Final answer:
In a firm's societal environment, 'special interest groups' (option E) are included as they can influence the firm's external conditions through advocacy and lobbying for specific policies or regulations.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question is asking about the components of a firm's societal environment, which includes all external factors that can affect the firm's operations but are not directly related to its business activities. Among the options provided, special interest groups are included in a firm's societal environment. These groups can be economic interest groups like business groups, trade associations, labor unions, professional associations, or intergovernmental lobbies. They lobby for various interests that may impact a company's operations, such as governmental regulations or support for certain industries.
Special interest groups can range from those associated with businesses hoping for fewer regulations to labor groups seeking more collective bargaining rights or professional associations aiming to advance the concerns of their profession. These groups become critical players in the societal environment of firms as they can influence public policy and government decisions that ultimately affect business operations and market dynamics.