Analysis of Spark NZ's Business Framework, Stakeholders and Ethics

This report analyzes Spark NZ's business framework, stakeholders, and corporate ethics. It covers the company's mission, vision, history, governance, leadership, core capabilities, competitive edge, stakeholders, and sustainability practices.

Running Head: MANAGEMENT 0
Management
Organizations in NZ context
(Student details :)
7/12/2019

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Executive Summary
This report is focused on an analysis of the global companies based on the business
framework, stakeholders and corporate ethics. To do so, this paper has analyzed the
telecommunication company Spark NZ which is dedicatedly working for the public of New
Zealand. The company grows core mobile as well as IT services for offering extraordinary
telecom services in this digital era. The company embraces a wireless future while digitizing
the service experience in order to create operational efficiency at a large extent. The selection
is valid because this company is highly indulged into ethical and sustainable practices while
being environmentally aware telecom company. The chosen company differentiates itself
through diversity, multi-brand and inclusion strategies. From the stakeholders and ethics
viewpoint, the company is continuously attempting to reduce carbon emissions. In this way,
this discussion has successfully analyzed Spark NZ’s business framework with the help of its
current business strategies, vision, mission, values and core responsibilities. Additionally, the
paper has also discussed stakeholders and professional behaviour of the company. Finally, it
has been found that Spark NZ is majorly contributing to NZ communities with the help of
their socially diverse as well as the engaged talent within the telecommunications industry.

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Contents
Executive Summary...................................................................................................................1
Organizations in an NZ context.................................................................................................3
Introduction................................................................................................................................3
Background............................................................................................................................3
Business Framework..................................................................................................................3
The mission and vision of the company.................................................................................4
The History.............................................................................................................................4
The Governance.....................................................................................................................4
The purpose of the company..................................................................................................4
Leadership Squad of the company.........................................................................................4
How Spark NZ operates.........................................................................................................5
The agile organizational structure of the company................................................................5
Corporate values of the company...........................................................................................5
Core capabilities and Competitive edge.................................................................................6
Stakeholders and Ethics.............................................................................................................7
Code of Ethics........................................................................................................................7
Accountability....................................................................................................................7
Confidentiality....................................................................................................................7
Behaviours..........................................................................................................................7
Stakeholders...........................................................................................................................7
Sustainability practices...........................................................................................................8
Spark Foundation...............................................................................................................9
Conclusion..................................................................................................................................9
References..................................................................................................................................9

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Organizations in an NZ context
Introduction
This report is aimed at analysing the modern business environment into which
contemporary business entities operate. To do so, this discussion will scrutinize the nature of
the well-known and well-established business entity, their stakeholders along with the risks to
assess their ethical behaviour while doing business in New Zealand (NZ). In this context, the
report is going to discuss professional as well as ethical behaviour while maintaining
relationships with external stakeholders.
For doing so, the company selected is Spark NZ, which offers telecommunication
services in NZ (Spark NZ, 2019). The company offers mobile telephony, fixed line, wireless
network services, and internet. In this context, the report will cover the business framework
of the chosen company while including factors like partnership, mission, vision, strategy, and
values (Spark NZ Annual Report, 2017). Apart from this, a discussion about the stakeholders
and ethics will take place in relation to Spark NZ. At the end of the report, a summary of the
whole analysis of business and stakeholders will be provided.
Background
Spark NZ is one of the leading firms of the communications sector while serving
customers in NZ since 1988 (Spark NZ Annual Report, 2017). The chosen firm also offers
entertainment, communications, and IT services from offline networks as well as the cloud
for enabling millions of people residing in NZ along with thousands of NZ businesses for
unleashing their utmost potential in the market. Moreover, Spark NZ Limited, along with
their subsidiaries, offers telecommunications and ICT (information and communications
technology) products and services in NZ. In this way, a detailed analysis of the chosen
company will demonstrate a good understanding of the readers (Spark New Zealand, 2011).
The company’s Spark Home, Mobile & Business segment provides a wide range of services,
data, and voice services all across wireless, fiber, and copper broadband, mobile, online video
entertainment to consumer and small business customers as well (Spark NZ, 2019).

