislative/or Legal, Demographic, Ethical, Industry Analysis. Apply some strategic consideration and pressure to the points you list under these 'additional' headings. Ask yourself what the effects of each will be on the 'big four' (Political, Economic, Social, Technological). Often your answers will persuade you that the original four-part PEST model is best and that using a more complex series of headings makes it more difficult to complete the analysis fully and strategically. The analysis can be converted into a more scientific measurement by scoring the items in each of the sections. There is are established good or bad reference points - these are for you to decide. Scoring is particularly beneficial if more than one market is being analysed, for the purpose of comparing which market or opportunity holds most potential and/or obstacles. This is useful when considering business development and investment options, ie, whether to develop market A or B; whether to concentrate on local distribution or export; whether to acquire company X or company Y, etc. If helpful when comparing more than one different market analysis, scoring can also be weighted according to the more or less significant factors.
(insert subject for PEST analysis - market, business, proposition, etc.) political
economic
ecological/environmental issues current legislation home market future legislation international legislation regulatory bodies and processes government policies government term and change trading policies funding, grants and initiatives
home economy situation home economy trends overseas economies and trends general taxation issues taxation specific to product/services seasonality/weather issues market and trade cycles specific industry factors market routes and distribution trends
home market lobbying/pressure groups international pressure groups wars and conflicts
customer/end-user drivers interest and exchange rates international trade/monetary issues
social
technological
lifestyle trends demographics consumer attitudes and opinions media views law changes affecting social factors brand, company, technology image consumer buying patterns fashion and role models major events and influences buying access and trends ethnic/religious factors advertising and publicity ethical issues
competing technology development research funding associated/dependent technologies replacement technology/solutions maturity of technology manufacturing maturity and capacity information and communications consumer buying mechanisms/technology technology legislation innovation potential technology access, licencing, patents intellectual property issues global communications
more on the difference and relationship between PEST and SWOT
PEST is useful before SWOT - not generally vice-versa - PEST definitely helps to identify SWOT factors. There is overlap between PEST and SWOT, in that similar factors would appear in each. That said, PEST and SWOT are certainly two different perspectives: PEST assesses a market, including competitors, from the standpoint of a particular proposition or a business. SWOT is an assessment of a business or a proposition, whether your own or a competitor's. Strategic planning is not a precise science - no tool is mandatory - it's a matter of pragmatic choice as to what helps best to identify and explain the issues. PEST becomes more useful and relevant the larger and more complex the business or proposition, but even for a very small local businesses a PEST analysis can still throw up one or two very significant issues that might otherwise be missed.
The four quadrants in PEST vary in significance depending on the type of business, eg., social factors are more obviously relevant to consumer businesses or a B2B business close to the consumer-end of the supply chain, whereas political factors are more obviously relevant to a global munitions supplier or aerosol propellant manufacturer. All businesses benefit from a SWOT analysis, and all businesses benefit from completing a SWOT analysis of their main competitors, which interestingly can then provide some feed back into the economic aspects of the PEST analysis.
see also
Porter's Five Forces Competitive Position Model SWOT Analysis and Template Marketing and Planning Templates Balanced Scorecard Project management
search businessballs website
e.g. swot analysis, change management, cv template, team building...
