...Apple Inc Strategic Recommendations for the Future Apple Inc is a globally respected business organisation and is an acknowledged pioneer in its areas of operations in the technology sector. Primarily a manufacturer and marketer of personal computers and peripherals, software and networking solutions, the company’s product line includes the Macintosh range of desktop and notebook PCs, the Mac OS X operating system, the IPod digital music player, the ITunes music store, the IPhone, the IPad tablet, the X Serve G5 servers and X Serve storage products (Apple Computer Inc, 2011, p 1). The company sells its products through its chain of retail stores, third party wholesalers and online channels. The company’s main markets are in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Japan and South East Asia. It also has a growing presence in China and India (Apple Computer Inc, 2011, p 2). Apple’s vision statement is elaborated as “man is the creator of change in this world. As such he should be above systems and structures and not subordinate to them”. The company’s mission statement is as under: “Apple is committed to bringing the best personal computing experience to students, educators, creative professionals and consumers around the world through its innovative hardware, software and internet offerings”. (Masi, 2009, p 2) 2. External Analysis 2.1. Environmental Analysis Apple Inc is one of the largest of global corporations in terms of market capitalisation and has important products...
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...International Management Project - Apple - Summary In a context of “fast growing technological market", what could be the futures perspectives of Apple over the strategic issues in order to maintain its competitive advantage? Introduction I – A Sociology of Steve Jobs A) Steve jobs: the perfect illustration of a charismatic authority B) Steve Jobs: does he really is an inventor? C) From death to succession II – How does Apple react about the uprising competition on the consumer electronic market? A) Understanding the market B) External and Internal analyze through specific models C) Major changes on the market D) Apple’s strategic positioning: a specific target audience III – Recommendations and Justifications A) Drawing of frightening competitor B) Possible strategies C) What Apple is looking for and how to reach it? Conclusion Appendix Introduction In a period of financial turbulences, the consumer electronics market is facing several challenges where every company have to differentiate themselves and bring something more through innovation in to be able to maintain their competitive advantage and to grow their market share. In this case, Apple, great name, is probably the most innovative corporation established on this market by staying aware of the trends evolutions as well as of the electronics consumers’ needs to gain competitive advantages. Indeed, its orientation...
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...likes of Apple and Google with their new devices running on their revolutionary iOS and Android operating platforms. The future of wireless industry is constantly improving and the future category where none existed before” (Castaldo, J., 2007). Surely RIM was poised for success; however, three short years later, the industry is wondering if RIM can compete with the likes of Apple and Google with their new devices running on their revolutionary iOS and Android operating platforms. The future of wireless industry is constantly improving and the future category where none existed before” (Castaldo, J., 2007). Surely RIM was poised for success; however, three short years later, the industry is wondering if RIM can compete with the likes of Apple and Google with their new devices running on their revolutionary iOS and Android operating platforms. The future of wireless industry is constantly improving and the future category where none existed before” (Castaldo, J., 2007). Surely RIM was poised for success; however, three short years later, the industry is wondering if RIM can compete with the likes of Apple and Google with their new devices running on their revolutionary iOS and Android operating platforms. The future of wireless industry is constantly improving and the future category where none existed before” (Castaldo, J., 2007). Surely RIM was poised for success; however, three short years later, the industry is wondering if RIM can compete with the likes of Apple and Google...
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...uncloaked, Apple has been an emblem for the daring, ingenuity, and enterprise” (Moritz, 2010). Apple has consistently looked towards the future to capitalize on its opportunities, avoid and / or overcome its threats and sustain its business operations as an industry leader. One of the truest strengths within Apple has always been its ability to integrate their products into the lives of its customers. “Apple has excelled at selling a lifestyle” (Lashinsky, 2012). This “lifestyle” has recently suffered due to numerous threats within the industry of technology. Apple has faced and continues to face intense competition on a number of its business fronts from the likes of such companies as Samsung, Google, and Microsoft, which continue to etch away at Apples market share. China, as well as numerous other emerging nations, has emerged from within our global marketplace as major contributors towards the worlds product needs, however there has been severe issues regarding piracy as well as numerous complaints and allegations made towards many of these emerging nations governments’ for highly corrupt business practices. In addition to the numerous issues which continue to threaten Apple, there has been tremendous uncertainty surrounding the organization due to the death of its founder and longtime CEO, Steve Jobs in late 2011. There are many in the industry which feel Apple will lose its direction as Jobs was a visionary, who seemingly could look into the future and move Apple directly...
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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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...Case study 2: The death of the iPod Module 2 - External environment Identify the industry, product segment and value chain Apple is a company based in the United States. Apple designs, manufactures and markets mobile communication and media devices, personal computers and portable digital music players, and sells a variety of related software. mobile communication and media devices What is the current life cycle of the industry? Currently in the decline or renewal stage if its life cycle. What have been the key issues affecting historical industry growth? What was their impact? Key issues influencing historical industry growth using TEMPLES model |Factor |Issue |Nature of impact (+/=/-) | |Technology |Internet has enabled downloading and files sharing of music across the world. |+ | | | | | | | | | |Economy |Dotcom bubble |- | | | |...