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Business Framework
The Spark NZ is a company which shows life, energy, potential, and creativity while
providing telecommunications services to the people of NZ. Moreover, Spark NZ has had an
apparent long-term business strategy for transforming this digital age. The company is
focused on resetting and stabilizing the business and hence getting fighting fit over cost as
well as process efficiencies (Bloomberg, 2019). The business framework of the company
suggests that they have re-engineered their legacy IT systems while leading their customer-
management abilities. The main reason being focused on the NZ market is that the company
can divest non-core assets through overseas business markets or from global businesses
which are no longer appropriate for the current era’s digital services strategy (Banks, 2012).
The mission and vision of the company
The Spark NZ is the leading digital services firm while having a purpose of helping
all of the people of NZ to win big within the modern digital world. The company’s success is
totally dependent on its customers within a sole market: NZ. This is the reason that company
is passionately working with the use of technology to serve their customers in a truly useful
way (Linked In, 2019). The company is attempting to help make NZ better as well as
enriching the lives of people living in NZ. Their vision is to establish a winning business,
which is inspired by consumers, for unleashing the potential within all New Zealanders of the
country (Spark NZ Annual Report, 2017).
The History
The Spark NZ was officially formed on 1st April 1987 and it has a great history of
assisting New Zealanders to win big dating in the 1800s (Linked In, 2019).
The Governance
As mentioned in the (Spark NZ, 2019), the management and board of the company
are highly committed for ensuring that they are maintaining a quality standard of
organizational governance and hence adheres to those high ethical standards set by them
(Spark NZ, 2019).
The purpose of the company
The Company Spark NZ is having a purpose of helping entire NZ win big within the
modern digital age (Spark New Zealand, 2011).

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Leadership Squad of the company
The Spark NZ’s leadership squad is highly answerable for taking all of the major
decisions which may drive their business forward. Therefore, the company leaders always
ensure that their people, as well as operations, are aligned to their business priorities in a well
way. Moreover, leadership squad is also responsible for assuring that all business-related
activities are aligned to the firm’s strategic pillars while ensuring their business on a track of
achieving organizational goals (Shenkar, Luo, & Chi, 2014).
How Spark NZ operates
The agile organizational structure of the company
As we know that globe is evolving fast as well as the technology industry into which
telecommunication companies operate hence an updated organizational structure needs to be
adopted by the contemporary businesses working in NZ. The structure adopted by the Spark
NZ is an agile structure which makes decisions quicker with the help of smaller teams
empowered for making the best calls over the products and services of the company.
Recently, in the year 2018 Spark NZ has transformed into an agile structure and hence they
radically overhauled HR practices. The company is now able to issue new employment
contracts by resetting their corporate culture with evolved purpose, values and strategies with
the new agile transformation.
Corporate values of the company
There are some key values of this company which allows the company to grow, work
and get success while serving their loyal customers (Hill, 2008). These corporate values help
the company to achieve its mission and vision for fulfilling their short-term and long-term
purposes effectively (Buckley & Ghauri, 2015). These values are as follows:
They connect
As per the (Spark NZ, 2019), the connection is the major need because it is situated at
the heart of whatever we do. Thus, the company believes in listening to as well as care about
their customers, their communities and most importantly each other. Thus, Spark NZ
connects with Spark’s purpose and hence acts with the required intent (Bloomberg, 2019).
They are bold

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The company never fear while taking ownership and hence get stuff done within the
timelines. They are straight up and hence they make an impact with their corporate values.
The company owns the commitment and courage for thinking big, being visionary and
delivering good today (Spark NZ, 2019).
They succeed together
People at the Spark NZ work hard for shaping a better future from the sustainable business
model perspective. Thus, they celebrate their success with high humility and learn from their
failures in order to grow more (Ferrell & Fraedrich, 2015). The company embraces cultural
and other diversity while making their business as well as all of the NZ successful.
They empower
The chosen company’s culture adopts empower practice for being successful in the
long-term. They empower the organizational people for serving the NZ communities
efficiently and effectively. In this context, the company inspires each of its employees for
reaching full potential while working at Spark NZ. In addition to that, the company let their
people speak up about their beliefs and opinions so as to empower them (Spark NZ, 2019).
Core capabilities and Competitive edge
Apart from this, the core capabilities of the Spark NZ, which when combined, assist
to offer the organization with a competitive edge over other businesses functioning within the
same area. In this context, the agile way of working stands the company different from
others. As per the information and data, Spark NZ is the first biggest company in NZ which
went all in with agile. It has been found that agile working helps global companies innovate
as well as deliver their products and services for their customer quickly and efficiently.
Hence, this working strategy made the Company Spark NZ form a competitive edge over
their competitors. Besides, this strategy or way of working replaced traditional hierarchical
control of the company. In this way, the chosen company provides the organization with a
competitive edge over other businesses while ensuring that all of their people are empowered
and engaged for making a competitive difference in the operating field (Yu, Zhang, & Shafi,
2016).
Moreover, from the diversity and inclusion perspective, the company is aspiring for
creating a spark into which all people associated with the company will feel respected, valued

