...Running head: THE APPLE CORPORATION The Apple Corporation Professor Contemporary Business April 2, 2012 The Apple Corporation Apple, a company established in 1976, has taken the world of technology by storm with innovative products such as: the Apple Computer, which has since evolved into the MAC computer; the iPod; a music device used by many for the viewing of pictures, videos, and downloading music, the iPhone; an industry favorite, introduced as the world’s first “smart phone”, bridging the cell phone and internet in one device; and the most recent addition to the product line, the iPad; a portable tablet which brings the convenience of a laptop, the internet, and a world of entertainment to your fingertips. Although The Apple Corporation has been the leading contender in the world of technology, they have not always been viewed in positive light. This paper will assess the controversy surrounding Apple’s ethical and social involvement as it relates to their suppliers and the impact it’s had on the company. It will also evaluate Apple’s innovative marketing strategy, which has kept them leading in the world of technology. Apple first made international headlines in June 2006, with a long story detailing the horrible working conditions, in which China suppliers were subjecting their workers to. “Reports over the past few years have described instances of Foxconn employees committing suicide, presumably from working in an extremely high stress environment....
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...Introduction In the relentless pursuit of continuous gains today’s corporations often make strange bed fellows to acquire these ends. These agreements are often made with developing and under developed nations whose laws and regulations fall well below international standards. For many years these back room deals in far flung countries where of no concern to most consumers. However, in recent years many multinational corporations have made headline news with accusations of human rights violations. Such allegations erodes corporate image in the eyes of consumers. Apple Corporation has fallen under public scrutiny for the treatment of its factory workers in China. These allegations have forced Apple Inc. to bring forth solutions to answer the question. What are the social and ethical responsibilities of Apple Corporation, and how can these strategies be employed to restore corporate image to better market products? Apple’s current position on ethical and social responsibilities. Corporate Social Responsibility or CSR is defined by The European Union as ‘the responsibility of the enterprise for their impact on society’. The US has no governmental regulations concerning CSR. This leaves US manufactures like Apple little legal incentive to enforce a code of conduct. Apple’s choice to further implement a strict business conduct policy reflects a commitment to the highest standard of social responsibility. Apple has always operated under a Supplier Code of Conduct that outlines...
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...Apple Corporation Curtis B. Goodson LDR/300 January 9, 2014 Michael Martin Apple Corporation Apple handled managerial derailment and failure “At Risk” managers through several training sessions. Once identified of a situation try to find the root cause of the problem. They would investigate to see if the manage has any personal or political problem with one or more employees. They would also see if the manager has significant problems with several different employees. Apple introduced a training and development program to assist employees on day to day operations. This training consisted of six parts, training needs analysis for Apple Inc, identification of training needs based on analysis, training and intervention strategies, cost-benefit analysis for the training and development, training development program evaluation. The company examined their managers to see if they had the desire and ability to lead. The training needs for managers to be able to lead their employees without conflict. When conflict existed small take care of it immediately, and larger conflict overcome in the shortest amount of time. They identify the purpose of the individual role and relationship to the organization. Training was prioritized depending on the importance to the organization rather the individual. When new projects were introduced it helped in identifying the individual responsibilities and the task of the team without losing sight of the objective. The company focused on Organizational...
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...CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION I. Company Profile Starbucks Corporation is an international coffeehouse chain based in Seattle, Washington, United States. Starbucks is the largest coffeehouse company in the world, with 16,120 stores in 49 countries, including around 11,000 in the United States, followed by nearly 1,000 in Canada and more than 800 in Japan. Starbucks sells drip brewed coffee, espresso-based hot drinks, other hot and cold drinks, snacks, and items such as mugs and coffee beans. Through the Starbucks Entertainment division and Hear Music brand, the company also markets books, music, and film. Many of the company's products are seasonal or specific to the locality of the store. Starbucks-brand ice cream and coffee are also offered at grocery stores. Starbucks’ Italian style coffee, espresso beverages, teas, pastries and confections had made Starbucks one of the greatest retailing stories of recent history and world’s biggest specialty coffee chain. In 2003, Starbucks made the fortune 500. II. Current Performance Starbucks has attracted the attention of many major companies around the world as it has done an eye catching performance in the recent years and the conditions has helped a lot to achieve its goals to become a major global player. Nowadays, many of the major global companies are interested in working with Starbucks in joint ventures which brings in good news for the company with a hope of further spreading its roots strongly in the world market...
