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5 Common Challenges of International Business You Should Consider

business professional considering international business on laptop

  • 24 Nov 2020

The world is big and, when it comes to business, everyone is intertwined. Whether or not you produce and sell goods internationally, global business impacts every organization.

“Everybody has to care about macroeconomics and the global economy,” says Harvard Business School Professor Forest Reinhardt in the online course Global Business .

In today's fast-paced and interconnected world, doing international business has become an essential part of companies’ growth and expansion strategies. Yet, this journey is filled with obstacles that you must overcome to succeed.

So, how can you, as a business owner, manager, or employee, stay informed and find your organization’s place in the global market?

Here’s an introduction to international business, some common challenges to consider, and suggestions for how you can prepare.

Access your free e-book today.

What Is International Business?

International business is the production and sale of goods and services between countries. There are several ways a business can be international:

  • It produces goods domestically and sells both domestically and internationally.
  • It produces goods in a different country but sells domestically.
  • It produces goods in a different country and sells both domestically and internationally.

3 Ways to Create an International Business

Businesses typically produce goods overseas due to lower labor costs or taxes, and they sell products and services in the global market because of the high potential for gaining a larger audience, new customers, and increased revenue.

“Although international business is extremely exciting, it can also be risky,” Reinhardt says in Global Business .

But what are the factors that affect international business?

The most common include:

  • Shifting economic stability
  • Ongoing geopolitical tensions
  • Changing global trade networks

These highlight just a few of the current global business issues affecting organizations though. Every country has its own government, policies, laws, cultures, languages, currency, time zones, and inflation rate. Therefore, navigating the global business landscape can be difficult. This means business owners need to learn how to adapt to these challenges. Here are five to consider.

Related: 3 Economic Indicators to Consider Before Expanding Your Business Globally

5 Common Challenges of International Business

1. language barriers.

When engaging in international business, it’s important to consider the languages spoken in the countries to which you’re looking to expand.

Does your product messaging translate well into another language? Consider hiring an interpreter and consulting a native speaker and resident of each country.

One example of a product “lost in translation” comes from luxury car brand Mercedes-Benz. When entering the Chinese market, the company chose a Mandarin Chinese name that sounded similar to “Benz”: Bēnsǐ. The name translates to “rush to death” in Mandarin Chinese, which wasn’t the impression Mercedes-Benz wanted to make with its new audience. The company quickly adapted, changing its Chinese name to Bēnchí, which translates to “run quickly, speed, or gallop.”

It’s also critical to consider the languages spoken by your company’s team members based in international offices. Once again, investing in interpreters can help ensure your business continues to operate smoothly.

2. Cultural Differences

Just as each country has its own makeup of languages, each also has its own specific culture or blend of cultures. Culture consists of the holidays, arts, traditions, foods, and social norms followed by a specific group of people. It’s important and enriching to learn about the cultures of countries where you’ll be doing business.

When managing teams in offices abroad, selling products to an international retailer or potential client, or running an overseas production facility, demonstrating that you’ve taken the time to understand their cultures can project the respect and emotional intelligence necessary to conduct business successfully.

One example of a cultural difference between the United States and Spain is the hours of a typical workday. In the United States, working hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., often extending earlier or later. In Spain, however, working hours are typically 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 4:30 to 8 p.m. The break in the middle of the workday allows for a siesta, which is a rest taken after lunch in many Mediterranean and European countries.

3. Managing Global Teams

Another challenge of international business is managing employees who live all over the world. When trying to function as a team, it can be difficult to account for language barriers, cultural differences, time zones, and varying levels of technology access and reliance.

To build and maintain a strong working relationship with your global team , facilitate regular check-ins, preferably using a video conferencing platform so you can interact in real time.

Research by Gallup shows that employees who have regular check-ins with their managers are three times more likely to be engaged at work than employees who don’t.

When distance divides teams, as it has for many during the COVID-19 pandemic , communication is key to ensuring everyone feels valued and engaged.

Related: How to Foster Employee Engagement When Your Team Is Remote

4. Currency Exchange and Inflation Rates

Another common issue with international trade is navigating foreign exchange rates. The value of a dollar in your country won’t always equal the same amount in other countries’ currency, nor will the value of currency consistently be worth the same amount of goods and services.

Familiarize yourself with currency exchange rates between your country and those where you plan to do business. The exchange rate is the relative value between two nation’s currencies. For instance, the current exchange rate from the Canadian dollar to the US dollar is 0.74, meaning one Canadian dollar is equal to 74 cents in US currency. Make it a point to watch exchange rates closely, as they can fluctuate.

It’s also important to monitor inflation rates, which are the rates that general price levels in an economy increase year over year, expressed as a percentage. Inflation rates vary across countries and can impact materials and labor costs, as well as product pricing.

Understanding and closely following these two rates can provide important information about the value of your company’s product in various locations over time and help prevent international trade problems.

5. Nuances of Foreign Politics, Policy, and Relations

Business doesn’t exist in a vacuum—it’s influenced by politics, policies, laws, and relationships between countries. Because those relationships can be extremely nuanced, it’s important that you closely follow news related to countries where you do business.

Political leaders’ decisions can have a significant impact on various aspects of a country, including taxes, labor laws, raw material costs, transportation infrastructure, and educational systems.

One hypothetical example Reinhardt presents in Global Business is that if the Chinese government decided to subsidize Chinese dairy farms, it would impact dairy farmers in all surrounding countries. This is because, with extra funding, Chinese dairy farms may produce a surplus of dairy products, causing them to expand their markets to neighboring countries.

It’s both exciting and intimidating that the nuances of international politics, policies, and relations can impact your business. Stay informed and make strategic decisions as new information arises.

How to Formulate a Successful Business Strategy | Access Your Free E-Book | Download Now

Preparing for International Business Challenges

If you aim to expand your business, it’s important to prepare for international business challenges. However, that doesn’t mean that it’s not an opportunity for enormous organizational growth.

To prepare for those challenges, vary your news intake and closely follow foreign politics, make connections in countries where you hope to do business, invest in interpreters to overcome language barriers, and consider taking a global business course to develop your international business skills and prepare for today's nuanced, interconnected business world.

Are you interested in breaking into a global market? Sharpen your knowledge of the international business world with our four-week Global Business course, and explore our other online strategy courses .

This post was updated on April 19, 2024. It was originally published on November 24, 2020.

challenges in business essay

About the Author

The 38 Biggest Business Challenges Growing Companies Face

Note: Some of the recommended resources (tools, vendors, books) may include affiliate links. I only promote solutions I use myself or businesses I support personally.

Growing a business is complicated. According to SBE Council , 89% of all businesses employ fewer than 20 employees. And scaling a company further is contingent on solving a number of business challenges — most of those being common across all organizations out there.

Businesses in their first year or two, under 10 to 20 employees, and making less than $500,000 in revenue are still validating their business model. Once a certain sense of stability is met, several repetitive challenges keep haunting organizations, over and over again.

After 16 years of running businesses and scaling 3 companies from zero to seven figures, I’ve compiled this comprehensive list of the most impactful business challenges that companies have to deal with. This consolidated report represents 500+ companies I’ve consulted and managed across my businesses. Resembling the feast or famine cycle freelancers are notorious for, the balancing act requires juggling with multiple challenges at a time, often across different categories.

This also summarized my launch and growth framework available in my new book “ MBA Disrupted ” (2x best-seller). 📗

For easier navigation, here’s a table of contents you can refer to for every section in this long-form guide:

1.1. Designing Systems and Processes

1.2. lack of direction/vision, 1.3. coping with market competition, 1.4. keeping up with market transformations, 1.5. reducing dependencies on the founding team, 1.6. balancing quality and growth, 1.7. leveraging consultants and business advisors, 2.1. building effective marketing strategies, 2.2. properly allocating marketing resources, 2.3. measuring marketing initiatives, 2.4. building a corporate brand, 2.5. relying on marketing for lead generation, 3.1. hiring new employees, 3.2. founding new departments, 3.3. retaining top talent, 3.4. embracing diversity at work, 3.5. nurturing a thriving company culture, 4.1. time management, 4.2. working on the business, 4.3. communication, 4.4. motivating employees, 4.5. strategic leadership, 4.6. hybrid work, 4.7. limited focus mode, 5.1. landing new business, 5.2. retaining customers (lifetime value), 5.3. maximizing word of mouth, 5.4. identifying new sales channels, 5.5. handling pricing negotiations, 5.6. building strategic partnerships & networking, 6.1. solving productivity problems, 6.2. automating business processes, 6.3. deploying technology for innovation, 6.4. training staff at large, 6.5. keeping up to speed with innovations, 7.1. tax management, 7.2. gdpr/ccpa, 7.3. employment overhead.

  • What's Next?

The list is broken down into 7 core categories, each of them describing a painful challenge growing organizations struggle with throughout their growth journey:

  • Business Strategy
  • Recruitment

I recently made a video guide encompassing the core 38 areas in this hour-long recording for my YouTube channel (subscribe for regular B2B video guides):

Here’s what the core business struggles look like today.

1. Business Strategy

Equally valid for small enterprises and large corporations, staying ahead of the game is fine art for any organization out there.

If you risk too much, you’ll lose money. If you remain comfortable in your position, competition will steal your most valued customers. Defining an effective business strategy that can scale and evolve with time is paramount for a profitable venture eager to stay ahead.

Business process management , as defined in Wikipedia, is the discipline responsible for applying techniques and methods to discover, model, analyze, measure, improve, optimize, and automate business processes.

Aside from professional consultancies , BPM is a leading challenge across growing organizations. Processes evolve over time as the business penetrates new markets and hires employees.

New recruits affect the company’s hierarchy, often leading to new tiers of management, operational procedures, and management workflows.

While the requirement for in-depth MBA understanding is evident, mainstream education is not the only way, as it may be confusing and expensive for some people, Luckily, people like Josh Kaufman provide concise books like The Personal MBA where they touch on systems and processes in entrepreneurship and traditional business.

An ineffective set of processes will impact in-house and external communication, the company’s morale, the efficiency of hiring new people at scale, and the profitability across the onboarding of new roles.

Organizations clearly threaten companies wandering around without a long-term vision with a clear agenda in place.

Kodak passed on the opportunity to release the first digital camera . They felt secure in their photography world while neglecting the drawbacks of traditional cameras in the era of evolving digital innovations.

Toys R Us faded away for good while millennials and generation Z embraced video games and online shopping. Smaller stores sold the same products at a discounted price, in neighborhoods all around the world.

Even billion-dollar enterprises can easily drop out of a competitive landscape unless they keep innovating, attracting new markets, and staying on top of the latest innovations.

Executives and senior managers can leverage the power of SWOT analysis frameworks and identify the missing links in their leadership strategy. This could be instrumental as an exercise for team leaders and even individual employees across the organization as a “ reality check ” instrument for self-assessment.

An old branding rule states that the best businesses are:

  • The first in a category
  • Or the best in a category

Younger startups fail to define their unique competitive advantage among established giants. Industry leaders, on the other end, miss stealth startups rapidly aiming at their target market, revealing their weaknesses, and coming up with a counter-offer.

A smart workaround is targeting foreign markets for higher profit margins. Acquiring the majority of a market in a less competitive area can generate enough buzz to bootstrap the business in “red ocean” territories harder to penetrate at first.

One of my favourite reading materials regarding market competition is Alex Hormozi’s $100M Leads: How to Get Strangers to Want to Buy Your Stuff . The book is full of actionable frameworks and hook-and-retain systems that help you land more customers. I have two physical copies of the book in the DevriX office.

Differentiating while niching down is a common strategy for starting businesses that want to overcome the challenges of a broad pool of successful vendors in the space.

Adapting to market transformations and technological innovations isn’t easy at scale. We see this firsthand with AI penetration since 2023.

US companies with hundreds of employees abandoned EU markets after the introduction of GDPR in May 2018. Old-school businesses who couldn’t train their staff basic computer operator skills struggle to operate in a competitive digital environment. The same legal framework is now penetrating the US, causing friction and problems for smaller businesses.

Advertising in newspapers and social media is a different game. Just like adapting a traditional “car salesman” process to a modern business development workflow given a transformed buyer’s journey.

Being “ up to speed ” with the latest business, digital, economic and political trends isn’t easy. We may be following the industry journals, but groundbreaking innovations are deployed quietly, emerging globally once they get enough traction for scale.

A common problem for startups and smaller businesses where founders are heavily involved in day-to-day operations.

Smart founders are aware of the benefits of working “ on ” the business instead of “ in ” the business. But implementing this in practice is complicated .

If founders want the business to be more independent of them, they must create a business parable for their start-ups that won’t trap them when they want to sell it .

Inefficient execution leads to blockers and broken workflows, swamping the founding team , delaying deliverables, capping growth, and reducing the level of institutional knowledge in the team.

Designing a recruitment and growth strategy around building a leadership team of intrapreneurs is a lesser-known solution to this common business challenge.

Growing startups and SMEs often report reduced quality while scaling, especially the fast-growth ones.

During the first year or two, a small handful of people are in charge of all operations. Skilled professionals start a business, deliver outstanding quality, work day and night on execution, and build a client base.

To become a high-performing SME , founders develop clarity, generate energy, raise necessity, increase productivity, develop influence, and demonstrate courage.

Throughout the growth period, new roles are created — support, business development, marketing, management. As recruitment and onboarding processes are still in their infancy, this creates a separation between the level of quality across different team members.

Moreover, hiring A-players isn’t sustainable at scale. A large corporation can only survive with a complex set of repetitive workflows, easy to follow by anyone who jumps on board. Relying on creativity, self-management, and proactivity is risky and nearly impossible for multinational enterprises.

Athletes work with coaches, musicians rely on producers to advise on trends, enterprises work under boards.

The equivalent of scaling a business effectively for small and medium-sized enterprises are consultants and advisors .

Finding a business mentor is one of the most productive tips that Suhail, founder of a 300+ person Mixpanel , suggests:

5/ Find a great mentor: Pick someone you want to impress. Find someone who will lift you up when you're down & take you down a notch when you're over confident. Ideally, they've been a CEO/founder before so they can empathize. Remember though: they offer guidance, not a script. — Suhail (@Suhail) May 21, 2018

Efficiency at scale is paramount. Mistakes cost a fortune, time is of the essence, allocating time often involves multiple divisions. Even with a small army in your control, assigning the right strategic activities is far easier when you work with a digital or business consultant .

2. Marketing

Marketing is a blended term encompassing a broad set of professional activities. It’s not a necessity for tiny teams.

Growing further? It’s absolutely paramount .

Let’s look into the main marketing challenges that businesses face while growing.

What is the #1 problem with generic terms like “Marketing”, “Negotiations”, “Management”?

Everyone assumes they get the gist out of them.

You don’t have to be certified or spend 4 years in a college to manage a couple of people. But managing two people in an SMB is completely different than managing a team of top-tier engineers in Google, for example.

Organizations often rely on rumors and common trends online, including:

  • Blogs are mandatory for success
  • An omni-channel approach from the start is required
  • You should spend a lot of time on social media
  • Video will rule
  • Marketing transforms to AI

The lack of any strategy in place, setting up adequate key performance indicators, and producing actionable business results are major bottlenecks for many businesses, especially traditional ones.

To produce such results, one must learn to create simple and fast marketing strategies . They might not be perfect, but a working viable strategy is better than nothing.

Making the first step to refining your marketing strategy is important. Don’t miss out.

Investing in marketing isn’t intuitive at first. There are plenty of options for launching marketing initiatives:

  • Hiring a marketing co-founder
  • Onboarding a director of marketing
  • Starting with an assistant or two
  • Working with freelancers
  • Signing with an agency

Businesses in different stages can apply marketing in various forms. Without the right strategy in place, marketing will be chaotic, generating minimum (if any) ROI, and more expensive than useful.

And exploring the alternatives between outsourcing or building marketing teams is the best next step.

Setting up the right KPIs (key performance indicators) is an art .

The most common response I get while chatting with clients regarding KPIs is “ revenue “.

Of course, revenue growth is the ultimate goal for almost any business. But, it is achievable through multiple channels. Each represents a chain of techniques and events leading to a sale or a conversion.

The lack of direction — and the vagueness of a strategy — won’t lead to a tight process, a measurable one that gets the job done.

This is why one important content marketing lesson is that professional marketers must outline a s uccessful content strategy that is broken down into multiple phases, over time, with certain indicators in place. Traffic, conversion rates, sign-ups, email open rates, brand searches — and hundreds of other factors contributing to generating a purchase.

A powerful brand can go a very, very long way.

Most reputable and well-known brands in the world can afford to:

  • Receive tons of PR attention
  • Get thousands of job applications at no cost
  • Present at the best events out there
  • Land customers with little friction
  • Receive free backlinks (being quoted and pointed as an example all the time)
  • Rank high in Google as a result
  • Gather a loyal, enormous group of followers online

Brand building is a complex, long-term initiative, and measuring results isn’t easy. But the effects of a powerful brand are indisputable. This is one of the levers of my B2B agency, DevriX, scaling a handful of businesses past 100M monthly views and helping SMEs grow continuously.

Employer branding is an extremely powerful weapon for recruitment, especially at rapidly growing organizations.

The return on investment in brand building for large corporations is the leading reason hundreds of millions are poured into street billboards and TV ads. Believe it or not, it pays off with time.

As discussed a bit earlier, defining optimal strategies and measuring KPIs is complex. As a result, businesses know that marketing is essential — but they remain unsure of its efficiency.

They can’t predictably hire and grow revenue thanks to marketing initiatives.

They can’t retain or generate new leads .

They can’t scale budgets sustainably due to fluctuating results.

And this impacts their sales and business development processes as a result. This stagnation reflects on revenue growth, salary increments, and employees’ mental health at the workplace .

Successful businesses have the right processes in place, measure KPIs related to actual purchases, and can pump up additional resources to predictably increase their revenue.

3. Recruitment

Starting businesses care a lot more and more frequently about landing new customers. Once they build a small team and form a couple of recurring revenue streams, scaling the company becomes a bigger challenge.

And what are the main recruitment hassles businesses complain about?

