This document discusses the external environment that firms operate within, including the remote environment, industry environment, and operating environment. The remote environment includes economic, social, political, and technological factors outside of the firm's control. The industry environment analyzes the competitive forces within an industry, including the threat of new entrants, power of suppliers and buyers, availability of substitutes, and jockeying among existing competitors. Powerful suppliers and buyers can impact industry profitability. Intense rivalry exists when competitors are numerous, industry growth is slow, products lack differentiation, costs are high, and exit barriers are significant. The operating environment consists of interactions with customers, competitors, creditors, labor, and suppliers that directly influence the firm.