...Closing Case One - Apple—Merging Technology, Business, and Entertainment This might sound hard to believe, but a bit more than a decade ago, Apple was on the brink of bankruptcy. Apple Computer Inc., now back from near oblivion, is blazing a trail through the digital world with innovation and creativity that has been missing from the company for the past 20 years. The unique feature of Apple’s competitive advantages is that they come from customers and users, not Apple employees. That’s right; the company welcomes products created by consumers to sell to consumers, a trend new to business. Capitalizing on the iPod With millions of iPods in the hands of consumers, many people are finding ways to capitalize on the product. John Lin created a prototype of a remote control for the iPod and took his prototype to Macworld, where he found success. A few months later, Lin’s company had Apple’s blessing and a commitment for shelf space in its retail stores. “This is how Apple supports the iPod economy,” Lin said. In the iPod-dominated market, hundreds of companies have been inspired to develop more than 500 accessories—everything from rechargers for the car to $1,500 Fendi bags. Eric Tong, vice presi- dent at Belkin, a cable and peripheral manufacturer, believes that 75 percent of all iPod owners pur- chase at least one accessory—selling over 30 million accessories to date. With most of the products priced between $10 and $200, that puts the iPod...
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...conduct from Apple has multiple section mentioning the same, or variations of the same idea. This section will summarize the multiple important rules that Apple impose in their Business Conduct. The main principles of the company revolves around the four words: Honesty, Respect, Confidentiality and Compliance (Apple, 3). Following that, the company expects the employee to “follow the policy”, “speak up”, “use good judgement” and “ask questions”. These are at the core of every business, to make the employee follow the rules but also allow the employee to voice their opinion in an organized manner. The “speak up” and “ask questions” part is there to prevent the employee from unknowingly engaging in unlawful...
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...Information Systems Case: Apple Inc. 1 Executive Summary It is said that luck follows determination and courage in business. Apple Inc. is one of global giants that has proved this correct – it has completely taken a U-turn in the IT business. Renowned around the world for innovation and quality finishing of its products, Apple Inc.’s humble start as a computer manufacturer has not deterred it from ruling the world of technology and entertainment in a market where giant names like IBM and Microsoft also thrive. The financial position of Apple has become very strong over the past three years. Growing 15% from 2007 to 2008 and 20% from 2008 to 2009, Apple Inc. has maintained a steady and rapid pace that few other companies as innovative as Apple can match (Annual Report, 2009, p.19). The launch of the iTunes music store, that later expanded into a comprehensive online store for videos, books and audios, was a different business model altogether that reaped success within the first week of its launch. However, the subsequent events that occurred in the market and the various risks that are associated with Apple Inc.’s strategy for iTunes are some of the reasons that warrant a revision of the operational strategy, partially, if not altogether. The issue of digital rights management (DRM) and software piracy propped up and Apple has ever since paid out to artists and record companies more than it has pocketed itself. There are several lessons that Apple can learn from the...
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...Apple in the digital age from the iPod to the iPad Apple Inc. The Case Study 2000 - 2010 Foreward John Ashcroft Welcome to this Apple case study. I have always been something of a computer geek. My first computer was a Commodore Pet in 1978. It had 8k of RAM and a cassette player for storage. Programmed effectively, a two dimensional pencil sketch of a rocket would take off and zoom off screen. Beyond that and a few simple games, I don’t recall it did much at all. My first experience of Apple was the Apple II in the early 1980’s. The combination of Apple and a Visicalc spreadsheet, greatly enhanced financial and business plan modelling. Business models were more easily produced and what-if simulations were available at the click of a button. It was a great step up from the pencil and calculator. Seven years ago, I abandoned Microsoft and converted entirely to Apple. Apple Macs, MacBooks, MacBook Air, iPods, iTouch, the iPhone and the iPad, I had to try them all and never looked back This is the case study of Apple in the digital age. The great era of the iPod, the discovery of the digital hub and Apple’s move into the mainstream consumer market with the iPod, the iPhone and the iPad. It has many great examples for enthusiasts of marketing, leadership, organization, financial analysis and strategic management. The story begins almost ten years ago. In 2001, Apple sales fell by a third and the company reported an operating loss of $350 million some 6% of sales. The company...
