...Managing a Business Strategy - Apple Inc 1.0 Executive Summary This study is to examine and analyse the strategic decisions of Apple Inc. that has enabled it to sustain its competitive advantages one of the world’s third leading electronic company. Before providing recommendations for future strategy choices it is necessary to integrate the diverse strategies in both external and internal environments, identify the opportunities, threats, strength and weaknesses, examine the core competencies, which can create sustainable competitive advantages. The research will reveal critical analysis relevant to analyse the company’s environment in the electronic industry which includes SWOT, the PESTEL framework, Porter’s 5 forces and 3 generic theories, value chain analysis and core competencies, as to how it has successfully penetrated into the electronic market. 2.0 Introduction 3.1 Background of Apple Apple is a Californian multinational corporation founded in 1stApril 1976 by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne, to develop and sell personal computers. It was incorporated as Apple Computer, Inc. on January 3, 1977, and was renamed as Apple Inc. on January 9, 2007, to show its change in focus towards consumer electronics. Apple is the world's second-largest information technology company by revenue after Samsung Electronics, and the world's third-largest mobile phone maker. On November 25, 2014, in addition to being the largest publicly traded corporation in...
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...CASE ANALYSIS Written by: Jessica A. Mahfoudi AMBA 640 Dr. Larry Williams University of Maryland University College February 25, 2013 This page is intentionally blank EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Management Information Systems allow companies to remain competitive in today’s fast-paced world and especially when conducting business on the Internet. Organizations must adapt to technological advances and innovations to keep pace with today’s rapidly changing environment (Baltzan, 2012). Every day there is some type of new technology, new internet site, new software or hardware program that someone is learning how to use. Apple, being a major technology company needs to keep up with these advances to keep their customers happy. This paper focuses on Apple, Inc., its competitive advantage and the challenges Apple faces to stay in the top of consumer reports. Data, information, business intelligence and knowledge are discussed and how they are relevant to the production of Apple products. Knowledge cannot be acquired until data, information and business intelligence are researched. The paper then goes on to discuss Porter’s Five Forces Model and how it is applied to Apple, Inc. and its products. Apple has lowered the threat of substitute products by including a great variety of features on all of their products. Since the original iPhone's release about four years ago, the threat of substitute products or services has greatly decreased. Apple has...
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...marketplace that includes buyers, producers, suppliers, and governments in different countries. Market globalization is manifested by the production and marketing of branded products and services worldwide. Declining trade barriers and the ease with which international business transactions take place due to the Internet and other technologies are contributing to a gradual integration of most national economies into a unified global marketplace. The Drivers of Market Globalization The exhibit presents an organizing framework for examining market globalization. The exhibit makes a distinction between: (1) drivers or causes of globalization; As market globalization intensifies, individual firms respond to the challenges and new advantages that it brings. However, keep in mind that firms do not expand abroad solely as a reaction to market globalization. They also internationalize proactively, in order to pursue new markets, find lower-cost inputs, or obtain other advantages. Often, adverse conditions in the home market, such as regulation or declining industry sales, push firms to boldly venture abroad. Firms that do so tend to be more successful in global competition than those that engage in international business as a reactive move. Worldwide reduction of barriers to trade and investment. The tendency of national governments to reduce trade and investment barriers has accelerated global economic integration. For example, tariffs on the import of automobiles, industrial machinery...
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...Innovative Business Practices Innovative Business Practices: Prevailing a Turbulent Era Edited by Demetris Vrontis and Alkis Thrassou Innovative Business Practices: Prevailing a Turbulent Era, Edited by Demetris Vrontis and Alkis Thrassou This book first published 2013 Cambridge Scholars Publishing 12 Back Chapman Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 2XX, UK British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Copyright © 2013 by Demetris Vrontis and Alkis Thrassou and contributors All rights for this book reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owner. ISBN (10): 1-4438-4604-X, ISBN (13): 978-1-4438-4604-2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter One ................................................................................................. 1 Knowledge Hybridization: An Innovative Business Practices to Overcome the Limits of the Top-Down Transfers within a Multinational Corporation Hela Chebbi, Dorra Yahiaoui, Demetris Vrontis and Alkis Thrassou Chapter Two .............................................................................................. 17 Rethinking Talent Management in Organizations: Towards a Boundary-less Model Carrie Foster, Neil Moore and Peter Stokes Chapter Three .......
