At&t strengths and weaknesses 2017

Internal Analysis

Resources

The great resources of AT&T are its SWOT analysis, which is a framework for evaluating internal and external factors that have an impact on the telecommunications industry (swotandpestle.com, 2020). AT&T’s internal analysis helps to understand and enhance the company’s strengths and weaknesses; on the other hand, the external analysis gives insights into the opportunities that can act as major growth drivers for AT&T and help build revenue opportunities in this digital era (swotandpestle.com, 2020). The following table shows the SWOT analysis for AT&T:

Table Description automatically generatedSWOT & PESTLE.com

Innovation

Innovation has allowed AT&T to maintain its leading position. AT&T’s technological reforms are its characteristics, especially the reform and innovation of 5G networks in today’s society. New technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality (VR), and the Internet of Things (IoT) are changing the way we live, work, and interact with the world. The widespread deployment of 5G wireless technology will increase the adoption rate of these solutions, as operators are striving to provide a faster and more responsive network experiencedirect quote for many users and connected devices (about att.com, 2020). Hence, the same as its statement says, “Technological innovation can help AT&T deliver next-generation products to improve customers’ lives and solve some of the greatest societal issues” (about.att.com, 2020). The ability and influence of technology to solve global challenges can help AT&T succeed in a highly competitive market and improve its brand reputation.

According to AT&T’s position of innovation, we can see through its renovation that it is continually building wireless and wired networks to improve reliability, coverage, speed, and overall performance to help meet global business challenges and engage citizens for the greater gooddirect quote (about.att.com, 2020). In addition to technological innovations, we can also see that AT&T has a positive impact on health, accessibility, employee safety, and education. Palmer says AT&T is proud to be at the forefront of education innovation in the telecommunication industry. “We are always constantly open to sharing with others our best practices. We’re still learning every single day. We use it at all levels. It’s a culture of continuous learning” (Schindelheim, 2018).

Company Culture

AT&T’s company culture is its values on its website, “Working here is more than just a job title. It’s about sharing something greater, doing incredible things, and living out our values. No matter who you are, you’ll find endless ways to be a part of it.” (att.jobs/culture) Here are eight values what I like from AT&T:

1. Live true - do the right thing, no compromise.

2. Think big - innovate and get there first.

3. Pursue excellence - in everything, every time.

4. Inspire imagination - give people what they don’t expect.

5. Stand for equality - speak with your actions.

6. Embrace freedom - press, speech, beliefs.

7. Make a difference - impact your world.

8. Be there - when customers & colleagues need you most. Direct quote

Corporate Governance/Organizational Structure

AT&T’s governance is a big commitment they can make to customers and shareholders. It is also their highest standards of honesty, integrity, and respect (about.att.com, 2020). The following is the organizational structure of AT&T: I don’t care about the names. I want to know how the company is run, how decisions are made, etc

A person wearing a suit and tie Description automatically generatedJohn Stankey - Chief Executive Officer, AT&T Inc.

A person wearing a suit and tie smiling at the camera Description automatically generatedEd Gillespie - Senior Executive Vice President - External and Legislative Affairs

A person wearing glasses and smiling at the camera Description automatically generatedDavid S. Huntley - Senior Executive Vice President & Chief Compliance Officer

A person looking at the camera Description automatically generatedJason Kilar - CEO, WarnerMedia

A person sitting on a leather surface Description automatically generatedLori Lee - CEO - AT&T Latin America & Global Marketing Officer, AT&T Inc.

A person wearing a suit and tie Description automatically generatedDavid R. McAtee II - Senior Executive Vice President and General Counsel

A person wearing a suit and tie smiling at the camera Description automatically generatedJeff McElfresh - CEO, AT&T Communications

A person in a blue shirt Description automatically generatedAngela Santone - Senior Executive Vice President - Human Resources, AT&T Inc.

A person wearing a suit and tie Description automatically generatedJohn J. Stephens - Senior Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer

Social Responsibility

AT&T’s social responsibility focuses on the connection between human beings and life. We can see some important stories and experiences of people in their daily lives on the Internet. On the AT&T website, we can view and find the latest social responsibility news. For example, the news “FirstNet Gives First Responders Tools for Health and Wellness” is information about FirstNet, which helps first responders who are responding to health and wellness challenges increase education, resources, and support opportunities (about.att.com, 2020).

Analysis of company’s Internal Standing (Original)

Overall, AT&T's success mainly depends on the innovation and social responsibility behavior of these leaders. According to SWOT analysis, we can see the advantages and disadvantages of AT&T. It has become a large telephone network company in the United States, but its disadvantage is that the signal coverage is very poor, especially in remote areas. In today's society, network communication is indeed very convenient. It allows people from different places to communicate, breaking the way of communicating through communication in the past. Network communication enables us to learn the latest information faster and life becomes better, which is also one of AT&T's main goals.

Company Strategy

Corporate Strategy

Organizations often share a common goal throughout a specific industry and marketing structure. According to Bakopoulos et al. (2017), they all seek to enhance their income flow while maintaining a low debt ratio. Organizations must make or adopt a suitable plan to undertake this move sensibly. According to Woodside et al. (2017), corporate strategies refer to specific procedures adopted by an organization to gain a competitive edge in adopting a system that works and competes fairly in different product markets. AT&T focuses on providing services and products that help connect people in their technological bubble and space. The organization boasts of advanced networks that allow it to offer suitable and quality solutions to its consumers (Bakopoulos et al., 2017). For instance, the organization is the leading provider of 4G network and Wi-Fi hotspots. Hence, the AT&T strategy depends on its excellent customer services and communication services.

