Investment Alternative Benchmarking For Bernard Lester

Gap Analysis: Global Communications

Denise Durant

MBA 500

University of Phoenix

Professor Karen Klamm

October 7, 2006

Gap Analysis: Global Communications

Introduction

With the rapid technological advances in the telecommunications industry that demands globalization to increase market share, decrease labor costs while simultaneously boosting the employee morale is undergoing significant changes. The determining factor is the rate of the economic growth necessary to improve revenue profits for stockholders. The move from a domestic telecommunications company toward an international and global organization will allow for the development of new processes that must be continuously testing to be successful.

The paper will detail the issues and concerns while providing the opportunity realization to re-improve the processes specifically the communication challenges that are inevitable with such a global change. In addition, the leadership team needs to manage not only the stockholders’ expectations but those of its employees who continue to be a competitive advantage to the company.

Situation Analysis

Issue and Opportunity Identification

There were many issues in the Global Communications scenario that became opportunities realization (problem-solving). The issues are mapped in Table 1 in this paper and will be included and expanded in this section.

Issue 1. Diminishing returns in GC stock with a loss of over 50 percent within the past three years.

Opportunity вЂ" GC must develop a plan to restore confidence to the stockholders through the restructuring of the organization and expand jobs through outsourcing in order to cut costs with cheaper labor services from Ireland and India. “Organizational structure refers to the division of labor as well as the patterns of coordination, communication, work flow, and formal power that direct organizational activities” ((McShane-Von Glinow, 2004, p. 446).

Issue 2. There is too much competition for local, long-distance, and international market share in which every company is competing for the same business and the same customer.

Opportunity вЂ" The development a two-phase approach to introduce new services to small business and consumer customers for local and long-distance calling so as to expand services. In addition, GC will engage partnership with external vendors and service providers to offer video and broadband services. “The scheduling for the strategic planning process depends on the nature and needs of the organization and the immediate external environment” (McNamara, Carter, p. 1).

Opportunity вЂ" Identifying cost-cutting measures to increase profits which will benefit the stability and viability of GC. “For example, planning should be carried out frequently in an organization whose products and services are in an industry that is changing rapidly” (McNamara, Carter, p.1).

Issue 3. The lack of communication between the leadership team of GC and the Union executives could derail relationships.

Opportunity вЂ" The closer decision makers are together, the more effective the communication process becomes. Creating temporary workspace for Maria Antez will facilitate more effective teamwork between the GC and the Union executive. Maria can also serve as a conduit to the employees while acting as a consultant to the leadership team to implement the plans. “On the one hand, the workspace should isolate the team enough that members feel connected to each other and can quickly have informal meetings. On the other hand, the workspace should not isolate the team so much that employees lose valuable knowledge from people on other teams” (McShane-Von Glinow, 2004, p. 323). In a recent project at Merck & Co., the effectiveness of having the core project team in the same location (same floor and working area), facilitated quick decision-making and immediate break-out rooms to manage project issues and activities. In doing so better relationships were formed in and out of the work environment as the team worked for 3 years on a strategic capital project.

Issue 4. Decreased employee morale especially with the latest reduction to health and educational benefits.

Opportunity вЂ" Increasing the overall communication process between management and employee through mandatory town hall meetings facilitated by the senior leadership team and department/unit meetings facilitated by the senior management team.

Opportunity вЂ" Host face-to-face discussions with each business unit which will overall diminish filtering, flaming and a distortion of communication.

As McShane-Von Glinow stated:

“In an organizational context, senior executives can’t rely on employee surveys and company newsletters alone to understand what is happening in the organization. They need to get out of the executive suite and meet directly with employees at all levels and on their turf to fully understand the issues.”

Issue 5. Dissatisfied or displaced workers can easily be lured by the competition.

Opportunity вЂ" Develop a comprehensive package for those workers whose jobs were at-risk.

Opportunity вЂ" Provide job placement and/or career counseling for the employees searching for jobs in or out of the organization. Include such services as resume writing, tips during the interview process and any additional support necessary during the stressful period.

Opportunity вЂ" Create plans to support the rotation of employees to Ireland and India by addresses areas such as work permits, housing, education for school-age children, and financial incentives. In allowing the movement between locations, closer working relationships will be built and established in a diverse work environment. “Exit refers to leaving the situation, including searching for other employment, actually leaving the organization, or transferring to another work unit” (McShane-Von Glinow, 2004, p. 123).

Issue 6. Cross cultural