...Steve Jobs is the co-founder and chief executive officer of Apple Inc. He is also the chief executive of Pixar Animation Studios and is a board member of Walt Disney Company. His creation of the Apple computer, however, is his well-known accomplishment. His personality can be described as aggressive and demanding. He is also considered as one of Silicon Valley’s leading egomaniacs. Mr. Jobs has always aspired to position Apple and its products at the forefront of the information technology industry. He has accomplished this by foreseeing and setting trends in innovation and style. Jobs has made history in the business world which, “… has contributed much to the symbolic image of the idiosyncratic, individualistic Silicon Valley entrepreneur, emphasizing the importance of design and understanding the crucial role aesthetics play in public appeal” (Wikipedia). His forward driven mindset for developing products that are both functional and elegant has earned him a devoted following. His ability to use all four aspects of the Situational Leadership Model in his line of work has made him one of the most successful businessmen today. This case analysis will show how Jobs used the Situational Leadership model to make Apple one of the most innovative computer and technology companies today by effectively using the following leadership styles: selling, telling, participating, and delegating. The Situational Leadership Model states that when used, “…one should always keep in...
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...leadership styles depending on the situations; however, one of the styles is always the predominant on them. It has to be noted that a particular leadership style will not be effective in an organisational setting. Hence, different styles are needed according to different situations. Steve Jobs CEO of Apple has been a successful leader in this modern era. His approach to leadership is both fascinating and confusing and that is the reason why he has been able to make Apple a successful company. He has brought a lot of changes in the life of people through his greatest advanced technology ever made namely the Mac, the iPod, the iPad and iPhone but has also introduced a new concept for business and leadership. His approach to creative leadership was remarkably high, that is inspiring others to do the impossible but at the same time Steve Job’s leadership style was complex because he always put a lot of pressure on his employees to provide the best possible products. Moreover, Steve Job’s management style has been described as demanding which at times can be seen as aggressive. Steve jobs can be seen in various leadership styles depending on distinct situations. It is well known that Steve Jobs might be arrogant and dictatorial. However, he was a great leader. By analysing this...
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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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...1. Introduction 1.1 Background of Apple Inc The corporate history of Apple Inc is considered as a history of passion (Schermerhorn 2010, p.438). It was begun by a pair of Stevens, i.e. Steven Wozniak and Steven Jobs together with Ronald Wayne, who combined their professional skills to create Apple Computer [1]on 1st April 1976 with the release of the Apple I, the first Apple computer, in the same year. Since the establishment, Apple has been focusing on the consumer electronics, computer software, and personal computers and the best-known products include Iphone, Ipad, Mac line of computers and other hardware and software products. And according one of the most recent brand study carried out by the global brands agency Millward Brown, Apple has overtaken Google as the world’s most valuable brand (Bbc.co.uk 2011). Figure 1 Steve Jobs and the most recent Iphone 4 in white Source: Yohe 2010 1.2 Industrial environment introduction As claimed by Hill and Jones (2008, p.100) that for the last 20 years, fast growth of the power of the computer has greatly attributed to the high extent of innovation and a turbulent environment in the personal computer industry. There are a number of players and potential entrants in the industry that drive up the competition and such fierce competition again is enhanced by the fast technological innovation resulting in the fact that no single company, no matter how large and power it is once, could maintain...
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...Apple Inc. in 2010 Jennifer Rossin American Military University BUSN620 Strategic Management May 15, 2015 Abstract Per the assignment given, this paper explores Case Study #4, Apple Inc. in 2010. On April 4, 2010, Apple Inc. (from this point forward, referred to as “Apple”) launched the first generation of the iPad. The third largely hyped product launched by the company over the previous ten years, the iPad was greatly anticipated and touted as the “next big thing.” This paper will examine how Apple competes with the rest of the PC, MP3 player and smartphone markets, along with challenges the company faces (at the time of the study). It will also discuss the leadership of Steve Jobs and the direction Apple has gone in since his departure from the company. Apple vs. the PC In the Beginning When 21-year-old college dropout Steve Jobs and his two friends Steve Woznizk and Ronald Wayne would hang out in Jobs’ parents’ garage, it wasn’t a band they were contemplating forming, but the future of computers as we know them today. On April 1, 1976, the three incorporated Apple Computer. Originally a do-it-yourself kit, sans a case, the Apple 1 was the first all-in-one microcomputer. Eventually, the Macintosh was introduced in 1984. Continuing through to 2010, Apple has continually improved on its version of the personal computer, creating faster machines and a bigger and bigger customer following. Competing in the PC Market In 2010...
