The purpose of an environmental scan is to survey the landscape around a problem space (or organization etc) and understand the factors that shape strategy.
First, gather external information, which can encompass government, legal, economic, demographic, and social data (PESTLE analysis)
Next, research competitors to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (industry/competitor analysis)
Finally, assess your internal strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, as well as future goals (SWOT analysis)
This should be done regularly to identify trends and unforeseen changes, so goals and strategies can be adjusted.
Source: Society for Human Resource Management
"Environmental scan" does not describe a single searchable document type. It requires you to draw on multiple sources to synthesize and create a unique report.
Use the resources in this guide to conduct your environmental scan.
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