This is a business operations plan for Touch Fm radio station transmitting on 106.5 Frequency Modulation in the city of Baltimore. The area of coverage is approximately 120 kilometers radius. Touch Fm will offer radio listeners in Baltimore a unique blend in variety of music and localized news intended to distinguish it from most mainstream radio stations in the area. Touch Fm intends to position itself strategically to attain a good market share by branding itself as a 24-hour urban commercial radio station. This plan outlines factors that are important to the long-term success of the business adhering to ethical and best business practices.
Ownership information
Touch Fm is registered as a limited liability company owned by Black Entertainment under the Companies Act 1946. In Maryland, Limited Liability Company is regarded as an entity separate from the owners (Companies Incorporated, 2011). There are four directors in Black Entertainment each with equal shares in revenue and liability. The directors’ functions and responsibilities are detailed in Black Entertainment’s company Articles of Association and memorandums. The directors are all residents of Maryland.
Organization structure
Touch Fm’s organizational structure is designed to ease communication in the organization. According to Craig W. Fontaine, “Organizational Structure is critical both for a company and its employees”, ( 2007).The executive producer is the chief executive officer of the organization. The human resource manager works closely with the executive producer. Human resource manager is senior to the station director and the marketing manager. The human resource manager is also in charge of the
information technology and security. The-marketing department through the human resource and broadcast through the station manager are directly under the human resource office. The station manager directly supervises the News editor and the presenters. The station manager supervises the news reporters directly. Marketing manager supervises the sales agents.
According to McCarty, (2009 ) new employees need to be matched well with their duty for the organization to operate effectively. The proprietors of Touch Fm have partnered with a human resource firm that has already interviewed and after deliberations, hired five top managers at the station. These managers will constitute a committee that will interview and recommend candidates for positions in the organization. The human resource manager in conjunction with the executive producer are the hiring authorities in the organization. The studio director and the marketing manager are responsible for training in their departments.
The main function of the executive producer is to coordinate external initiatives and management of the station. Executive producer advises the board of directors on the entire management operations. His main functions are:
- Radio station’s personnel management.
- Management of the station’s finances.
- Management of the station’s programs.
Human resource manager empowers employee relationships in the station his main functions are:
- Personnel recruitment.
- Placement of personnel.
- Personnel evaluation.
- Personnel compensation and development.
The station manager is responsible for the smooth running of the station including.
- Scheduling of commercials from marketing department.
- Slotting news from the reporters.
- Ensures that the equipments are running at optimum level.
- Handles disciplinary issues at the station.
- Ensures tidiness at the station.
- Schedules & welcomes guests to the station.
The station manager supervises the news reporters who collects as well as edits news and the presenters who are studio based and broadcast information. The marketing manager coordinates activities of the marketing and sales agents and the public relations of the radio station. The marketing manager is responsible for branding of the station and all promotional activities. The Finance manager collects money from the marketing department and banks it. The finance manager also keeps financial records of the station and balances the books.
Profile of management
Lynn Brown is the executive producer, Touch Fm radio station. She has sixteen years experience in the radio broadcasting industry. She is an expert in audio production, radio station management, business administration and marketing.She owned a successful audio recording studio in Randallstown. Lynn has ten years of experience with Hot FM a leading radio station in the Washington DC area, attaining the role of Marketing Manager; Managing director.She has a master’s degree in mass communication and a diploma in information technology.
David Oling is the human resource manager at Touch Fm. He is a graduate of Coppin State University with a master’s degree in human resource management with five years of experience in management. He has been the human resource manager of CTS news Network Company for five years.
Klein Otila is the studio director at Touch Fm and has a bachelor of creative arts from Morgan State University.He also has a diploma in studio engineering from Phoenix school of audio production. Otila has ten years experience in broadcasting industry and started as a presenter for radio One where he worked three years. He has worked as a news reporter for GG international radio for two years and Studio manager at Capital FM for five years. Prisca Devito is the marketing manager at Touch Fm. She has bachelors of commerce from Towson state University and a diploma in public relations.She worked for four years in Prime Colors an outdoor advertisement firm and was public relation officer at orange media for three years. She has worked three years in Koch Network as a marketing manager. Peter Devinski is the finance manager and has bachelors of commerce from Kensington College. He is also a certified accountant with three years of experience as an accountant. Peter as worked as a financial administrator at Technipicture printers for the last four years.
Operating procedures
Touch Fm is a 24-hour radio station; presentations starts at 5 am every morning and ends at 11 pm from Monday to Friday. The early morning presenter gets to the station 30 minutes early in order to prepare for the show. There are four paid presenters and
weekend guest presenters. All presenters report 30 minutes prior to their shows. The Station Manager avails an advertisement log sheet for every presenter and gives necessary instructions before they go on air. At the end of the scheduled programs that end at 11 pm, the Station Manager provides a play list that would run the whole night and this includes the commercials and station’s signature tunes. The News team is composed of four trained, qualified and experienced personnel. They collect – business, political, entertainment, local and sports news. The reporters are paid per story and are considered to be at work at all times. The reporters have news outlet points and a fully equipped outside broadcast vehicle.
The marketing manager starts the day with meeting the agents’ and schedules their engagements. The agents work is to seek commercial advertisements and program sponsorships. They operate using the station’s program and rate card. The agents deliver the advertisement specifics to the marketing manager who delivers the details to the studio director for broadcast and corresponding payments to the finance manger.
Touch Fm is located in downtown Baltimore on the seventh floor of Calvary Towers. “While every organization is different, all organizations strive to become more competitive, effective and provide the best workplace possible for its employees” (International Facility Management Association, 2009). Touch Fm’s facility plan is shown in the following diagram. The colored area is the common areas of the facility and WC refers to water closet, these are the rest rooms. The diagram does not show doors and windows but gives a clue of the entire facility set up in a 5000 square feet area.
Reference
Companies Incorporated. (2011). Maryland LLC. Web.
Craig W. Fontaine, P. (2007). Organizational structure. Northeastern University College of Business Administration.
International Facility Management Association. (2009). Facility Planning. A White Paper on Strategic Facility Planning. International Facility Management Association.
McCarty, D. (2009). Ensuring Employee Alignment In 3 Vital Areas. Web.