Professional Documents
Culture Documents
First of all, we are thankful to Almighty Allah, who has given us the strength and
determination to carry out this research.
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to Associate Prof. Hannya Abid our teacher,
for his valuable guidance, constructive comments and continuous encouragement through out
the research.
Special thanks are also extended to Mr. Mir Ibrahim-Ur-Rehman (CEO, GEO), Mr. Shaheen
Raza (Regional Sales Manager, GEO), Mr. Salar (HR Head, GEO), Mr. Shadaat Tayyab
(Corporate Head, GEO) and Mr. Saqib Noor Ahmed (Associate HR Manager, GEO), for their
assistance in data collection.
Also thanks to all of our group members Mr. Ali Asgher, Mr. Asad, Mr. Fazal Hameed, Mr.
Furqan Ahmed, Miss Sania We all put our efforts together in the form of an excellent group
with coordination and high spirits.
Sincere thanks are also extended to all those who have helped us to complete our project.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
COMPANY DESCRIPTION
History of GEO
Introducing GEO TV
Mission Statement
Vision Statement
Basic Objective
Value Statement
Company Logo
Strategic Planning
Operational Planning
Growth Strategy
Crisis Management
SWOT ANALYSIS
Strengths
Weaknesses
Opportunities
Threats
CORPORATE PROFILE
Nature of Business
Target Market
Type of Ownership
Financial Resources
Revenues
Channels
Market Share
Competitors
Production Capacity
External Environment
LEADING
Leadership Style
Internal Environment
Internal Communication
Level of Informality
Internal Culture
Motivation
ORGANIZING
Level of Management/Designation
Organization Structure
Span of Control
Organizational Chart
Leading Designation
Departmentalization of GEO
i. Functional Departmentalization
Departments/Divisions
CONTROLING
Conclusion
References
INTRODUCING GEO TV
GEO TV was established in May 2002. Test transmission started on 14th August 2002 on the
PAS 10 digital satellite. Regular transmission started on 1st October 2002. Geo TV is the first
South Asian Urdu language channel to provide content comparable with excellent television
broadcasters. Geo is the fastest growing TV Channel in Pakistan with ratings exceeding all
satellite delivered TV channels in the market. Geo has the widest distribution on cable
systems in Pakistan with 100% carriage within 90 days of launch.
It launched the first interactive infotainment programs in Pakistan, engaging and empowering
the viewer. Consistently scoops all rival broadcasters on major news events. Besides seven
bureaus in Pakistan, a robust international network feeds live content from New York,
Washington and London. Intelligent Media Consultant has given formal multi-disciplinary
training to 500 members of GEO staff including all producers, reporters, writers,
camerapersons and editors.
Its member team comprising of CNN, BBC producers, cinematographers, editors and
presenters were split in Dubai and Karachi for 5 months to complete the training
GEO informs and entertains while celebrating cultures and prompting dialogue in the
spirit of "live and let live"
VISION STATEMENT
“GEO will be the voice of freedom from the Asian subcontinent. It will highlight the
issues of concern and the cultural richness of its people through information, discussion
and entertainment. GEO will propagate transparency of responsibility that will ensure its
position as the most credible and meaningful source of information, through quality
programming based on issues. GEO will provide entertainment audiences can relate to,
thereby creating viewer loyalty and response. GEO will forge an alliance amongst its
three stakeholders - viewers, advertisers and shareholders to maximize viewer ownership.
GEO will invest in human resources as it recognizes it to be the foundation upon which
the GEO future will be built. It is this very foundation that will allow GEO to attain and
sustain a leadership position, thus fulfilling the promise associated with its creation.”
COMPANY LOGO
All companies must have a pictogram, or single visual statement that represents the entire
idea behind that symbol. GEO’s Logotype enjoys the same reputation with our audience,
stakeholders and employees.
Representing the true strength of the channel, which is unbiased, accurate and timely 24-
hour news in ‘Urdu language’.
The Geo logo represents many aspects of its business in true colors. The Orange
represents “DAY’ and Blue represents ‘NIGHT’. The Urdu alphabet ‘Jeem’ cutting
through from the TV Screen in a sharp angle connote the ‘GLOBE’ and the overall
formation of the composite represents ‘EYE ON WORLD AFFAIRS 24 HOURS A
DAY’.