You’ve closed a strategic partnership or closed a massive deal — but you lack the manpower to execute. How quickly can you scale the team?

Unless your brand speaks for itself or your budgets are through the roof, competing with everyone on the market for top talent is a shark pool.

Top talent can start anywhere. They get the perks, the salary package, probably some flexible time off or remote working opportunities , along with a nice title and some growth opportunities. Top national brands and bleeding-edge startups both compete for them, with tens of thousands of open jobs online.

Hiring at scale is even more challenging. The overhead is multiplied if you need to make compromises in a really competitive market.

Following the practical guide to hiring employees will overcome some of the leading obstacles for you.

When I discuss business process outsourcing with prospects or potential partners, hiring in-house always comes up. And my response to this is:

Are you ready to build and nurture an entire new department?

This is equally valid for production, development, marketing, and logistics.

With marketing, getting the job done is contingent on strategy and leadership, combined with a team of top performers across different disciplines (copywriting, social media, email marketing, etc.)

In web development, building a project, unless they are great insta pages , requires front-end and back-end developers, quality assurance experts, tech-savvy project managers, systems engineers, and creative artists.

Starting a new department is a challenging undertaking that is to be evaluated carefully and incorporated with regular and reliable feedback plans .

This is especially important if you’re bootstrapped and building a new department with a limited budget until generating positive ROI .

Arranging an interview with top talent isn’t easy. Getting them to accept an offer is a form of luck.

Retaining them? Even the largest brands struggle to retain talent . In competitive disciplines like software engineering,

Facebook’s average retention period is 2.5 years while Google’s is 3.2 years. Complying with the most common recruitment challenges in IT will mitigate a portion of the churn rate.

With all the perks and top-tier salaries, exciting projects, and businesses worth hundreds of billions, keeping talent around is still a leading risk across business organizations.

Diversity has been a painful topic for ages. It has gained a lot more attention during the past decade, with some groundbreaking revelations for pay cuts, sexual harassment, unlawful firing, gender or racial discrimination (to name a few).

Companies like Uber have sunk billions in valuation due to poor management and reputation on the grounds of diversity.

Making sure that the culture is thriving is one of the leading problems. And enriching the workspace without placing artificial constraints is a natural continuation.

Building a great culture is a compound process that covers every step of the way:

  • Strategy and core leadership
  • Definition of the culture’s goals
  • Careful and thorough recruitment
  • Appropriate and balanced onboarding workflow
  • Integration within existing processes and teams
  • Ongoing nurturing and mentorship
  • Giving freedom and opportunities
  • Personal and professional development across talent

At DevriX, we’ve been mastering the culture development process since day 1. Company culture is the leading factor for building a successful remote team .

While a time-consuming endeavor, neglecting talent will decrease retention rates and the overall efficiency within the organization .

4. Management

Management takes multiple forms in a business organization. It entails the control and coordination of processes, people, time, resources, vendors, budgets, and a broader area of activities across the company.

Along with business strategy in the first chapter, management touches every point of the organization. This section enumerates some of the  key managerial problems  businesses face .

Effectively allocating time to the right initiatives is a craft.

And this is a valid problem for virtually every industry. Regardless of whether you run a cab company, a software agency, an event management consultancy, or a law firm.

Productive time management maximizes the potential of every single employee. Within a team, the power law kicks in: two slow parties will exponentially drag an assignment further and incur communication overhead.

This entails the time of the founders, senior management, supervisors, and every end unit of the business.

This is closely related to the dependency of the founding team.

Business owners and the C-Suite should quickly transition from operations to strategic leadership as the team grows.

At first, owners must run the day-to-day of the business .

They set the tone and create the initial processes. Bring the actual value to the business by delivering results. Building the product or delivering the service.

It’s only natural — and this is what freelancers and consultants do for the better part of their careers.

But scaling a company and hiring people? Delegation and freeing up time on strategy and growth are paramount. This is where building partnerships and outsourcing come in handy. A business cannot scale if the founders work in the business instead of determining and setting the direction for the entire organization.

A communication study reported by the Society for HR Management includes 400 companies with 100,000 employees each. Inadequate communication incurs an average of $62.4M in loss caused by overhead, misaligned work, incorrect deliverables, and more.

Communication problems easily make it to the top 10 critical business challenges across all organizations.

Many decision-makers seem to be incapable of connecting with their team and being on the same page.

And there are so many contributing factors: lack of enough experience, vague requirements, fear of disappointing management (or losing one’s job), ego, poor processes.

Establishing a streamlined communication protocol and straightforward processes is what management consulting and operational management are all about.

A critical challenge for both startups and large corporations.

An inefficient, demotivated employee in a startup may be worth 20% of the firm’s manpower. This may very well cause the startup to go bankrupt. Luckily, small teams work closely together every day, and noticing the trend is easier than overseeing tens of thousands of employees.

The challenge for large corporations is the law of power . If multiple departments get disconnected from the general purpose of the business, this may result in hundreds of employees investing the bare minimum to stay employed. And the combined expenses for the corporation are staggering — let alone the missed opportunities from closing new business.

Whenever capital isn’t there, creative recruitment and management techniques are available for startups and smaller enterprises.

The role of strategic leadership is defining the right roadmap for the business (or a department), breaking it down into actionable items, delegating the goals to the responsible parties, uniting the team together, motivating each member , and moving the needle both short-term and in the long run.

Strategic leadership touches on other important aspects of management. It covers the business needs through ideation and execution, envisioning trends and seeking opportunities.

It also respects each team member, recognizing valuable skills and developing new opportunities for growth.

Effective leadership improves company morale and progressively moves the business forward.

The “new normal” since the beginning of 2020 changed a lot of paradigms, including the global shift to remote work , working across different time zones, and hiring internationally (to name a few). It looks different several years later with most people back at the office – but still a leading remote or hybrid-first environment and multinational organizations at scale.

While global managers grew into their new role of managing remote talent, the new transition to hybrid work poses its own challenges.

Introducing new tooling to facilitate asynchronous communication across teams enabled better time allocation in-between Zoom calls and Slack/Teams huddles. And establishing a better workflow that strengthens on-site meetings with inclusivity toward remote employees is the next step.

According to different studies, managers spend nearly 20 hours a week in meetings. Blocking time for focus work is challenging.

How to increase productivity while maintaining collaboration across teams?

One way to combat meetings fatigue is by mastering multitasking . Understanding how and when to focus matters – but being a master in multitasking carries its own weight.

Additionally, fighting procrastination will help you and your teams build resilience on the job.

Sales are a necessity to fuel the corporate engine.

A successful sales strategy unlocks growth opportunities across all business departments — hiring new team members, investing in brand building, training for current employees, raises and bonuses, and a safety net if something goes off.

Here are the most pressing sales challenges for most businesses out there.

Every business struggles with closing new customers (small and large alike). Even enterprises have to compete for large government contracts.

Startups haven’t proven themselves yet , lack a fully trained sales team on-site, and need to compete with large, well-known organizations. Especially true if the founder has no sales expertise .

Enterprises are expensive . Their operational costs are high which affects their price point. Also, most enterprises can’t innovate fast enough, allowing competitors to chime in or startups to launch, acquiring some of their existing users.

Even when an established sales process is in place , the landscape of the market evolves at a fast pace. Consumers get access to new opportunities (or competitors). Some profitable channels get oversaturated. Retaining top salespeople is expensive and eats up the business margins.

Here’s the starter guide to generating sales designed for covering the basic techniques for introvert founders and CEOs.

Since sales and marketing get more expensive, retaining existing customers is the focus of SaaS businesses, service companies, support firms, and any other business able to continuously deliver to the same customer.

Customer retention can be disrupted with a drop in the quality, increase of prices, the inception of more lucrative competitors.

And many businesses simply haven’t found effective channels to keep customers happy (and willing to pay) continuously . Luckily, different techniques are available for continuously prolonging the lifetime value per customer.

Similarly to customer retention, unlocking new sales opportunities from satisfied customers is a common problem for businesses.

Companies traditionally don’t have an effective process for receiving introductions to other leads or invitations to special industry events.

This can be supplemented with case studies, video reviews, and testimonials increasing the credibility of a business.

According to Nielsen, 92% of consumers trust word of mouth more than any other form of advertising. Maximizing this channel is worth conceptualizing.

Most small and medium businesses leverage one or two sales channels. These are usually insufficient and risky.

On top of that, they may be expensive. Attending trade shows for closing a couple of leads requires a lot of preparation, travel, and accommodation, and building a team capable of closing.

Over time, new sales channels emerge . Are you actively seeking them?

The same goes for regularly experimenting with channels that didn’t work back in the day.

If cold calling wasn’t efficient a year ago, it may work better now. A new hire may be more competent in reaching out through LinkedIn. Your brand may have contributed to the better positioning of your business, contingent on having the right offer to pitch.

Even the most experienced salesmen often struggle with price haggling .

While you know what your product is worth, this doesn’t necessarily translate into your prospect’s mind.

With new competition on board and innovative ways to solve existing business problems, retaining the value of your solution isn’t easy. Lucrative potential partnerships may justify reducing the cost in some cases, but identifying the right partnership opportunities requires a good amount of experience and predicting the corresponding opportunities.

One of the easiest ways to bootstrap a new business or launch a brand new product is leveraging partnerships (and networking with the right vendors).

Partnerships are one of the four most important lead generation channels for both of my businesses. Starting a meaningful collaboration with an existing business that serves the same audience can be an incredible win-win for both parties: you reach your ideal audience and your partner can upsell or cross-sell their services.

Marketplaces are an intermediate medium that gets the job done. But a real partnership enables you to run joint webinars, leverage press together, and maximize ad spend effectively.

And when it comes to effective networking , here’s what you need to know.

6. Technology

Technology sits at the intersection of management and operations.

Businesses of all types and forms deploy software solutions for online positioning, marketing automation, customer relationship management, resource planning, application tracking, project management (to name a few).

Understanding how and when technology can increase the productivity of the business is a key skill.

Productivity loss is a combination of inefficient processes, poor tracking, communication overhead, incomplete onboarding.

All of these challenges can be solved with the right technology stack in place. Here’s how to do it.

  • Processes can be optimized with business process management solutions , carefully refining your set of processes, delegating each step to a team member, and tracking progress over time.
  • Tracking and project management may be handled with PM systems, a team messenger application, and time trackers whenever applicable.
  • Onboarding may be handled through documentation or online courses, email training, demo applications, and virtual conferencing whenever external consultants are involved.
  • Leverage tools for multitasking and asynchronous communication

Repetitively solving productivity problems will have an accumulative positive impact on business growth (and company morale).

Day-to-day operations can always be optimized. Reducing administrative friction is a “best practice” when creating a business plan for the company or a new product.

Back in the day, logistic companies weren’t leveraging GPS devices and tracking software optimizing their routes throughout the day. They used to fill out waybills on paper, using a finite set of receipt numbers, carrying over to accounting which spent days to merge these before the end of the month.

Accounting used to be handled on paper, by hand. Sales presentations are led over the phone or on-site due to the lack of video conferencing and presentations.

Eventually, new technical solutions emerged, solving day-to-day processes, reducing the error rate of manual mistakes, simplifying calculations, and designing predictions.

Even when tools are available, deploying them at work may turn out to be a complex set of processes.

Growing organizations use dozens (if not hundreds) of software tools responsible for different activities, aiming to maximize the use of incorporating technology to solve business problems . Effective applications talk to each other, pulling data from financial software tools, cross-checking with marketing applications, and generating reports in ERPs or CRMs.

Finding the right technical stack may be tricky. Evaluating the return on investment for restructuring certain portions of the technical landscape in favor of improving processes and saving time is an ongoing challenge for information officers and business leaders.

Aside from the technical logistics, teaching employees new software applications is an expensive investment.

While the younger generation is more comfortable switching between applications (thanks to the adoption of laptops, tablets, smartphones), that’s not the case for everyone, especially for the older generation.

This is why training may take weeks, months, or even over a year for complex ERPs or other business process applications delivering tens of thousands of features.

Considering the adoption of a software solution is always top of mind for business leaders looking for ways to optimize processes and reduce the hiring overhead for operations that could easily be automated (at least partially).

Due to the challenges of deploying new software, organizations often get too comfortable using outdated tools or applications.

This creates a false sense of “ efficiency “. A software application is in place and some of the work gets done. Oftentimes, this is not the most optimal way forward.

Moreover, identifying the right technical solutions to deploy is questionable. Organizations with limited tech-savvy leaders may miss out on great opportunities. Or get mislead by expensive PR and advertising campaigns started by less promising market alternatives.

One of the leading reasons we deploy WordPress solutions to enterprises is the bulletproof backward compatibility . Ensuring the longevity of your software solution will improve the adoption and decrease the documentation overhead for every new release.

Missing out on key opportunities may degrade the efficiency of the organization and impact the work quality as a result. Tech-driven businesses relying on the latest tech may deliver similar results at a fraction of the cost or time.

7. Compliance

The fastest way to tank a successful company at scale is a massive legal or financial violation.

Failing to report taxes accurately, especially internationally, or violating human laws can turn into an absolute nightmare for every organization.

Starting businesses are not as prone to regular audits. Doing business at a small scale is considered less risky, involves fewer employees, doesn’t include syndicates or lobbies.

Handing taxes becomes a burden early in – and complying with federal, state, national, and international tax regulations is a notable challenge.

Digital companies adhere to different tax codes depending on whether they deliver services or products, the origin of the deal, selling to individuals vs. companies, and their geographical location. That creates a number of edge cases that commerce software needs to support and keep up to date with as taxes change over time.

Privacy laws and regulations have contributed to legal overhead and digital popup blindness ever since the adoption of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in 2016, followed by the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) in 2018.

While privacy policies have always been important, strictly limiting sensitive and personally identifiable information is on the rise. Following violations can cost 10 million euros (around $11M) or 2% of the global turnover of an organization. For context, Amazon was fined $877M in 2021and Facebook $275M.

Growing businesses depend on collaboration. Headcount is directly proportional to revenue growth and success – as scaling operations is nearly impossible without continuous hiring.

But employment laws aren’t easy, either. There are continued conflicts between applicants and organizations, involving labor laws and authorities. Between demand for public salary ranges and diversity conversations, parenting leave demands, increasing age for retirement, mandatory annual leave, and providing a healthy environment at work, HR managers and executives have to navigate a complex set of requirements.

This also facilitates an easier onboarding environment for freelancers, contractors, and agencies , further growing the entrepreneurial space out there.

What’s Next?

Over the next couple of months, I’ll be supplementing the list with additional business challenges companies face across other growth areas, including sales, management, technology, and finances.

And most topics will receive an in-depth overview of techniques and leading industry practices.

If you are interested in the evolution of the comprehensive business checklist covering the leading challenges haunting growing businesses, make sure you sign up for my free 8-week business training .

Over the course of 16 lessons, I’ll discuss the most pressing business challenges, structured in an easy-to-follow way for executives and managers operating in different industries.

This is suitable management training for aspiring leaders in your organization as well.

My name is Mario Peshev, a global SME Business Advisor running digital businesses for 20 the past years.

Born in Bulgaria, Europe, I gained diverse management experience through my training work across Europe, North America, and the Arab world. With 10,000+ hours in consulting and training for organizations like SAP, VMware, CERN, I’ve dedicated a huge amount of my time to helping hundreds of SMEs growing in different stages of the business lifecycle.

My martech agency DevriX grew past 50 people and ranks as a top 10 WordPress global agency and Growth Blueprint, my advisory firm, has served 400+ SME founders and executives with monthly ongoing strategy sessions.

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challenges in business essay

The Science of Strong Business Writing

by Bill Birchard

challenges in business essay

Summary .   

Brain scans are showing us in new detail exactly what entices readers. Scientists can see a group of midbrain neurons—the “reward circuit”—light up as people respond to everything from a simple metaphor to an unexpected story twist. The big takeaway? Whether you’re crafting an email to a colleague or an important report for the board, you can write in a way that delights readers on a primal level, releasing pleasure chemicals in their brains.

Bill Birchard is an author and writing coach who’s worked with many successful businesspeople. He’s drawn on that experience and his review of the scientific literature to identify eight features of satisfying writing: simplicity, specificity, surprise, stirring language, seductiveness, smart ideas, social content, and storytelling. In this article, he shares tips for using those eight S’s to captivate readers and help your message stick.

Strong writing skills are essential for anyone in business. You need them to effectively communicate with colleagues, employees, and bosses and to sell any ideas, products, or services you’re offering.

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Exploring Compelling Business Essay Topics: A Guide

Exploring Compelling Business Essay Topics: A Guide

Samuel Gorbold

The very first recorded business contract in history, known as the 'Kushim Tablet,' hails from ancient Sumer, dating back to around 2025 BC. This clay tablet, unearthed in modern-day Iraq, contains details of a business transaction, setting the stage for a practice that remains at the heart of global economies today. This intriguing historical tidbit underscores the enduring significance of business in human civilization. As we delve into writing an essay on business, it's important to recognize that this field, in all its multifaceted glory, has played an integral role in shaping societies, economies, and even our moral compass.

Short Description

In this informative article, experts at our essay writing service online will delve into the world of business essays, exploring what they are and why they matter. Discover the essential components of this type of essay, from format and structure to tips and steps for effective writing. Learn how to choose a compelling topic, complete with topic suggestions for inspiration. Plus, we'll walk you through a real business essay example to provide practical insights and guidance!

challenges in business essay

Understanding the Business Essay

Business essay is a written piece that explores and analyzes various aspects of the business world. It serves as a platform for individuals to express their thoughts and ideas related to business practices, theories, and ethics. According to our discussion writer these essays play a crucial role in both academic and professional settings, allowing students, researchers, and professionals to convey their insights and knowledge effectively.

To grasp the essence of this kind of essay, it's important to recognize that it adheres to a specific business essay structure and format. This structure typically includes an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The introduction provides a clear overview of the essay's main points, while the body paragraphs present arguments and supporting evidence. The conclusion summarizes the key takeaways and emphasizes the significance of the discussion.

