STEEPLE analysis is a planning tool businesses use to research the ecological state of the marketplace. A STEEPLE analysis considers current government policies, employment laws, political stability, and more through a macro-environmental lens. Conducting a STEEPLE analysis can help businesses understand the external environment to better predict a company’s growth rates and gain a [competitive advantage](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-competitive-advantage) in their [business planning](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-a-business-plan-learn-how-to-write-a-business-plan-in-8-steps). 

The STEEPLE analysis framework overlaps with other research tools, such as STEEP and PESTEL but includes legal and ethical factors. It differs from a SWOT analysis in that a STEEPLE analysis focuses on external factors whereas a SWOT analysis focuses on a company’s internal factors.
STEEPLE is an acronym for social, technological, economic, environmental, political, legal, and ethical threats. Conducting a STEEPLE analysis takes time and resources to execute. Still, companies use this crucial research tool to get a stronger sense of factors outside the brand’s control that might impact business.
Businesses use the results of STEEPLE analysis research to comprehend opportunities and threats. Depending on the company, the possibilities might include low [interest rates](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-are-interest-rates), technological advancements, and trade agreements. Threats might be restrictive tax policies, steep [inflation rates](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-inflation-rate), and the effects of [climate change](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-climate-change-affects-the-planet).
Before creating, marketing, and distributing new products, companies will do well to invest in a STEEPLE analysis. Strategists and [stakeholders](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/stakeholder-explained) should gather data on these factors:

- __Economic__: Economic factors are a significant part of the STEEPLE analysis and encompass changing exchange rates, new tariffs, the [GDP](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-gdp), and more.
- __Environmental__: Environmental factors or ecological factors might include the availability of [natural resources](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-conserve-natural-resources) and climate change, which can affect operation and production.
- __Ethical__: In the business world, [ethical](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/business-ethics-definition) factors measure the marketplace’s attitude toward [corporate social responsibility](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/corporate-social-responsibility), moral standards, and accountability.
- __Legal__: Researching legal factors means diving into court decisions, trade unions, and other regulations that can affect day-to-day and overarching operations.
- __Political__: The political situation can impact trade restrictions, corporate taxation, and more, affecting the bottom line and operational procedures.
- __Social__: Social factors might include researching population growth rates, [social mobility](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/social-mobility-definition), and the market demographic. For the latter, understanding what genders, education levels, age distributions, and other factors are essential to target can make [marketing campaigns](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/email-marketing-explained) more precise and effective. 
- __Technological__: Before entrepreneurs rush into product development, a STEEPLE analysis of the market’s technological changes will help inform how new technological factors can streamline or impact business development.
Get the [MasterClass Annual Membership](https://www.masterclass.com) for exclusive access to video lessons taught by business luminaries, including Howard Schultz, Chris Voss, Robin Roberts, Sara Blakely, Daniel Pink, Bob Iger, Anna Wintour, and more.
Businesses use a STEEPLE analysis to measure external factors of the business environment to predict economic growth. This tool can help determine strategic planning and decision-making and predict consumer purchasing power.

Businesses use a STEEPLE analysis to measure external factors of the business environment to predict economic growth. This tool can help determine strategic planning and decision-making and predict consumer purchasing power.

STEEPLE Analysis: How to Conduct a STEEPLE Analysis

STEEPLE analysis is a planning tool businesses use to research the ecological state of the marketplace. A STEEPLE analysis considers current government policies, employment laws, political stability, and more through a macro-environmental lens. Conducting a STEEPLE analysis can help businesses understand the external environment to better predict a company’s growth rates and gain a <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-competitive-advantage' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-competitive-advantage","linkCopy":"competitive advantage","category":null}'>competitive advantage</a> in their <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-a-business-plan-learn-how-to-write-a-business-plan-in-8-steps' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-a-business-plan-learn-how-to-write-a-business-plan-in-8-steps","linkCopy":"business planning","category":null}'>business planning</a>. The STEEPLE analysis framework overlaps with other research tools, such as STEEP and PESTEL but includes legal and ethical factors. It differs from a SWOT analysis in that a STEEPLE analysis focuses on external factors whereas a SWOT analysis focuses on a company’s internal factors.

What Is STEEPLE Analysis?

STEEPLE is an acronym for social, technological, economic, environmental, political, legal, and ethical threats. Conducting a STEEPLE analysis takes time and resources to execute. Still, companies use this crucial research tool to get a stronger sense of factors outside the brand’s control that might impact business.

What Does STEEPLE Stand For?

Businesses use the results of STEEPLE analysis research to comprehend opportunities and threats. Depending on the company, the possibilities might include low <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-are-interest-rates' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-are-interest-rates","linkCopy":"interest rates","category":null}'>interest rates</a>, technological advancements, and trade agreements. Threats might be restrictive tax policies, steep <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-inflation-rate' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-inflation-rate","linkCopy":"inflation rates","category":null}'>inflation rates</a>, and the effects of <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-climate-change-affects-the-planet' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-climate-change-affects-the-planet","linkCopy":"climate change","category":null}'>climate change</a>.

Why Is STEEPLE Analysis Important?

Before creating, marketing, and distributing new products, companies will do well to invest in a STEEPLE analysis. Strategists and <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/stakeholder-explained' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/stakeholder-explained","linkCopy":"stakeholders","category":null}'>stakeholders</a> should gather data on these factors:<ul class="mc-m-4 list-styled"><li class="">Economic: Economic factors are a significant part of the STEEPLE analysis and encompass changing exchange rates, new tariffs, the <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-gdp' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-gdp","linkCopy":"GDP","category":null}'>GDP</a>, and more. </li><li class="">Environmental: Environmental factors or ecological factors might include the availability of <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-conserve-natural-resources' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-conserve-natural-resources","linkCopy":"natural resources","category":null}'>natural resources</a> and climate change, which can affect operation and production. </li><li class="">Ethical: In the business world, <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/business-ethics-definition' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/business-ethics-definition","linkCopy":"ethical","category":null}'>ethical</a> factors measure the marketplace’s attitude toward <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/corporate-social-responsibility' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/corporate-social-responsibility","linkCopy":"corporate social responsibility","category":null}'>corporate social responsibility</a>, moral standards, and accountability. </li><li class="">Legal: Researching legal factors means diving into court decisions, trade unions, and other regulations that can affect day-to-day and overarching operations. </li><li class="">Political: The political situation can impact trade restrictions, corporate taxation, and more, affecting the bottom line and operational procedures. </li><li class="">Social: Social factors might include researching population growth rates, <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/social-mobility-definition' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/social-mobility-definition","linkCopy":"social mobility","category":null}'>social mobility</a>, and the market demographic. For the latter, understanding what genders, education levels, age distributions, and other factors are essential to target can make <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/email-marketing-explained' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/email-marketing-explained","linkCopy":"marketing campaigns","category":null}'>marketing campaigns</a> more precise and effective. </li><li class="">Technological: Before entrepreneurs rush into product development, a STEEPLE analysis of the market’s technological changes will help inform how new technological factors can streamline or impact business development. </li></ul>

How to Do a STEEPLE Analysis

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Businesses use a STEEPLE analysis to measure external factors of the business environment to predict economic growth. This tool can help determine strategic planning and decision-making and predict consumer purchasing power.

Businesses use a STEEPLE analysis to measure external factors of the business environment to predict economic growth. This tool can help determine strategic planning and decision-making and predict consumer purchasing power.