BASIC OBJECTIVE
Like all for-profit organizations, GEO’s basic objective is also revenue generation.
VALUE STATEMENTS
We are a team.
We respect each other.
We encourage self-development.
We hold high expectations.
We embrace change.
We value our Viewers.
We provide exceptional service that leaves an impression.
We support our community.
Consistent entertainment service and production quality.
In HR Department the short term goals of GEO TV is to hire new qualified employees in
their Islamabad branch and salary services are also short terms goal of GEO.
When asked about the long-term goal we were told that it is highly confidential and only
known to the Upper level management, e.g. C.E.O.
PLANS
STRATEGIC PLANS:
The plans that are applied to entire organization, establish the organization’s overall
goals, and seek to position the organization in terms of its environment are called
strategic plans. GEO is following the strategic plans consistently.
OPERATIONAL PLANS:
Geo has a network, which handles all the business units in each department. Its like an
Octopus, the head is the Network and each tentacle is a business unit. They evaluate the
goals set by the management as to how close they are to achieving their objectives, and
how much they have achieved. If Geo has not achieved its required goals they take
feedback and change their operational plans accordingly. The BOD or “Top
management” is responsible for such type of decisions.
GROWTH STRATEGY
GEO’s strategy is to make the HRM department strong and competent as HRM
department is the base of the organization. They do so by providing training to the newly
hired employees. This will benefit GEO and increase the growth of the channel.
CRISIS MANAGEMENT
They have set a whole team for the management of crises. In this team, GEO has experts
in all fields. When a certain department faces any problem, the head of that department
informs the team about it and they team finds a solution to the problem and terminates it.
SWOT ANALYSIS
STRENGTHS:
New ideas and concept with fast execution has become a trademark of GEO -- 'Fastest
Firsts'.
First to bring the 'Breaking News' concept in Pakistan.
Unbiased, accurate and timely 24-hour news in ‘Urdu language’.
Most competitive work team.
Goodwill as the largest media group in the country.
Here is a look at just some of them:
FOR EXAMPLE:
First to give election results -- 7 hours before the nearest competitor. (Election
2002 special transmission and coverage).
First to use videophones in Iraq and Afghanistan and remote regions of Pakistan
for live coverage.
First to start political satire in Pakistan depicting current and past heads of state
(Hum Sub Umeed Say Hain).
The first to produce joint India-Pak ventures like "Gaye Gi Duniya Geet Meray",
"Faslay" and "Lakhon Mein Teen".
First to have live link-up with USA & UK.
WEAKNESSES:
OPPORTUNITIES:
Growing awareness about GEO of the people. They are attracted towards
entertainment.
Increase in viewer-ship
Improvement of Pakistan’s terms with India. It increases cultural activities.
THREATS:
Fear of competition:
Especially in entertainment because of new channels.
Employee turnover :
Geo’s employee turnover is under 5%
New channels attract GEO qualified and trained employees by offering them 3
times the salary they earn at GEO. They also offer different fields of jobs. These
demands are difficult to meet for GEO.
CORPORATE PROFILE
NATURE OF BUSINESS
TARGET MARKET
Geo plans to target the Masses. Geo is based in Dubai and is broadcasted for South Asian
viewers of M.E, Europe, Canada, North America and UK. Besides, of burros in Pakistan a
robust network feeds regularly live content from New York, Los angles and London.
TYPE OF OWNERSHIP
It is a Private limited Company and has 100% internal shares(family shares only). This is part
of the Jang Group of Companies, the biggest and strongest group in media of the Private
Sector.
FINANCIAL RESOURCES
REVENUES
Its revenues are generated only through sale of commercial airtime. (Advertising on the
channel).So far Geo has not reached even its break-even point and have not earned any
profits yet.
PRODUCTS
It is not actually a manufacturing business rather a service business that generates cable TV
channels namely:
Geo News
Geo TV(entertainment)
Geo UK(infotainment)
Geo USA
GEO ME
GEO Canada
GEO SUPER
GEO EUOROPE
GEO JAPAN
AAG TV
EXTERNAL ENVIRONMENT
Geo is the only independent and liberal channel with the unique honor of consistently
breaking news. Geo is a liberal channel it has no restriction from the Government of Pakistan
because its transmissions are telecasted from Dubai, which is a free zone. The Government of
Pakistan can influence GEO about the News and programs they air but GEO is not bound to
report to the Government. However, they cannot ignore and go against the Government as
they operate within Pakistan as well. They Government have the right to jeopardize GEO’s
operations.