One of the distinguishing features of a business school essay is its focus on practicality and relevance. These essays often address real-world issues, making them a valuable tool for conveying information, insights, and recommendations to both academic and professional audiences. These essays can explore a wide range of topics, including business ethics, management practices, economic trends, and industry-specific challenges.

Moreover, business papers contribute to the development of critical thinking and analytical skills. They require the writer to evaluate information, draw meaningful conclusions, and communicate their findings effectively. This process not only enhances one's understanding of business concepts but also prepares individuals to address real-world challenges and make informed decisions.

Business Essay Format and Structure

Understanding the business essay format and structure is crucial for conveying your ideas effectively. Let's break down the key components with practical insights:

business essay structure

1. Introduction: The Opening Statement

In the introduction, you should present the central theme of your essay. Imagine it as your opening statement in a legal argument. For instance, if your essay is about 'Sustainable Business Practices,' your introduction should clearly state what sustainable business practices are and why they are important. It's like making your case to the jury.

2. Body Paragraphs: Building Your Argument

Each body paragraph should focus on a specific aspect of your topic. Imagine these paragraphs as building blocks. If you're discussing the advantages of sustainable business practices, one block could be about cost savings, another about improved brand reputation, and so on. In each block, provide evidence and examples. For instance, you could cite how companies like Patagonia have benefited from sustainability efforts.

3. Discussion of Business Ethics: The Moral Perspective

If your essay delves into business ethics, think of it as introducing a moral perspective. Use real-world examples of businesses that have faced ethical dilemmas and how they resolved them or faced consequences. This adds depth to your essay. For instance, discussing how a company handled a product recall due to safety concerns illustrates ethical decision-making.

4. Business Law Considerations: The Legal Framework

Businesses operate within a legal framework, and your essay should address this. Consider it as discussing the legal regulations that govern your topic. Use examples of companies that faced legal challenges due to unethical behavior. For instance, when discussing environmental regulations, you could mention a company fined for violating pollution control laws.

5. Conclusion: Summarizing Your Case

In your conclusion, recap the main points and restate your thesis. Think of it as summarizing your case before the jury. You're reminding the reader of the key arguments and their significance. You might also hint at the broader implications or future considerations related to your topic.

Choosing Your Business Essay Topic

Selecting the right business essay topics is a critical starting point. It sets the tone for your paper and determines the level of your engagement and interest throughout the writing process. Here's how to choose a compelling topic and some topic suggestions from our economics essay writing services experts:

1. Personal Interest:

One of the best ways to ensure your essay is engaging and well-researched is by selecting a topic that genuinely interests you. Consider the areas of business that intrigue you the most, whether it's entrepreneurship, marketing, finance, or sustainability. Your enthusiasm will shine through in your writing.

2. Relevance:

Choose a topic that is relevant to your academic or professional goals. For instance, if you're pursuing a degree in business management, you might want to explore topics related to leadership, organizational behavior, or strategic planning. If you're writing for a business ethics course, topics related to corporate social responsibility or ethical decision-making could be ideal.

3. Current Trends:

Staying up-to-date with current business trends and issues can lead to timely and engaging topics. Consider researching recent developments in your chosen field. For instance, if you're writing on marketing, explore topics related to the impact of social media or emerging marketing strategies.

4. Controversy and Debate:

Business is often rife with controversial issues that make for compelling essays. Delve into topics where there is ongoing debate, such as the pros and cons of globalization, the ethical implications of AI in the workplace, or the challenges of sustainable supply chains.

5. Practicality:

Choose a topic that allows for practical application. It's rewarding to explore business administration essay topics that not only expand your knowledge but also offer insights you can apply in your future career. Topics related to business strategies, project management, or effective leadership can fall into this category.

Business Management Essay Topics

  • The Role of Emotional Intelligence in Effective Leadership.
  • Strategies for Navigating Change Management in the Digital Age.
  • Assessing the Impact of Employee Training and Development on Organizational Success.
  • The Role of Diversity and Inclusion in Enhancing Team Performance.
  • The Challenges and Opportunities of Family Business Succession Planning.
  • The Evolution of Project Management in the Information Age.
  • The Influence of Corporate Culture on Organizational Performance.
  • The Importance of Strategic Human Resource Management in Modern Businesses.
  • Analyzing the Key Factors in Effective Supply Chain Management.
  • The Role of Data Analytics in Decision-Making and Business Strategy.

Business Argumentative Essay Topics

  • Is Globalization a Boon or a Bane for Developing Economies?
  • Exploring the Ethical and Economic Implications of Data Privacy in the Digital Age.
  • Should Companies Be Held Liable for Environmental Damage Resulting from Their Operations?
  • The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Job Displacement and Workforce Evolution.
  • Is Social Media a Vital Marketing Tool or a Source of Misinformation and Distraction?
  • Analyzing the Ethics of Big Pharma: Balancing Profit and Public Health.
  • Debating the Pros and Cons of Universal Basic Income as an Economic Policy.
  • The Role of Government Regulation in Fostering Innovation or Stifling Competition.
  • Exploring the Challenges of Sustainable Business Practices in a Profit-Driven World.
  • The Controversy of CEO Compensation: Are High Salaries Justifiable?

Persuasive Essay Topics for Business Administration

  • The Importance of Implementing Employee Wellness Programs in Corporations.
  • Promoting the Adoption of Sustainable Practices in Small Businesses.
  • The Benefits of Diversity and Inclusion Programs in the Workplace.
  • Convincing Small Businesses to Embrace Digital Transformation for Growth.
  • The Role of Business Administration in Fostering Work-Life Balance.
  • The Necessity of Implementing Effective Corporate Governance Practices.
  • Persuading Companies to Invest in Community Engagement and Philanthropy.
  • The Need for Small Business Owners to Embrace E-commerce.
  • Encouraging Businesses to Develop Strong Social Media Presence.
  • The Value of Effective Communication in Business Administration.

Business Ethics Essay Topics

  • Analyzing the Ethical Implications of AI in Recruitment and Hiring in International Business.
  • The Ethical Dilemma of Privacy Versus Security in Data Collection within the business environment.
  • Corporate Social Responsibility and Its Impact on Brand Reputation in Business Education.
  • The Moral Considerations of Outsourcing Labor to Low-Wage Countries in Ethical Business Practices.
  • Ethics of Patents and Intellectual Property in the Tech Industry, considering supply and demand.
  • Whistleblowing: Balancing the Ethical Obligation with Professional Consequences in ethical business practices.
  • The Ethical Challenges of Advertising in the Digital Age, exploring international business ethics.
  • The Role of Ethical Leadership in Building Trust in Organizations within the context of business environment.
  • The Intersection of Business Ethics and Environmental Sustainability, impacting supply and demand.
  • The Ethical Implications of Pharmaceutical Pricing and Access, emphasizing ethical business practices.

Business Law Essay Topics

  • The Legal Framework of International Trade Agreements and Their Impact on Businesses.
  • Intellectual Property Laws in the Age of Digital Content Distribution.
  • Analyzing Employment Discrimination Laws and Their Impact on Workplace Diversity.
  • The Legal Implications of Cybersecurity Breaches and Data Privacy.
  • The Role of Antitrust Laws in Regulating Market Competition.
  • Business Contracts: Their Importance, Formation, and Enforcement.
  • The Impact of Environmental Regulations on Business Operations.
  • The Legal Challenges of Cryptocurrency and Blockchain Technology.
  • Consumer Protection Laws in the Era of E-commerce.
  • The Legal Aspects of Mergers and Acquisitions: Regulatory Compliance and Challenges.

Business Essay Example for Inspiration

Let's now join our business essay writing service experts as they explore a captivating business essay example, illuminating the path to thought-provoking ideas and innovation in the corporate realm.

Title: The Impact of Climate Change on Agriculture

Climate change, with its far-reaching consequences, has become an imminent global concern. It poses multifaceted challenges to various sectors of society, with agriculture being among the most vulnerable. This essay delves into the profound impact of climate change on agriculture, addressing issues like altered growing seasons, extreme weather events, and strategies for sustainable adaptation.

Altered Growing Seasons

Climate change is leading to shifts in traditional growing seasons for crops. Rising temperatures and changing precipitation patterns can disrupt the natural rhythm of agriculture. As a result, farmers must adapt by adjusting planting and harvesting times to align with these new climate realities. In regions where agriculture plays a pivotal role in the economy, these shifts have significant economic implications. The availability of fresh produce and staple crops may be affected, leading to potential food security concerns.

Extreme Weather Events

One of the most immediate consequences of climate change on agriculture is the increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events. Droughts, floods, hurricanes, and wildfires are becoming more common, and they can devastate crops, livestock, and infrastructure. Farmers are forced to invest in resilient farming practices and infrastructure to mitigate the impact of these events. Additionally, extreme weather events can lead to soil erosion, loss of topsoil, and reduced land productivity, making long-term sustainable agriculture more challenging.

Strategies for Sustainable Adaptation

In the face of these challenges, the agricultural sector is innovating to adapt sustainably. Techniques like precision agriculture, which employs technology to optimize resource use and reduce environmental impact, are becoming more prevalent. Crop diversification and the development of drought-resistant and heat-tolerant crop varieties are also vital strategies for addressing climate change's impact on agriculture.

In conclusion, climate change is posing considerable challenges to agriculture, from shifting growing seasons to the increasing frequency of extreme weather events. However, proactive adaptation strategies and sustainable practices offer hope for the future of agriculture in a changing climate. Addressing these challenges is not just an agricultural concern but a global imperative for food security and environmental sustainability.

How to Write a Business Essay

Learning how to write a business essay is not just about stringing words together; it's about presenting well-researched, well-structured, and thought-provoking content. Here's a breakdown of the key steps from our finance essay writing service to guide you through the process:

how to write business essay

Researching and Planning

Before you start writing, thorough research and planning are crucial.

  • Conduct Research: Begin by gathering information from reputable sources. This could include academic journals, books, industry reports, and case studies. Online databases, like JSTOR and Google Scholar, are valuable tools.
  • Define Your Thesis: Your thesis statement is the central argument of your essay. It should be concise and clear. For example, if you're writing about the impact of e-commerce on traditional retail, your thesis could be: 'E-commerce has disrupted traditional retail models by offering convenience and wider product selection.'
  • Create an Outline: Organize your thoughts and research into a logical structure. A typical business essay includes an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each section should have a specific purpose and content.

Writing Your Business Essay

With your research and plan in place, it's time to start writing:

  • Introduction: Begin with an engaging introduction that outlines your thesis and the key points you'll discuss. For our e-commerce example, you might briefly describe the rise of online shopping and its impact on traditional brick-and-mortar stores.
  • Body Paragraphs: Each paragraph should focus on a specific point or argument. Use evidence from your research to support your claims. In our case, you might have paragraphs discussing the convenience of e-commerce, the wider product selection, and how traditional retailers are adapting.
  • Discussion of Business Ethics and Law: If your essay involves ethical considerations or legal aspects, ensure you address these within relevant sections. For instance, when discussing the impact of e-commerce on traditional retail, you may touch upon ethical issues surrounding consumer data privacy and legal aspects like taxation.
  • Conclusion: Summarize your main points and restate your thesis. Discuss the broader implications of your findings. In our e-commerce essay, you could highlight how the retail landscape is evolving and the need for businesses to adapt.

Adding Depth to Your Essay

To make your business essay stand out, consider these depth-adding techniques:

  • Real-World Examples: Use concrete examples, current sociology essay topics , or case studies to illustrate your points. For our e-commerce essay, you might discuss how Amazon's rise and innovation transformed the retail landscape.
  • Critical Thinking: Analyze the information you've presented. Don't just state facts; provide your own insights and interpretations. Discuss why e-commerce has thrived and how it might continue to evolve.
  • Counterarguments and Rebuttals: Acknowledge opposing viewpoints and address them. This shows that you've considered various perspectives. For instance, some may argue that traditional retailers still offer a personal shopping experience, which you can address in your essay.

Final Thoughts

Whether writing an essay on business ethics or choosing other critical analysis essay topics related to this field, it is an opportunity to explore and express your insights on critical topics in the world of commerce. From research to compelling arguments and ethical considerations to well-structured content, this guide equips you to excel. As you embark on your essay-writing journey, remember that each word you put on paper has the power to shape ideas and influence decisions. Use this power responsibly and passionately to make your business essay impactful.

challenges in business essay

Samuel Gorbold , a seasoned professor with over 30 years of experience, guides students across disciplines such as English, psychology, political science, and many more. Together with EssayHub, he is dedicated to enhancing student understanding and success through comprehensive academic support.

challenges in business essay

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50 MBA Essays That Got Applicants Admitted To Harvard & Stanford

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What Matters? and What More? is a collection of 50 application essays written by successful MBA candidates to Harvard Business School and Stanford Graduate School of Business

What Matters? and What More? is a collection of 50 application essays written by successful MBA candidates to Harvard Business School and Stanford Graduate School of Business

I sat alone one Saturday night in a boardroom in Eastern Oregon, miles from home, my laptop lighting the room. I was painstakingly reviewing a complex spreadsheet of household energy consumption data, cell by cell. ‘Why am I doing this to myself? For remote transmission lines?’…I felt dejected. I’d felt that way before, during my summer at JP Morgan, standing alone in the printing room at 3 a.m., binding decks for a paper mill merger that wouldn’t affect my life in the least.

That’s how an analyst at an MBB firm started his MBA application essay to Stanford Graduate School of Business. His point: In a well-crafted essay, he confronts the challenge of finding meaning in his work and a place where he can make a meaningful difference. That is what really matters most to him, and his answer to Stanford’s iconic MBA application essay helped get him defy the formidable odds of acceptance and gain an admit to the school.

Getting into the prestigious MBA programs at either Stanford Graduate School of Business or Harvard Business School are among the most difficult journeys any young professional can make.

NEARLY 17,000 CANDIDATES APPLIED TO HARVARD & STANFORD LAST YEAR. 1,500 GOT IN

challenges in business essay

This collection of 50 successful HBS and GSB essays, with smart commentary, can be downloaded for $60

They are two of the most selective schools, routinely rejecting nine or more out of every ten applicants. Last year alone, 16,628 candidates applied to both schools; just 1,520 gained an acceptance, a mere 9.1% admit rate.

Business school admissions are holistic, meaning that while standardized test scores and undergraduate transcripts are a critical part of the admissions process, they aren’t the whole story. In fact, the stories that applicants tell the schools in the form of essays can be a critical component of a successful application.

So what kinds of stories are successful applicants to Harvard and Stanford telling their admission officers? For the first time ever, a newly published collection of 50 of these essays from current MBA students at these two schools has been published. In ten cases, applicants share the essays they wrote in applying to both schools so you can see whether they merely did a cut-and-paste job or approached the task anew. The 188-page book, What Matters? and What More?, gains its title from the two iconic essay prompts at Harvard and Stanford.

THOUGHTFUL CRITIQUES OF THE ESSAYS

Stanford can easily boast having the most difficult question posed to MBA applicants in any given year: In 650 words or less, candidates must tell the school what matters most to them and why. Harvard gives applicants ample room to hang themselves, providing no word limit at all, “What more would you like us to know as we consider your candidacy?”

One makes this unusual collection of essays powerful are the thoughtful critiques by the founders of two MBA admissions consulting firms, Jeremy Shinewald of mbaMission and Liza Weale of Gatehouse Admissions. They write overviews of each essay in the book and then tear apart portions by paragraphs to either underline a point or address a weakness. The book became available to download for $60 a pop.

As I note in a foreword to the collection, published in partnership with Poets&Quants, the essay portion of an application is where a person can give voice to who they are, what they have achieved so far, and what they imagine their future to be. Yet crafting a powerful and introspective essay can be incredibly daunting as you stare at a blank computer screen.

APPLICANTS OPEN UP WITH INTIMATE STORIES THAT SHOW VULNERABILITY

One successful applicant to Harvard Business School begins his essay by conveying a deeply personal story: The time his father was told that he had three months to live, with his only hope being a double lung transplant. had to undergo a lung transplant. His opening line: “Despite all we had been through in recent years, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect when I asked my mother one summer evening in Singapore, ‘What role did I play during those tough times?’”

For this candidate to Stanford Graduate School of Business, the essay provided a chance to creatively engage admission readers about what matters most to him–equality-by cleverly using zip codes as a hook.

60605, 60606, 60607.

These zip codes are just one digit apart, but the difference that digit makes in someone’s life is unfathomable. I realized this on my first day as a high school senior. Leafing through my out-of- date, stained, calculus textbook, I kept picturing the new books that my friend from a neighboring (more affluent) district had. As college acceptances came in, I saw educational inequality’s more lasting effects—my friends from affluent districts that better funded education were headed to prestigious universities, while most of my classmates were only accepted by the local junior college. I was unsettled that this divergence wasn’t the students’ doing, but rather institutionalized by the state’s education system. Since this experience, I realized that the fight for education equality will be won through equal opportunity. Overcoming inequality, to ensure that everyone has a fair shake at success, is what matters most to me.

HOW AN APPLICANT TO BOTH SCHOOLS ALTERED HIS ESSAYS

Yet another candidate, who applied to both Harvard and Stanford, writes about being at but not fully present at his friend’s wedding.

The morning after serving as my friend’s best man, I was waiting for my Uber to the airport and—as usual—scrolling through my phone,” he wrote. “I had taken seemingly hundreds of photos of the event, posting in real time to social media, but had not really looked through them. With growing unease, I noticed people and things that had not registered with me the night before and realized I had been so preoccupied with capturing the occasion on my phone that I had essentially missed the whole thing. I never learned the name of the woman beside me at the reception. I could not recall the wedding cake flavor. I never introduced myself to my friend’s grandfather from Edmonton. I was so mortified that before checking into my flight, I turned my phone off and stuffed it into my carry-on.

The Stanford version of his essay is more compact. In truth, it’s more succinctly written and more satisfying because it is to the point. By stripping away all but the most critical pieces of his narrative, the candidate focuses his essay entirely on his central point: the battle of man versus technology.