browse categories
business/selling sales, marketing, strategy, business management
amusement/stress relief funny and inspirational stories, quotes, humour
glossaries/terminology glossaries, dictionaries, acronyms, lists of terms
personal development personal development, self-discovery, selfhelp, life balance
human resources recruitment and selection, training, job interviews
leadership/management delegation, motivation, change management
teambuilding/games
writing/communicating
activities, games, icebreakers, quizzes, puzzles
cv templates, reference letters, resignation letters
lifestyle/environment climate change, sleeping aids, reiki
diagrams and tools free templates, samples, resources, tests and quizzes
The use of this material is free provided copyright (see below) is acknowledged and reference or link is made to the www.businessballs.com website. This material may not be sold, or published in any form. Disclaimer: Reliance on information, material, advice, or other linked or recommended resources, received from Alan Chapman, shall be at your sole risk, and Alan Chapman assumes no responsibility for any errors, omissions, or damages arising. Users of this website are encouraged to confirm information received with other sources, and to seek local qualified advice if embarking on any actions that could carry personal or organisational liabilities. Managing people and relationships are sensitive activities; the free material and advice available via this website do not provide all necessary safeguards and checks. Please retain this notice on all copies. alan chapman 1995-2010
1. PEST Analysis: India
Political Factors India is the biggest democracy in the World. The government type is federal republic. Based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; separate personal law codes apply to Muslims, Christians, and Hindus. The political Situation in the country is more or less stable. For most of its democratic history, the federal Government of India has been led by the Indian National Congress (INC). State politics have been dominated by several national parties including the INC, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Communist Party of India (CPI), and various regional parties. In the 2004 Indian elections, the INC won the largest number of Lok Sabha seats and formed a government with a coalition called the United Progressive Alliance (UPA), supported by various left-leaning parties and members opposed to the BJP. Overall India currently has a coalition led government and both major political parties the UPA and BJP, whichever comes in power. Economic Factors - The economic factors in India are improving continuously. The GDP (Purchasing Power Parity) is estimated at 2.965 trillion U.S. dollars in the year 2007. The GDPper Capita (PPP) was 2700 U.S. dollars as estimated in 2007. The GDP- real growth rate in 2007 was 8.7%. India has the third highest GDP in terms of purchasing power parity just ahead Japan and behind U.S. and China. Foreign direct investment rose in the fiscal year ended March 31 2007 to about $16 billion from just $5.5 billion a year earlier. There is a continuous growth in per capita income; Indias per capita income is expected to reach 1000 dollars by the end of 2007-08 from 797 dollars in 2006-07. This will lead to higher buying power in the Hands of the Indian consumers.
Social - India is the second most populous nation in the world with an approximate population of over 1.1billion people. This population is divided in the following age structure: 0-14 years 31.8%, 15-64 years 63.1% and 65 years and above 5.1%. There has also been a continuous increase in the consumption of beer in India. With an increase in the purchasing power the Indian consumer which preferred local hard liquor which is far cheaper is now able to get a taste of the relatively expensive beer market. The social trend toward beer consumption is changing and India has seen an increase of 90% beer consumption from the year 2002- 2007. This increase is far greater than the increase in the BRIC nations of Brazil (20 per cent), Russia (50 per cent) and China (almost 60 per cent). Thus this shows a positive trend for beer industries in India. Technology - The Indian beer Industry is heating up with a lot of foreign players entering the Indian market. The technological knowhow and expertise will also enter the Indian market with an increase in competition. For example beer brewing technology major Ziemann has entered India and has set up manufacturing plant in India. Ziemann Group, based in Ludwigsburg near Stuttgart in Germany, has founded Ziemann India. It will start production in 2008. This will help bring in technological knowhow and increase the production of beer. SABMiller has just placed an order for the design and construction of two turnkey plants in India to Ziemann. The new plants are planned for Sonipat in Haryana and for another location near Bangalore. Both breweries will have an annual capacity of 1 milllion hectoliters each in the beginning and might be extended later. Thus with European technology entering the Indian beer market increased production and lowering cost of production could play a major role in the Indian beer market. The OLI Model: Ownership: The Indian market provides good ownership opportunities for Inbev India International private limited. The Government policies on FDI are relaxing and companies like Carlsberg has also invested in breweries in India. Also cost of manufacturing and brewing beer in India is much cheaper. The cost of raw material and labor in India is cheap thus giving Inbev India a good chance of reducing cost of production. The fact that European companies are setting up plants in India to manufacture brewing technology means that in the future Inbev could have ownership of these technologies at a much cheaper rate as compared to when bought in other markets. Location: There are a lot of location specific advantages for Inbev India International Private Limited. The Indian beer Industry is all set to heat up with the Indian markets compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.7% from 2002 to 2006. The beer market volume is set to rise to 1155 million liters by 2011 an increase of 37.4% from 2006. North India is enjoying beer like never before. During the first quarter of 2006, nearly 5 million cases of beer were sold in Punjab and Haryana as against 600,000 cases in Q1 of 2005-06. This was the case because the government has revised its policy in these states and there is an improvement in the distribution channels in these areas. India is also expected to become the second largest beer market in Asia by 2020 just after China. Thus all these factors along with India having neighboring countries like Nepal and Sri Lanka, where beer could be exported through India gives Inbev India a good Location advantage. Internalization: Inbev India International Private Limited would want to have internalization