Despite the liberty GEO enjoys it cannot ignore the cultural ethical values of the society that
is why GEO has a Quality Control Department Specifically working on censoring each
program and News before it can be aired on TV. They are bound to follow the rules of the
censor board.
The technological environment includes all the ways by which it creates value for the
constituents.
LEADING
Leadership Style:
Geo follows a purely and highly democratic leadership style. The democratic leadership style
is also called the participative style as it encourages employees to be a part of the decision
making. The democratic manager keeps his or her employees informed about everything that
affects their work and shares decision making and problem solving responsibilities. This style
requires the leader to be a coach who has the final say, but gathers information from staff
members before making a decision. GEO invites employees to share their input to make
decisions.
Democratic leadership can produce high quality and high quantity work for long periods of
time. Many employees like the trust they receive and respond with cooperation, team spirit,
and high morale. Typically the democratic leader:
INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS
Geo firmly believes in the use and influence of Internal Communications to create a working
environment that is based on the hallmark of professionalism and on the concept of ‘service
above self’.
The idea is to create a relationship between the organization and its people, encourage
excellence, and inculcate a spirit of achievement.
As an organization that lays great emphasis on Human Resource, its training and
development, inevitably it realizes the meaningful contribution of its team that has worked
passionately to make the channel grow and achieve unprecedented results.
Geo’s HR Department plans and executes cohesive and integrated communication designed
specifically for its people to share the sense of pride and joy in Brand Stewardship. This of
course is in addition to numerous events and occasions that it holds to allow social, cultural
and sporting activities as one big team.
Managers interact with their employees and communicate with everyone on an open forum
culture. Managers communicate on the phone and over the internet the head office in based in
Karachi.
LEVEL OF INFORMALITY
Geo organization is very informal and partially formal. They follow an “Open door Policy”.
Formal conversations are less because GEO believes in Teamwork and working in a friendly
environment. Despite a friendly atmosphere, no such incident has occurred yet in which
different kinds of rumors has spread. Everyone has the right to give ideas and opinions
regarding improvement such as new technology, innovation etc.
INTERNAL CULTURE
There is a code of conduct that all employees have to follow strictly. For example:
They have a No-Smoking environment however, they have specified a zone for
smoking only.
Every employee has to display the GEO Identity Badge.
All employees should conduct the display of Discipline strictly because of too much
interaction with the other departments.
There is no formal dress code except for certain levels such as, the Heads of the
Departments.
Eatables are not allowed everywhere in the office except in the Café.
Employees mush reach and leave the office in time at the 10-7 office timings.
ORGANIZING
TOP MANAGERS
MIDDLE MANAGERS
Directors
Director News
Content Head (Production)
Regional Heads
Bureau Chief News
Senior Executive Producer Entertainment:
General Managers
Managers
Associate Managers
ORGANIZATION STRUCTURE
Geo consists of multiple layers of management and thus forms a Tall Organizational
Structure. Information whether upward or downward must pass through so many
organizational layers.
ORGANIZATION CHART
When asked about its organizational chart we were told that it has a very complicated and
wide hierarchy organizational chart, which is 3 meters long and is available on a 64 mb visual
file, which is kept in the Karachi H.Q. An organizational chart of the Lahore bureau is:
CHART
C.E.O
C.O.O
Channel President
M.D News
M.D Entertainment
Content Head
Production Head
Director News
Bureau Officers
Making a new decision is “highly centralized” only the C.E.O has the authority to implement
any decision at any time without reporting to anyone.
In case of hiring the person to hire is “centralized” that is, if there is a designation/post to be
made or filled this is up to the upper level managers to decide if it should be implemented or
not. Whereas the selection of the candidate for that specific post is “Decentralized”. The HR
department has the authority to select the required candidate.
LEADING DESIGNATION
The C.E.O Mir Ibrahim-Ur-Rehman is in charge of the Content Production and
transmission.
The C.O.O Zaheer-U-Din Khan is in charge of all operational departments
(Marketing, sales, finance etc.).