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and well-treated. The company has created a respectful and collaborative environment for
solving the complex issues which the future will inevitably arise (Schaltegger, Burritt, &
Peterson, 2017).
Stakeholders and Ethics
Code of Ethics
As explained by (Spark New Zealand, 2011), the telecom company is having a Code
of Ethics (COE) framework which sets the general standards for all of the employees of
Telecom Corporation of NZ and their subsidiaries as well. The major elements of the COE of
the company are as follows:
Accountability
All organizational people are anticipated to work according to set standards of
professional and ethical conduct. From the perspective of professional and ethical behaviour
company is following the principle of accountability as per telecom’s values, legal and policy
obligations and business goals for enhancing organizational performance outcomes (Barnea
& Rubin, 2011).
Confidentiality
The Company follows the confidentiality ethical practice to an extent that their
customers, investor, suppliers, and other stakeholders can easily trust the company for
confidential info and communications. Here, confidential info means all that info which is not
in the public domain and should be protected as well (Brooks & Dunn, 2011).
Behaviours
The professional and ethical behaviour of the company Spark NZ can be measured by
the actions as well as statements of telecom people (Cavusgil, Knight, Riesenberger,
Rammal, & Rose, 2014). Telecom people include suppliers, customers, employees, and
competitors are hugely influenced by the behaviours of any company. Hence, in the context
of Spark NZ, it can be said that behaviours are driven by policies and ethical practices so that
people choose to deal with the Spark NZ over others (Enterslice, 2017).

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Stakeholders
It is well aware that every company needs to meet the requirements of its key
stakeholders to be competitive and successful in their functional field (Goldman, 2012). Here,
telecom people of the Spark NZ need to address the needs of shareholders, suppliers,
customers, local and central government as well as the industry bodies and commerce
commission. In this context, stakeholders of the company are efficiently working and
performing their duties so as the company is doing for them (Barnea & Rubin, 2011).
Suppliers
The Spark NZ identifies that their suppliers are very important for helping them to
deliver extraordinary products and services in order to spark customers. The company also
regularly updates their page containing supplier code of conduct, purchase terms, and many
more things with the revised supplier policies, info, and terms (Spark NZ Annual Report,
2017).
Executives and CEO
They support the company growth and overall development while contributing their
efforts and hard work along with innovative ideas (Spark New Zealand, 2011).
Human Resources Team
They respond to all alleged breaches of the COE or Human Resources functional
policies as well as training or disciplinary act whenever required (Spark New Zealand, 2011).
Board of Directors
In this context, the Spark Board always ensures the correct strategic direction of the
spark with the help of strategic programs while putting them in place and implemented well.
Besides, Spark’s Board is an efficient team of talented, diverse and experienced professionals
whose objective is to confirm all of the NZ wins big within this advanced digital era (Spark
NZ Annual Report, 2017).
Investors