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...the owner of a small plastics company that was established five years ago. Bruce has three managers that head up various departments of his company. In the case study of Jim Day, Beth Edwards and Steve Lynch there is a wide array of readiness levels, motivators and leadership styles. One of the first items to address in situational leadership is the readiness level of each employee. Each employee has a different readiness level as well as motivators and need to be led individually to meet their full potential. Jim heads up the engineering crew. Jim is an R4 in the continuum of performance readiness. He is not only confident in his ability to complete the job well; he also is very willing to work hard. He has twenty years of previous engineering background and was hired due to his ability and experience. Jim is committed to his work as he has spent his career building his skills. Jim is motivated because of the time he has invested in his skills. He is truly interested and motivated about making the company successful. He is developing a creative model for making decisions about future expenditures for materials, equipment plant development and personnel. He is truly invested in the company. McClelland’s concept of achievement motivation stated in (Hersey, 2007) fits perfectly with Jim’s determination. The job itself is what motivates Jim. Beth leads the sales force of Bruce’s plastics company. She is the most recent hire in the company so she is very willing...
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...Case Study Creative Thinkers Presentation 01/361 November 28, 2011 Case Study Creative Thinkers Presentation Steve Jobs made a name for himself in the business world as an inventor, he became a household name and recognized as a charismatic pioneer in the revolution of personal computers today. He was born February 24, 1955 and died October 5, 2011. He dedicated his life to Apple Inc. Steve Jobs co-founded, chairman, and chief executive officer of the company. Jobs also used his creative thinking in animation. As he served as a chief executive for Pixar, he was also on the board of directors of the Walt Disney Company. Steve’s Job major impact of Apple was designing the personal computer. In the 1980’s Steve Steve Jobs was one of the first to recognize the potential of Xerox PARC’s mouse driven graphic user interface. In 1986 Jobs designed the computer graphics division in Lucas Film Ltd. that led to Pixar animation as he was able to take the credit for Toy Story in 1995 as the executive producer. In 1996 there was a buyout of NeXT and jobs were brought back to Apple. He then created iMac, iTunes, iPod, iPhone, and his last creation was the iPad. Steve Jobs made a great impact on many lives, he gave others opportunity and a positive way of thinking. He did this by creating more jobs, and entertaining those with what was used through imagination in the animated world as well as giving us the convenience of listening to music on demand with iTunes...
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...type of leadership on the selected individual that success in corporate business. As an initial step, this thesis sought to characterize and perform case study towards selected individual that success in corporate business and the impact gain by the corporate of committing their leadership. This thesis does set for understanding in deeper on the individual leadership characteristic and their contribution on leadership method. This thesis also proposes an educational approach of including the education of the societal and moral implications of leadership practices within a corporate in management engineering courses. Management engineering students that encounter leadership style across social sciences and humanities may be better equipped to participate in debates about how leadership style ought to be helping corporate communities. OBJECTIVE The objective of this case study is to gain a deeper understanding of the leadership manifestation that had been presented by the well-known late chief executive officer (CEO) of an American electronics multinational corporation (Apple Inc.), Steve Jobs. CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION Leadership has been a major part of human relations for as long as people have lived and worked together in groups or teams. Bass (1990) once described that leadership is a “universal phenomenon” and “the study of leadership is an ancient art”. Since more than hundred years ago, researchers have...