President Imran Aslam is responsible for Content portion of GEO.
MD. News Azhar Abbas is responsible for GEO News.
MD. Entertainment Yousaf Baig Mirza is responsible for GEO Entertainment.
Senior Executive Production Tariq Jamil is in charge for production operations in
Lahore.
Bureau Chief News Khawar Naeem Hashmi is in charge of the News sector in
Lahore.
The President and C.O.O will report to the C.E.O. Managing Director of News and
Managing Director of Entertainment reports to the President. Director News reports to
MD News and Content Head of Production reports to MD Entertainment. The News
and Entertainment departments have separate levels of hierarchy but they operate
from the same office. Further hierarchy is extended to each bureau/regional office.
DEPARTMENTALIZATION:
Geo is a highly organized and departmentalized firm. The control and coordination is
narrowed and made easier, so top managers can see more easily how the various departments
are performing. This allows GEO to treat the department as a profit centre. The Marketing
department is mainly the “Profit center” of GEO. They calculate the profits of Geo and use
that information in making decisions about advertising and promotional events, commercial
airtime allocation etc.
DEPARTMENTALIZATION OF GEO
Geo has its own specific way of classifying and grouping work activities.
2) Geographic Departmentalization
FUNCTIONAL DEPARTMENTALIZATION
1. Geo has developed departments according to a groups functional activities such as the
2. Geo News Department
3. Entertainment Department
4. Infotainment Department
5. Product Development Department
6. Archiving Department
7. Children’s Division
8. Human Resources Department
9. Geo Operations Department
10. Technical Department
11. Finance Department
12. Marketing Department
13. Sales Department
14. Creative Department
15. Music Programming Department
16. Research Department
17. Geo Talent Department
18. Events Department
19. Sports Programming Department
20. Scripting Department
21. Game Shows Department
22. Fashion Design Department
23. IT Department
24. Transmission Department
25. Communications Department
GEOGRAPHIC DEPARTMENTALIZATION
The functional departments of GEO are further sub-divided into geographical departments in
order to carry out the operations and activities of different cities, regions and districts. To
keep themselves up to date with the latest news and events across the nation and globe.
OFFICES
HEAD OFFICE:
Karachi
BUREAU/REGIONAL OFFICES
1. Lahore
2. Islamabad
3. Peshawar
4. Quetta
5. Multan
Besides that there are also out station reporters of Geo who work individually and has no
office for example:
Sailkot
EARTH STATION:
Dubai .This is the station where all transmission and telecast of programs is undertaken.
DEPARTMENTS/DIVISIONS:
GEO News is now a part of our lives. This is where news is broken, processed, analyzed, and
disseminated. GEO news just doesn’t happen. It needs dedicated, committed men and women
who want to make a difference – GEO News is different because it makes a difference!
Producing, Editing, Anchoring, Reporting and Footage all take place under this department.
ENTERTAINMENT DEPARTMENT
Enter the world of glamour, creativity, and visually striking images. Enter GEO
Entertainment. We have career options for producers, associate producers, script writers,
production designers, art directors, fashion designers; make up artists, music composers,
location locators, talent hunters, concepts writers and more. So if you have a script, an idea
struggling to find shape, think you can act, believe you have the organizational skills and
aesthetics to become a producer, nourish an ambition to be part of the wonderful world of
show biz, walk into the spotlight.
INFOTAINMENT DEPARTMENT
This is where information meets entertainment and shows are created that are exciting to
watch while being provocative and thoughtful. The Geo Infotainment Department is on the
look out for concept writers, scriptwriters, producers, associate producers, and researchers.
GEO has created a unique space for creative people who understand market forces. In
Product Development, concepts originate are polished and tested against stringent market
research, and are placed in time zones that are viewer specific.
Product Development at GEO is concerned with the enhancement of our brand. It oversees
the evolution of the brand and treats each program as a product that needs to be polished,
marketed, positioned, and enhanced. Product Development creates concepts for promoting
our products and develops media plans and campaign strategies that place our programs at the
very centre of our audience’s attention.
For those marketers who want to unleash the creative urges in their hearts, this is the place to
be. Un-knot that tie, roll up your sleeves, cut out the power dressing and enter a world that is
changing and moving 24/7.
