Assignment 1: Culture

BUS 325 Global Human Resource Management

Professor

Introduction to Comcast Corporation

CULTURE

Comcast Corporation that was once known as American Cable System got its start in

1963. The founders of the corporation are Ralph J. Roberts, Daniel Aaron, and Julian A.

Brodsky. This American company is a provider of cable television, entertainment, and

communications products and services (4). The company was started in Tupelo, Mississippi, but

the headquarters are and has been in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania since 1969 (4). Comcast owns

films companies such as Universal Pictures and Focus Features. They also own the rights to

Telemundo. One more successful branch that this company owns would be many television

channels such as E! Entertainment and USA Network, just to name a couple. In 2017, Comcast

served 22.5 million subscribers and growing.

Introduction to Sky PLC

Sky Broadcasting Group PLC is a British digital satellite television company. Sky PLC

formerly known as BSKYB was created by Rupert Murdock and launched in 1988. The

headquarters for Sky PLC is in London, UK. Sky is the UK’s largest marketer. Sky is Europe’s

leading Entertainment Company, serving 22 million customers across satellite, OTT and

broadband in five countries: Italy, Germany, Austria, the UK and Ireland (Startup.Sky.com). Sky

broadcasting employs 30,000 employees for everyday operations. They have a revenue of $17

billion dollars. It has increased its presence in digital media and so-called over-the-top (OTT)

entertainment, which means content streamed to users over the internet (1).

After the Bid

Comcast won the bidding war for Sky PLC against Twenty First Century Fox by $3.6

billion dollars (1). The human resource departments for both Comcast and Sky PLC have come

together to create a checklist to truly merge us together. The best part is that this merger has

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brought two great companies together from different backgrounds. So, adding one combined set

of components to unify the companies is needed. This will set the standards for company

success.

Components to unify the cultures of both companies:

1. We need to define the purpose of why both companies decided to merge (3).

2. We need to define the company values (3). Bringing our values together will help both

companies become better.

3. Building a culture roadmap (3). This roadmap will lead us to becoming one team.

4. Measure and adapt (3). When we do this step, it will allow us to know where we stand

with each other. Getting feedback and ideas will let us if changes need to be made. Or

even if we are on the right path.

5. Make culture a priority (3). When we hire new employee, lets introduce them to our

culture right away and let them know this is what we live by.

6. Build trust. Let all employees know where the company is taking them. Be open with

them and let them know every changing statistics of the company.

7. Recognition. Let your employees know how valuable they are to the company.

8. Communication. Constantly remind people at every team meeting, in every operating

plan, on email and in person that culture is a priority to you and that they are all part of it

(3).

Conclusion

As soon as we can get these key concepts intergraded into our culture the smoother the

merger will be. Applying these components, will lead to the success of both Comcast, Sky PLC,

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and all employees. As the human resource manager, I hope this will put everyone’s concerns

behind them. I understand that change can be concerning and a little scary, but I have a

tremendous about of faith in what both companies are going to accomplish.

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References

1. Srivastava, S., Sherman, A., Browne, R. (2018). Comcast outbids Fox in a $39 billion takeover of sky.
Retrieved January 11, 2019 from https://www.cnbc.com/2018/09/22/sky-comcast-fox-
36-billion-takeover-auction.html
2. Acuna, Kirsten (2014). Here’s the insanely long list of things would own after buying Time Warner
Cable. Retrieved January 11, 2019 from https://www.businessinsider.com/what-comcast-
owns-2014-2
3. Rick, T. (2012). Top 8+ steps to create a great corporate culture. Retrieved January 12, 2019, from
https://www.torbenrick.eu/blog/culture/8-steps-to-create-a-great-corporate-culture/
4. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (2019). Comcast American Corporation. Retrieved January
12, 2019 from https://www.britannica.com/topic/Comcast
5. Retrieved January 12, 2019 http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/british-sky-
broadcasting-group-plc-history/
6. Retrieved January 12, 2019 http://startups.sky.com/about/sky-startup-investments-and-partnerships