Whitacre's way (company of the year)

Citation

Kneale, D. (2007), "Whitacre's way (company of the year)", Strategic Direction, Vol. 23 No. 7. https://doi.org/10.1108/sd.2007.05623gad.005

Whitacre's way (company of the year)

Whitacre’s way (company of the year)

KnealeD. Forbes, 8 January 2007, Vol. 179 No. 1, Start page: 84, No. of pages: 6

Purpose – To investigate the strategy being pursued by Ed Whitacre at AT&T. Design/methodology/approach – Profiles AT&T chairman Edward E Whitacre; charts the history of AT&T and looks at how Whitacre managed to build on the remnants of the Baby Bells to develop the largest telecom company in the world. Describes how he turned the company around after the tech slump and how he is building an all-Internet network encompassing 40,000 miles of fibre-optic lines and doing it on the cheap; reports on the distribution deals signed with more than 300 cable channels and provides details of AT&Ts new video service. Puts forward how investors are impressed with AT&T showing; highlights how its stocks are rising after a period of decline; identifies the deals that Whitacre has managed to pull off since becoming chief executive in 1990, giving the company a strong position in the tech market; looks at his planned buyout of BellSouth and describes how he acquired AT&T. Examines the challenges that AT&T faces; looks at the competition posed by cable rivals and looming network regulation. Quotes Whitacre; outlines AT&T’s TV strategy; presents the biographical details of Whitacre’s likely successor, Randall Stephenson. Originality/value – Examines how Whitacre managed to build AT&T into one of the most successful telecom companies.

Keywords: AT&T, Corporate strategy, Internet, Leadership, Telecommunication network management, Telecommunication services