Key Idea: STEEPLE analysis helps businesses analyse the external environment. It identifies factors that can create opportunities or threats for the business.
All STEEPLE factors are external influences that businesses must monitor and respond to.
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STEEPLE factors (memorise)
- Social — demographics, lifestyle, culture
- Technological — innovation, automation, AI
- Economic — inflation, unemployment, income levels
- Environmental — sustainability, climate change
- Political — government policy, stability
- Legal — laws, regulations
- Ethical — moral expectations of society
How it is used
- Identify external opportunities
- Identify external threats
- Support strategic decisions
- Used alongside SWOT
📈 Opportunities: **Tech growth —** new products. **Economic growth —** more demand. **Social trends —** new markets.
⚠️ Threats: **Regulation —** higher costs. **Economic downturn —** lower demand. **Competition —** pressure on prices.
Always APPLY STEEPLE to the case. Generic answers score low.
Explain HOW the external factor affects the business (costs, demand, profit).
Important: Students list factors without explaining impact — this limits marks.
- Identify relevant STEEPLE factor
- Explain it clearly
- Apply it to the business
- Show impact on performance
- Classify as opportunity or threat