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...Case Description: This case summarizes the Antennagate problem for the Apple iphone 4, during the year 2011. There is much speculation on this issue and the seriousness of the matter. When the phone is tightly gripped in your hand, depending on how you hold the phone, it eventually loses signal and drops calls. This only occurs when your hand is covering up a certain spot, the spot being the little gap between two external antennas on the outer edge of the new iPhone. The media stirred up a huge storm about the alleged signal-dropping error with the antenna and the press had a field day with the issue. Steps Taken Before the Problem When handling a products defect, one must carefully decide how to handle this situation to limit the negative publicity, and also to limit the number of potential customers lost. One thing that a company does not want to do is ignore the problem, which is exactly what Apple did at first word of the issue. The company was sharply criticized by the media for, not acting quickly enough to recall or aid their customer’s problems (Lane, 2010). Fingers were being pointed at service providers, Apple accused AT&T for having poor service coverage, saying they were the reason their customers were experiencing problems. Then Apple said all the other smart phone manufacturers’ products had similar problems and that this is an issue with all smart phones not just the iphone (Carr, 2010). This is surely true. The antenna reception issue is a physical problem...
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...Apple in the digital age from the iPod to the iPad Apple Inc. The Case Study 2000 - 2010 Foreward John Ashcroft Welcome to this Apple case study. I have always been something of a computer geek. My first computer was a Commodore Pet in 1978. It had 8k of RAM and a cassette player for storage. Programmed effectively, a two dimensional pencil sketch of a rocket would take off and zoom off screen. Beyond that and a few simple games, I don’t recall it did much at all. My first experience of Apple was the Apple II in the early 1980’s. The combination of Apple and a Visicalc spreadsheet, greatly enhanced financial and business plan modelling. Business models were more easily produced and what-if simulations were available at the click of a button. It was a great step up from the pencil and calculator. Seven years ago, I abandoned Microsoft and converted entirely to Apple. Apple Macs, MacBooks, MacBook Air, iPods, iTouch, the iPhone and the iPad, I had to try them all and never looked back This is the case study of Apple in the digital age. The great era of the iPod, the discovery of the digital hub and Apple’s move into the mainstream consumer market with the iPod, the iPhone and the iPad. It has many great examples for enthusiasts of marketing, leadership, organization, financial analysis and strategic management. The story begins almost ten years ago. In 2001, Apple sales fell by a third and the company reported an operating loss of $350 million some 6% of sales. The company...
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...Apple in the digital age from the iPod to the iPad Apple Inc. The Case Study 2000 - 2010 Foreward John Ashcroft Welcome to this Apple case study. I have always been something of a computer geek. My first computer was a Commodore Pet in 1978. It had 8k of RAM and a cassette player for storage. Programmed effectively, a two dimensional pencil sketch of a rocket would take off and zoom off screen. Beyond that and a few simple games, I don’t recall it did much at all. My first experience of Apple was the Apple II in the early 1980’s. The combination of Apple and a Visicalc spreadsheet, greatly enhanced financial and business plan modelling. Business models were more easily produced and what-if simulations were available at the click of a button. It was a great step up from the pencil and calculator. Seven years ago, I abandoned Microsoft and converted entirely to Apple. Apple Macs, MacBooks, MacBook Air, iPods, iTouch, the iPhone and the iPad, I had to try them all and never looked back This is the case study of Apple in the digital age. The great era of the iPod, the discovery of the digital hub and Apple’s move into the mainstream consumer market with the iPod, the iPhone and the iPad. It has many great examples for enthusiasts of marketing, leadership, organization, financial analysis and strategic management. The story begins almost ten years ago. In 2001, Apple sales fell by a third and the company reported an operating loss of $350 million some 6% of sales. The company...