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Like the Spark, New Zealand offers efficient digital services to the millions of
thousands of New Zealand businesses and many New Zealanders hence their investors are
huge in number and loyal as well (Linked In, 2019).
Customers
The company is continuously acquiring new customers while also retaining their loyal
old customers with the help of their unique organization-public relationship. This relationship
strategy of Spark NZ includes five major dimensions. These five dimensions are a
commitment, trust, involvement, openness, and investment (Spark NZ, 2019).
Sustainability practices
The chosen company Spark NZ is highly committed to reducing its impact on the
modern earth environment. The company is continuously putting their efforts to become a
more sustainable firm by adopting environmentally friendly practices (Ferrell & Fraedrich,
2015). In addition to that, the strategy of diversity and inclusion of the company is creating an
inclusive environ where all organizational people feel free to bring their best to work.
Moreover, the act of celebrating diversity at the workplace is very helpful for the community
people and diverse societies. The company ensures that everyone working with them is able
to raise their voice for their beliefs, values, and opinions (Barnea & Rubin, 2011).
Spark Foundation
Apart from this, the company is running its Spark Foundation which is a charitable
organization, supporting the charity events and activities within the NZ communities. The
spark foundation comprises activities like Spark My Potential, Givealittle, Payroll giving,
Manaiakalani Education Trust and volunteering (Spark NZ Annual Report, 2017).
In this way, due to this Spark Foundation, all New Zealanders and Spark people feel
passionate to be connected with the firm as their efforts are going into the right direction
while serving the whole community. The company also taps in the power of crowdfunding by
giving direct economic and financial support to their employees through support employee
volunteering (Spark NZ Annual Report, 2017).

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Conclusion
In whole, this report has successfully assessed the business framework of the chosen
company. Besides, the paper has analysed the environment within which business firm
functions for addressing identified performance-related risks and issues effectively.
Moreover, with the help of this report an identification of the nature of the chosen business
company, their stakeholders, as well as the risks, have been done. Along with this, this report
has successfully discussed professional and ethical behavior within relationships with their
external stakeholders in the context of Spark NZ. In this way, the importance of the Spark NZ
has been evaluated from both internal and external stakeholder’s viewpoints. Finally, the
company Spark NZ has been identified as a leading telecom company of NZ while assessing
its core capabilities and values.
References
Banks, S. (2012). Professional integrity, social work and the ethics of distrust. Social Work
and Social Sciences Review, 11(2), 20-35.
Barnea, A., & Rubin, A. (2011). Corporate social responsibility as a conflict between
shareholders. Journal of business ethics, 97(1), 71-86.
Bloomberg. (2019). Spark New Zealand Trading Ltd. Retrieved from Bloomberg:
https://www.bloomberg.com/profile/company/7722360Z:NZ
Brooks, L., & Dunn, P. (2011). Business & professional ethics. London: Cengage Learning.
Buckley, P., & Ghauri, P. (2015). International business strategy: theory and practice.
London: Routledge.
Cavusgil, S., Knight, G., Riesenberger, J., Rammal, H., & Rose, E. (2014). International
business. Australia: Pearson.
Enterslice. (2017). Introduction and Types of International Business Environment (IBE).
Retrieved 12 02, 2018, from https://enterslice.com/learning/international-business-
environment-ibe/
Ferrell, O., & Fraedrich, J. (2015). Business ethics: Ethical decision making & cases. UK:
Nelson Education.
Goldman, E. (2012). Leadership practices that encourage strategic thinking. Journal of
Strategy and Management, 5(1), 25-40.
Hill, C. (2008). International business: Competing in the global market place. Strategic
Direction, 24(9).

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Linked In. (2019). Spark New Zealand. Retrieved from Linked In:
https://in.linkedin.com/company/spark-new-zealand/life?trk=nav_tab_life
Schaltegger, S., Burritt, R., & Peterson, H. (2017). An introduction to corporate
environmental management: Striving for sustainability. London: Routledge.
Shenkar, O., Luo, Y., & Chi, T. (2014). International business. London: Routledge.
Spark New Zealand. (2011). Code of Ethics. Retrieved from Spark New Zealand:
https://www.spark.co.nz/binarys/code_of_ethics_dec11.pdf
Spark NZ. (2019). WELCOME TO SPARK. Retrieved from Spark NZ:
https://www.sparknz.co.nz/
Spark NZ Annual Report. (2017). Unleash. Retrieved from Spark NZ Annual Report:
https://www.sparknz.co.nz/content/dam/SparkNZ/pdf-documents/SPARK_ESG_Rep
ort_2017.pdf
Yu, Y., Zhang, J., & Shafi, M. (2016). 3D vs. 2D channel capacity of outdoor to indoor
scenarios derived from measurements in China and New Zealand. EUSIPCO IEEE,
1980-1984.