AT&T’s corporate mission statement provides information for AT&T’s corporate strategy. It uses information services and products to bring people from all over the world together (Mandal, 2020). From the corporate statement and mission, we get to understand the organization's corporate strategies. AT&T’s strategic focus is to allocate appropriate resources, which can be used as the basis for guidance and control. The leading aspect of the organization's corporate strategy is its focus on robust growth, which is focused on AT&T's specific markets and how they combine that with their products and services. The organization's primary work is communication. With its uniqueness in providing this service and development, it stands a chance of supplying a variety of products to its customers who enjoy satisfaction. Another critical aspect of corporate strategy is product development. AT&T's corporate strategy focuses more on developing new products to increase its market reach, which also involves injecting new energy and functions into existing products and services.(cite reference)

Business Strategy

AT&T business strategy is multipronged. The organization undertakes its operations using different structured groups: a computer company, a communication company, and lucent technologies (Mandal, 2020). The communication service corporation adopts a well-structured business-level strategy that allows its departments to provide unique services and operations. AT&T's system provides the highest echelon for senior managers, managers and employees, explaining what they must do and when to execute it. This section discusses AT&T’s business strategy, including cost competition, differentiation strategy, operation, market and technology strategy. .(cite reference)

As for the cost-competition strategy, AT&T adopts competitive pricing to the services it provides. Also, the system is keen on switching costs (Woodside et al., 2017). For instance, AT&T agrees with Apple to sell its products, thus differentiating itself from competitors. Before the new international market’s strategy, AT&T was the best local service provider because it focused on reaching customers and consumers on time. However, moving it to the global market is seen as a strategic plan to help achieve its long-term plans and goals. The organization has an entrenched control of the market with delighted customers. Over the years, AT&T has changed the norm in the global market, especially when it comes to customer satisfaction. The success of AT&T's marketing strategy at the business level almost all depends on its high-quality brands, and the promotion strategies adopted and practised. .(cite reference)

The organization's marketing strategy at the business level guarantees the organization's success and profitability. It's global positioning as a customer-first organization ensures customer satisfaction and enhances its competitive positioning. Another notable advantage for the organization is its focus on public responsibility and employee development.

Functional Strategy

According to Woodside et al.(2017), a functional strategy defines the role of managers, the consistency of goals with internal and external factors, cash flow analysis, and how the organization's goals and tasks are achieved. The process of developing a functional strategy allows the organization to realize its objectives and goals. Without clear objectives and goals, AT&T would be guessing. The organization's functional strategy focuses on concentric diversification. AT&T, through strategic partnerships, can build and enhance its operations related to communication worldwide. The company acquires corporations, and start-ups focused on the communication market. It also enhances its customer base through consolidation and cable-services. .(cite reference)

Analysis of Company’s Strategies (Original)

AT&T's business strategy is multifaceted. The organization uses different structured teams to conduct business, such as computer companies, communications companies and lucent technologies. What’s more, the organization's functional strategy is based on concentric diversification. Then, AT&T can set up and enhance its operations related to global communication through strategic partnerships. The main aspect of the organization's corporate strategy is concentrated development. People should focus on AT&T's specific market and how they integrate them with products and services.

Evaluation and Control

Tools/Techniques/Procedures

AT&T adopts different strategic metrics to measure its organizational performance in other markets, both local and international. The organization uses both qualitative and quantitative data approaches to measure the success of its strategies. According to Fraser & Mancl (2016), the metrics mentioned above play a critical role in assessing whether different implemented company strategies meet the desired organizational objectives. AT&T depends on customers' and stakeholders' feedback to evaluate their strategy's success. New products and existing products are usually tailored to customer needs and responses. This approach enables AT&T to gain a competitive advantage in the communications industry and retain its customers.

The goal-based indicators are also used to evaluate and control the organization’s strategy (Bakopoulos et al., 2017). Because the goal-based indicators can help organizations check and determine the extent to which the set goals have been reached, while the company strategy is only effective when the goals are reached.

Another essential tool for evaluation and control is critical financial metrics such as the organization's net profit, earnings per share, and investments. The increase in net profits indicates the effectiveness of the implemented strategy. Return on investment’s measures the success of a system based on initial investments made by each shareholder. The tool helps investors check the productivity of their first assets. AT&T uses an independent quality control department to monitor and control all the company strategies(Fraser & Mancl,2016). The department ensures high-quality work throughout the value chain and also designs systems and channels through which customers can communicate with the organization.

Successes/Failures

The organization’s success in evaluation and control lies in its use of key financial indicators. Since AT&T is a multinational company, it is necessary to adopt different strategies in different countries or regions to meet customer needs (Bakopoulos et al., 2017). In this way, using key financial indicators such as the organization’s net profit, earnings per share and return on investment to measure, the success of these goals is success rather than failure. It allows organizations to implement strategies that fit the business model. In contrast, AT&T's assessment and control indicators did not report major failures.Provide examples of success and failure

Analysis of Evaluation and Control (Original)

Strategy implementation plays an important role in the success of an organization. Everyone in the organization needs to participate in the process. Evaluation and control tools can be used to measure the effectiveness of different company strategies. Since its inception, AT&T has adopted effective strategies for many years to help it gain a competitive position and advantage in the communications industry. The company uses different tools such as return on investment and earnings per share to evaluate and control its strategy. As a result, the organization gained enormous wealth and maximized its share.