CHILDREN’S DIVISION
GEO has treated children seriously. We believe the child has a lot to tell us. His curious,
imaginative mind has inspired us to produce programs like ‘Dekho Suno Samjho’ and
‘Bachey Man Kay Sachay’. A child’s genius constantly amazes us. If you feel that you
understand children and know what they want, this is your playground.
GEO Children’s Division needs scripts, concepts, fresh young talent, performers, hosts, and
producers who have refused to grow up and still have a child lurking in their hearts.
The Human Resources Department remains a crucial element in the overall composition of
the GEO setup. It is the Power House that fuels the GEO Factory with the best of the best,
through attraction, recruitment, selection, optimum compensation, welfare, diversified
benefits, grievance handling, training & development, formulation of policies and procedures,
encompassed with an ever vibrant HR Strategy aligned with the corporate vision and mission
of GEO TV.
Serving as the vital link that generates identity, self-perception, confidence, vitality,
motivation, communication and continual enhancement of overall net worth of every
individual functioning as a profoundly valued component of TEAM GEO.
HR at GEO is one of the many exceptional brands that exist to nourish your experience at
GEO TV.
Organized, analytical and resourceful. Working well with people with a balance of regular
responsibilities and new project-based work. Keeping up with trends online to work in the
fast-paced GEO environment. Handling stress, skills to organize, project-oriented, and self-
starting. Ability to successfully manage strict deadlines and multiple projects. Trouble-
shooting, loads and loads of common sense, and thinking from a broader perspective and
command on the English language. Belief in systems and providing support to department
leadership and all divisions. This is all under the GEO operations department.
TECHNICAL DEPARTMENT
FINANCE DEPARTMENT
Television is a business. In the back room, sit people who are number crunchers, planners,
forecasters, financial analysts, budget monitors, and trend spotters. They understand the
industry and with constant research make sure that projections are met and budgets and time
lines are respected.
MARKETING DEPARTMENT
Every program, time slot, and viewer is an opportunity that needs to be explored, marketed,
promoted and valued. Marketing is the department that not only maximizes the value of geo
programming but also helps develop it by soliciting feedback form the industry and creating
specific creative solutions for clients and brands. If you think you understand how to
maximize the potential of an idea, and can create solutions and packages for brands and
clients, this is the most dynamic team in media for you.
SALES DEPARTMENT
Sales or $ales, is where the money is at! This fast-paced department brings in the rupees that
enable us to produce the content that our viewers depend on.
True believers of GEO, armed by the content in hand, and the philosophy in mind, go out
everyday in to the fast changing and unpredictable market and maximize the value of the
channel. At the front line are the foot soldiers of GEO who sell space around our programs
and fill the advertising needs of the channel. These are the true dream merchants.
CREATIVE DEPARTMENT
GEO is always on the look out for those men and women who tell stories visually, who paint
our palette blue and orange, who understand moods and emotions. We need people who have
strong aesthetics, who like to break the rules of visual grammar, who can telescope saga in a
30 second graphic and animation ad. These are our window dressers who are concerned with
the look and feel of the channel. They illuminate our screens, design our sets and promote our
programs wielding all the creative tools at their command. They hold the magic wand.
MUSIC PROGRAMMING DEPARTMENT
GEO is in a consistent state of evolution and in this fortitude TEAM GEO is diversifying
more into avenues that play the beat of our nation’s youth. At GEO Music we have
envisioned with providing generation Y! With a platform to project their true potential in
front of the world at large.
Presently, GEO Music is in the process of evaluating and redefining what the music market
has to offer in terms of quality music standards.
GEO Music is probing the rudimentary talent of our nation scoping it, to find diamonds in the
rough conscious nurturing these music fanatics of tomorrow, providing them with the right
podium to illuminate their expertise in today’s global community
RESEARCH DEPARTMENT
GEO-TV carries out research in various mediums on components like advertising, market
intelligence, television viewer ship and masses’ penetration of those mediums. These are the
basic components, their roots captivates not only the micro changes but also the macro
variations on the spectrum of information and entertainment.
GEO Talent is astounding new initiative by GEO TV. Scouting for talented, hosts, anchors,
vocalists, actors, and people pertinent to performing arts whose potentials can be nourished
by the expertise of GEO Talent Department.
