Operating Environment is divided into three major sections giving a clear framework in which to review the economic, political and social contexts of business activity: aeo The national economic context. aeo The environmental factors affecting business activities. aeo Business firms in markets.

Since spring 1995 Blackwell Business has published the BTEC approved materials for the new Higher Nationals in Business. All the materials have been jointly commissioned and developed with BTEC and The Open Learning Foundation.

Written at a level appropriate for a BTEC Higher National core module, each of the workbooks is directly linked to the new learning outcomes of the fully revised BTEC syllabus providing the definitive and authoritative coverage for students. The material has been designed to permit a paced progression through each module allowing for the individual learning style of each student, and delivering approximately 80 hours of fully supported learning. Case studies are built into the workbooks.