STEEPLE Analysis

Q-Tel is one of the leading telecommunication companies in Qatar. With its operations in both in Qatar and other countries in North Africa, Q-Tel is focused towards realizing its global presence in the next five years. Q-Tel is the leading provider of telecommunications solutions for all business needs within and outside Qatar. The company's services empower small and large businesses to reduce their telecommunications costs while receiving the highest level of customer service. The expansion of Q-Tel is fundamental since the telecommunications company looks forward to return its shareholders value of investment since it is listed in the Qatar's Stock Exchange.

The most important thing is note that within the structured context analysis the company critically focuses on innovative thinking so as to gain insights needed to win against its competitors over both long and term period. This paper focuses on Q-Tel external environment because an outside -inside orientation is critical so as to adequately focus on its customers and competitors. This will further enable the company to stay in touch with rapidly changing markets around the world. 

Jain, Trehan & Ranju indicated that Q-Tel business operations can largely be influenced by the economic, technological, political, socio-cultural, and legal factors (24)¹. The external environment of this company will help us to grasp the factors influencing the business hence in the process help us to monitor the relevant opportunities and threats affecting Q-Tel.

Eastwood, Jensen & Jordon says that in order to understand the workings of the telecommunication industry and therefore it is important to get a feel for all the factors that influence it (36)². For environmental analysis to be effective it is important for Q-Tel to distinguish between those factors which are vital and those which are merely important. It is also important to avoid analysis paralysis and to remember that inferences from the past and the present may not automatically be a guide to what may happen in their future of Q-Tel. Eastwood, Jensen & Jordon says that because the external environment is a huge area to try to make sense of it is useful to have some method of structuring the analysis (37)³.

Political factors

According to Eastwood, Jensen & Jordon there are many dimensions to the political environment and therefore it is realistic to expect Q-Tel to analyze all the potential side effects but it is important to acknowledge the imminent changes that could impact on the business and develop contingency plans (38)⁴. For Q-Tel the political section covers any changes in the political climate that could have relevance to the industry. It will also examine any changes in the Qatar government policy and legislation that are likely to have a positive or negative effect on the status quo (Eastwood, Jensen & Jordon, 39)⁵. The stability in the political environment climate over the last ten years has resulted in the drastic alteration in attitudes throughout the industry.

In addition, Jain, Trehan & Ranju say that political environment includes factors such as ideology and policies of the government, nature, and type of economic system, relation with other nation's political stability (71)⁶. In the context of Q-Tel the stable and political environment is indispensable for its business growth. For this company the political environment mainly includes relation of government with other countries and the political ideology of the government. Jain, Trehan & Ranju further say that Q-Tel is largely benefiting from a political system which is stable, honest, efficient, and dynamic and ensures political participation of the people and assures personal security to the citizens (72)⁷.

In the telecommunication industry, social influence is easy to assess because at a very basic level, the attitudes of the general public. Eastwood, Jensen & Jordon says that the attitude of the population to the industry can have a big impact at Q-Tel (43)⁸. It is important to realize that although social trends do not change overnight they can change considerably over a number of years.  The telecommunications industry in Qatar, Q-Tel social factors is influenced by the expected standard of living, employment figures and staff issues.

Shaikh in addition says that because Q-Tel operates within the norms of society and exists primarily to satisfy its needs. The company has a social responsibility. The social factors influence the policy and strategy of business, Q-Tel strives to satisfy the needs and wants of the Qatar people and the society in general. Some of the cultural values that will affect Q-Tel include culture, values, tastes and preferences, social integration and disintegration. Shaikh further says that while social institutions are closely linked with Q-Tel because it is a social institution (22)⁹. The social institution performing a social mission and having a broad influence on the way people live and work together. Q-Tel social factors will influence the profitability of the telecommunication company.