Even if you’re not applying to business school, the essays are entertaining and fun to read. Sure, precious few are New Yorker worthy. In fact, many are fairly straightforward tales, simply told. What the successful essays clearly show is that there is no cookie-cutter formula or paint-by-the-numbers approach. Some start bluntly and straightforwardly, without a compelling or even interesting opening. Some meander through different themes. Some betray real personality and passion. Others are frankly boring. If a pattern of any kind could be discerned, it is how genuine the essays read.

The greatest benefit of reading them? For obsessive applicants to two of the very best business schools, they’ll take a lot of pressure off of you because they are quite imperfect.

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July 18, 2018

How to Write About Overcoming Challenges Without Sounding Like a Whiner

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It’s a classic MBA essay question : Write about a time when you overcame a challenge. How did you handle it? What did you learn from the experience?

Let’s start by easing one worry you may have. Not everyone has faced a significant challenge at work by the time they apply for an MBA. If that is your situation, think of another significant challenge you have faced in another realm: a community or volunteer organization, the military, or perhaps even a difficult personal situation . It’s important that the challenge be something in the recent past – preferably within the last two or three years. If the challenge you write about is farther back than that, it will need to have that much greater impact or significance.

What makes a good “challenge” for the purpose of this essay? The possibilities are almost limitless, but here are a few strong examples:

•  “Joe’s” boss informed him he was going to fire “Freddy,” a new-hire Joe had been mentoring, for poor performance. Joe believed in Freddy’s technical skills, and felt Freddy’s shyness and lack of English fluency had hurt him. Joe took it upon himself to try to help save Freddy’s job. He convinced his boss to give Freddy another chance, and coached him after-hours, directed him to a language fluency program, and engaged in role playing to help Freddy gain confidence. Freddy began to thrive, kept his job, and became the go-to guy in his department for certain technical knowledge.

At no time did Joe complain about his boss or call him unreasonable or insensitive. At no time did Joe play the martyr, patting himself on the back about the extra steps he was taking to work with Freddy. He just stated the facts about what he did , which spoke for themselves.

•  Here’s another example. “Lori” joined a community service organization whose membership was plummeting. Lori believed in the organization’s goals, volunteered to spearhead a membership drive, which was successful, and then ran for president of the organization and won. Then, she worked to create more dynamic programming, a social media presence, and added appealing incentives for people joining or renewing membership.

Joe made a huge impact on one man, and by extension, an impact on his organization. Lori also was able to show direct and tangible impact on her group. Neither Joe nor Lori made themselves out to be heroes by describing their exhaustion because of long hours spent on their respective “projects.” They didn’t pat themselves on the back for the contributions they made. They simply stated the circumstances, why they believed in their mission, and related what they did to fix what was wrong around them. Presenting their stories in a “just the facts, Ma’m” manner make Lori and Joe sound like exciting management material: filled with vision, creativity, incentive, and energy. And it is succinct.

•  Let’s look at one final example. “Gary” had written a marketing plan to boost awareness and fundraising at the non-profit where he worked. His CEO at first approved his plan, then suddenly nixed it, replacing it with his own plan. Gary was sure the CEO’s plan was not viable. It lacked a marketing budget yet had lofty target goals for fundraising. The CEO gave Gary six months to achieve these goals.

Now that’s a challenge.

When Gary couldn’t get the CEO to reconsider, he appealed to others in the organization who had the CEO’s ear. Fortunately, they were willing to speak to the CEO, who then agreed to Gary’s original plan. Now, based on the first few examples we’ve seen, you will already have guessed that in this case, Gary did not complain about the CEO, call him short-sighted or stingy. He did offer some explanations for why the CEO might have seen the situation as he did, but nothing pejorative was written.

Gary’s workaround to his challenging situation showed boldness, initiative, and perseverance. At no time did he complain about the added workload of having to unravel this situation, or make himself sound like he had saved the day.

Let’s recap: A strong “challenge” example will allow you to show direct impact on either your organization or another individual. Ideally, it will be something that happened in the last two or three years, unless it was a monumental achievement. Finally, do not cast blame on others who may have helped create the problem/challenge in the first place, and do not sound like a martyr in describing the efforts (no matter how great) you made to get the job done. Simple, direct writing about the challenge will make it abundantly clear that you have the initiative, problem solving, communications, and organizational skills a good MBA program looks for.

From Example to Exemplary - Download your guide today!

By Judy Gruen, former Accepted admissions consultant. Judy holds a Master’s in Journalism from Northwestern University. She is the co-author of Accepted’s first full-length book,  MBA Admission for Smarties: The No-Nonsense Guide to Acceptance at Top Business Schools .  Want an admissions expert help you get accepted? Click here to get in touch!

Related Resources:

•  The Quick Guide to Admissions Resumes •  Writing About Overcoming Obstacles in Your Application Essays •  3 Tips for Showing Strengths in Your Application Essays

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How to Write the “Overcoming Challenges” Essay + Examples

What’s covered:.

  • What is the Overcoming Challenges Essay?
  • Real Overcoming Challenges Essay Prompts
  • How to Choose a Topic
  • Writing Tips

Overcoming Challenges Essay Examples

  • Where to Get Your Essay Edited

While any college essay can be intimidating, the Overcoming Challenges prompt often worries students the most. Those students who’ve been lucky enough not to experience trauma tend to assume they have nothing worth saying. On the other hand, students who’ve overcome larger obstacles may be hesitant to talk about them.

Regardless of your particular circumstances, there are steps you can take to make the essay writing process simpler. Here are our top tips for writing the overcoming challenges essay successfully.

What is the “Overcoming Challenges” Essay?

The overcoming challenges prompt shows up frequently in both main application essays (like the Common App) and supplemental essays. Because supplemental essays allow students to provide schools with additional information, applicants should be sure that the subject matter they choose to write about differs from what’s in their main essay.

Students often assume the overcoming challenges essay requires them to detail past traumas. While you can certainly write about an experience that’s had a profound effect on your life, it’s important to remember that colleges aren’t evaluating students based on the seriousness of the obstacle they overcame.

On the contrary, the goal of this essay is to show admissions officers that you have the intelligence and fortitude to handle any challenges that come your way. After all, college serves as an introduction to adult life, and schools want to know that the students they admit are up to the task. 

Real “Overcoming Challenges” Essay Prompts

To help you understand what the “Overcoming Challenges” essay looks like, here are a couple sample prompts.

Currently, the Common Application asks students to answer the following prompt in 650 words or less:

“The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?”

For the past several years, MIT has prompted students to write 200 to 250 words on the following:

“Tell us about the most significant challenge you’ve faced or something important that didn’t go according to plan. How did you manage the situation?”

In both cases, the prompts explicitly ask for your response to the challenge. The event itself isn’t as important as how it pushed you to grow.

How to Choose a Topic for an Essay on Overcoming Challenges

When it comes to finding the best topic for your overcoming challenges essays, there’s no right answer. The word “challenge” is ambiguous and could be used to reference a wide range of situations from prevailing over a bully to getting over your lifelong stage fright to appear in a school musical. Here are some suggestions to keep in mind when selecting an essay subject.

1. Avoid trivial or common topics

While there aren’t many hard-and-fast rules for choosing an essay topic, students should avoid overdone topics.

These include:

  • Working hard in a challenging class
  • Overcoming a sports injury
  • Moving schools or immigrating to the US
  • Tragedy (divorce, death, abuse)

Admissions officers have read numerous essays on the subject, so it’s harder for you to stand out (see our full list of cliché college essay topics to avoid ). If events like these were truly formative to you, you can still choose to write about them, but you’ll need to be as personal as possible. 

It’s also ideal if you have a less traditional storyline for a cliché topic; for example, if your sports injury led you to discover a new passion, that would be a more unique story than detailing how you overcame your injury and got back in the game.

Similarly, students may not want to write about an obstacle that admissions committees could perceive as low stakes, such as getting a B on a test, or getting into a small fight with a friend. The goal of this essay is to illustrate how you respond to adversity, so the topic you pick should’ve been at least impactful on your personal growth.

2. Pick challenges that demonstrate qualities you want to highlight

Students often mistakenly assume they need to have experienced exceptional circumstances like poverty, an abusive parent, or cancer to write a good essay. The truth is that the best topics will allow you to highlight specific personal qualities and share more about who you are. The essay should be less about the challenge itself, and more about how you responded to it.

Ask yourself what personality traits you want to emphasize, and see what’s missing in your application. Maybe you want to highlight your adaptability, for example, but that isn’t clearly expressed in your application. In this case, you might write about a challenge that put your adaptability to the test, or shaped you to become more adaptable.

Here are some examples of good topics we’ve seen over the years:

  • Not having a coach for a sports team and becoming one yourself
  • Helping a parent through a serious health issue
  • Trying to get the school track dedicated to a coach
  • Having to switch your Model UN position last-minute

Tips for Writing an Essay About Overcoming Challenges

Once you’ve selected a topic for your essays, it’s time to sit down and write. For best results, make sure your essay focuses on your efforts to tackle an obstacle rather than the problem itself. Additionally, you could avoid essay writing pitfalls by doing the following:

1. Choose an original essay structure

If you want your overcoming challenges essay to attract attention, aim to break away from more traditional structures. Most of these essays start by describing an unsuccessful attempt at a goal and then explain the steps the writer took to master the challenge. 

You can stand out by choosing a challenge you’re still working on overcoming, or focus on a mental or emotional challenge that spans multiple activities or events. For example, you might discuss your fear of public speaking and how that impacted your ability to coach your brother’s Little League team and run for Student Council. 

You can also choose a challenge that can be narrated in the moment, such as being put on the spot to teach a yoga class. These challenges can make particularly engaging essays, as you get to experience the writer’s thoughts and emotions as they unfold.

Keep in mind that you don’t necessarily need to have succeeded in your goal for this essay. Maybe you ran for an election and lost, or maybe you proposed a measure to the school board that wasn’t passed. It’s still possible to write a strong essay about topics like these as long as you focus on your personal growth. In fact, these may make for even stronger essays since they are more unconventional topics.

2. Focus on the internal

When writing about past experiences, you may be tempted to spend too much time describing specific people and events. With an Overcoming Challenges essay though, the goal is to focus on your thoughts and feelings.

For example, rather than detail all the steps you took to become a better public speaker, use the majority of your essay to describe your mental state as you embarked on the journey to achieving your goals. Were you excited, scared, anxious, or hopeful? Don’t be afraid to let the reader in on your innermost emotions and thoughts during this process.

3. Share what you learned 

An Overcoming Challenges essay should leave the reader with a clear understanding of what you learned on your journey, be it physical, mental, or emotional. There’s no need to explicitly say “this experience taught me X,” but your essay should at least implicitly share any lessons you learned. This can be done through your actions and in-the-moment reflections. Remember that the goal is to show admissions committees why your experiences make you a great candidate for admission. 

Was I no longer the beloved daughter of nature, whisperer of trees? Knee-high rubber boots, camouflage, bug spray—I wore the g arb and perfume of a proud wild woman, yet there I was, hunched over the pathetic pile of stubborn sticks, utterly stumped, on the verge of tears. As a child, I had considered myself a kind of rustic princess, a cradler of spiders and centipedes, who was serenaded by mourning doves and chickadees, who could glide through tick-infested meadows and emerge Lyme-free. I knew the cracks of the earth like the scars on my own rough palms. Yet here I was, ten years later, incapable of performing the most fundamental outdoor task: I could not, for the life of me, start a fire. 

Furiously I rubbed the twigs together—rubbed and rubbed until shreds of skin flaked from my fingers. No smoke. The twigs were too young, too sticky-green; I tossed them away with a shower of curses, and began tearing through the underbrush in search of a more flammable collection. My efforts were fruitless. Livid, I bit a rejected twig, determined to prove that the forest had spurned me, offering only young, wet bones that would never burn. But the wood cracked like carrots between my teeth—old, brittle, and bitter. Roaring and nursing my aching palms, I retreated to the tent, where I sulked and awaited the jeers of my family. 

Rattling their empty worm cans and reeking of fat fish, my brother and cousins swaggered into the campsite. Immediately, they noticed the minor stick massacre by the fire pit and called to me, their deep voices already sharp with contempt. 

“Where’s the fire, Princess Clara?” they taunted. “Having some trouble?” They prodded me with the ends of the chewed branches and, with a few effortless scrapes of wood on rock, sparked a red and roaring flame. My face burned long after I left the fire pit. The camp stank of salmon and shame. 

In the tent, I pondered my failure. Was I so dainty? Was I that incapable? I thought of my hands, how calloused and capable they had been, how tender and smooth they had become. It had been years since I’d kneaded mud between my fingers; instead of scaling a white pine, I’d practiced scales on my piano, my hands softening into those of a musician—fleshy and sensitive. And I’d gotten glasses, having grown horrifically nearsighted; long nights of dim lighting and thick books had done this. I couldn’t remember the last time I had lain down on a hill, barefaced, and seen the stars without having to squint. Crawling along the edge of the tent, a spider confirmed my transformation—he disgusted me, and I felt an overwhelming urge to squash him. 

Yet, I realized I hadn’t really changed—I had only shifted perspective. I still eagerly explored new worlds, but through poems and prose rather than pastures and puddles. I’d grown to prefer the boom of a bass over that of a bullfrog, learned to coax a different kind of fire from wood, having developed a burn for writing rhymes and scrawling hypotheses. 

That night, I stayed up late with my journal and wrote about the spider I had decided not to kill. I had tolerated him just barely, only shrieking when he jumped—it helped to watch him decorate the corners of the tent with his delicate webs, knowing that he couldn’t start fires, either. When the night grew cold and the embers died, my words still smoked—my hands burned from all that scrawling—and even when I fell asleep, the ideas kept sparking—I was on fire, always on fire.

This essay is an excellent example because the writer turns an everyday challenge—starting a fire—into an exploration of her identity. The writer was once “a kind of rustic princess, a cradler of spiders and centipedes,” but has since traded her love of the outdoors for a love of music, writing, and reading. 

The story begins in media res , or in the middle of the action, allowing readers to feel as if we’re there with the writer. One of the essay’s biggest strengths is its use of imagery. We can easily visualize the writer’s childhood and the present day. For instance, she states that she “rubbed and rubbed [the twigs] until shreds of skin flaked from my fingers.”

The writing has an extremely literary quality, particularly with its wordplay. The writer reappropriates words and meanings, and even appeals to the senses: “My face burned long after I left the fire pit. The camp stank of salmon and shame.” She later uses a parallelism to cleverly juxtapose her changed interests: “instead of scaling a white pine, I’d practiced scales on my piano.”

One of the essay’s main areas of improvement is its overemphasis on the “story” and lack of emphasis on the reflection. The second to last paragraph about changing perspective is crucial to the essay, as it ties the anecdote to larger lessons in the writer’s life. She states that she hasn’t changed, but has only shifted perspective. Yet, we don’t get a good sense of where this realization comes from and how it impacts her life going forward. 

The end of the essay offers a satisfying return to the fire imagery, and highlights the writer’s passion—the one thing that has remained constant in her life.

“Getting beat is one thing – it’s part of competing – but I want no part in losing.” Coach Rob Stark’s motto never fails to remind me of his encouragement on early-morning bus rides to track meets around the state. I’ve always appreciated the phrase, but an experience last June helped me understand its more profound, universal meaning.

Stark, as we affectionately call him, has coached track at my high school for 25 years. His care, dedication, and emphasis on developing good character has left an enduring impact on me and hundreds of other students. Not only did he help me discover my talent and love for running, but he also taught me the importance of commitment and discipline and to approach every endeavor with the passion and intensity that I bring to running. When I learned a neighboring high school had dedicated their track to a longtime coach, I felt that Stark deserved similar honors.

Our school district’s board of education indicated they would only dedicate our track to Stark if I could demonstrate that he was extraordinary. I took charge and mobilized my teammates to distribute petitions, reach out to alumni, and compile statistics on the many team and individual champions Stark had coached over the years. We received astounding support, collecting almost 3,000 signatures and pages of endorsements from across the community. With help from my teammates, I presented this evidence to the board.

They didn’t bite. 

Most members argued that dedicating the track was a low priority. Knowing that we had to act quickly to convince them of its importance, I called a team meeting where we drafted a rebuttal for the next board meeting. To my surprise, they chose me to deliver it. I was far from the best public speaker in the group, and I felt nervous about going before the unsympathetic board again. However, at that second meeting, I discovered that I enjoy articulating and arguing for something that I’m passionate about.

Public speaking resembles a cross country race. Walking to the starting line, you have to trust your training and quell your last minute doubts. When the gun fires, you can’t think too hard about anything; your performance has to be instinctual, natural, even relaxed. At the next board meeting, the podium was my starting line. As I walked up to it, familiar butterflies fluttered in my stomach. Instead of the track stretching out in front of me, I faced the vast audience of teachers, board members, and my teammates. I felt my adrenaline build, and reassured myself: I’ve put in the work, my argument is powerful and sound. As the board president told me to introduce myself, I heard, “runners set” in the back of my mind. She finished speaking, and Bang! The brief silence was the gunshot for me to begin. 

The next few minutes blurred together, but when the dust settled, I knew from the board members’ expressions and the audience’s thunderous approval that I had run quite a race. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough; the board voted down our proposal. I was disappointed, but proud of myself, my team, and our collaboration off the track. We stood up for a cause we believed in, and I overcame my worries about being a leader. Although I discovered that changing the status quo through an elected body can be a painstakingly difficult process and requires perseverance, I learned that I enjoy the challenges this effort offers. Last month, one of the school board members joked that I had become a “regular” – I now often show up to meetings to advocate for a variety of causes, including better environmental practices in cafeterias and safer equipment for athletes.

Just as Stark taught me, I worked passionately to achieve my goal. I may have been beaten when I appealed to the board, but I certainly didn’t lose, and that would have made Stark proud.

While the writer didn’t succeed in getting the track dedicated to Coach Stark, their essay is certainly successful in showing their willingness to push themselves and take initiative.

The essay opens with a quote from Coach Stark that later comes full circle at the end of the essay. We learn about Stark’s impact and the motivation for trying to get the track dedicated to him.

