ESSAY ON CRITICAL ISSUES RELATED TO SLATER AND GORDON   Table of Contents Introduction 3 Discussion 3 Conclusion 7 Recommendations 7 Reference List 9   Introduction Background Slater and Gordon has been playing significant role in providing an array of legal services in different areas, such as compensation, criminal, employment, will dispute, estate planning and so on. This public law firm provides expert legal advice to people, who are in need of legal services. Slater and Gordon have employed the approximation of 1200 people in 54 locations in Australia (slatergordon.com.au, 2017). In this way, Slater and Gordon have been able to expand its business in Australia. Through providing legal services to clients in affordable price, the organisation has been able to increase market share. Aims/Objectives The aims/objectives of the study are following: ● To shed bright light on critical issues pertinent to business and management of Slater and Gordon ● To describe the internal and external contextual factors that play prominent role in making impact on business activities and decision making process of Slater and Gordon ● To give in-detail explanation of domestic and international contextual factors and their role in affecting business structures and strategy ● To show the different aspects of relevant theoretical framework while making up this study Scope This study will be utilitarian in gaining understanding on different aspects of theoretical framework, such as risks, environmental forces, organisational structures, business practices and organisational functions with respect to legal firm Slater and Gordon. The study will also be helpful in gaining understanding on different factors (internal and external) and issues related with business (Slater and Gordon) under the framework, such as SWOT Analysis. In addition, the different business related contextual factors would be discussed. Discussion Critical Issues Slater and Gordon has to deal with different critical issues related with business. The most important issue the organisation deals with is corporate governance. The organisation has shown utmost level of commitment in ensuring the existence of corporate governance. For ensuring the existence of corporate governance in the organisation, Slater and Gordon’s management has introduced some of the codes of conducts with the objective of maintaining high level of professional standards. As stated by Gollenia (2016, p.58), the organisation has shown utmost commitment in implementing high standards of corporate governance in the organisation through maintaining ethics in business practices. In addition, the organisation has been able to ensure the implementation of corporate governance through the creation of workplace devoid of bullying and discrimination. The organisation has embraced the idea of cross-cultural diversity in workplace with the objective of implementing corporate governance in workplace. Another most important critical issue related with business and management is risk management. The integration of risk management with organisational process has helped the organisation in creating risk management culture in Slater and Gordon. The creation of risk management culture has enabled the organisation in ensuring the protection of value of shareholders. The decision-making process has been made effective. The Audit, Compliance & Risk Committee performs its responsibility in reviewing the risk profile of the organisation. The organisation has show commitment in identifying the different business risk. Through promoting risk aware culture in the organisation, Slater and Gordon has been able to increase the effectiveness of organisational risk management policy. As opined by Sparrow et al. (2016, p.68), the effective risk management policy has been utilitarian for the organisation in gaining competitive advantage over industrial rivals. The effectiveness level of the business decision-making has been facilitated with the formulation of effective risk management policy. The organisation has also show commitment in dealing with environmental sustainability issues. Slater and Gordon has taken effective initiatives with the objective of minimising the impact of organisational activities on environment. As notified by Chang (2016, p.49), the organisation has adopted waste and paper minimisation strategies with the objective of maintaining balance in environment. In addition, the organisation has been engaged into performing staff engagement activities with for bringing about changes in environmental behaviours. The organisation has been able to deal with issues like employee engagement and organisational productivity. As commented by Garlapati (2016, p.879), the organisation has been able to implement HPWP or High Performance Work Practice system in the organisation for increasing organisational effectiveness level. For increasing the organisational effectiveness and productivity and profitability level, Slater and Gordon has been able to introduce effective remuneration policy for the organisational members. The organisational leadership is encouraged and employee wellbeing is given top priority. Through the creation of open and transparent communication, the organisation has been able to bring about positive changes in the organisational culture. Through the implementation of employee engagement, the organisation has been able to reduce employee turnover. In accordance with the statement of Nadarajah et al. (2016, p.1075), the organisation has been able to create the sense of commitment and passion towards work amongst the organisational members through implementing employee engagement. The organisation has been giving sincere efforts in maintaining the efficiency in its functional structure. Customer satisfaction has also become critical issue for business activities of Slater and Gordon. For improving the customer satisfaction level, the organisation has been able to employ expert legal advisors. As stated by Larkin & Lee (2017, p.50), the clients belong to different ethnic and cultural background. Maintaining quality in legal services has been given top priority with the objective of ensuring customer satisfaction. Internal and External Contextual Factors While discussing about the internal and external contextual factors related with Slater and Gordon, SWOT analysis framework can be utilised. Strengths • High level of growth in terms of business profitability • The existence of highly experienced and effective business units • Reduction in labour costs • Effective risk management policy • Effective implementation of corporate governance Weaknesses • High level of investment in R&D activities • Small sized business units Opportunities • Growing economy of Australia • Effective acquisition policy • Increasing trend in profitability and income level • Existence of different legal services • Positive trend of growth in industry Threats • Growing competition in industry • Lower level of profitability • Government regulations • Barriers of trade Table 1: SWOT Analysis of Slater and Gordon (Source: Self-developed) The internal and external contextual factors related with business activities of Slater and Gordon have played important role in making impact on business decisions. Based upon the critical analysis of the internal and external contextual factors, the organisation can be able to take decisions for improving business performance. As stated by Pan & Tan (2016, p.53), the strengths and opportunities can be utilised for ensuring the improvement in business productivity. On the other hand, the analysis of the organisational weakness business threats can help the organisation in minimising the risk related with business and management. In this way, Slater and Gordon can be able to improve its business decision-making thereby resulting in improving the business operational activities of the organisation. Domestic and International Contextual Factors There are different domestic and international contextual factors, which play significant role in affecting the business activities. Through dealing domestic and international contextual factors, Slater and Gordon has been able to increase the effectiveness level of its business operations. There are some domestic factors, which can be held responsible for making improvement in business operations. As stated by Brandon-Jones et al. (2016, p.21), the suitable political environment has been proved as utilitarian for the organisation in ensuring the expansion of business. The growth in Australian economy has also paved the way for improving consumer purchasing power. Because of the improved consumer purchasing power, Slater and Gordon has been able to provide services to significant number of consumers. In addition, the technological changes have presented the opportunity for the organisation in bringing about efficiency in the organisation. Through the utilisation of state-of-the-art technologies, the organisation has been able to increase the effectiveness of business strategy. Slater and Gordon has to ensure the compliance with different legislations, such as consumer protection and competition related laws. As stated by Ferguson et al. (2016, p.1444), Slater and Gordon has to deal with clients belonging to different strata of Australian society. In addition, the organisation has dealt with environmental issues through adopting effective sustainability strategies and initiatives. The organisation has to consider different business risks with the objective of mitigating business risks. As stated by Beamond et al. (2016, p.500), the different risks have to be analysed with the objective of improving business performance, such as environmental, competition, operational, technological and so on. In addition, the organisation has been playing significant role in dealing with international contextual factors for conducting its business activities. Slater and Gordon has to follow WTO guidelines for ensuring the expansion of business. As per the opinion of Bui & de Villiers (2017, p.23), Slater and Gordon has been able to expand business in countries like UK through effectively dealing with cross-cultural and diversity related issues. In addition, the organisation has to deal with different trade barriers for ensuring the effective expansion of business operation activities. Conclusion From the diametrical discussion, it has been conspicuous that the organisation, i.e. Slater and Gordon has been able to deal with different critical issues related with business and management with the objective of maximising business performance. It requires effective strategy for expanding business operations. The effective business strategy will help the organisation in dealing with external and international factors associated with business environment. In this way, operational efficiency of the business will be increased, which will result in creating brand image of the organisation in the minds of consumers. Recommendations Some of the recommendations can be developed with the objective of improving business and management of Slater and Gordon. ● It is recommended that Slater and Gordon ought to develop effective marketing mix plan for ensuring the business expansion at international level. ● It is recommended that Slater and Gordon should make the investment on research and development activities reasonable. ● It is recommended that Slater and Gordon should focus on increasing the effectiveness level of coordination amongst different functions of organisation. ● It is recommended that Slater and Gordon should appoint effective customer service professionals with the objective of improving customer service delivery.   Reference List Beamond, M. T., Farndale, E., & Härtel, C. E. (2016). MNE translation of corporate talent management strategies to subsidiaries in emerging economies. Journal of World Business, 51(4), 499-510. Brandon-Jones, A., Lewis, M., Verma, R., & Walsman, M. C. (2016). 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