EVENTS DEPARTMENT
Events are all about teamwork and clockwork. Time is of essence and execution is
everything. This genre of programming needs organized people who know what needs to be
done and when. Never short of excitement and danger, must the event go on! Most of the
time events, whether musical or magical, are live. One wrong move can lead to many
embarrassing shots on the screen. Lich and orchestra, an event has many pieces that have to
be sung synchronized and in turn. If you like working as part of a high energy team and are
interested in music, sports, magic and everything in between.
SPORTS DEPARTMENT
Sports are a new genre of programming that has also not been explored much in Pakistan.
From Cricket to Polo and everything in between.
Game Shows are a fast and upcoming genre for GEO. Game Shows are also a live genre
mostly and full of audience participation. This programming genre ties action as well as
puzzles and reality, all rolled into one. From selecting participants to making interesting
formats and producing the most entertaining and diverse content platforms for audiences and
viewers, Game Shows are an excitement new development in local television.
IT DEPARTMENT
Information Technology is the lifeline of the organization supporting all the functions without
any interruption catering for all software needs and MIS requirements 24/7.
The anchors, presenters, hosts, and entertainers are the faces of the channel. They need to
look attractive, presentable, friendly, and inspirational. Our Fashion Design Department gives
us our look. The department is there to groom fresh talent, conduct make over, and give them
outfits that are striking and tele-genic.
TRANSMISSION DEPARTMENT
GEO has a highly equipped and modern Transmission Department, which remains awake
when others are fall asleep.
HRM OF GEO
Diverse cultural backgrounds and multi-ethnic origins add up to create a strong resource base
at GEO. Each member makes a valuable contribution while overall functioning as a team.
Committed to doing more for their country, GEO people remain dedicated and passionate
about their work. GEO people are focused on broadening horizons and meeting new
challenges. Creative and multi-talented, these fine individuals take pride in shaping the future
of Pakistan.
We spoke to some concerned managers of GEO to find out more about GEO's recruitment
and human resource management initiatives.
Imran Aslam, President of GEO TV, believes, "a sense of purpose can be instilled when an
employee, not only clearly knows the vision of a company, but is included in making that
vision. When an employee knows that he or she deserves to be a part of the organization, and
most importantly is empowered to implement that vision, the culture of success appears."
Mir Ibrahim Rahman, CEO of GEO, went on to explain how some of the above has been
possible at GEO. "One of the things we try to continuously remind ourselves is how lucky we
is to be a part of a media industry. Where our product and hard work is not only a source of
livelihood, but also a source of well being for the people who rely on us. This is a very
important realization that aligns our goals, sense of responsibility and job satisfaction."
GEO's vision of promoting dialogue, unbiased news and issue-based entertainment was
always very clear and can be found in its mission statement, vision statement and across
many corporate communications. "But none of us had done anything like GEO before and we
almost had to instill a culture of dialogue and interaction not only on the channel but off air as
well. We did this by continuous involvement, discussion and consensus in almost everything
we did. It did become taxing at times but it's the GEO way," says Mir Ibrahim Rahman.
Azhar Abbas, Director News, explained further, "I remember how policy was actually being
drafted and made right then and there during our training exercises by the people we were
training. That's the kind of spirit which excited people because we all became aware that
together we were making something." GEO went through a very comprehensive recruitment
exercise. "I believe it was the largest and one of the most successful launch recruitment
drives in the country," claims Zaheeruddin Khan, Chief Operating Officer of GEO.
"Receiving over 60,000 applications! That was a crucial time period when we had to go
through each and every letter and email which were seen by all the senior managers
collectively, going through bags and bags of envelopes and applications every night."
We asked Abdur Rauf, Director Infotainment, what was the target market for the campaign.
"GEO was looking for passionate people. If you had gone through some of the ads that were
placed, one can notice that the invitation was for everyone and anyone who was interested in
media and television. You didn't have to have any experience or professional qualification
because we were willing to train you."
There was actually quite a grueling process one had to go through to be hired by GEO.
Rumor had it that at least 3 directors had to meet you and on an average, you had to go
through at least 5 rounds of interviews. "Though we gave everyone a fair chance based on
merit, you were not spared in the interview itself. Some of us were more grueling than others,
but on the whole we probably seemed like a scary bunch," said Raheel Rao, Director
Entertainment, pointing towards Abdur Rauf.
