Skype Reseach - Research Paper Example

? SKYPE INTRODUCTION Gone are the times when community would write letters to their loved ones while apart, and wait for days for letters to reach their destination. Technological advancements have made communication with individuals in diverse part of the country easier and faster. Thanks to the Internet, social networks such as Facebook, Twitter and Skype have enabled a majority of individuals to be able to communicate with each other while in different parts of the world (Ferrell & Hartline 2010). The business world has also not been left at the rear in the technological advancements and more and more businessmen are willing to venture into the world, in search of potential international markets. No longer is one required to physically attend a conference or a meeting. One can simply log in to their specific business website and chat with those who are online as well, where they can discuss business issues from the comfort of their residences or wherever else they might be (Fulmer & Bleak 2008). The Internet has also made it possible for people to call their loved ones or fellow businessmen in whichever division of the nation they may be, at whatever time of day. Skype is one such company that has embraced technological advancements and enabled people to share, communicate and transact with each other irrespective of where they may be in the world. Skype is a company that was established in the year 2003 by Niklas Zennstrom and Janus Friis (Ferrell & Hartline 2010). These 2 individuals created a little piece of software that eases communication between individuals, making it fun. This particular software also allows people to video-call and make voice calls using the Internet (Fulmer & Bleak 2008). The company generates its revenue via its premium offerings which are offered in making and receiving calls to and from mobile and landline phones, together with call forwarding and voice mail (Ferrell & Hartline 2010). ESSAY Almost all corporations have a mission-statement and a vision statement. While a mission statement is one that concentrates on a company’s present state, a vision statement concentrates on a company’s future (Fulmer & Bleak 2008). There are however those companies that opt to blend these statements together. Skype’s mission and vision statement is to be the fabric of real-time communication on the web (Ferrell & Hartline 2010). In the world of business, Skype is responsible for enabling employers to bring their entire workforce, partners and customers together to fulfill the company’s goals and objectives (Fulmer & Bleak 2008). A mission and vision statement tells everyone reading a company’s business plan or researching it a little bit about the company in summary. That is why it is important for any given company to have a strong and catchy mission and vision statement so as to attract potential clientele. A strong mission and vision provides shareholders, supporters and employees with a clear perspective of the company’s reason for existing (Ferrell & Hartline 2010). This should also be short enough for people to remember it as well as share it with the rest of the world. Businesses should carry out their transactions with the aim outlined in their vision and mission statements. With this in mind, I choose to propose a vision and mission for Skype. The firm’s proposed vision and mission statement is: To bring together cultures and businesses of the world and share the fun! The reason why I have chosen this particular vision and mission statement is because I have considered the fact that, Skype is not only a firm that uses innovative technology but also one that enables other businesses and individuals in general to communicate, transact and catch up. It enables people to learn a language, hold a meeting, celebrate a birthday, all while using text, video and voice, making it simple to share experiences, and ideas with people who matter the most (Fulmer & Bleak 2008). In this day and age where competitive business environment is present, the success of any given company is determined by the speed with which it makes decisions regarding to how it responds to changes in the environment, external or internal (Ferrell & Hartline 2010). The proposed vision and mission statement will not only make potential customers curious to know what it really means but will also attract them into wanting to experience what the company offers in terms of products and services. Once they have attracted potential clients, the company will have an added advantage over its competitors in that it will have an opportunity of offering its products and services according to the preferences of the clients (Fulmer & Bleak 2008). Skype’s proposed vision and mission statement will also provide product planners, as well as product developers with a direction on which particular products should be pursued; together with the attributes such products should have (Ferrell & Hartline 2010). Interacting with potential clients will also facilitate the product growth department to understand exactly what is expected of its products and/or services. Understanding the way technology interacts with and supports product development is also an important factor to consider (Fulmer & Bleak 2008). The proposed vision and mission statement of the firm will trigger market research. This will allow the marketing team to understand customer value and as a result bring about a steady stream of competitive intelligence while linking together marketing variables such as customer behavior, targeted customer market, product positioning and product usage (Ferrell & Hartline 2010). Generally, Skype will consider diversification where it will advertise its products and/services to already existing clients and potential ones, using the proposed vision and mission statement. The company is already offering free calls as part of their product service and this will be extended to a larger clientele following the proposed mission and vision statement bound to attract more clientele (Fulmer & Bleak 2008). The company’s proposed vision and mission statement will bring together dissimilar cultures and industries from the world over. This means that the management will deal with new clients and new business environments. Considering the fact that Skype has since its inception been dealing with, and linking together people from around the world, this will be a rather simple task for them. The company has already observed the culture and rules of operation as it were. They are well aware of the climate of group in the various interactions carried out in their various business websites together with standards and values (Fulmer & Bleak 2008). Effective corporate culture for Skype will be more enhanced through effective leadership strategy. Strong internal leadership will be requisite driving the implementation of corporate culture forward, achieving higher standards of operating excellence (Ferrell & Hartline 2010). For one to be a strategic leader, he/she needs to understand corporate priorities as well as future activities of the company. CONCLUSION Skype is a company that is well aware of the fact that the idea of using a computer in making free calls or receiving them is just not a mere hype. Each member of the company not only fulfils their daily operations responsibilities but also generate strategic value through their objectives, roles and transformations required for the satisfaction of future needs of external and internal clients. The proposed vision and mission statement will therefore enable innovation to take place, increase productivity and all the more, motivate employees, leading to self actualization. More than 80% of the company’s sales have so far emerged from the United States and in 2011 the company was acquired by Microsoft for a whooping $8.5 billion. Its revenue by the year 2010 was approximately $859.80 million, having revenue growth of 19.6%. This proves that Skype is more than financially capable of executing the proposed vision and strategy in the future. REFERENCES Ferrell, O.C., & Hartline, M. (2010). Marketing Strategy. 5th Edition. Mason, Ohio: Cengage Learning. Fulmer, R.M., & Bleak, J.L. (2008). The Leadership Advantage: How the Best Companies Are Developing Their Talent to Pave the Way for Future Success. New York: AMACOM Div American Mgmt Assn. Read More