Technological factors

Technology is considered as one of the most important factors in Q-Tel's business environment (Shaikh, 23)¹⁰. This is the reason why the government of Qatar has assigned greater role and importance to sophisticated technology and technology transfer especially to the telecommunication industry. Shaikh further says that Q-Tel imports technology and foreign technical collaboration that is allowed for this purpose. Because technology develops rapidly, technological factors must be taken into consideration by the management of  Q-Tel as well as the company's policymakers.

Eastwood, Jensen & Jordon says that this section cover both Q-Tel's recent and potential technological advances that impact the telecommunication industry in Qatar. These technological influences do not influence the industry alone but also affect the customer's social issues and increases in global communication lead to increased social awareness.

It is important to understand that every aspect of Q-Tel is regulated by law in Qatar. This implies that the legal environment plays a very important role in business laws. The legal factors to this telecommunication company will determine laws relating to industrial licensing, company formation and expansion, Q-Tel administration, company disputes, payment of wages, trade unionism, monopoly control, and foreign exchange regulation. The legal factors for Q-Tel either affect the company directly or indirectly.

Eastwood, Jensen & Jordon further say that legal the importance of the correct legal advice cannot be overstated and in any matters where it is required (73)¹¹. The legal structure of Q-Tel is also directly attributable to the political environment of Qatar. The legal factors of the company determine financial, taxation, employment, tenancies, land law, contracts, and litigation issues. Q-Tel being a public owned company legal framework of the company reflects the public arena hence it is considered have stable legal framework.

Ecological factors

Shaikh says that ecological factors play a vital role in operations of Q-Tel. This is because Q-Tel is expected to preserve the ecological factors for attaining sustainable growth. The company should note that industrial operational activities that cause emission of fumes or smoke and effluents result to environmental degradation. This means that Q-Tel should be involved in environmental protection and preservation. Shaikh indicated that in Qatar pollution free industry activity is considered as necessary condition of industrial organizations (24)¹². 

Q-Tel should embrace pollution free technology and recycling of industrial wastes and effluents. This though has become one of the telecommunications concern Q-Tel has put legislative measures which over the years the telecommunications company has adopted. The government of Qatar is also concerned about protecting the ecological environment and preventing it from degradation and pollution which is evident in the country.

Economic factors

Q-Tel economic factors such as revenue, income, resource mobilization, and infrastructure development affect the general operation of the company. Qatar's economic performance has influenced the business environment for Q-Tel positively. Shaikh says that though planned economic development has resulted in a considerable economic growth over the years, political stability has been key factor in the company's revenue growth (25)¹³. Also economic stability of the company has resulted price stability in the calling rates and stable foreign exchange rates.

The economic factors of Q-Tel revolve around the stock markets of Qatar, because the health of the stock market has an immediate effect on the company's financial security. This stability has facilitated the company's income which is tied to the individual well being. Q-Tel financial stability is largely influenced by interest rates and world economy because it is a global company. Eastwood, Jensen & Jordon further says that the interest rates will have immediate impacts on the spending habits on the general population of Qatar (73)¹⁴. Mockler says that it is useful for Q-Tel to continually examine the economic and financial value of each of its business segment contribution to the company as whole (60)¹⁵. The company should however note that since economic and financial analysis and evaluation deal with assumptions (Mockler, 60)¹⁶. 

Q-Tel telecommunications business provides the backbone for the growth of Qatar, and we understand that communication to facilitate the development of companies across Qatar. The company is looking to establish a framework through which our partnership with its customers can grow and evolve, to ensure ongoing satisfaction and business success. With Q-Tel's business environment presenting positive aspects it implies that the company is in a better chance of growth both in the country and globally.

The political stability of Qatar is favorable for Q-Tel's growth. The country's economy is considered very stable hence this means that the company is geared towards performing well financially. It is likely that the company will realize a growth in its revenue due to favorable technological and social-cultural factors in the country. These external factors also reflect the company's ongoing strategy to find better ways of working to deliver to its customers a superb business solutions client experience.