One of the biggest areas of improvement in the intro, however, is how the essay tells us Stark’s impact rather than showing us: His care, dedication, and emphasis on developing good character has left an enduring impact on me and hundreds of other students. Not only did he help me discover my talent and love for running, but he also taught me the importance of commitment and discipline and to approach every endeavor with the passion and intensity that I bring to running.

The writer could’ve helped us feel a stronger emotional connection to Stark if they had included examples of Stark’s qualities, rather than explicitly stating them. For example, they could’ve written something like: Stark was the kind of person who would give you gas money if you told him your parents couldn’t afford to pick you up from practice. And he actually did that—several times. At track meets, alumni regularly would come talk to him and tell him how he’d changed their lives. Before Stark, I was ambivalent about running and was on the JV team, but his encouragement motivated me to run longer and harder and eventually make varsity. Because of him, I approach every endeavor with the passion and intensity that I bring to running.

The essay goes on to explain how the writer overcame their apprehension of public speaking, and likens the process of submitting an appeal to the school board to running a race. This metaphor makes the writing more engaging and allows us to feel the student’s emotions.

While the student didn’t ultimately succeed in getting the track dedicated, we learn about their resilience and initiative: I now often show up to meetings to advocate for a variety of causes, including better environmental practices in cafeterias and safer equipment for athletes.

Overall, this essay is well-done. It demonstrates growth despite failing to meet a goal, which is a unique essay structure. The running metaphor and full-circle intro/ending also elevate the writing in this essay.

Where to Get Your Overcoming Challenges Essay Edited

The Overcoming Challenges essay is one of the trickier supplemental prompts, so it’s important to get feedback on your drafts. That’s why we created our free Peer Essay Review tool , where you can get a free review of your essay from another student. You can also improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays. 

If you want a college admissions expert to review your essay, advisors on CollegeVine have helped students refine their writing and submit successful applications to top schools. Find the right advisor for you to improve your chances of getting into your dream school!

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challenges in business essay

Business Essay Examples

Cathy A.

13 Business Essay Examples for Students

14 min read

Published on: May 1, 2023

Last updated on: Jan 30, 2024

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Are you struggling to figure out the structure, research, or data required to make your essay stand out? Or frustrated by the lack of inspiration and ideas for your essay?

But don't give up yet! We have a powerful solution that will make your essay writing a breeze. Our list of business essay examples is here to help! 

We have compiled expertly written business essay examples that will illustrate how to write a striking business essay.

With our examples, you'll be able to see how to structure your essay and generate creative ideas for your topic. And our tips will help you make the most of these examples.

So, let's dive in and get ready to learn!

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What is a Business Essay?

A business essay is a type of academic writing that focuses on business-related topics and issues. These essays can cover a wide range of topics such as marketing, finance, management, entrepreneurship, and more.

The importance of business essay lies in presenting a well-researched and informed analysis. To do this effectively, writers need to conduct extensive research and analysis on the topic at hand.

Referring to examples of business essays can help you gain insight into the structure, tone, and content of a well-written essay.

Business Essay Examples For Students

Here is a list of business writing examples

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Types of Business Essay with Examples

When it comes to business essay writing, there are several different types that you might encounter. 

Here's a brief overview of each type, including their characteristics and an example of each.

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Case Studies

A case study is an in-depth analysis of a specific business situation or problem. It involves extensive research and data analysis to provide recommendations.

Case studies often showcase the application of theory to real-world business scenarios.

In today's highly competitive business environment, it's essential for companies to have effective marketing strategies that can help increase sales and generate revenue. In this case study, we will examine how Company X, a leading retailer, was able to increase their sales through an innovative marketing approach.

Company X was facing tough competition from other retailers in the market. They needed to find a way to differentiate themselves and attract more customers. They decided to focus on their customer experience by offering personalized recommendations, exclusive discounts, and rewards programs. They also implemented a multi-channel marketing approach that utilized social media, email marketing, and targeted advertising.

Their efforts paid off as they saw a significant increase in customer engagement and sales. Their personalized recommendations and rewards program helped to build customer loyalty, while their multi-channel marketing approach helped them reach a wider audience.

Furthermore, Company X also used data analysis and optimization to continuously improve their marketing strategies. They tracked their marketing campaigns and analyzed the results to identify what worked and what didn't. This allowed them to adjust their approach and optimize their marketing spend.

In conclusion, Company X was able to increase their sales by implementing effective marketing strategies that focused on the customer experience, utilized a multi-channel approach, and used data analysis for optimization. Their success shows that with the right marketing approach, businesses can achieve their goals and stand out in a highly competitive market.

Research Papers

Research papers involve a more academic approach to business writing. They typically require an extensive literature review, data analysis, and original research. 

Business research papers aim to contribute new knowledge to the field of business. These often involve a hypothesis or research question.

The relationship between employee satisfaction and company profitability has been widely studied and documented in academic literature. A number of studies have consistently shown a positive correlation between employee satisfaction and company profitability (Bockerman & Ilmakunnas, 2012; Saks, 2006). When employees are satisfied, they are more engaged, productive, and committed to the success of the company. This leads to increased profitability and a competitive advantage in the market.

Employee satisfaction also has a significant impact on reducing employee turnover and associated costs. Studies have shown that when employees are satisfied, they are less likely to leave their jobs, reducing recruitment and training costs for the company (Harter, Schmidt, & Hayes, 2002).

Moreover, employee satisfaction can lead to positive word-of-mouth advertising and increased customer satisfaction. Satisfied employees are more likely to provide excellent customer service, leading to increased customer loyalty and repeat business (Heskett, Sasser, & Schlesinger, 1997).

Therefore, it's essential for businesses to prioritize employee satisfaction by providing a positive work environment, opportunities for growth and development, fair compensation, and benefits. Businesses should also regularly assess employee satisfaction levels and address any issues promptly.

In conclusion, the evidence shows that employee satisfaction is a crucial factor in the success of a company. By prioritizing employee satisfaction, businesses can increase profitability, reduce turnover costs, and improve customer satisfaction. It's essential for businesses to invest in employee satisfaction and consider it a corporate social responsibility to gain a competitive advantage in the market and achieve long-term success.

Argumentative Essays

Argumentative business essays aim to persuade the reader to adopt a particular point of view or take a specific action. They present an argument and use evidence and logic to support their claims. 

Argumentative essays can address various business topics such as management practices, ethical issues, or market trends.

Benefits of Telecommuting for Companies and Employees

Telecommuting, or working from home, has become increasingly popular in the business world in the United States and globally as well. While some employers are still skeptical about the effectiveness of telecommuting, there are many benefits to this work arrangement for both companies and employees.

One major benefit of telecommuting is increased productivity. Studies have shown that employees who work from home are often more productive than those who work in traditional office settings. This is likely due to a combination of factors, including fewer distractions, less time spent commuting, and greater flexibility in scheduling.

Another benefit of telecommuting is reduced overhead costs for companies. By allowing employees to work from home, companies can save money on office space, utilities, and other expenses. This can be especially beneficial for small businesses or startups that are operating on a tight budget.

Telecommuting also has benefits for employees. It can reduce stress and improve work-life balance by allowing employees to spend more time with their families and avoid long commutes. It can also be a valuable perk for attracting and retaining top talent, especially in industries where remote work is becoming increasingly common.

Of course, there are some potential downsides to telecommuting as well. For example, it can be more difficult to collaborate with colleagues and build strong relationships with coworkers when working remotely. Additionally, some employees may struggle with self-discipline and motivation when working from home.

Overall, however, the benefits of telecommuting for both companies and employees are clear. By embracing this work arrangement, businesses can increase productivity, reduce costs, and improve employee satisfaction and retention.

White Papers

A white paper is a document that provides a detailed explanation of a particular issue or problem, often with recommendations or solutions. 

White papers are typically used to educate stakeholders about a specific topic. These are often used in the business-to-business (B2B) context.

Navigating the Benefits and Challenges of Implementing a New CRM System: Insights for Informed Decision Making.

Implementing a new customer relationship management (CRM) system can be a challenging yet highly beneficial undertaking for businesses. In this white paper, we will outline the benefits and challenges of implementing a new CRM system and provide insights to help businesses make informed decisions.

Benefits of implementing a new CRM system:

Improved customer experience: A CRM system can help businesses gain a better understanding of their customers' needs and preferences, allowing them to tailor their products and services accordingly. This can lead to increased customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Increased efficiency: A CRM system can automate many processes, such as customer data management and lead tracking, freeing up valuable time for employees to focus on more strategic tasks.

Better data management: A CRM system can provide businesses with a central database for customer information, making it easier to manage and analyze data. This can lead to more informed decision-making and better business outcomes.

Challenges of implementing a new CRM system:

Cost: Implementing a new CRM system can be expensive, with costs including software licensing, hardware upgrades, and employee training.

Implementation time: Implementing a new CRM system can take several months, during which time businesses may experience disruptions to their operations.

Resistance to change: Some employees may resist the implementation of a new CRM system, requiring significant effort from management to ensure buy-in and adoption.

Comparative Essays 

Comparative business essays compare and contrast two or more topics or ideas. They typically analyze the similarities and differences between the topics to evaluate their pros and cons. 

Comparative essays can focus on various aspects such as products, companies, markets, or strategies.

Coca-Cola and PepsiCo are two of the biggest soft drink companies in the world. Both companies have been in competition for decades, and their marketing strategies have evolved over time. This comparative essay will analyze the marketing strategies of Coca-Cola and PepsiCo.

Coca-Cola is known for its classic marketing campaigns that focus on emotions and memories. One of their most famous campaigns is the "Share a Coke" campaign, where the company personalized its products with customers' names. This campaign helped Coca-Cola increase its sales and improve customer loyalty.

PepsiCo, on the other hand, is known for its focus on youth culture and celebrity endorsements. The company has collaborated with popular musicians and actors such as Beyoncé and Michael Jackson to promote its products. This marketing strategy has helped PepsiCo attract younger consumers and improve brand recognition.

When comparing the marketing strategies of Coca-Cola and PepsiCo, it is important to note that both companies have their strengths and weaknesses. While Coca-Cola's emotional marketing approach has helped it establish a strong brand identity, PepsiCo's focus on youth culture has helped it appeal to a wider audience.

In conclusion, the marketing strategies of Coca-Cola and PepsiCo differ significantly, but both companies have been successful in their own right. It is up to each company to determine which marketing approach works best for them and their target audience.

Choosing the appropriate essay type can help you in effectively conveying your message to the target audience.

How to Structure Your Business Essays

As you begin writing your business essay, it's important to structure it in a clear and organized way. 

Here's a step-by-step guide with business essay samples to help you do just that:

Executive Summary

The executive summary is a brief overview of your entire essay. It should summarize your main points and highlight your recommendations. 

This section should be written after completing the essay, as it gives a clear picture of what the essay covers. 

Here is how you start a business essay sample:

This essay provides an in-depth analysis of the marketing strategies employed by Coca-Cola and PepsiCo. The essay highlights the similarities and differences between the two companies' approaches to product development, distribution, and advertising. Based on the analysis, recommendations are made for how each company can improve their marketing strategies to better meet the needs of their target audience. The implementation plan outlines the steps necessary for each company to execute these recommendations successfully.

Introduction

The introduction sets the stage for the rest of the essay. It should introduce the topic, provide background information, and explain the purpose of the essay. 

Here is a business essay introduction example:

In recent years, the concept of telecommuting has gained popularity as a means of increasing productivity and reducing costs for companies while providing flexibility for employees. This essay will explore the benefits of telecommuting for both companies and employees, including increased productivity, cost savings, and improved work-life balance. Additionally, the essay will discuss potential challenges associated with telecommuting and provide recommendations for successful implementation of a telecommuting program.

Industry Analysis

In this section, you'll conduct a thorough analysis of the industry in which the business operates. You should examine factors such as competition, market trends, and customer behavior. 

Here is a sample industry analysis

An analysis of the soft drink industry reveals a highly competitive market dominated by two major players, Coca-Cola and PepsiCo. Both companies have a strong global presence and compete fiercely for market share. Recent trends in the industry show a shift towards healthier beverage options, with consumers becoming increasingly health-conscious. This has led to a rise in demand for low-sugar and low-calorie alternatives, such as sparkling water and fruit-infused drinks. In addition, technological advancements in the industry have allowed for greater customization and personalization of products, with companies using data analytics to better understand consumer preferences and target their marketing efforts.

Key Issues or Problems

This section should identify the main issues or problems faced by the business. You should provide evidence to support your claims and analyze the impact of these issues. 

Here is an example paragraph:

In recent years, the XYZ Corporation has faced several key issues that have impacted its bottom line. One of the main issues is increasing competition from new entrants in the market. This has led to a decrease in market share and reduced profit margins for the company. Additionally, there has been a shift in consumer preferences towards more environmentally-friendly products, which the company has been slow to adapt to. These issues have caused significant concern for stakeholders and highlight the need for the company to address these challenges in a timely manner.

Solutions or Recommendation

Here, you'll provide solutions or recommendations to address the issues identified in the previous section. Your solutions should be well-supported and feasible. 

For instance:

To address the issues of low employee morale and high turnover rates, the company should consider implementing an employee engagement program. This could include regular employee feedback sessions, recognition and reward programs, and opportunities for career growth and development. By investing in their employees' well-being and growth, the company can create a more positive work environment and reduce turnover rates. Additionally, the company should consider implementing a mentorship program to provide guidance and support to new employees, which can also contribute to employee retention and overall job satisfaction.

Implementation Plan

For this part, you'll outline a plan for implementing the solutions or recommendations you've proposed. This is sort of a description of the business model you suggest. 

This section should be detailed and include specific action steps. 

For example:

The implementation plan for our proposed solutions will involve several key steps. Firstly, we will need to gather a team of experts to oversee the implementation process. This team will be responsible for coordinating with various departments within the company, such as global marketing and operations, to ensure that the plan is executed smoothly. Secondly, we will need to allocate the necessary resources, such as funding and manpower, to carry out the plan. Finally, we will need to establish a timeline with specific deadlines for each action step, so that we can track our progress and make adjustments as needed.

Finally, you'll wrap up your essay by summarizing your main points and reiterating your recommendations. 

This section should be clear, concise, and impactful. 

In conclusion, this essay has highlighted the importance of customer relationship management (CRM) systems in modern businesses. The analysis of industry trends and key issues facing businesses has shown that effective use of CRM can improve customer satisfaction, increase sales, and ultimately lead to a competitive advantage. Through the proposed solutions and implementation plan outlined in this essay, businesses can overcome the challenges of implementing a new CRM system and reap the benefits. It is recommended that businesses invest in CRM and continuously evaluate their usage to stay ahead of the competition in the ever-changing market.

By following this structure, your business essay will be well-organized, coherent, and easy to follow for your readers.

Tips for Using Business Essay Examples Effectively

Now that you have quite a few business essay examples at hand, you should know how to use them effectively:

  • Use them as a guide, not a template : While it's great to learn from examples, you should never copy them outright. Instead, use them as a starting point for your own research and writing.
  • Analyze the strengths and weaknesses of the essay : Take note of what works well in the example essay, as well as any areas that could be improved. This will help you understand how to make your own essay even better.
  • Use them to inform your own research and writing : Pay attention to the research methods, sources, and evidence used in the example essay. This can give you ideas for your own research and help you strengthen your arguments.
  • Avoid plagiarism and ensure proper citation: Whenever you use ideas or information from an example, make sure to cite your sources. This will help you avoid plagiarism and maintain academic integrity.

You now have a plenty of business essay examples on different topics to help you get started!

By following our tips and studying the sample essays, you can confidently write your own essays that are clear, concise, and impactful. 

However, if you still find yourself struggling with your business essays, just reach out to our professional business essay writing service . 

We have the best online essay writing service and are ready to provide you a high-quality business. Our writing service has subject specialist writers who can tackle any business essay topic.  

So why wait? Contact us today and let our AI essay writer take your business essays to the next level!

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challenges in business essay

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1. Client Dependence

2. money management, 4. founder dependence, 5. balancing quality and growth, what is the biggest problem for small businesses, what is the biggest mistake small businesses make, what are the disadvantages facing owners of small businesses, the bottom line.

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5 Biggest Challenges Facing Your Small Business

To overcome these challenges, you have to know what they are

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Starting a business is a significant achievement for many entrepreneurs, but maintaining one is the larger challenge. There are many challenges that every business—large or small—faces. Hiring the right people, building a brand, and developing a customer base are some common challenges. However, there are some unique challenges to operating a small business.

Here are the five most significant challenges for small businesses.

Key Takeaways

  • It's important that a small business is never dependent on a single client.
  • Small businesses can struggle with money management; hiring a professional to help with money management can free up time to focus on operating concerns.
  • Overworking is another challenge of operating a small business; it's essential to find the right balance between working long hours and business success.
  • Many small businesses can become dependent on their founder; a small business owner should not create a situation where the business cannot continue in their absence.
  • Starting a small business may be different than simply working as a freelancer.

If a single client makes up more than half of your income, you are operating in a way that more closely resembles an independent contractor than a business owner. Diversifying your client base is vital to growing a business, but it can be difficult—especially when the client in question pays well. (Having a client who pays on time for a service is a godsend for many small businesses.)

Unfortunately, client dependence can result in a longer-term handicap; even if you have employees, you may still be technically operating as a subcontractor for another business. This arrangement allows the client to avoid any of the risks of adding payroll to an area of its business operations where work may dry up at any time; as a result, all of that risk is transferred from the larger company to your small business (and your employees). This arrangement is risky, but it can work if your main client has a consistent need for your product or service.

Having enough cash to cover the bills is necessary for any business, but it is also necessary for your personal finances. Between your business and your personal finances, one of these will likely emerge as a capital drain and put pressure on the other. To avoid this problem, small business owners must be heavily capitalized—or secure extra income to shore up cash reserves when needed. Many small businesses start with the founders working a job and building a business simultaneously. While this split focus can make it challenging to grow a business, running out of cash actually makes growing a business impossible.

Money management becomes even more important when cash is flowing into the business. Although handling business accounting and taxes may be within the purview of most business owners, professional help is usually a good idea . The complexity of a company’s books increases with each client and employee; seeking out assistance on bookkeeping tasks can prevent it from becoming a reason not to expand.

