CHAPTER 3External environmentsAll events outside a company that have thepotential to influence or affect it.Environmental changeThe rate at which a company's general andspecific environments change.Stable environmentAn environment in which the rate ofchange is slow.Dynamic environmentAn environment in which the rate ofchange is fast.Punctuated equilibrium theoryThe theory that companies go throughlong periods of stability, followed by shortperiods of dynamic, fundamental change,and then a new equilibrium.Environmental complexityThe number and the intensity of externalfactors in the environment that affectorganizations.Simple environmentAn environment with few environmentalfactors.Complex environmentAn environment with many environmentalfactors.