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...world’s largest sourcing destination, accounting for approximately 52 per cent of the USD124–130 billion market. The country’s cost competitiveness in providing IT services, which is approximately 3-4 times cheaper than the US continues to be its USP in the global sourcing market Largest pool of ready to hire talent • India’s highly qualified talent pool of technical graduates is one of the largest in the world, facilitating its emergence as a preferred destination for outsourcing Most lucrative sector for investments • The sector ranks fourth in India’s total FDI share and accounts for approximately 37 per cent of total Private Equity and Venture investments in the country Source: NASSCOM; Aranca Research Note: BPM - Business Process Management, USP - Unique Selling Proposition 2013E • Growing demand Growing demand Strong growth in demand for exports from new verticals Expanding economy to propel growth in local demand • • Global footprints IT firms in India have delivery centres across the world; as of 2012, IT firms had a total of 580 centres in 75 countries India’s IT & ITes industry is well diversified across verticals such as BFSI, telecom, retail 2020F Industry value: USD300 billion Industry value: USD108 billion • Advantage India Competitive advantage • • • India has cost savings of 60– 70 per cent over source countries India remains a preferred destination for IT & ITeS in the world. With 52 per cent market share, India...
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...Service Sector The service sector covers a wide range of activities from the most sophisticated information technology (IT) to simple service provided by the unorganized sector , such as the services of the barber and plumber . National accounts classification of the services sector incorporate trade, hostels and restaurants; transport, storage and communication; financing, insurance, real estate, and business services; and community, social and personal services. The service sector consists of the "soft" parts of the economy, i.e. activities where people offer their knowledge and time to improve productivity, performance, potential, and sustainability, what is termed affective labor. The basic characteristic of this sector is the production of services instead of end products. Services (also known as "intangible goods") incl7ude attention, advice, access, experience, and discussion. The service industry forms a backbone of social and economic development of a region. It is one of the major sectors in the non-good producing industries under private ownership. Approximately 55%of the economic activity of us occurs in service industries comprising of different divisions as classified by North American industry classifications system (NAICS). In World Trade Organization (WTO) and Reserve Bank of India (RBI) classifications, construction is also included. Service sector is the lifeline for the social economic growth of a country. In the day of largest and fastest growing sector...
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...Q1. What are the different approaches to Globalization? Comment on relevance of Swadeshi movement in today’s Globalized environment. Ans. Globalization has become a ‘magic’ word used to express a change in all areas of life from economy to politics or from social politics to culture. Globalization is the growing role of external factors (economic, social and cultural) in the reproduction of all member of a country to form of a single world market(s) without barriers. 'A global shift'; that is, a world being molded, by economic and technological forces, into a shared economic and political arena. Major phase in international relations, which has been established several decades ago, but its formation was not completed by the beginning of the third millennium. However, the public attention it attracted only in 1990. Approaches towards Globalization The Indian companies are adopting the following approaches to globalization- The First Approach is the Reliance approach. Here the Indian company attains global parameters of production but its market focus is mainly domestic. E.g. Bajaj Auto, Hero Cycles, Maruti Udoy, BHEL, Mahindra & Mahindra. The Second Approach is the Sundaram Fasteners route where an Indian Company emerges as a global sub-contractor. The Chennai based Sundaram Fasteners is now a major supplier of radiator to GM. The Third Approach is the one personified by the Tata Tetley deal itself. Taking over foreign companies or investing in the foreign ventures....
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...Apple iPad. Principally this is case explores the issue of licensing and how successful firms can become unsuccessful. It is not a case about Apple and why it has become successful. This case study explores the rise of the Apple Corporation. The Apple iPod is one of the most successful new product launches in recent years, transforming the way the public listens to music, with huge ramifications for major record labels. More than 50 million MP3 players are expected to be sold in 2005; over a third more than last year. Mobile phones have long been regarded as the most credible challengers to MP3 players and iPods. The launch of digital download services via mobile phones illustrates the dramatic speed of convergence between the telecom and media industries, which many observers expect to usher in a new era of growth for mobile phones. Users are willing to pay more for additional services and many analysts predict that mobile phone handsets will eventually emerge as the dominant technology of the age, combining personal organisers, digital music players and games consoles in a single device. Indeed, Microsoft founder Bill Gates has predicted that mobile phones will supersede the iPod as the favoured way of listening to digital music. The launch of the Apple ipad in 2010 makes this case even more topical. This should form the basis of supplementary questions at the end of the case: How will the iPhone succeed? What about Android and the rise of HTC and Samsung? The mobile phone...