The hours, the work, and the constant pressure to perform wear on even the most passionate individuals. Many business owners—even successful ones—get stuck working much longer hours than their employees. Moreover, small business owners may fear their business will stall in their absence and avoid taking any time away from work to recharge.

Fatigue can lead to rash decisions about the business, including the desire to abandon it altogether. Finding a pace that keeps the business humming, without wearing out the owner, is a challenge that can come up early in the evolution of a small business.

It is generally better for a business to have a diversified client base to pick up the slack when any single client quits paying.

A business that can't operate without its founder is a business with a deadline. Many businesses suffer from founder dependence; this is often caused by the founder being unable to let go of certain decisions and responsibilities as the business grows.

In theory, meeting this challenge is easy—a business owner needs to give more control to employees or partners. In practice, however, this is a significant stumbling block for founders because it usually involves compromising (at least initially) the quality of work being done.

Growth should never be the enemy of quality. A small business needs both.

Even when a business is not founder-dependent, there comes a time when the challenges that arise as a result of the business's growth are equal to (or even outweigh) the benefits. Whether it's a service or a product, at some point a business must sacrifice quality to scale up. This may mean not being able to personally manage every client relationship or not inspecting every component of a final product.

Unfortunately, it may be that level of personal engagement and attention to detail that makes a business successful. Therefore, many small business owners find themselves tied to these habits. There is a large middle ground between shoddy work and an unhealthy obsession with quality; it is up to the business owner to navigate its processes toward a compromise that allows growth without hurting the brand.

While small business owners face many challenges in growing and scaling their businesses, it is an excellent time to be a small business owner in the U.S. today. Between March 2021 and March 2022, 1.4 million new small businesses opened in the U.S. When opening a small business, many founders struggle with finding qualified, hardworking employees. Another big problem that small businesses face is a lack of funds. If even one client fails to make a payment, it can have huge consequences for the business. Finally, many businesses struggle with balancing growth and quality. Sometimes it may be necessary to sacrifice quality in order to scale in size.

Starting a small business is undoubtedly challenging, even for the most experienced entrepreneur; the statistics about the high number of businesses that close within a year are a testament to these challenges. However, there are certain mistakes you can avoid in the short term to make success in the long term more likely. One of the most common mistakes that small business owners make is not creating a comprehensive business plan in the beginning. This business plan should include a large amount of research. (Research that should be done before starting the business.) The business plan should include information about how the profit model of the business, market research about the local competition and demand for the product, the operations of the business, an outline of all sales and marketing efforts, investment data, and financial projections.

There are many advantages to being an entrepreneur. First and foremost, working for yourself can offer a level of freedom you cannot find working in a traditional job, with a boss or manager. However, owners of small businesses face many disadvantages that employees do not face. Top of mind for many people considering opening a small business is the high probability of income instability. There is also a significant amount of financial risk that you incur if you finance your small business with a business loan. You may also work longer hours than a traditional employee. Plus, you'll lack the guidance or direction of a traditional employee, who has a boss or manager to provide support. In the beginning stages of starting a business, seek out the help of a mentor or a consultant.

The problems faced by small businesses are considerable, and one of the worst things a would-be owner can do is go into business without considering the challenges ahead . We’ve looked at ways to help make these challenges more accessible, but there is no avoiding them.

On the other hand, a competitive drive is often one of the reasons people start their own business, and every challenge represents another opportunity to compete.

U.S. Chamber of Commerce. " 5 Ways to Achieve Better Work-Life Balance Even Though Your Business Never Stops ."

U.S. Small Business Administration. " 2023 Small Business Profiles for the States, Territories, and Nation ."

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The challenges of growing a business - and how to meet them

Growing businesses face a range of challenges. As a business grows, different problems and opportunities demand different solutions - what worked a year ago might now be not the best approach. All too often, avoidable mistakes turn what could have been a great business into an also-ran.

Recognising and overcoming the common pitfalls associated with growth is essential if your business is to continue to grow and thrive. Crucially, you need to ensure that the steps you take today don't themselves create additional problems for the future. Effective leadership will help you make the most of the opportunities, creating sustainable growth for the future.

This guide highlights the particular risks and mistakes that most commonly affect growing businesses and outlines what you can do about them.

Keeping up with the market

Planning ahead, cash flow and financial management, problem solving, the right systems, skills and attitudes, welcoming change.

Market research isn't something you do as a one-off when you launch your business. Business conditions change continually, so your market research should be continuous as well. Otherwise you run the risk of making business decisions based on out-of-date information, which can lead to business failure.

The more you succeed, the more competitors notice - and react to - what you are doing. A market-leading offer one day may be no better than average a few months later.

Apparently loyal customers can be quick to find alternative suppliers who provide a better deal.

As products (and services) age, sales growth and profit margins get squeezed. Understanding where your products are in their lifecycles can help you work out how to maximise overall profitability. At the same time, you need to invest in innovation to build a stream of new, profitable products to market.

Information sources

Published information can provide useful insights into market conditions and trends. As a growing business, your own experience can be even more valuable.

You should be able to build up an in-depth picture of what customers want, how they behave and which of your marketing approaches work best.

Taking the time to talk to key customers pays off. Your suppliers and other business partners can be important sources of market information. You should encourage your employees to share what they know about customers and the market. Effective IT systems can also make it easier to share and analyse key information such as customers' purchasing behaviour and preferences.

You may want to carry out extra research as well - for example, to test customer reaction to a new product. You might do this yourself, or use a freelance researcher or market research agency.

The plan that made sense for you a year ago isn't necessarily right for you now. Market conditions continually change, so you need to revisit and update your business plan regularly. See the page in this guide on keeping up with the market.

As your business grows, your strategy needs to evolve to suit your changed circumstances. For example, your focus is likely to change from winning new customers to building profitable relationships and maximising growth with existing customers. Existing business relationships often have greater potential for profit and can also provide reliable cash flow. Newer relationships may increase turnover, but the profit margins may be lower, which may not be sustainable. See the page in this guide on cash flow and financial management.

At the same time, every business needs to be alert to new opportunities. There are obvious risks to relying solely on existing customers. Diversifying your customer base spreads those risks.

Following the same business model, but bigger, is not the only route to growth. There are other strategic options such as outsourcing or franchising that might provide better growth opportunities.

It's important not to assume that your current success means that you will automatically be able to take advantage of these opportunities. Every major move needs planning in the same way as a new business launch.

Watch out for being too opportunistic - ask yourself whether new ideas suit your strengths and your overall vision of where the business is going. Bear in mind that every new development brings with it changing risks. It's worth regularly reviewing the risks you face and developing contingency plans.

Good cash flow control is important for any business. For a growing business, it's crucial - cash constraints can be the biggest factor limiting growth and overtrading can be fatal

.Making the best use of your finances should be a key element in business planning and assessing new opportunities. With limited resources, you may need to pass up promising opportunities if pursuing them would mean starving your core business of essential funding.

Every element of working capital should be carefully controlled to maximise your free cash flow. Effective credit management and tight control of overdue debts are essential. You may also want to consider raising financing against trade debts.

Good stock control and effective supplier management tend to become increasingly important as businesses grow. Holdings of obsolete stock may become a problem that needs periodic clearing up. You may want to work with suppliers to reduce delivery cycles, or switch to suppliers and systems that can handle just-in-time delivery.

Planning ahead helps you anticipate your financing needs and arrange suitable funding. For many growing businesses, a key decision is whether to bring in outside investors to provide the equity needed to underpin further expansion.

New businesses often run in perpetual crisis mode. Every day brings new challenges that urgently need resolving and management spends most of their time troubleshooting.

As your business grows, this approach simply doesn't work. While a short-term crisis is always urgent, it may not matter nearly as much as other things you could be doing. Spending your time soothing an irritated customer might help protect that one relationship - but focusing instead on recruiting the right salesperson could lay the foundations of substantial new sales for years to come

.As your business grows, you also need to be alert to new problems and priorities.

For example, your business might be increasingly at risk unless you take steps to ensure your intellectual property is properly protected.

If you are focusing on individual marketing campaigns, you might need to devote more resources to developing your brand.

Identifying the key drivers of growth is a good way of understanding what to prioritise.

A disciplined approach to management focuses on leading employees, developing your management team and building your business strategy. Instead of treating each problem as a one-off, you develop systems and structures that make it easier to handle in the future.

All businesses produce and rely on large volumes of information - financial records, interactions with customers and other business contacts, employee details, regulatory requirements and so on. It's too much to keep track of - let alone use effectively - without the right systems.

Responsibilities and tasks can be delegated as your business grows, but without solid management information systems you cannot manage effectively. The larger your business grows, the harder it is to ensure that information is shared and different functions work together effectively. Putting the right infrastructure in place is an essential part of helping your business to grow.

Documentation, policies and procedures also become increasingly important. The informality that might work with one or two employees and a handful of customers simply isn't practical in a growing business. You need proper contracts, clear terms and conditions, effective employment procedures and so on.

Many growing businesses find using established management standards one of the most effective ways of introducing best practice. Quality control systems can be an important part of driving improvements and convincing larger customers that you can be relied on.

Investing in the right systems is an investment that will pay off both short and long term. You benefit every day from more effective operations. If you ever decide to sell the business, demonstrating that you have well-run, efficient systems will be an important part of proving its value.

Entrepreneurs are the driving force behind creating and growing new businesses. All too often, they are also the people holding them back.

The abilities that can help you launch a business are not the same as those you need to help it grow. It's vital not to fool yourself into valuing your own abilities too highly. The chances are that you'll need training to learn the skills and attitudes required by someone who is leading growth.

To grow your business, you need to learn to delegate properly, trusting your management team and giving up day-to-day control of every detail. It's all too easy to stifle creativity and motivation with excessive interference. As the business becomes more complex, you also need to develop your time management skills and learn to focus on what's really important.

As your business grows, you may need to bring in outsiders to help. You'll want to delegate responsibility for particular areas to different specialists, or appoint a non-executive director or two to strengthen your board. As you start tackling a new opportunity, someone who has experience of that activity can be vital.

For many successful entrepreneurs, learning to listen to - and take - advice is one of the hardest challenges they face. But it may also be essential if you are going to make the most of your opportunities. Some entrepreneurs, recognising their own limitations, even appoint someone else to act as managing director or chairman.

Complacency can be a major threat to a growing business. Assuming that you will continue to be successful simply because you have been in the past is very unwise.

Regularly revisiting and updating your business plan can help remind you of the changing market conditions and the need to respond to them. See the page in this guide on planning ahead.

An up-to-date plan helps you identify what action you need to take to change your business and the way it operates, for example:

  • Changing to suppliers who can grow with you and meet your new priorities. As your business grows, consistent quality and reliability may be more important than simply getting the cheapest offer.
  • Renegotiating contracts to take account of increased volume.
  • Training and developing employees. Your own role will also evolve as the business grows. See the page in this guide on skills and attitudes.
  • Making sure that you keep up to date with new technologies.

You need to be fully committed to your strategy, even if it takes you out of your comfort zone. This may involve hard decisions - for example making employees redundant or switching business away from suppliers you have become friends with. But unless you're prepared to do this, you risk putting your business at a dangerous competitive disadvantage.

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challenges in business essay

Business Essay Topics to Write with Impact

challenges in business essay

Business essays are a common requirement for students pursuing various business-related courses. The key lies in choosing a familiar subject out of various business essay ideas that spark inspiration, one that can be thoroughly researched with ample sources, intriguing facts, or statistical data. In this article, we offer a comprehensive list of business essay topics ideas for you to write a paper that is unmatched!

Business Essay Topics Ideas: Navigating the Selection Process

Selecting the most suitable business essay topics can prove to be a challenging endeavor. Due to the intricate and sensitive nature of the subject, it is crucial to handle business terminologies with care while ensuring that your chosen topic remains intact. To aid you in this process, our custom coursework writing has compiled a set of important tips that will assist you in identifying an impressive essay topic.

selet topic

  • First and foremost, choose a topic that aligns with your personal interests and passions. This will not only make the writing business essay more enjoyable but also enable you to delve deeper into the subject matter.
  • Additionally, opt for a business essay topic that offers a wide scope for research. Having access to a wealth of resources and information will enhance the quality and depth of your analysis.
  • Select argumentative business essay topics that provide a rich pool of information and sources for reference. This ensures that you have a solid foundation to support your arguments and analysis.
  • Prioritize topics that offer evidence, examples, or facts to substantiate the major points of your thesis statement. This not only strengthens your arguments but also demonstrates your understanding of the subject matter.
  • Avoid the temptation to opt for overly broad subjects, as they can be challenging to cover comprehensively within the given deadline. Instead, focus on more specific aspects that allow for in-depth analysis and exploration. For instance, if you're writing an expository paper, you can enhance your approach by utilizing an expository essay outline . This will help you structure your major points more efficiently and ensure a clear and logical flow of ideas in your writing. 
  • For case studies, consider selecting a business essay example centered around well-established companies and discussing their successes or failures. By offering concrete solutions, you can showcase your critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

50+ Business Essay Topics Ideas: Unleashing the Best Choice

While there is an abundance of business essay topics ideas to explore, we have curated a selection of exceptional choices to assist you in this endeavor. Take a thorough look at our handpicked list and discover an ideal topic that will serve as a solid foundation for crafting a detailed and engaging business essay.

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Business Management Essay Topics

Business management is a broad field that covers various topics affecting the management of business operations. It encompasses finance, marketing, sales, human resources, and supply chain management. The principles of business management are applicable to all types of businesses, whether small or large. Here are some topics from our ' Do my essay ' experts that can help you explore this area.

  • Leadership Styles and Their Impact on Organizational Performance: Analyze different leadership styles (e.g., autocratic, democratic, transformational) and their effects on employee motivation, job satisfaction, and overall organizational performance.
  • The Role of Emotional Intelligence in Effective Management: Explore the importance of emotional intelligence in managerial roles, examining how self-awareness, self-regulation, empathy, and social skills contribute to effective leadership and team management.
  • Strategic Human Resource Management: Discuss the role of human resource management in achieving organizational objectives, focusing on topics such as talent acquisition, employee development, performance management, and retention strategies.
  • Ethical Decision Making in Business: Examine ethical challenges faced by managers and organizations, analyzing frameworks and approaches for making ethical decisions and creating an ethical culture within the business environment.
  • Change Management and Organizational Resilience: Explore strategies for effectively managing organizational change, considering topics such as change communication, employee engagement, resistance management, and building organizational resilience.
  • Innovation and Entrepreneurship: Discuss the role of innovation and entrepreneurship in driving business growth and success. Analyze topics such as fostering a culture of innovation, managing risk, and strategies for promoting entrepreneurial thinking within organizations.
  • Strategic Marketing Management: Examine the importance of strategic marketing in achieving competitive advantage, discussing topics such as market segmentation, targeting, branding, product development, pricing, and promotional strategies.

business

Business Law Essay Topics

Business law is a critical component of any business operation. It covers a wide range of topics, including contracts, intellectual property, securities, and trade secrets. Here are some business law essay topics:

  • The Role of Intellectual Property Laws in Protecting Innovation and Creativity in the Business World.
  • The Legal and Ethical Implications of Data Privacy and Cybersecurity in Business Operations.
  • Corporate Social Responsibility: Balancing Legal Obligations and Ethical Considerations in Business Practices.
  • The Impact of Antitrust Laws on Promoting Fair Competition and Preventing Monopolies in the Market.
  • The Legal Challenges and Opportunities of International Business Transactions: Navigating Cross-Border Trade and Investment Laws.
  • The Role of Employment Laws in Protecting Employee Rights and Promoting Fair Labor Practices in the Workplace.
  • The Legal and Ethical Implications of Corporate Governance: Ensuring Accountability and Transparency in Business Organizations.
  • The Impact of Consumer Protection Laws on Safeguarding Consumer Rights and Regulating Business Practices.
  • Legal Challenges and Strategies for Managing Contracts and Negotiations in Business Transactions.
  • The Role of Environmental Regulations in Balancing Business Operations and Sustainable Development.

Business Ethics Essay Topics

Business ethics refers to the set of moral principles that govern the decisions and actions of businesses, and if you need assistance, professionals can help you ' write my research paper ' to explore this topic in-depth. Meanwhile, here are some business ethics essay topics:

  • Ethical Dilemmas in the Workplace: Analyzing Real-Life Scenarios and Decision-Making Processes.
  • The Role of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in Promoting Ethical Business Practices.
  • The Impact of Ethical Leadership on Organizational Culture and Employee Behavior.
  • Ethical Considerations in Marketing and Advertising: Balancing Profitability and Consumer Protection.
  • The Ethics of Workplace Diversity and Inclusion: Promoting Equality and Fairness.
  • Ethical Issues in Supply Chain Management: Ensuring Fair Labor Practices and Environmental Sustainability.
  • The Ethical Implications of Technology and Artificial Intelligence in Business Operations.
  • Whistleblowing and Corporate Misconduct: The Role of Ethics in Promoting Accountability.
  • The Ethics of Corporate Governance: Ensuring Transparency and Responsible Decision-Making.
  • Ethical Challenges in International Companies: Navigating Cultural Differences and Corruption Risks.

Business Administration Essay Topics

Business administration covers various topics related to the administration and management of business operations. Here are some ideas you can also use as dissertation topics :

  • Effective strategies for managing employee diversity in business operations.
  • Effective supply chain management strategies.
  • Business incubation and entrepreneur support strategies.
  • Effective leadership and its impact on business performance.
  • Best practices in business decision-making and problem-solving.

International Business Essay Topics

International business operations are characteristic of companies that operate on a global scale. Here are some international business essay topics:

  • The impact of globalization on international business operations.
  • The impact of cultural differences on international business negotiations and operations.
  • Digital transformation challenges and opportunities for global businesses.
  • Effective entry strategies for multinational corporations into emerging markets.
  • Effective strategies for managing global supply chain operations.