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...Apple Inc.: the iPod, the iMac, and the Business Lessons of Closed systems Apple Inc.: the iPod, the iMac, and the Business Lessons of Closed systems Abstract The ambition of this paper is to provide a general description of the Apple Inc as a successful organization, unfolding its highlights (up’s and down’s) in the process of immense improvement and enormous extension. Furthermore, we will take a closer look into the challenges that Apple was faces with throughout its characteristic journey (such as closed systems with no compatible software). Finally, we will analyze the benefits of changing the previous used strategies and the future of Mac (desktop and portables) Apple Inc. Quick look into Apple Inc’s background Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak successfully founded Apple Inc in 1976.They started their business by creating and releasing a computer called “Apple II “ , which was followed by another Job’s innovation ( in 1983) known as “Apple Lisa” . This was the first time that end-users were given the opportunity to operate a computer that contained a mouse and a GUI (graphical user interface). Unfortunately for Job’s and Apple Inc, Apple Lisa” was unsuccessful in its war against its competitors. Therefore, strong-willed Apple made a very much needed assessment and wisely decided to reverse its licensing strategies. Starting from year 2000, Apple and its executives centered their attention on electronic products other than computers: 1- portable media players...
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...1. Using relevant articles and research (research business publications, newspapers and relevant magazines), provide a detailed history of Apple and describe the current state of the company and the corporation’s future goals and vision. (Page limit: 2-3 pages, double spaced. Please include references and in-text citations). On April 1st 1976 Apple Computer was founded in a garage as the result of the combined effort of Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne. At this time Steve jobs was working at Atari, under Atari founder Nolan K. Bushnell. Wozniak finishes work on the Apple 1 at the time when he was working for Hewlett Packard and made them an offer for $800 for a machine that runs BASIC. HP at that time turns down the offer. After that, they decided to cut the price to $666.66 and exhibited the computer at the Home Brew Computer Club meeting. Paul Terrell, president of Byte Shop Chain was impressed by the new invention and placed an order for 50 pieces. The order was delivered before the deadline. After short period of time Ronald Wayne decides to leave the company making Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak the primary founders of the company. This was the first big order that Apple got. In the same year, both of them came up with Apple II. It dint attract any buyers. At this time the company was facing a financial crisis and needed funding. A Steve job asks his former boss to help him find some investors who had interest in the project. Nolan Bushnell, who was his former boss...
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...Apple will no doubt be known throughout history as one of the most innovative companies of the technological boom. Business School’s across the country are highlighting Apple’s extremely successful premium niche strategy and praising Steve Job’s as an innovator. Since Steve Jobs’ unfortunate passing the future of Apple has been a source of debate. The real question is whether or not Apple’s growth is sustainable even if new innovative minds take Job’s place. This report will provide an analysis on possible strategies for innovation and whether Apple’s historical growth is sustainable in the future. The first strategy that Apple must embrace in order to bolster growth is to employ more innovative employees. Apple lost not only Steve Jobs but other innovators that had burned out under his draconian management style. (Murphy) Without new ideas and replacement of these employees Apple will lose its main competitive advantage, innovation of cutting edge technology. Once Apple employs top talent they will need to nurture their new employees encouraging them to take risks. Michael Murphy from Bloomberg is quoted as saying “Management should direct Apple’s considerable cash reserves to disruptive product research based on consumer insights.” This strategy will create an influx of new product ideas and could help discover Apple’s next “Ipad”. Unfortunately, while these strategies could promote growth in the future it is hardly sustainable at the present time. It’s been over 2 years...
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...1. Company Description: Apple, Inc. was founded by Steven Paul Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Gerarld Wayne in 1976. The company is headquartered is in Cupertino, CA. Apple designs and manufactures personal computers, related software and mobile communication devices. It designs Mac laptops and software such as OS X, iLife and iWork. Apple was a pioneer in digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store. Apple reinvented the mobile phone with the iPhone. Apple has recently introduced its iPad which is drastically changing mobile media and computing devices. The company's products and services include Macintosh computers, iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV, iTunes Store, and many other software services. It sells its products worldwide through its retail stores, online stores, direct sales force, and third-party cellular network carriers. Notable U.S. cellular companies that currently offer the iPhone are at&t, Verizon, and Sprint. The company also sells a variety of third-party Mac, iPhone, iPad and iPod compatible products. Which include application software, printers, storage devices, speakers, headphones, etc. In the previous months Apple’s stock price has increased over $200 per share. Many analysts claim that this spike is due to the high productivity and retained earnings that Apple disclosed in last quarter’s financial statements, as well as the company’s recent declaration that they will be paying dividends in the future. 2. Intrinsic Value Analysis: ...