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...ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVOIR AND MANAGEMENT (205KM) CASE STUDY CHAPTER 10 CASE 10.1: ELECTROLUX CLEAN UP STUDENTS NAME : NUR FARAH ‘AIN BINTI ZULKIFLI STUDENTS ID : CVB110711837 SECTION : 2 LETURER’S NAME : MISS ABIDAH BTE SAAD QUESTION 1 How would you describe the conflict between Michael Eisner and the Weinstein brothers, two board members (Disney and Gold), and Steve Jobs? Was it functional or dysfunctional? ANSWER Functional conflict defined as a confrontation between groups that enhances and benefits the organization’s performance’ while dysfunctional conflict defined as any confrontation or interaction between groups that harms the organization or hinders the achievement or organizational goals. From our point of view, this case study’s conflict was mostly dysfunctional, though, with some degree of functional conflict. They were functional in that even though the conflicts existed between Eisner and the Weinstein brothers and with Steven Jobs, the company was successful despite these widely publicized issues. For example, Eisner did lead the company to 67th in the Fortune 500 ranks and to a value of $40 billion; with his actions in the early ‘80s, he turned the company around with several company acquisitions. Also, even though the conflicts were high profile in the media, Disney was still successful. As a conclusion, it can be said that a company will perform low either there are no or when there is too high conflict existed...
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...Kesia Gipson Case Analysis 1 – Apple Computer: Research How Apple managed to Reinvent Itself Over the Years. NETW583 September 6, 2015 What do companies who succeed and thrive in today’s world have in common? What does it take for a company to thrive in an ever-changing environment? One secret weapon most companies have discovered as a top priority today is innovation. In the world we reside in today, it’s a must that innovation is an important key to an organization’s overall business strategy. One company in particular, Apple, took the world by storm and used innovation and vision to turn the company failures into an overload of success. In this paper we will discuss some of Apple’s biggest successes and failures, how much of Apple’s success can be linked directly back to its culture, and the actions of Apple and how they apply to our TCO’s. To give some background of the company history, Apple was founded by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne on April 1, 1976, to develop and sell personal computers. Jobs and Wozniak shared Job’s vision to build computers that average people could use and enjoy. Because of amid unsuccessful product launches, a power struggle ensued within the company and led to the resignation of Steve jobs in 1985. It was one year later that Steve's return to Apple was set into motion. So what were some of Apple's biggest successes and failures during the return of Steve Jobs? One of the first inventions, The Apple II, became the most popular...
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...Introduction It is well understood now, after years of hesitation, that all organizations come to have a distinctive culture. This is that members of organizations come to have a system of meanings. Organizations, large and small, like individuals, get to have a personality that characterizes and differentiates them from others. Scholars have concluded that the organization is determining the influence of organizational culture holds similar members (Pride, Robert & Jack , 2009: 55). When an organization gets to consolidate their cultural patterns, it assumes a life of its own, independent of its components. This phenomenon is evident in large organizations. In this report, we discuss the corporate culture of Apple Computer Incorporation. For that purpose report will provide an introduction to the chosen organisation and a clear rationale for why it has been selected. Along with that, we also discuss a detailed application of the cultural web framework to the chosen organisation, using appropriate and relevant terminology, and demonstrate a clear understanding of the main conceptual tools and frameworks under investigation, as evidenced through the quality of their application. Moreover, this report will also produce a balanced and critical evaluation of this particular strategic approach drawing on a wide-ranging and independently-sourced literature. Overview of Apple Computer Inc Apple or "the company" is engaged in design, development and marketing of personal computers...