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...Branding has become an integral element in our daily lives. From deciding which brand of soft drink to purchase, to which restaurant to visit or sports shoes to buy, branding plays an influential role in our decision making. With the power of branding so persuasive, it is no surprise it also plays a role in which company we choose to work for. When an engineer considers future employers, a certain firm instantaneously comes to mind. When a teacher looks for work, certain schools set the standard. When an accountant seeks a move, certain firms are approached before others. This is the power of employment branding and is a major differentiator in the recruitment marketplace. But it's clearly not about the "logo". Our survey demonstrates that what most of us perceive as important, i.e. the "look and feel" is not what we should be primarily focused on. Rather, the message needs to be more complete - the culture, values and environment are of much greater interest to potential employees. Perhaps even more significantly, it is also about more subtle marketing. What other employees, trusted friends and associates SAY about a company is far more powerful than what appears in the ad. This is why it is so critical that the experience for employees is right in the first place - which has a double positive in that it increases retention as well as creating the right mindset for them to promote the company to others. This subtle marketing has far reaching effects - those organisations...
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...Best Global Brands 2013 Table of Contents JEZ Leadership is evolving. It must now be shared. CEOs, CMOs, and consumers all have the power to drive brand value. Brands are where business strategy meets reality. GINNI The New Rules of Brand Leadership 2 From Information to Intelligence 82 Best Global Brands 2013 Sector Leadership 86 BISH 10 Creative Leadership 70 Methodology 120 China’s New Brand Leaders 74 Contributors 126 Corporate Citizenship 2.0 78 MARK CHIEKO The New Rules of Brand Leadership By Jez Frampton In our globalized, hyperconnected age, one question persists in boardrooms, corner offices, business schools, and conferences all over the world: What is leadership and how has it changed in the 21st century? Driven by rapid technological advancement, the digitization of nearly everything, and the ever more intricate interdependencies of the global market, the business landscape has transformed over the past two decades. Operating in a bewildering new environment in which little is certain, the pace is quicker and the dynamics more complex. Those who lead today’s brands can no longer rely on once immutable truths or principles of leadership honored in times past. It is a new world. And as purchasing increasingly shifts from a physical experience to a virtual one and transaction-based interactions between brands and consumers shift to relationship-based interactions, new skills and sensibilities are needed. Leadership...
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...Best Global Brands 2013 Table of Contents JEZ Leadership is evolving. It must now be shared. CEOs, CMOs, and consumers all have the power to drive brand value. Brands are where business strategy meets reality. GINNI The New Rules of Brand Leadership 2 From Information to Intelligence 82 Sector Leadership Best Global Brands 2013 10 86 BISH Methodology Creative Leadership 70 120 Contributors China’s New Brand Leaders 74 126 Corporate Citizenship 2.0 78 MARK CHIEKO The New Rules of Brand Leadership By Jez Frampton In our globalized, hyperconnected age, one question persists in boardrooms, corner offices, business schools, and conferences all over the world: What is leadership and how has it changed in the 21st century? Driven by rapid technological advancement, the digitization of nearly everything, and the ever more intricate interdependencies of the global market, the business landscape has transformed over the past two decades. Operating in a bewildering new environment in which little is certain, the pace is quicker and the dynamics more complex. Those who lead today’s brands can no longer rely on once immutable truths or principles of leadership honored in times past. It is a new world. And as purchasing increasingly shifts from a physical experience to a virtual one and transaction-based interactions between brands and consumers shift to relationship-based interactions, new skills and sensibilities are needed. Leadership roles...