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...competitive edge, Apple has acquired Beats Electronics. Shinal (2014), “Apple's acquisition of Beats Electronics gives the technology giant a small but much-needed product refresh in both hardware and software” The support of Beat’s audio gear design and online music services is what Apple has in mind. The integration of technologies is accompanied with a mixture of ideas, concepts and business approaches. Business executives and managers from both companies will face a common management dilemma in the acquisition of Beats Electronics. Research questions are relevant to the success of Apple Corporation’s move toward revolutionizing the music and technology industry. Furthermore, to answer the management dilemma: How can the organization successfully market technology within the music industry? The development of relevant questions for information gathering is paramount for business success. Significance, scope, magnitude, and feasibility of finding a solution to the issue, opportunity, or problem It is important that Apple find a solution to its stagnant growth so that sales will increase and the business can prosper again. Acquiring Beats may just be the solution to the problem. Beats is a growing business that is much smaller than Apple but still does well for itself. By acquiring Beats the scope of Apple’s business has expanded into audio accessories and now Apple has the opportunity to expand iTunes. The magnitude of merging the two companies can mean that Apple will grow...
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...Apple Corporation: Strategy Analysis Executive summary Apple Corporation continues to be the worlds most admired company because of its huge financial base, ability to attract and retain customers, ability to innovate and to produce technologically superior products. The company’s strategy as found in this report is built around creativity and innovation. Its capabilities in terms of resources and technology have made the company to produce technologically advanced products. Despite the huge influence of the external factors such as regulations, the economy and changes in technology, Apple is still strong and able to leverage its capabilities to achieve success. Apple is thus strategically positioned to achieve its objectives despite a few challenges that were identified that pose a threat to the company. Overall, its future direction should be guided by innovation and its ability to diversify its activities and products in order to extend its product line in order to survive. Introduction The 21st century has witnessed a rapid change in the way companies do business and the rationale for this is the cut throat competition among firms. The need to make profits and to gain market share has driven these companies to enact strategies that have led them to perform better (Vernon, 2001). This is not always the same with all companies as performance varies across these companies and this could be explained by the different strategies that they have adopted (Francis, 2010)...
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...FACULTY OF BUSINESS NILAI UNIVERSITY BACHELOR OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION BM 3319 BUSINESS SYNOPTIC 1 TITLE: Case Study: APPLE (Apple’s Profitable but risky Strategy) Prepared by: LAM SOON LIANG BBAMGT 00009666 Date of Submission: 8th December 2014 Question 1: With reference to the case study, provide one example with a paragraph of not more than 5 lines, which clearly illustrates a link between topics or concepts drawn from at least 2 modules you studied. Launched in late 2001, the iPod was followed by the iTunes Music Store in 2003 in the USA and 2004 in the Europe – the Music Store being a most important and innovatory development. iTunes was essentially an agreement with the world’s five leading record companies to allow legal downloading of music tracks using the internet for 99 cents each. This was a major coup for Apple – it had persuaded the record companies to adopt a different approach to the problem of music piracy. With the slogan "Thinnovation" (2008), apple has become the world's most valuable company and one of the world's most valuable brands. Apple has brought three main marketing strategies that help the company to maintain their competitive advantage which can assemble to empathy, focus, and impute (Christine Moorman, 2008). Innovative Competitive strategy is a tool that companies use to achieve competitive advantages which consists of three main strategy low-price, differentiation and focus (Maria, 2012). Low-price strategy...
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...INTRODUCTION Apple is an American multinational company which designs and manufactures electronic products and sells them all around the world. It is a company which has not only an been asset to the technological world of computer science since its foundation in 1976, but it has also developed into one of the most profitable corporations, with a brand loyalty like no other. It has succeeded to pose as one of the technological pioneers in micro computing for consumers of all ages. Apple’s stable financial position has permitted them to enter other markets and diversify away from computing, into markets such as music, mobile phone and tablet. With the ever changing economy, Apple will continue to innovate and update their products chnologies in order to keep From a small firm to become a big one and then go on to become the biggest among all has only been achieved by a few brands. The financial success of such brands depends heavily on combined efforts of their financial strategies and their marketing efforts. One thing common between all these successful brands is a high degree of brand loyalty. Companies now understand that marketing plays a major role in their overall success and so now have dedicated chief marketing officer. They understand the functions close to the customers are either sales or marketing. Sales is a direct interface among customers and products offered by companies where as marketing is an indirect interface between customers and the company. In today’s...
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...Apple Computer, Inc.: Maintaining the Music Business while Introducing iPhone and Apple TV Leave a reply Topic: Apple Computer, Inc.: Maintaining the Music Business while Introducing iPhone and Apple TV Subject: Business Details: 1. Strategic challenges facing Apple Computer. 2. Dimensions along which company success can be measured. 3. Critical external and internal environmental factors that have strategic implications for Apple\’s future. 4. Dow Apple\’s strategy stands up against industry rivalry. 5. Recommendations you would make to enhance the effectiveness of the company\’s strategy or to change its strategic approach for better results. Abstract: Apple computers were started some 35 years ago by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak in the garage of Steve’s home. It has achieve tremendous growth and is currently one of the largest companies in the US marketing electronic technological produces such as the iPad and many other such items that are used extensively by consumers. The company is dedicated to providing its customers the best know-how and understanding through its original hardware, software, and computer related devices along with the best possible services. The major tactical challenge that Apple computer is facing is that the company’s competitors try to surpass its accomplishments and that they are bringing into the market comparable products that are much cheaper than the products marketed by Apple Inc. Introduction Apple Computer was started...
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