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...31 STEVE JOBS AND APPLE, INC. Todd A. Finkle, Gonzaga University Michael L. Mallin, The University of Toledo CASE DESCRIPTION The primary issues in this case involve business startup and management, and are appropriate for entrepreneurship and management courses. A secondary issue demonstrates how personal drive and motivation are critical components of successfully managing and growing a business, thereby making this case appropriate for discussion on the topic of strategic management. The case chronicles the life and passion of entrepreneur, Steve Jobs – illustrating the rise, fall, and current state of the Apple Computer Company. The case has a difficulty level 2 and is designed to be covered within one (75 minute) class period. The required preparation time is about 2 hours. It is appropriate for small business, entrepreneurship, or management classes. The purpose of this case is to illustrate to students how individual passion, determination, and innovation is a critical element in business start up success and also to stimulate critical thinking in terms of future direction for a company in a struggling economy. CASE SYNOPSIS The Apple Computer Company is arguably one of the most innovative technology companies to emerge in the last three decades. Apple, Inc. is responsible for bringing to market such products as the Macintosh computer and laptop, iPod and iTunes, and most recently, the iPhone. The success of the company can be traced primarily to a...
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...Strategic Management Case plus Case Answer – Apple’s Profitable but Risky Strategy Case study Apple’s profitable but risky strategy When Apple’s Chief Executive – Steven Jobs – launched the Apple iPod in 2001 and the iPhone in 2007, he made a significant shift in the company’s strategy from the relatively safe market of innovative, premium-priced computers into the highly competitive markets of consumer electronics. This case explores this profitable but risky strategy. Note that this case explores in 2008 before Nokia had major problems with smartphones – see Case 9.2 and Case 15.1 for this later situation. Early beginnings To understand any company’s strategy, it is helpful to begin by looking back at its roots. Founded in 1976, Apple built its early reputation on innovative personal computers that were par-ticularly easy for customers to use and as a result were priced higher than those of competitors. The inspiration for this strategy came from a visit by the founders of the company – Steven Jobs and Steven Wozniack – to the Palo Alto research laboratories of the Xerox company in 1979. They observed that Xerox had developed an early version of a computer interface screen with the drop-down menus that are widely used today on all personal computers. Most computers in the late 1970s still used complicated technical interfaces for even simple tasks like typing – still called ‘word-processing’ at the time. Jobs and Wozniack took the concept back to Apple and developed their...
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...STRATEGY Case Study [Type the author name] CASE STUDY ON PROFITABLE BUT RISKY STRATEGY OF APPLE INTRODUCTION: A long term plan and action that is formulated to help a company to setback and achieve a competitive advantage against its competitor and rival is called competitive strategy. This type of strategy is frequently used in marketing, promotion and advertising operations by somehow questioning the rivalry's service or product. Competitive strategies are vital to businesses which are competing in markets for the leading position, the market which is deeply saturated with substitutes for consumers. (Porter,2008). This case study is truly about the competitive strategy of Apple. Apple was founded in 1976 by two Steve Job and Steve Wozniak. Apple initiated its early reputation by making user friendly personal computers and keeping the price high against those made by the competitors. Their first computer was the Apple Macintosh (MAC). It was launched in 1984. From the very first, Apple’s strategy was innovative and profitable. Innovation brings risk with it. So Apple always followed innovative, risky but a highly profitable strategy. Apple is a front line company in industry of electronics whether in cell phones, tablets, personal computers and music devices etc. Apple’s software is actually the one which is greatly designed and programmed. Apple charge premium and comparatively high price from the consumers when compared with prices of its alternatives. Apple is actually...
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..."Without the brand, Apple would be dead," Gobe said. He tells how brands have established deep, lasting bonds with their customers. Apple, of course, is the archetypal emotional brand. It's not just intimate with its customers; it is loved. "Apple is about imagination, design and innovation;" Gobe argued that, in some cases, branding has become as powerful as religion”. Research shows that Apple triggers a religious reaction from certain consumers. Of course when it’s considered as religion, we must have the believers- in this case, they are called “Apple fanboy”. These are notoriously vocal about the superiority of their platform of choice. Emotional brand is always about people the company has established a "heartfelt connection" with its customers. This can take several forms, from building trust to establishing a community around a product. In Apple's case, its products are designed around people: "Take the iPod, it brings an emotional, sensory experience to computing," Gobe said. "Apple's design is people-driven." In short, for Apple, brands are more important than products. Products have limited life cycles, but brands -- if managed well -- last forever. Customer Service: Apple takes the customer service to another level. When it comes to retail, Apple strikes all the right chords: an attractive physical store that mirrors the company’s holistic design, informative and knowledgeable salespeople with true dedication to customers. Not only are the Apple “Genius” store...
