Introduction
Founded in 1983, AOL (America Online) is an American media conglomerate that specializes in the digital distribution of online services, products, and content and handles such websites as The Huffington Post and TechCrunch. It was one of the first and biggest companies to build the business on the Internet use. In 2015, AOL became a part of Verizon Communications. Nowadays, it has about 4,000 employees and more than 2 million dial-up subscribers (Karaian, 2015).
Mission Statement and Vision
AOL’s mission is to:
Unleash the most skilled and talented coding and cultural builders and simplify the Internet for consumers (Glassdoor.com, n. d.)
Showcase original, advertising-supported content (Vault.com, n. d.)
Connect creators and consumers through open market relations
AOL combines innovative technologies with the high-quality customer services and aims to establish long-term and productive relationships with consumers and satisfy their requirements.
Culture
The company “invests in creating a culture that empowers everyone because the challenges demand it” (Glassdoor.com, n. d.). AOL’s culture is:
Employee-oriented (Indeed.com. n. d.)
Flexible and constantly changing to answer the requirements of the modern world (Glassdoor.com, n. d.)
Audiences
AOL is aimed at the wide range of audiences. They include affluent individuals, people over the age of 50, men and women, millennials, mothers, and multicultural audiences (Audiences, n. d.). The communication with the audiences is achieved through the digital targeted advertising. AOL has a special approach to each audience group based on the group peculiarities and their values.
AOL also supports the strong internal communication. AOL is a multinational company that has offices in different countries across the globe, and the proper and timely communication between the offices is a part of the company's strategy. Internal communication is carried out by Internal Communication Managers and Directors who widely use video and technologies, entertaining approaches, and support communication lines (Smart Recruiters, n d.).
Work Environment
In AOL, each employee is a part of the big family. The company provides dynamic and flexible work environment that satisfies the needs of employees and creates more comfortable atmosphere. The dress code is casual, and the work is never dull and gives a lot of different and interesting tasks to complete (Glassdoor.com, n. d.). AOL has a friendly, hardworking, and tightly welded team that is one of the main strengths of the company. The employees are open to help each other. The flexible working schedule allows adjusting to the needs of the team members. The company provides the access to nap room, free beverages and snacks (Indeed.com, n. d.). Also, the staff can participate in sports activities and yoga classes that contribute to the support of health and the proper balance between work and leisure (Glassdoor.com, n. d.).
Organizational Operations
AOL has divisional structure. Company’s CEO is Timothy Armstrong; he gives instructions to the heads of divisions, who, in turn, guide their subordinates (The Official Board, n. d.). Thus, the company’s organizational operations are divided among divisions and departments; each of them performs specific tasks and contributes to the whole business.
Leadership
CEO: Mr. Timothy M. Armstrong
AOL’s leadership is concentrated on the achievement of success. The communication strategies of Tim Armstrong and his rule are highly approved by current and former company’s employees (Glassdoor.com, n. d.). Armstrong supports the high level of communication both with external and internal audiences; he sets the company’s goals and clearly delivers them to his subordinates.
References
AOL. (n. d.). Glassdoor.com. Retrieved from https://www.glassdoor.com/Overview/Working-at-AOL-EI_IE2151.11,14.htm.
AOL. (n. d.). Indeed.com. Retrieved from https://www.indeed.com/cmp/Aol/reviews.
AOL. (n. d.). The Official Board. Retrieved from http://www.theofficialboard.com/org-chart/aol.
Aol Inc. (n. d.). Vault.com. Retrieved from http://www.vault.com/company-profiles/internet-social-media/aol-inc/company-overview.aspx.
Aol. Sr Director Internal Communications and Culture. (n. d.). Smart Recruiters. Retrieved from https://www.smartrecruiters.com/Aol/86381221-sr-director-internal-communications-and-culture.
Audiences. (n. d.). Aol Advertising. Retrieved from http://advertising.aol.com/audiences.
Karaian, J. (2015, May 12). By the numbers: AOL then and now. Quartz. Retrieved from https://qz.com/403266/by-the-numbers-aol-then-and-now/.
