"The World is Flat" by Thomas Friedman should be a good read to help you answer this properly. Search for e-books or a precis of the same.
Globalization:
The competition is beginning to move from traditional local markets to a worldwide scenario. Organizations need to be ready and nimble for it.
M&A seems to be the new norm - cultural integration in organizations is important. As famously quoted - there are 3 rivers in HP: HP, Compaq, and Digital. Post-merger cultural integration has still not happened, and thus HP is still struggling to assimilate Compaq.
Multicultural workforces, as a result of people migrating to different parts of the world, require greater cultural sensitivity.
There is a need for the creation of ownership of tasks at each level and decentralization, making each person in the organization as much of a business owner as possible.
Changes in media for advertisement, mass communication, and communication are essential. Leveraging technology is a necessity.
Leveraged Buy-Outs (smaller players buying out larger players, e.g., Tata Corus).
Deregulation and Privatization:
The fall of communism in Russia led to inefficiencies in protected companies, making it difficult for them to compete globally. There is now a greater focus on creating wealth for the shareholder.
Indeterminate Industry Boundaries:
It is becoming difficult to identify core businesses as diversification has become the norm. For example, the Videocon group generates more than 40% of its revenue from oil due to investments made in the sector. Margins are decreasing on certain product lines, and there is significant competition from international players. Diversification examples include Reliance India.
Convergence of computing and mobile communication, e.g., Blackberry, iPhone, provides an advantage for mobile telephony service providers to offer these handsets. Companies like Apple have diversified from computer manufacturing into phones and music players. Google is another example of diversification within the same media.
Standards:
There is a growing number of new industry standard bodies emerging, such as Healthcare - HIPAA and HL7. Compliance is a significant task that involves changing existing infrastructure. Cartels are forming standards to create barriers to entry, leading to difficulties in creating win-win standards.
These are just a few random thoughts. I am sure there are many more things that can be factored in under each heading.
Hope I have been of assistance.
Cheers,
Aljo