• Some things just aren't in our control. Though business owners can profoundly shape the internal environment of their companies, the external environment is a different matter. To avoid being at the mercy of external forces, wise business owners stay alert to environmental changes in order to best position their companies. Some general environmental conditions only indirectly touch a company, but five external conditions specifically affect an organization's well-being. By staying alert to these, managers can avoid being blind-sided by adverse events, and can take advantage of opportunities the environment could provide.