And if If you're wondering how to write a nursing essay focused on international business operations, here are some essay topics to consider:

  • The Impact of Globalization on Nursing Practice: Analyze how globalization has influenced the nursing profession on a global scale, considering factors such as international collaboration, workforce migration, and cross-cultural challenges.
  • Ethical Considerations in International Healthcare: Explore the ethical dilemmas faced by nurses working in multinational healthcare settings, examining issues like cultural relativism, patient autonomy, and disparities in healthcare access.
  • Strategies for Managing Cultural Diversity in Nursing: Discuss effective strategies and best practices for nurses to navigate cultural diversity in international healthcare environments, emphasizing the importance of cultural competence, effective communication, and respectful care.
  • Nursing Leadership in Global Healthcare Organizations: Examine the leadership skills and competencies required for nurses to succeed in global healthcare organizations, focusing on aspects such as cross-cultural leadership, strategic decision-making, and managing international teams.
  • International Collaborative Research in Nursing: Explore the benefits and challenges of international collaborative research projects in nursing, discussing the importance of knowledge exchange, research ethics, and the potential impact on healthcare outcomes.

Organizational Behavior Essay Topics

Organizational behavior studies the behavior of people and organizations in the workplace. Here are some topics to create a thorough business essay example:

  • The relevance of leadership and management in organizational behavior.
  • The impact of motivation theories on business performance.
  • Diversity management strategies in organizational behavior.
  • The impact of workplace stress on employee performance and mental health.
  • Effective communication strategies in organizational behavior.

Trending Business Essay Topics for Exam

Here are some current business essay topics ideas that are likely to be examined in exams:

  • The Rise of E-commerce: Transforming Traditional Retail
  • Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility: Balancing Profit and Environmental Impact
  • The Gig Economy: Redefining Employment Relationships
  • The Role of Big Data Analytics in Business Decision-Making
  • The Influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on Business Operations

Good Business Essay Example

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With our comprehensive list of business essay topics ideas, we've laid the foundation for your inspiration to take flight. With your chosen topic in hand, you're now prepared to conquer the world of business essays and create a masterpiece that will captivate your readers and leave them amazed. So, take the leap and let your business essay reach new heights of excellence!

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Astronomy Research Topics: 200 Best Choices

Resolving Business Ethical Challenges

This essay will discuss how to effectively resolve ethical challenges in business. It will cover approaches to identifying ethical dilemmas, decision-making processes, and implementing ethical practices. The piece will emphasize the importance of corporate responsibility, transparency, and maintaining trust in business relationships. PapersOwl offers a variety of free essay examples on the topic of Business Ethics.

How it works

Companies ensure the wellbeing of their employees through following and applying established ethical regulations. For instance, the ethical code in a given firm may determine the working hours, sick leave, compensation, and the provision of protective equipment in working conditions that put the workers at risk. From the case study “Resolving Ethical Business Challenges,” Preet notes that the Amex Corporation’s outsourced factory in China has developed issues that include late deliveries and increased accidents. After taking a trip to the factory, she discovers many ethical issues such as poor working conditions, low pay, and overworked employees.

Once she presents her report and offers recommendations for changes to the supervisors at Amex Corporation, nothing is done. The study presents solutions to the case study by discussing the choices that Amex has and the advantages and disadvantages of each, how Jim takes cultural relativism approach to the issue, and whether Amex is responsible for the working conditions of its suppliers.

  • 1 Discuss some of the choices of the firm and the advantages and disadvantages of each
  • 2 Describe how Jim takes a cultural relativism approach to the problem
  • 3 Since Amex does not own the Chinese factory, are they still accountable for the working conditions of its suppliers? Why or why not?

Discuss some of the choices of the firm and the advantages and disadvantages of each

Amex Corporation has applied a business strategy of outsourcing its manufacturing processes to reduce costs and increase profits. From the case, the reduction in overall expenses allows the firm to provide quality products at an affordable price, which is appealing to the targeted consumers. Therefore, some of the significant advantages of the choice to outsource are saving money, offering quality products at an affordable price, increased consumers, and high profits. Despite the benefits, the process of outsourcing also has disadvantages. For example, Amex does not have the authority to control the culture or impose working regulations to their outsourcing factories. The company focuses on the increased productivity that a factory facilitates, which reduces their concerns about the working conditions of the employees at this factories. A second disadvantage associated with the decision to outsource is the fact that Amex cannot monitor the outsourcing factories, which prevents the establishment of employees’ welfare that leave the issues unsolved.

Amex also has a choice to influence the working conditions in the factories they outsource to, which can be done by entering into contracts that establish ethical rules on how workers should be treated. A benefit for this will include increased output, timely deliveries, satisfied workers, reduced accidents, and increased revenue. Amex has decided to do nothing despite the presentation of Preet’s report and recommendations. The disadvantage for this choice is the possibility for detrimental consequences for the company once the public discovers the poor working conditions of the workers in its outsourced factories.

Describe how Jim takes a cultural relativism approach to the problem

?Cultural relativism is the notion that actions, customs, beliefs, and ethics in a culture or an individual are relative to or based on the culture itself or within the person’s social context. In the case study, Jim believes that Amex will not do anything to rectify the issues in the China factory because that is the business culture in that part of the world. For example, he claims that people in such factories are willing to work for more extended hours and in less than ideal conditions to get better pay. Therefore, it is within their social context or culture to work long hours and in poor conditions to get higher salaries compared to other workers in different factories. Further, he claims that Amex must outsource to cheap factories to keep their costs low and provide low-priced products that consumers want. Here, Jim uses cultural relativism approach to show that there is a culture where consumers need low-cost products without caring how they are manufactured.

Since Amex does not own the Chinese factory, are they still accountable for the working conditions of its suppliers? Why or why not?

?Amex Cooperation is not legally accountable for the working conditions of its suppliers because they do not own these factories. Nevertheless, it is the company’s responsibility to ensure that it outsources its work to suppliers that show responsibility in providing the best working conditions for their employees. They should select the suppliers that are aligned with their ethics and represent their business in the best way possible. Apart from this, Amex can provide contracts to the Chinese factories making demands for the implementation of better working conditions and other ethical regulations associated with the wellbeing of the employees. In case the factories decline, the company should offer their business to other willing factories. In this case, once the poor working conditions and welfare of the employees are known to the public, Amex will experience adverse business outcomes forcing it to implement new strategies at the factories, working with a different source, or losing its consumers. Therefore, although it is not responsible for its suppliers, it has an ethical responsibility to facilitate the welfare of workers to ensure the success of the business in the short and long-term.

?In conclusion, despite the existence of different business cultures in the countries that it outsources to, Amex Corporation has a moral responsibility to ensure the implementation of ethical standards that maintain the wellbeing of workers. It should solve the issues with the Chinese factory to avoid losing its customers in the future. It is essential for the supervisors at the firm to recognize the effectiveness of ethics in business. Amex should strive to build a strong brand in its market to overcome competition, observe legal and moral obligations, and present a confident appeal to its consumers through maintaining an ethical code in all its business endeavors.

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The 4 Biggest Challenges of Starting a Business (and How to Overcome Them)

Starting a business isn't for the faint of heart. Identifying and tackling your challenges are crucial for success.

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Table of Contents

There are many excellent reasons to start a business, including working for yourself, earning more money, having a flexible work schedule and expanding your skill set. However, like all worthwhile endeavors, starting and building a new business is challenging. 

If you’re passionate about your business idea, don’t let inevitable entrepreneurial pain points keep you from following through and making your business ownership dream a reality. As most small business owners will tell you, the risks and challenges are usually worth the rewards. 

The biggest challenges of starting a business

Consider the following four challenges most entrepreneurs face when starting a business and start thinking about how you’ll overcome them.

1. Running the show alone is a business ownership challenge.

New business owners wear many hats as they get their operations up and running, often handling sales, marketing, accounting, information technology (IT) and more. However, they likely don’t excel in all areas and may end up feeling overwhelmed. 

Entrepreneurs often find themselves moving from task to task, putting out fires with one hand while completing everyday tasks with the other. As experienced business owners know, handling everything for too long is bad for your mental and physical health and can take a toll on business productivity .

How to overcome the challenges of running the operation alone

Be honest about your strengths and weaknesses and understand that your time is precious when running a business. While you can certainly embrace professional growth and learn more, sharing the load is key. 

Editor’s note: Looking for the right loan for your business? Fill out the below questionnaire to have our vendor partners contact you about your needs.

Here are some tips for handling the myriad tasks required when running a business:

  • Look for outside help: Seek help in the areas where you struggle. For example, hire a virtual assistant, use a marketing agency or find an IT partner . Hire full-time and part-time employees as you grow to lighten your load. 
  • Utilize Small Business Association (SBA) resources: Explore the SBA’s Office of Small Business Development Centers . This SBA program provides one-stop assistance to current and prospective small business owners, with experts in local offices throughout the United States. sharing information on handling many aspects of running a business.
  • Get organized: To combat feeling overwhelmed, make your business more organized . Write down and define your daily tasks and goals. Once you’ve identified your tasks, list them in order of priority and cluster-related tasks. Prioritizing helps you determine which tasks and goals to tackle at the most productive time of your day. Organizing and clustering help you handle similar tasks in the same period instead of sporadically.

2. Finding funding is a crucial challenge when starting a business.

Finding investors and funding is one of the biggest startup challenges new business owners face. Not every business needs an immediate, significant cash infusion, but you must ensure you can keep the business running for the long term.

How to overcome funding challenges

When starting a business, you’ll likely apply for small business loans , seek a line of credit, self-fund the business or raise capital. 

Here are some best practices for overcoming startup funding challenges:

  • Utilize SCORE resources: SCORE offers mentors, education and advisors to help small businesses succeed. Speak with a mentor at SCORE to get their thoughts on the best funding course of action for your business based on your goals.
  • Consider a microloan: Microloans ― typically for less than $50,000 ― are another option for new business owners. Because they’re smaller, microloans are easier to qualify for and provide borrowing opportunities that may not otherwise be available to you. You can use a microloan for a startup project, to get a business off the ground, as working capital or to fund equipment purchases, office leases or new hires. Different microlenders have various rules about using the funds and different qualification requirements (such as a minimum credit score ). 
  • Consider an SBA loan: SBA small business loan programs aim to help entrepreneurs who want to start or expand a business. (The SBA also has a microloan program, so contact your local SBA office to learn more.)
  • Create an investor pitch: Before presenting your business idea to investors , perfect your pitch. Investors, banks and other lenders will want to understand your vision for success. The better you articulate this vision, the more likely you’ll get the funding you need.

3. Finding and attracting customers is a business startup challenge.

Attracting customers is an area where many new businesses stumble. After all, if no one buys what you’re selling, you can’t succeed. Ideally, you conducted market research before launching your business to ensure your offerings had a receptive market. Now you must identify your target audience , understand their needs and determine what they’re willing to pay.  

How to overcome the challenge of attracting customers:

To find and attract customers, you must create a marketing plan that identifies the following: 

  • Your target market
  • Your product’s strengths and weaknesses compared to the competition
  • Your marketing position and message
  • Where you plan to market your product 
  • Your marketing budget 

Many new businesses have slim marketing budgets, so low-cost ways to make a big impact are essential. For example, marketers on a budget can consider the following: 

  • Creating social media marketing campaigns
  • Setting up co-marketing agreements with companies that sell complementary products
  • Creating email marketing campaigns
  • Utilizing video marketing to create brand trust
  • Hosting events or initiatives the media will cover

4. Maintaining a work-life balance is challenging when starting a business.

Any seasoned entrepreneur can tell you about the challenges of maintaining a positive work-life balance . It’s easy to find yourself on the computer from early morning to dinner, only to spend another few hours at night crossing more items off your list. You may suddenly find yourself manic about work and business-related tasks, neglecting responsibilities in other areas of your life. Exercise, time with friends and family and sleep are often taken for granted.

How to overcome work-life balance challenges

As difficult as it might be, establishing a routine that sets clear boundaries between work and free or family time is crucial. Everyone manages their days differently, but if putting “run three miles at lunchtime” on your calendar makes you stick to the commitment, do it.

If you cross everything off your to-do list by 8 p.m., don’t start diving into tomorrow’s tasks. Spend that extra time with family or consider going to bed early. Your body and mind will thank you.

Resources for starting a business

In addition to the SBA and SCORE, many resources can help entrepreneurs set up and run new businesses.

1. Turn to your local chamber of commerce.

Your local chamber of commerce likely has educational materials and videos on starting a business. But even more impactful is meeting, mingling with and getting advice from established business people in your area. They can help you navigate local government requirements, point you in the right direction when you need vendors and give you industry-specific advice. 

Your chamber of commerce also likely offers various networking and marketing opportunities, including networking events ― (particularly helpful if you have a business-to-business (B2B) business ― directories, trade shows, job fairs, leadership events and lunch-and-learn events.

2. Create a LinkedIn profile.

Consider creating a LinkedIn business profile . In addition to peer-to-peer communication and networking, LinkedIn helps business owners learn about and participate in free webinars, market their businesses and participate in industry-specific or topic-specific groups. LinkedIn also has a small business resource center with free online courses, written resources on various business topics and virtual events. 

3. Find a mentor. 

Do you know someone with experience in the type of business you’re starting? Ask them to become your mentor. A mentorship is an informal arrangement where a more experienced person agrees to help and discuss business questions and challenges with you. Mentors can give you great advice, pose questions and issues you may not have considered, help keep you focused and balanced and introduce you to potential customers, partners or funding sources.

4. Check out HR.com.

Although you may start with no employees, you’ll probably need to hire some as you grow your business. HR.com is an excellent HR resource that can help you stay on top of employee and workplace-related regulations , taxes and benefits. It has free HR compliance posters you can download and print, industry trends and research reports and thousands of educational webcasts. After you hire your first HR person , they can take HR certification prep courses at HR.com and earn recertification credits. 

4. Access Google’s business resources.

As soon as your business is up and running, create a Google Business Profile so you can control your business’s information across all of Google’s services. Your Google Business Profile will help you appear in local searches, improve your website’s SEO strategy , give your company credibility and allow you to gather reviews. 

Google also provides tools for entrepreneurs at a nominal price ($6 per user per month) via Google Workspace, which includes Gmail, Google Drive, Google Meet, Google Calendar, Google Chat, Google Docs, Sheets and Slides to enable seamless communication and collaboration. Google Analytics , which is free, shows you how many people visit your website, how long they stay, where they come from and other information.

If you have a topic you want to learn more about, Google for Small Business provides courses on marketing-related topics like SEO, gathering insights, starting an online store and using email marketing and digital advertising. Most (if not all) of these courses will point you toward Google’s products, but since it’s the 600-pound gorilla of search and digital advertising, it’s valuable information.

Dave Thomas contributed to this article.

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Diversity Management Challenges in the Workplace Today

📄 Words: 1937
📝 Subject:
📑 Pages: 9
✍️ Type: Essay

Introduction

Globalization is being witnessed in various societal structures and socio-economic, as well as cultural aspects of the world today. The workplace is no exception in the ongoing globalization of the world. The workplace no longer has employees who share similar cultures; employees no longer come from the same geographical region as was the case years back. The workplace today is replete with employees from all walks of life with different backgrounds, religious beliefs, cultural systems, and different values. Diversity is a term representative of the differences among people in terms of age, ethnicity, race, sexual orientation, mental and physical capabilities, class religion, and status (Esty, et al., 1995).

The inevitably diversifying workplace that has resulted from globalization has brought with it benefits as well as challenges. Some workplaces experience more static due to the diversity accrued to it while others experience fewer problems due to proper managerial methods. Since the world cannot reverse globalization or its effects the diversity in the workplace that is caused by it, must be combated to compete and emerge as successful in the increasingly competitive global marketplace.

This paper is meant to:

  • Address the core challenges faced in the workplace today, challenges that arise due to diversity, for the purpose of better management, to increase creativity, and to maximize the potential of all the employees in a workplace.
  • Reduce rising disputes in the workplace that arise because of diversity and the magnitude of negative effects it has that compromise the performance of the entire organization.

In summary, this paper is designed to help managers to capitalize on diversity in the workplace.

Understanding the concept ‘Managing Diversity’

Managing diversity is about valuing people as individuals, as employees, customers, and clients – everyone is different (Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, CIPD, 2006)

Managing diversity is a continuous process that unveils the different talents and capabilities that a diverse population brings to an organization, to establish a workplace that is beneficial, safe, embraces diversity and maximizes everybody’s full potential, such that everyone benefits (Rosado, 2006).

Managing diversity refers to a systematically planned, comprehensive managerial course of action for the development of a workplace environment where all employees, irrespective of their differences, can actively contribute toward the prosperity of the organization, and where no employee is sidelined based on aspects that are irrelevant to production (Performance Associates Limited, 2004).

The three definitions provided all strongly suggest unification in the workplace despite personal differences. Managing diversity deals with embracing the differences in cultural background and beliefs of employees, minimizing the disputes or situations likely to lead to disputes that arise from the diversity of the employees in the workplace. The concurrence in the three definitions provided is that embracing diversity in the workplace increases productivity and creates a dignified environment for all employees to work in.

This topic is an important subject of study because the world we live in is rapidly changing and diversity must be embraced to avoid stagnation. For any substantial growth of a business entity, diversity is integral. This enables it to address the many challenges that form the hallmark of the business platform. This fact compels managers to first understand then embrace the concept of workplace diversity, its barriers, and benefits. Diversity in the workplace is a complex concept that is gradually evolving as globalization develops even further. Globalization of business is altering the workforce all over the world; it is therefore thereby imperative that diversity be effectively managed in the workplace. Managers ought to have a solid comprehension of managing diversity to be effective in steering organizations towards future business opportunities (Kenyon, 2005).

Diversity, if not properly managed in the workplaces, could spiral down to a complete lack of competitiveness in the global market, which would, in turn, lead to poor quality commodities, and a general sense of dissatisfaction by consumers. The global market would plunge into a crisis of unprecedented magnitude.

Challenges in the Contemporary Workplace

There are various diversity-related challenges faced by employees in the contemporary workplace every day. Some of these challenges include:

  • Communication barriers
  • Resistance of different types; Culture-based resistance, gender resistance, religious-based resistance (Mah, 2010)

Miscommunication

Discrimination and stereotyping, communication barriers.