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...products that possess high quality, craftsmanship and design. This case study discusses the company’s approach to creating and delivering products, which were unique and would be considered as breakthrough products. This case study also analyses the impact of Steve Jobs on the company and his employees. This study highlights excerpts from many Apple employees and it apparent from the statements that they make that “Innovation and Customer Experience” as the basic principles they followed and these were the basis for design and development of products. This way of thinking and operating can be emulated by other companies only if they choose to believe and follow the core ideals/principles they set into motion and at the same constantly adapt and change to the needs of the market. The leadership has to be convinced that the path the company is on, is inline with the values and that these values would lead to productivity, while at the same time inspiring the employees to achieve the single common goal. Another key highlight of this study is the vision of Steve Jobs with respect to retail stores, while the world was moving to Online Sales; Jobs broke the paradigm and launched Apple stores. The stores being consistent with the whole operating DNA of the company were also created as a work of art and are currently the most profitable stores / square foot of real estate. It is clear from this study that the company would not have been if not...
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...in 2012: Case Study, Yoffie/Rosanno, Page 1), its bottom line is being driven primarily by the sale of iPhones and iPads. A reduction in Apple’s market share will have an adverse effect on its revenues. The table below further illustrate the stiff competition Apple is facing: Smartphones (Global Share) Apple: 18.9% (2011) Android: 46.4% (2011) Tablets (Global Share) Apple is expected to fall from 76.1% to 54.7% in 2012 Android increases from 23.6% to 44.2% in 2012 Apps (Number of Apps) App Store: 585,000 Android: 450,000 (Apple Inc. in 2012: Case Study, Yoffie/Rosanno, Exhibit 7,8 and 9) 2) What’s next? No revolutionary product in the last 2 years: Apple’s next problem is the absence of a recent product that has had run away success like the iPod or the iPhone. This has resulted in more pressure on Apple’s existing product line, which is facing stiff competition. Their recent failures and challenges include : a) Mac Mini: A high price forced people to choose a Windows desktop with more functions and faster performance at a lower price. b) Apple TV: This consumers failed to have the desired effect on the market. The product sales were paltry compared to other products. c) iCloud: Alternative cloud storage services from Google and Dropbox that allow information sharing between all products will challenge iCloud. 3) New Management and No Steve Jobs: We think...
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...Harvard Business Case Study: Apple Inc. Dennis Stovall Kaplan University GB 520 Strategic Human Resources Management March 25, 2014 Abstract This business analysis focuses on the commercial enterprising activities of a world leading consumer electronics company, i.e. Apple Inc. and how, through its technologically advanced creativity and electronics expertise, it succeeded in introduced the world to a radically new era of multimedia innovation. Apple Inc. opened up an entirely new method in which microchip technology was to be developed and used for industrial, institutional and commercial use. It is due in large part through the amazing talent of Steve Jobs that this esoteric technology managed to achieve stellar proportions with regards to the open market. The purpose of this case study is to shed some light on Apple Inc.’s adopted business plan, the one that led to the advent of a revolutionary new market, i.e. microcomputers and later iPods and iPhones. It serves to address why this business plan, if in fact there was a creditable one to begin with, did not achieve’-in terms of business management’- an unprecedented if not historic record of business design and implementation; at least one that could be looked upon as a shining example of how to introduce an amazing new product technology and sell it to the worlds consumers so as to obtain record profits while helping to stabilize the market and influence world wide business conduct...
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...|Assignment Cover Sheet Details | |Name(s) |Naseem Ahmad |Roll No.(s) |GDEC12GLM046 | |Email Address(s) |naseem.gdec12@spjain.org |Course |Organization Behaviors | |Faculty |Professor Julia Connell |Assignment |Essay | |Due Date | 27-Jan-2013 |Date Submitted |27-Jan-2013 | |Submitted by |Naseem Ahmad |Version | 1.4 | |Word Count |1975 |Total Pages | 9 | CONTRASTING STYLE OF TWO LEADERS The traces of Leader and the act to guide have always been since the beginning of mankind. Numerous theories have been evolved; definitions have been coined by various famous and renowned authors, academicians and also from the various institutes. In today’s business active world lot of attention have been shed on leaders and various notions of leadership linked with them. Peter Drucker, in his work in 1954 pointed out that “Leadership is of utmost importance. Indeed there is no substitute for it. But leadership cannot be created or promoted. It cannot be taught or learned”. In an orthodox composition on ‘Kantian theory of Leadership’, Bowie...
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