Scanning the external environment allows the legitimate system to scrutinise various factors that may have an impact on the operations and survival of the organisation. As Robbins and Barnwell (1998) point out, to the extent that this scanning can lead to accurate forecasts of environmental fluctuations, it can reduce uncertainty and allow management to anticipate changes and make internal adjustments rather than react after the fact. The environmental factors to be scanned are usually divided into indirect and direct factors.