Women, minorities and regions were given special attention so that Pakistan was properly
represented in the employee base as well. GEO has more women working in reporting and
production than any other channel.
"We knew we had to have ingredients which not only represented Pakistan in our own
company but also have individuals who we were targeting. Women reporters had a special
women recruitment committee which tried to meet the parents of all women recruits in order
to make them feel comfortable about GEO's culture and specific job requirements," said
Beena Sarwar, reporter/producer who was heading the committee at the time.
GEO ended up initially interviewing over 6,000 people from whom they selected
approximately 600 of the brightest, most passionate and professional staff ever gathered
before for the television medium in the country. That is a selectivity rate of .01%, unheard of
even in a multinational.
Mr salar, the Human Resource Manager stated, "that the massive intern programme of GEO
is a result of its belief that its enormous infrastructure should be utilised for the development
and grooming of Pakistani youth into real media professionals."
"What's great was that after we had selected and chosen the best and the brightest we
professionally trained them as well!" explained Hamid Mir, Bureau Chief of GEO News,
Islamabad. There were over 16 foreign broadcast reporters, camera operators, editors,
producers who trained everyone in everything related to TV. This multi-tasking approach,
though expensive and tiring, made the individuals better team players and more aware of how
the system works. Technical training was conducted by BBC Technology, consulting arm of
BBC, which has conducted similar projects elsewhere in the world with SKY Network, ABC
and Dubai TV. Intelligent Media Consultants (IMC), an Atlanta based media consultancy
with a proven record of launching over 10 new channels in the past 6 years, provided hands
on training for GEO TV personnel. IMC has an impressive client base including Aaj Tak
(India) and CNN Espanol as well as CNN Turk. Both continue to advise GEO on operational
issues and provide support in camera operation, editing, production and training for reporting
of news.
"In fact," explained Mir Ibrahim Rahman, "many people thought we were wasting money
doing all this training. We did it because giving fancy equipment and being surrounded by
state-of-the-art technology was not enough. Those material things are run by people at the
end of the day. In addition, the people must feel empowered. It's a great feeling for a twenty
something MA Journalism graduate from Sahiwal to be able to say that BBC and CNN
producers taught him how to produce and edit an 'OC/VO sot' with a 'piece-to-camera'!"
Responsibilities of HR Dept.
Job Analysis
Performance Appraisal.
When any post is vacant, GM HR Mr. Salar sends the request to the HR Department for the
vacant post.
Job Description.
Job Specification.
RECRUITMENT AND SELECTION
Firstly, Advertisements are given in the Geo website and if necessary on print also.
GEO is one of the most progressive organizations in the country. It believes in complete
transparency and objectivity in its hiring process. All members of TEAMGEO are selected on
their merit and qualification.
The organization is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on any basis.
The company has one of the best environments for women employees, and it actively
encourages women seeking employment.
INTERNAL RECRUITMENT
In GEO, vacant posts are also filled internally to provide an opportunity for the workers
already working in the organization.
EXTERNAL RECRUITMENT
SELECTION CRITERIA
The selection is entirely base on merit, which confirms to selection criteria without any bias
towards, gender, religion, race, color, nationality, age, and according to the procedures laid
down in the HRD policies.
SELECTION PROCEDURE
Interview.
Final selection.
Orientation
Training
AN IMPARTIAL & OBJECTIVE interview process is one of the most progressive trends at
GEO. All short listed candidates will be called in for an interview. They will be given a
minimum 48-hour notice before the date, time and place of interview via email and
telephone. Each candidate will be interviewed by at least three different persons ensuring the
integrity and fairness of the selection process. There is a written test for certain jobs. The
selection process may take 30 days from initial interviews to the final selection.
ORIENTATION
Orientation program is held when new employees joins the company. They give an
opportunity to the all-new employees that they hire to rotate in the factory departments daily
so the employees must know in which environment and in which circumstances they had to
work.
TRAINING
Once they are hired Geo provides them with foreign training usually from CNN and BBC
However, the training is an ongoing process apart from the off job training. For this purpose,
they are attached with a senior to supervise them.
MOTIVATION
When asked about which theories they are applying on employees we were told that
they use almost all theories of motivation except for The Theory X. When asked from
the employees about the Expectancy Theory and Equity Theory they stated that GEO
definitely applied these theories on employees.