Since employees of an organization of any kind come from different backgrounds and speak different languages, communication barriers have become a rampant challenge. An employee speaking very little English for example would find it extremely difficult to communicate with another employee who speaks fluent English. This makes communication of ideas cumbersome and almost impossible. Management could deal with this challenge by providing further English lessons for the employee who speaks little of the language to improve communication between him/ her and the rest of the workforce. This solution may seem costly at first but in foresight, the repercussions of not dealing with the challenge are much more costly, the organization may lose valuable talent and skills in letting one employee go because of inadequate language capabilities.

Above all else, communication barriers in the workplace bring about confusion, poor teamwork, and low morale among the employees, this eventually leads to reduced productivity (Greenberg, 2004).

In any given contemporary workplace, there exists a majority group and a minority group whether in terms of gender, race, or religion. The majority group will always, by default, be opposed to most, if not all of the ideas put forward by a member of the minority group. This resistance is unhealthy for the development and progress of the organization towards meeting its goals. The resistance could be religiously based, gender-based, sexuality-based, or culture-based. This resistant nature of the majority group or sometimes minority group could be attributed to ‘ethnocentricism’; the belief that one’s culture is superior to the other person’s (Mah, 2010). Resistance at the workplace can be dealt with through inclusive participation of every employee so that none of them feels left out in any activity or in any decision-making process. When all the employees feel included in organization activities through team participation, there arises less resistance in the organization. Minimal resistance in any organization means that the decision-making process is sped up, there exists healthy teamwork and the general productivity of the employees is improved.

Miscommunication is mostly evident in workplaces that are made up of employees who speak different versions of the same language, or those employees who have different meanings for words that mean something else in the commonly spoken language in that work area. For instance, employees from different backgrounds have different unofficial languages or ‘slang’, one word for an employee may mean something completely different for the next employee. Cases that are seemingly negligible like these could eventually turn out to be a major problem when one employee misunderstands important decisions and executes an act that is completely wrong and puts the entire organization in jeopardy. The organization’s reputation could easily be put at risk due to its employee’s miscommunication.

Discrimination implies treating unfairly those people who do not belong in the same group as we do, or maligning those people that we feel do not belong in our ‘groups’. This unfair treatment could be based along the lines of gender, sexual orientation, race, religion or sometimes nationality as well (Mor-Barak, 2005). This sort of negative attitude does not foster teamwork and unity in the work place, which are major contributory factors for great productivity at the work place. Discriminating against some employees causes, those discriminated against to lose morale at work, which in turn leads to some of them quitting and others not maximizing their full potential.

Stereotyping is attributing certain qualities, mostly negative to a specific group of people such that anybody who is seen to belong to that group is automatically labeled according to the negative attributes assigned to the group he or she belongs. This presumptuous habit is not only unfair to the other employees who are victims of stereotyping; the overall performance of the organization is also greatly affected because the employees are not unified, there is no teamwork, no sharing of ideas amongst the employees, no innovation. The employees’ creativity is put out by the lack of morale and the company misses out on possibly revolutionary ideas.

Diversity comes with benefits, to both employers and employees, despite the challenges it raises at workplaces. In as much as teamwork and interdependence in the workplace is encouraged, respecting each individual employee’s differences and treating them with dignity increases productivity.

Proposed Interventions

Managers should adapt sound policies that have been tried, tested and approved by other companies or organizations in an attempt to deal with the diversity in their workplaces.

  • Short communication courses should be offered to the employees to improve their communication skills and enhance productivity through coherent sharing of ideas.
  • Managers should find ways to include all employees in the organization’s activities and decision-making processes such that there is little resistance put up and all the minor misunderstandings are quickly resolved in a bid to move forward with the aim of achieving the organization’s goals.
  • Discrimination and Stereotyping should be discouraged completely in the workplace by employing punitive measures for the purpose of discouraging the negative attitude in the workplace.
  • Miscommunication in the workplace should be eliminated through the use of work seminars on improving productivity as well as communication skills.

Managers should have firm policies to see to it that these measures are not temporary but long-term measures that will ensure a notable change in the productivity of the employees.

Managers should realize just how important it is to embrace change in this rapidly growing world of globalization (Devoe, 1999). Change, which is, embracing diversity in the workplace, is the key to success for any business in the world today. This is because diversity brings with it so many positive and developmental changes in any business. A diverse workplace is ideally a hub for creative ideas and thus improvement of the quality of work of the business and the businesses’ productivity.

Competent managers are those who know that certain skills are essential for creating a productive, diverse workforce. It is vital that managers comprehend the scope of discrimination as well as its consequences. Secondly, managers should ensure that they have an apt recognition of their personal biases (Koonce, 2001).

“Diversity is more about differences among individuals than it is about group differences. Every individual is unique and should not be seen as representative of any particular group” (Koonce, 2001, p. 31). Lastly, managers should not be adamant to change the organization if the change brings with it productivity and prosperity. Organizations must perfect diversity management to ensure future success (Flagg, 2002).

Managing diversity is an all embracing, all-inclusive course of action that creates a work environment that includes everyone (Roosevelt, 2001). Success at the workplace and flourishing businesses rely heavily on managers learning the importance of diversity and its direct proportionality to prosperity. The challenges brought about by diversity should be dealt with in order to fully reap from the benefits that come from having a diverse workforce.

A company receives more benefits when cultural differences of workers are respected. With a good management of diversity, employees benefit through equality and fairness in opportunities and challenges. The workforce must be educated on diversity and its consequences. Since workplaces today have become inevitably diverse, organizations should strive to adapt to the situation to be successful (Green, et al., 2008).

Diversity is a representation of the changing society and the market place in general. To embrace diversity and deal with the challenges it brings along is a great step towards development and progress in general. Diversity should not be overlooked. Diversity is development.

Devoe, D. 1999. Managing a diverse workforce. San Mateo, CA: InfoWorld Media Group.

Esty, K., Griffin, R., & Schorr-Hirsh, M. 1995. Workplace diversity. A Managers Guide to solving Problems and turning Diversity into a competitive advantage. Avon, MA: Adams Media Corporation.

Flagg, Alex. 2002. Managing diverse workgroups successfully. United BehavioralHealth website (members only section). Web.

Greenberg, J. 2004.Diversity in the Workplace: Benefits, Challenges and Solutions. Web.

Green,K.,Lopez, M.,Wysocki, A.,& Kepner, K. 2008. Diversity in the Workplace: Benefits, Challenges, and the Required Managerial Tools.Web

Kenyon, A. 2005.The Importance of Diversity in the Workplace. Web.

Koonce, R. 2001. Re-defining diversity: It’s not just the right thing to do; It also makes good business sense. Training and Development.

Mah, E. 2010.The Challenges of Diversity in the Workplace. Web.

Mor-Barak, M.E. 2005. Managing Diversity: toward a globally inclusive Workplace. Thousand Oaks, California: SAGE.

Rooselvet T., 2001. Elements of a successful “diversity” process. The American Institute for Managing Diversity. Web.

Rosado, C.2006. What Do We Mean By “Managing Diversity”? Web.

Interview between the Manager and Researcher

Researcher: What do you think is the significance of diversity in your organization?

Manager: First and foremost, diversity strengthens the team of employees in this organization; in that, it brings people from all walks of life to work together with the aim of achieving a specific goal.

Researcher: You have mentioned bringing people from all walks of life together. Does your organization have employees from different countries?

Manager: Yes. This also means that there is an interaction of a diversity of cultures. This thus calls for effective skills in cross-cultural management.

Researcher: So you have brought in the issue of culture diversity and cross-cultural management. Do you face any challenges in handling these issues?

Manager: There are a whole lot of challenges in managing cross-cultures; the first is inequality. With employees coming from different cultures, there are bound to be complaints about some being sidelined. We therefore handle this issue by treating all employees as equals and the supervisors ensure that all company policies are adhered to disregarding employee nationality.

Researcher: What other challenges do you face?

Manager: There have also arisen issues of racial discrimination, stereotyping and communication barriers. Such issues are what prompted management to introduce the harassment policy that would take care of such cases.

Researcher: What other diversity issues arise in your work place and how do you deal with them?

Manager: Issues of competency and level of education. The management has introduced a training program for employees that seem to have insufficient skills in their area of work in order to make them competent and more productive, hence improve the performance of the workplace. I believe these are the major challenges that have been brought about by diversity in our workplace.

Researcher: The information you have provided has been helpful. Thank you.

Manager: Any time.

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Corporate Inversions and the Global Ultimate Owner: Challenges in International Business Research

36 Pages Posted: 18 Sep 2024

Dylan Sutherland

Durham University

Jamie Hurst

Manchester Metropolitan University

This study explores corporate inversions, where MNEs relocate their GUO to another jurisdiction, posing challenges for IB research. We assess the prevalence of inversions and their impact on accurately identifying MNEs’ country of origin and foreign subsidiaries using databases like Orbis. Analyzing data from over 52,000 MNEs across 30 nations, we hypothesize that EMNEs and larger MNEs with extensive foreign networks are more likely to invert. Our findings confirm this, revealing systematic differences between inverted and non-inverted MNEs, leading to potential sampling biases. We propose methodological adjustments to enhance the robustness of cross-country MNE studies.

Keywords: corporate inversions, Multinational enterprise, Sampling bias, Global ultimate owner, Headquarters, tax havens

Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation

Dylan Sutherland (Contact Author)

Durham university ( email ).

Old Elvet Mill Hill Lane Durham, DH1 3HP United Kingdom

Manchester Metropolitan University ( email )

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Digital Marketing: Opportunities and Challenges to Organisations Essay

  • To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
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Introduction

Literature review, digital marketing plan and implementation, digital marketing of apple and google, comparison and contrast between apple and google, reference list.

Digital marketing is the use of various communication avenues such as Web, e-mails, print media, and other electronic medium to convey marketing information to organisation’s customers and potential customers (Klososky). In the modern times, digital media are influencing the marketing activities of many organisations across the world.

This has had an impact on purchases of business organisation’s goods. Organisations have embraced digital marketing to support their marketing activities (Klososky). The major aim of digital marketing is to acquire new customers and retain the existing ones. Digital marketing involves multichannel processes through online mediums that are designed to reach as many customers as possible (Klososky).

Marketing trends have been subject to various changes over the past decades. Many organisations have resorted to the use of digital marketing in reducing marketing costs and reaching out to as many clients as possible (Rowley). The evolution of the internet and other electronic commerce forums has made exchange of information simpler and faster.

These events present a virtual market for many companies in the modern world. Today, companies have continuously used technological breakthroughs to adopt digital platforms as marketing avenues of goods and services.

Digital marketing offers different opportunities to marketers. According to Rowley, digital marketing helps organisations increase the number of hours that are allocated for business. The company can use the digital marketing platform to enable clients have unlimited access to business marketing information instead of being restricted to the normal business working hours.

Additionally, digital marketing presents the company with an opportunity to establish cost saving strategies (Rowley). Digital marketing helps eliminate the costs that the company would have otherwise incurred on other marketing activities.

Digital marketing presents organisations with opportunities to learn about the customer needs in a quick way and deliver specialised services to clients. Globally, digital marketing also offers companies opportunity to reach out to customers worldwide by avoiding regulations and restrictions that come with physical marketing. It also enables an organisation to reach many customers at once through print media, TV, and radio.

However, organisations wishing to use digital marketing techniques are faced with various challenges. The challenges range from recruitment of the staff and retention (Chaffey). The organisation has to consider whether the present staff members are well versed with digital operations. Organisations are faced with the challenge of finding skilled individuals with the relevant digital experience.

It is often hard for organisations to get employees who possess certain skills that are required to implement digital platform. Furthermore, organisations are challenged by the expenses that are incurred during the entire process of recruiting the staff, and other costs such as employee training (McDonald).

Acquiring relevant information technology resources and the technical support is another challenge that organisations face when considering the adoption of digital marketing techniques.

Furthermore, marketing managers are faced with a challenge of having senior management acceptance to transfer resources from the existing marketing functions to new digital marketing functions. Most organisations are also challenged by the need to strike a balance on various aspects such as acquisition, development, and retention of new and existing customers (Chaffey, 2005).

Firms planning for digital marketing should follow a number of steps. The organisation should first establish how it is going to deliver its voice. The organisation should consider the various platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, video blogs, or print media such as newspaper and magazines (Klososky).

Organisations should properly plan and implement digital marketing that will fit in their marketing plans. Improper plan and implementation may result to poor integration of digital marketing plan within the organisation’s marketing plan (Klososky). Therefore, a well structured plan and implementation of digital marketing is essential for successful digital marketing.

Organisations can take six steps to plan and implement digital marketing tools in its marketing activities. These steps are crucial for the organisation to integrate the digital marketing platform in organisation marketing activities (Stewart). Firstly, managers need to describe the value of digital marketing to the organisation.

This can be done by determining the goals that the organisation wants to achieve through the digital media. This could also involve understanding and evaluating different digital media that the organisation considers important (Stewart).

The organisation should identify the opportunities and challenges that are likely to be encountered when digital marketing is finally implemented. At this stage, the manager should consider the necessary changes that are required to implement the plan. It also involves the determination of digital marketing team and clients who are targeted by the strategy.

The third step is the selection of digital media that are deemed best for the organisation. This includes social media portals such as Facebook or Twitter, print media, blogs, and TV among others. Staff training is also carried out at this stage. Additionally, the digital media are integrated into the organisation marketing plan.

The fourth step in planning and implementation of digital marketing is the development of the digital marketing content (Tehrani). The digital content is the content that clients would want to read. The content should be posted frequently, and action responses developed to get clients’ opinions, advice, and questions. In addition, digital content is distributed to different media.

At this stage, digital marketing is integrated with other traditional marketing tools such as advertising and online solutions. Lastly, feedbacks are utilised from the digital platform to monitor, evaluate, and make adjustments to the plan where necessary (Tehrani).

Apple introduced mail marketing for iPad by sending emails to customers. The launch of iPhone by Apple gave the company an opportunity to develop is own digital marketing platforms (Rijnders, 2011). The Apple Company used images posted to various email as screen grab to reach out and advertise Apple products to millions of internet users.

Recently, the company acquired Quattro Wireless, which is a digital marketing company. Apple also utilised digital marketing through Operating System called Lion. The OS was released to millions of people using MacBook Pro, Mac Mini, MacBook Air, and Mac Pro in the world. The company has continued to update its website as an e-marketing tool (Rijnders).

Google Company is known to be a world leading search engine. The company has continuously developed digital marketing platform for different companies in the world. Furthermore, Google launched the Nexus, which is a pure digital marketing platform for the company. Google also sells phones via their websites. Just like Apple, Google has also used Android phone Operating System as a digital marketing tool for its phones (Qudos Digital).

The two companies share a lot of similarities in their approach to digital marketing. Both companies utilise mobile phones as digital marketing mediums. Additionally, Apple and Google offer digital marketing consultancy through advertisement mediums. Thus, the two firms are experienced in digital marketing. Furthermore, both companies use websites to sell their phones. Both companies also utilise digital marketing podcast iTunes and Operating System as digital marketing platform (Rowles, & Rogers).

In contrast, Google is a digital company and thus its digital marketing is different from the Apple. Google develops digital marketing platforms to be used by other companies. However, Apple, in its bid to enter into digital marketing, has acquired a digital marketing company (Qudos Digital).

Digital marketing is driven by technology. With the advancement of technology, organisations are presented with opportunities to integrate digital marketing into the overall marketing plan. There has been an increase in the number of social media such as Facebook and Twitter, as well as other digital platforms such as televisions, radio, newspapers, magazines, and blogs.

Organisation can take advantage of these technological breakthroughs to reach out to millions of potential clients. Digital marketing offers organisation with opportunities to increase sales via digital media. In designing of digital marketing platforms the companies need to consider the challenges that they are likely to experience during the implementation of the digital marketing platforms.

Therefore, to effectively design good digital marketing, the whole process should be approached on a step by step basis. This will ensure that the digital market integrates effectively with the overall organisation marketing plan.

Digital marketing should be carefully created by the departments concerned to ensure that the marketing goals of the organisation are met appropriately. In doing so, the company will finally achieve the desired marketing targets. A proper digital marketing plan will increase the sales registered by the company. In addition, it will help retain the company’s customers and acquisition of new ones.

Chaffey, D. 2005, Managing an E-commerce Team: Integrating digital marketing into your organization . Web.

Klososky, S. 2012, Social Technology: The next frontier . Web.

McDonald, M. 2011, Marketing plans: How to prepare them, how to use them , Wiley, Chichester.

Qudos Digital 2010, The field of digital marketing-Google Vs Apple . Web.

Rijnders, P. 2011, How Apple OS X Lion Lets Email Marketers Jump the Subject Line . Web.

Rowles, D. & Rogers, C. 2012, iTunes is the world’s easiest way to organise and add to your digital media collection . Web.

Rowley, J. 2004, “Just another channel? Marketing communications in e-business”, Marketing Intelligence & Planning , vol. 22, no. 1, pp. 24 – 41.

Stewart, P. 2010, Entwine Digital . Web.

Tehrani, N. 2008, Contemporary marketing mix for the digital era , AuthorHouse, Bloomington.

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  • Chicago (A-D)
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IvyPanda. (2019, April 8). Digital Marketing: Opportunities and Challenges to Organisations. https://ivypanda.com/essays/digital-marketing-opportunities-and-challenges-to-organisations/

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IvyPanda . 2019. "Digital Marketing: Opportunities and Challenges to Organisations." April 8, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/digital-marketing-opportunities-and-challenges-to-organisations/.

1. IvyPanda . "Digital Marketing: Opportunities and Challenges to Organisations." April 8, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/digital-marketing-opportunities-and-challenges-to-organisations/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Digital Marketing: Opportunities and Challenges to Organisations." April 8, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/digital-marketing-opportunities-and-challenges-to-organisations/.

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    Get a custom essay on Digital Marketing: Opportunities and Challenges to Organisations. This has had an impact on purchases of business organisation's goods. Organisations have embraced digital marketing to support their marketing activities (Klososky). The major aim of digital marketing is to acquire new customers and retain the existing ones.