because over a period of time it would lose out on a competitive edge in the region if it just sticks to exporting and not FDI investment. As other firms would come in and develop their infrastructure and distribution channel, thus able to produce at with low costs. India also is a huge potential market as mentioned earlier and Inbev would not want to lose out on the opportunity it can provide. Also since there is a lot of red tapism and contractual problems while exporting etc. It would be better to be in India rather than export. Reply With Quote + Reply to Thread
Technological: inventions, new discoveries, research, energy uses/sources/fuels, communications, rates of obsolescence, health (pharmaceutical, equipment, etc.), manufacturing advances, information technology, internet, transportation, bio-tech, genetics, agri-tech, waste removal/recycling, and so on. After the key trends have been identified, the next step is to analyze the potential each trend has to disrupt the way the company does business. The company is able to determine the changes needed to exploit the opportunities, and blunt the threats (Pearce and Robinson, 2005). When carrying out a PEST analysis it is important to show how and how much the factors that the firm picks out influence the nature of competition. It is this appraisal of the impact of each factor that distinguishes an analysis from a mere list. A common error is to try and devise a single analysis to try and cover the entire history of a firm and an industry. Therefore, the company must keep the analysis of past developments separate from that of the present situation and future trends. When analyzing PEST factors in the present, it is required to make it plain why the present is different from the past, and how the industry may need to change. There is no need to agonise too long over whether a particular item is political, economic, social and technological in nature. Many important factors transcend the simple PEST categories. The advent of the microprocessor is a technological event that has had a broad economic and social impact. The "green" movement my have started as a social-cultural phenomenon, but it has been translated into legislation and has stimulated technological change (Byars, 1991). It is perfectly legitimate when using a checklist like PEST to leave some categories empty. If there are no important political/legal influences on a particular industry, those conducting PEST analysis do not need to waste time trying to find factors that do not exist. There should be a limit to relevant factors. Thompson (2002) states that for any organization certain environmental influences will constitute powerful forces which affect decision making significantly. For some manufacturing and service businesses the most powerful force will be customers; for other it may be competition. In some situations suppliers can be crucial. In the case of some small businesses external forces can dictate whether the business stays solvent or not. A major problem for these
businesses concerns the management of cash flow, being able to pay bills when they are due for payment and being strong enough to persuade customers to pay their invoices on time. Finding Information for PEST Analysis To understand what kind of environment the company may compete in the near future, it requires understanding of the forces that will shape the change. For a PEST analysis, that means conducting a scan of the external events outside of the company, such as potential regulatory issues, demographic trends, political upheaval, and cutting-edge technology that could move mainstream. In conducting the analysis it may be essential to look at periodicals, analyst reports, demographics, and anything that will give the exposure to new trends and possibilities. Any reliable secondary data source of current events and projected future trends will provide information for the PEST analysis, including:
Newspapers, periodicals, current books Trade organizations Government agencies Industry analysts Financial analysts
One of the potential disadvantages collecting from the secondary sources is derived from issues of validity, reliability and relevance. The limitation could be apparent in the nature of market forces that reduce the applicability of the information sources to present situations. The problem could arise based on the past data and past events being collected within past environmental conditions. Therefore, the data has to be checked and applied to the current business conditions. Conclusion PEST analysis looks at the external business environment and is an appropriate strategic tool for understanding the "big picture" of the environment in which business operates, enabling the company to take advantage of the opportunities and minimize the threats faced by thier business activities. When strategic planning is done correctly, it provides a solid plan for a company to grow into the future. With a PEST analysis, the company can see a longer horizon of time, and be able to clarify strategic opportunities and threats that the organisation faces. By looking to the outside environment to see the potential forces of change looming on the horizon, firms can take the strategic planning process out of the arena of today and into the horizon of tomorrow. PEST is not a set of rigid compartments into which ideas need to be sorted. It is better thought of as a set of hooks that can be used to fish for important facts. Once the factors have been "fished out", it does not matter which hook they were attached to. When it comes to writing up the analysis, there is no need to mention the PEST labels at all. If you found this article useful please have a look at the other articles we have written: Ansoff analysis, Porter's 5 Forces analysis, SWOT analysis, BCG Growth-Share Matrix, Porter's Generic Strategies, Scenario Planning, Value chain analysis, BALANCED SCORECARD,
Competitor Analysis, Critical Success Factors, Industry Lifecycle, Marketing Mix, McKinsey 7S Framework and Product Life Cycle.