Some of Geo’s tools of Motivation for employee welfare are:
Performance based incentives.
Annual evaluation of the employee’s performance is discussed with the employee.
There is and Idea Box in the reception room available to employees and even visitors.
All ideas are implemented and the generator of the idea is rewarded with a prize. The
C.E.O of the company is heading this campaign himself.
Annual Employee Functions.
Success story of the month. A success story of the month in each department is
mentioned for employees who have gone that extra mile in achieving their objective.
Their stories are discussed; the committee reviews them and selects the best one. The
winner of the best success story is rewarded with a dinner for two prizes.
CONTROLLING
CONTROL PROCESS:
GEO has more polices than any other company and these policies are well communicated to
the employees. All rules regulations, policies and procedures are mentioned in the employee
handbook, which is kept highly confidential from the non-employees. GEO has a strong
control on the policies and employee code of conduct and are very strict about them. GEO
does not compromise on their polices and implement them strictly. GEO uses the 360 degrees
appraisal in which subordinates evaluate their seniors. Each individual (subordinate)
evaluates their boss’s behaviour, leadership; attitudes etc. and they are free to give any
opinion or complaint against them. The committee then begins inquiries and strictly, Follows
Company polices respectively. Subordinate’s comments are very essential for the promotions
of their seniors.
FORMATION OF POLICIES:
When Geo faces a problem in the implementation of old policies then the policy defining
department reviews it and works them out to make necessary changes in the policies. Once a
policy is changed or altered it is sent to the approval department after being approved by the
approval department it is then lastly sent to the Upper level management. If the upper level
management approves the new policy in order for its implementation it is updated on the
website, notice boards and open forums. It is also circulated on hardcopies.
Geo uses the external market mechanism such as content based competition and relative
market share that is, GEO has to keep up with the latest trends in the media market and
follow those trends to maintain and set their standards. GEO has also proved itself to be a
trendsetter in the market.
There is a Quality Control team in GEO to monitor the quality and standard of all productions
and content. First of all the script is approved by the department then the casting of the
production is approved. A pilot is of the script is created as a sample and is previewed and is
passed by the department. The final production is then sent to GEO’s Censor board for
approval. If the production is according to the standards set in the pilot it is passed and sent to
be aired on TV. Finally, GEO then takes feedback about the content from the public
(viewers).
ACHIEVEMENTS AND AWARDS
EXCLUSIVITY OF GEO
Some international newspapers, magazines and news agencies have commented on the
unique style of GEO and various have quoted it extensively. These include New York Times,
Washington Times, Financial Times, Washington Post and Los Angeles Times.
Francisco Chronicle, AP, AFP, Reuters, CNN, BBC, Khaleej Times, Gulf News, Times of
India, The Hindu, Aaj Tak (India), Kyodo (Japan), Al Jazeera and other important television
channels. Even the US State Department often quotes GEO.
Geo has been described as the CNN and BBC of Pakistan due to its enormous news network
within Pakistan and all over the world.
New York Times, one of the most prominent newspapers of the world, has quoted that Geo
changed the media scene of Pakistan. It is the most popular channel with the highest viewer
ship in cities.
Geo has also been awarded best electronic mass media award 2004 by Pakistan adv.
Association.
Business week one of the top 3 magazines of the world while including the news of MSR in
25 stars of Asia wrote that “Geo has become the most watched TV channel of Pakistan and
its viewer ship is growing at the rate of 30% annually.
According to Gallup, Geo is highly rated and the most watched satellite channel in Pakistan
for its entertainment, news talk shows and flavored programs
CONCLUSION
From this research, we conclude that: Geo is the only independent and liberal channel with
the unique honor of consistently breaking news. Geo is an innovative concept that targets a
new, growing market. “We assume that the market will respond, and grow quickly in the next
5 years” says, C.E.O Mir Ibrahim Rehman “Our goals are to create a reputation of quality,
consistency and security that will make us the leader of all new style channels. Geo is a fast
growing network of channels that is making rapid awareness among the people. Geo’s main
problem is the growing number of private sector channels causing more competition. For this
reason GEO must improve their strategy and competitive position.
REFERENCES
4) Google images
7) Wikipedia
8) www.geotv.com