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...Week 3: Case Analysis Assignment: Apple Inc. Geraldo Moraes DeVry University BUSN-412 Business Policy Professor Raef Assaf CASE ANALYSIS ASSIGNMENT: APPLE INC. Apple Inc. designs, makes, and markets mobile communication and media gadgets, PCs, convenient advanced music players, and offers a mixed bag of related programming, administrations, peripherals, organizing arrangements, and outsider computerized substance and applications (Dess, G., Lumpkin, G., & Eisner, A. 2012). Its items and administrations incorporate iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, iPod, Apple TV, an arrangement of customer and expert programming applications, the iOS and OS X working frameworks, iCloud, and frill, administration and bolster offerings. According to the case study, Apple Computer was established in Mountain View, California, on April 1, 1976, by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak. Jobs was the visionary and advertiser, Wozniak was the specialized virtuoso, and A. C. "Mike" Markkula Jr., who had joined the group a while prior, was the businessperson (Dess, G., Lumpkin, G., & Eisner, A. 2012). Employments set the mission of engaging people, one person, one PC, and doing as such with polish of configuration and savage tender loving care. In 1977 the first form of the Apple II turned into the first PC standard individuals could utilize right out of the case, and its moment achievement in the home market brought on a processing upheaval, basically making the PC business. By 1980 Apple was the business...
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...Management Case plus Case Answer – Apple’s Profitable but Risky Strategy Case study Apple’s profitable but risky strategy When Apple’s Chief Executive – Steven Jobs – launched the Apple iPod in 2001 and the iPhone in 2007, he made a significant shift in the company’s strategy from the relatively safe market of innovative, premium-priced computers into the highly competitive markets of consumer electronics. This case explores this profitable but risky strategy. Note that this case explores in 2008 before Nokia had major problems with smartphones – see Case 9.2 and Case 15.1 for this later situation. Early beginnings To understand any company’s strategy, it is helpful to begin by looking back at its roots. Founded in 1976, Apple built its early reputation on innovative personal computers that were par-ticularly easy for customers to use and as a result were priced higher than those of competitors. The inspiration for this strategy came from a visit by the founders of the company – Steven Jobs and Steven Wozniack – to the Palo Alto research laboratories of the Xerox company in 1979. They observed that Xerox had developed an early version of a computer interface screen with the drop-down menus that are widely used today on all personal computers. Most computers in the late 1970s still used complicated technical interfaces for even simple tasks like typing – still called ‘word-processing’ at the time. Jobs and Wozniack took the concept back to Apple and developed...
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...Apple Inc. in 2012 case study Executive Summary According to the case “Apple Inc. in 2012”, it was clearly illustrate that Apple Inc. is one the largest computer manufacturer in the world. The Apple company has a perfect concept and operating systems of manufacturing new products in which launch to the customers. Also, there are some other companies try to imitate the Apple Inc., but some of them were failed. The main purpose of this report is to seek the problems of the Apple Inc. and give an efficient recommendation for the company to help them get better development in the future. 1. Introduction Apple company began as “Apple Computer” and best known for sell Macintosh personal computers in the 1980s and 1990s. (David B, Y, Rossano, P 2012) When Steve Jobs became CEO of Apple Inc. in 1997, the company had changed from near bankruptcy to one of the largest and most profitable companies in the world. Also there are a number of challenges while Jobs need to face his successor. After that, Tim Cook became the new CEO of Apple Inc., he was decided to choose different approach in which distinguish with Steve Jobs to develop the company perform well in the future. However, with the different period, Apple Inc. to change their management very often in these years, such as Sculley, or Spindler, Amelio were served in the company in different period. The liquid management should be an issue in which connected with Apple Inc.. Furthermore, Apple Inc. was using the market...
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...Apple has toppled Google as the world's most valuable brand Marketing Management – Assignment Case Study Report CONTENTS CASE DESCRIPTION ...................................................................................................................................... - 3 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................. - 4 HISTORY .......................................................................................................................................................... - 5 CREDIBILITY CHECK .................................................................................................................................... - 6 HOW APPLE ACHIEVED IT? ......................................................................................................................... - 7 Constantly Improving Products ..................................................................................................................... - 7 Creating New Products .................................................................................................................................. - 7 High Margins ................................................................................................................................................. - 8 Distribution .....................................................................................................
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