Synergos is a company that provides cable television, high-speed Internet, and digital phone services for residential customers and businesses in Western Pennsylvania. This paper will examine the external and internal forces and trends that affects the company. The eternal forces that will be examined are legal and regulatory considerations, technological considerations, innovation, and competitive analysis. The internal forces and trends that will be examined are company goals, culture, and technologies. There will also be a critique on how well the organization adapts to change. The supply chain operations will be analyzed, and issues and opportunities will be identified. A hypothesis and research questions will also be generated for each issue.
External Forces and Trends
Legal and Regulatory Issues Synergos must comply with Federal Communications Commission and Federal Trade Commission regulations. One of Synergos' goals is to provide affordable high-speed Internet access to low-income families. However, the company must comply with the Federal Communications Commission net neutrality rules. Synergos must also work with attorneys to comply with the Securities and Exchange Commission regulations as well as other federal, state, and local agencies. Synergos formed a legal regulatory group to adapt to changes in regulations by the Federal Communications Commission and the Federal Trade Commission as well as the Securities and Exchange Commission and other agencies. Synergos' hypothesis is that the company will be able to adapt to the legal and regulatory changes made by the Federal Communications Commission, Federal Trade Commission, and the Securities and Exchange Commission. The research questions that will support the hypothesis is as followed: 1) What changes will be made by the Federal Communications Commission, Federal Trade Commission, and the Securities and Exchange Commission? 2) Will the new legal regulatory group be able to adapt to the changes by the federal agencies?
Technological Considerations Synergos must consider the technological advancements that its competitors have made and find ways to keep up with those technologies. Synergos' competitors are offering new technologies, such as Comcast's On Demand viewing for cable television as well as the company's increase in bandwidth allowances for its customers each month. Other technological advancements include digital television, digital video recorder capabilities, parental controls, and more television channel packages provided by satellite providers. Synergos must keep up with these advancements to maintain its cable television leadership in the Western Pennsylvania area. The hypothesis for Synergos' technological considerations is as followed: Synergos will be able to keep up with its competitors in its technological advancements. The research questions will be as followed: 1) What technological advancements will Synergos' competitors have in the future? 2) What will Synergos do to keep up with the technological advancements? 3) How will Synergos respond to its competitors in their technological advancements? These questions are paramount in determining if Synergos can keep up with the advancements that its competitors have made and continue to be the leader in Western Pennsylvania in cable television, high-speed Internet, and digital phone.
Innovation
Synergos has many new innovations for the upcoming year. The company plans on introducing ultra-high speed Internet service, more high definition content for cable television, and better options for customers to manage video, phone, and broadband options. To stay ahead of its competition, Synergos plans on providing Internet download speeds of up to 160 megabits of data per second. Because of this high speed, a two-hour high definition movie can be downloaded within four minutes. Synergos is all about innovation, and offering the best network in Western Pennsylvania. The hypothesis is as followed: Synergos will continually be innovative to stay ahead of its competition in Western Pennsylvania. Some of the research questions for conducting analysis is as followed: 1) What will Synergos come up with to continually provide new innovation for its customers? 2) What are the competitors plans as far is new innovative ideas are concerned? Synergos needs to continually come up with new ideas to stay ahead of its competition.
Competitive Analysis Synergos provides high-speed Internet, cable television, and digital phone for lower prices that its competitors. However, although Comcast has higher prices, the company also has more to offer. Comcast has the most On Demand choices on television and the most high definition choices. The company also has any room DVR so that one can record a show in one room and watch it in another. Comcast also provides Norton Security Suite at no additional cost with all Internet plans. The company also has universal caller identification that can be provided on the phone, television, personal computer, and smartphone. The hypothesis for Synergos concerning its competition is as followed: Synergos will continually come up with new ideas to keep up with its competition in Western Pennsylvania. The research question for analysis is as followed: 1) What will Synergos do to keep up with its competition? 2) What is the competitions plans in the future for providing service. 3) What are the competitions' prices concerning cable television, digital phone, and high-speed Internet? Synergos must stay competitive as far as prices are concerned in order to maintain its leadership in Western Pennsylvania.
Internal Forces and Trends
Goals
Synergos' main goal is to provide the best quality service for residential customers and businesses in Western Pennsylvania for the best prices. Another goal is for Synergos to provide the best customer service in the area, offering customer support 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Another main goal is to continually grow Synergos' customer base and to continually invest in future growth that will benefit its investors. Another goal is to continually come up with new and innovative ideas for its customers. Three of Synergos' financial goals is to increase its revenue, operating cash flow, and operating income for the upcoming year. The hypothesis for Synergos concerning is as followed: Synergos will continue to be the leader in Western Pennsylvania by providing the best quality customer service and by continually coming up with new and innovative ideas for its customers. The research questions regarding the company's goals for analysis is as followed: 1) What will Synergos do to increase its revenue, operating cash flow, and operating income for the upcoming year? 2) How will providing the best quality customer service benefit the company? 3) what new and innovative ideas will Synergos come up with to stay ahead of its competition?
Culture
An organizational culture is "a set of understandings or meanings shared by a group of people that are largely tacit among members and are clearly relevant and distinctive to the particular group which are also passed on to new members" (National Defense University, n.d.). Synergos' culture is enriched with an innovative and diverse environment for employees and suppliers reflecting the individuality of all its customers and communities. Synergos is a dynamic and versatile environment where one can provide feedback and receive feedback. One of the primary goals of Synergos is to create and maintain an organizational culture that rewards and encourages collective effort. The hypothesis for Synergos concerning culture is as followed: Synergos will continue to have an organizational culture that is enriched with innovation and diversity. The research questions for conducting analysis is as followed: 1) What influence does organizational culture have on the working environment? 2) How does a company go about building and influencing an organization's culture? 3) Why is organizational culture so important?
Technologies
Synergos has brought about numerous advancements in technology with cable television service even though there is much satellite competition. Synergos programming went from analog to digital cable television, which has improved imaging quality and provides crisp sound. In addition, Synergos has a new bundling package that enables customers to have cable television, super high-speed Internet, and digital phone all in one. The hypothesis for Synergos concerning technology is as followed: Synergos will continue to provide new technology for its residential customers and businesses. The research questions surrounding the hypothesis is as followed: 1) How will Synergos continue to bring new ideas and innovation for its customers? 2) What new technologies can Synergos come up with to continue to maintain and build its customer base?
Supply Chain Operations Supply chain operations is the management of activities realted to the manufacturing and shipping of Synergos products. Synergos' supplies include cable boxes, remote controls, Ethernet cords, wires, modems and much more. The supplies are manufactured by various manufacturing companies, shipped by truck to a distribution center, and then shipped by truck directly to Synergos facilities.
Conclusion
Some of the external forces and trends for Synergos include legal and regulatory issues, technological considerations, innovation, and a competitive analysis. Synergos formed a legal regulatory group to adapt to changes in regulations by the Federal Communications Commission and the Federal Trade Commission as well as the Securities and Exchange Commission and other agencies. Synergos must consider the technological advancements that its competitors have made and find ways to keep up with those technologies. Some of the internal forces and trends for synergos includes company goals, organizational culture, and technologies. Synergos' main goal is to provide the best quality service for residential customers and businesses in Western Pennsylvania for the best prices. Synergos' culture is enriched with an innovative and diverse environment for employees and suppliers reflecting the individuality of all its customers and communities. One of the main goals at Synergos is to continually be innovative and continue to provide new technology to its residential customers and businesses.
References
National Defense University. (n.d.). Strategic leadership and decision making: Organizational culture. Retrieved from http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/ndu/strat-ldr-dm/pt4ch16.html