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...Contemporary Developments in Business and Management Kenneth Fee The University of Sunderland © 2013 The University of Sunderland First published September 2013 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without permission of the copyright owner. While every effort has been made to ensure that references to websites are correct at time of going to press, the world wide web is a constantly changing environment and the University of Sunderland cannot accept any responsibility for any changes to addresses. The University of Sunderland acknowledges product, service and company names referred to in this publication, many of which are trade names, service marks, trademarks or registered trademarks. All materials internally quality assessed by the University of Sunderland and reviewed by academics external to the University. Instructional design and publishing project management by Wordhouse Ltd, Reading, UK. Contents Introduction vii Unit 1 The contemporary world of business and management Introduction 1.1 1.2 The global business environment The importance of developments in the global environment Case Study 1.3 Organisational decision making and performance vii 1 3 10 14 17 19 19 20 Self-assessment questions Feedback on self-assessment questions Summary Unit 2 Globalisation Introduction 2...
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...Maryam Abdu Investigating Capital Structure Decisions and Its Effect on the Nigerian Capital Market 1 Norsuhaily Abu Bakar Rahimah Embong Ibrahim Mamat Ruzilawati Abu Bakar Idris Abd. Hamid Holistically Integraded Curriculum: Implications for Personality Development 16 Sandra Ajaps Geography Education in the Google age: A Case Study of Nsukka Local Government Area of Nigeria 30 Helen Afang Andow Impact of Banking Reforms on Service Delivery in the Nigerian Banking Sector 45 Billy Batlegang Green IT Curriculum: A Mechanism For Sustainable Development 59 Rozeta Biçaku-Çekrezi Student Perception of Classroom Management and Productive Techniques in Teaching 74 Thomas J.P.Brady Developing Digital Literacy in Teachers and Students 91 Lorenzo Cherubini Ontario (Canada) Education Provincial Policy: Aboriginal Student Learning 101 Jennifer Dahmen Natascha Compes Just Google It?! But at What Price? Teaching Pro-Environmental Behaviour for Smart and Energy-Efficient Use of Information and Communication Technologies 119 Marion Engin Senem Donanci Using iPads in a dialogic classroom: Mutually exclusive or naturally compatible? 132 Nahed Ghazzoul Teaching and Learning in the Age of 'Just Google it' 149 Saba A. Gheni Falah H. Hussein Teaching Against Culture of Terrorism in the Middle East 162 Jessica Gordon Bonnie Boaz Integrating Digital Media into Multimodal Compositions: Five Trends in the Transfer of Rhetorical Skills 173 Jeehee Han Public Opinion on Health...
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...Learning Objectives Chapter 1 Distinguish between microeconomics and macroeconomics. Explain the factors that drive demand and supply. 2 Describe each of the four different types of market structures in a private enterprise system, and compare the three major types of economic systems. 3 3 Identify and describe the four stages of the business cycle. Explain how productivity, price level changes, and employment levels affect the stability of a nation’s economy. 4 Discuss how monetary policy and fiscal policy are used to manage an economy’s performance. 5 Describe the major global economic challenges of the 21st century. Economic Challenges Facing Contemporary Business Rudyanto Wijaya/iStockphoto Copyright ©2012 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. NASCAR Tries to Restart Its Engine ASCAR is widely known as the most popular spectator sport in the United States. Yet even its most diehard fans are tapping the brakes when it comes to buying tickets to their favorite speedway. Tracks in cities such as Phoenix and Talladega have reported double-digit percent declines in attendance. Just as worrisome is the fact that, instead of watching races at home, fans are changing the channel. Some critics of NASCAR blame a drop in dramatic action and a mandated car chassis design that leaves car models undifferentiated. Others say that the races are just too long and the broadcast commentary is boring. But NASCAR defenders argue that there’s another huge obstacle: the...
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...Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 License without attribution as requested by the work’s original creator or licensee. Organization The overarching logic of the book is intuitive—organized around answers to the what, where, why, and how of international business. WHAT? Section one introduces what is international business and who has an interest in it. Students will sift through the globalization debate and understanding the impact of ethics on global businesses. Additionally, students will explore the evolution of international trade from past to present, with a focus on how firms and professionals can better understand today’s complex global business arena by understanding the impact of political and legal factors. The section concludes with a chapter on understanding how cultures are defined and the impact on business interactions and practices with tangible tips for negotiating across cultures. WHERE? Section two develops student knowledge about key facets of the global business environment and the key elements of trade and cooperation between nations and global organizations. Today, with increasing numbers of companies of all sizes operating internationally, no business or country can remain an island. Rather, the interconnections between countries, businesses, and institutions are inextricable. Even how we define the world is changing. No longer classified into simple and neat categories, the rapid changes within countries are redefining how...
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