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...Apple corporation report Apple Corporation is an American corporation works in manufacturing industry it was first founded by Steve Jobs in California 1973. Apple was first founded of manufacturing the Apple Macintosh computers. In the late 2008 Apple had developed a new technology. They was the first to make a touchable screen on a mobile phone after the innovation of the IPod which was a music player. Apple now enjoys the largest share in telecommunication and computer market. From a mini company in 1973 to the largest corporation in the world by revenue per year which is 32.6 Billion dollars. Moreover apple has an average of 35 thousand workers working with them throughout the world. Apple is not like any company who manufacture devices Apple manufacture unique devices. E.g. Apple IPhone is built to be unique to other mobile phones by the build quality and the materials used to manufacture it. Apple Company exposed to market depression in the market in a period of time but they solved their problem. Apple's most impressive company in the United States. In this report we will mention how Apple Corporation developed and managed their Supply and demand, Managers and Management, Competiveness, Strategy and Productivity, Forecasting, Project Management and Management of Quality. Apple has many of products but we are considering iPhone as a representative for their supply and demand management. The objectives from studying supply and demand...
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...From one perspective, Apple's world could not be rosier and its future shinier. Rising from the rubble of a disintegrating company in 1997, Apple has reached the pinnacle of success in 15 short years. With a market capitalization of over $500 billion, Apple is amongst the most valuable and highly profitable companies in the world. Its remarkable success lies in the company's ability to create truly innovative products with vast customer appeal. Apple flouts the conventional wisdom of the consumer electronics industry, which emphasizes low cost, "me-too" products, and a continuously shortened product life. Instead, Apple has opted for constant and discrete product innovation, resulting in fanatic consumer loyalty and a high level of profitability. The Bad Apple So why does Apple treat its customers and workers by two different standards? When it comes to customers, Apple is a bold innovator that leads the industry into new directions and forces others to follow. However, when it comes to the management of its supply chain and treatment of workers in the Chinese factories that make its products, it hides behind the constraints of prevailing industry practices. What is even more disconcerting is the fact that these practices are in violation of not only local and national laws, but also of Apple's own voluntary self-imposed code of conduct. It is important to note that this voluntary code of conduct breaks no new ground. It is at best a modest attempt to ensure that workers...
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...Apple Corporation is governed by a Board of Directors, a CEO and a standard Executive Board. Their Board of Directors includes such names as former Vice-President Al Gore, Chairman of the Walt Disney Company, Robert Iger, and Andrea Jung, Chairman of the Avon Corporation. Tim Cook took over CEO duties following the passing of Apple founder, Steve Jobs, last year. I studied both their Business Conduct documents and articles on employee satisfaction for this assignment (Apple, 2012). What immediately struck me were their basic principles of how they conduct their business. They are very focused on creating high-quality products and services and have four basic standards: * Honesty – demonstrate honesty and high ethical standards in all business dealings. * Respect – treat customers, suppliers, employees, and others with respect and courtesy. * Confidentiality – protect the confidentiality of Apple’s information and the information of our customers, suppliers and employees. * Compliance – ensure that business decisions comply with all applicable laws and regulations. (Apple, 2012). Second was the “Retaliation is Not Tolerated” policy, which states “Apple will not retaliate, and will not tolerate retaliation, against any individual for filing a good-faith complaint with management, HR, Legal, Internal Audit, Finance, or the Business Conduct Helpline, or for participating in the investigation of any such complaint” (Apple, 2012). Third, their Customer...
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...– the Apple Corporation Apple Corporation is governed by a Board of Directors, a CEO and a standard Executive Board. Their Board of Directors includes such names as former Vice-President Al Gore, Chairman of the Walt Disney Company, Robert Iger, and Andrea Jung, Chairman of the Avon Corporation. Tim Cook took over CEO duties following the passing of Apple founder, Steve Jobs, last year. I studied both their Business Conduct documents and articles on employee satisfaction for this assignment (Apple, 2012). What immediately struck me were their basic principles of how they conduct their business. They are very focused on creating high-quality products and services and have four basic standards: * Honesty – demonstrate honesty and high ethical standards in all business dealings. * Respect – treat customers, suppliers, employees, and others with respect and courtesy. * Confidentiality – protect the confidentiality of Apple’s information and the information of our customers, suppliers and employees. * Compliance – ensure that business decisions comply with all applicable laws and regulations. (Apple, 2012). Second was the “Retaliation is Not Tolerated” policy, which states “Apple will not retaliate, and will not tolerate retaliation, against any individual for filing a good-faith complaint with management, HR, Legal, Internal Audit, Finance, or the Business Conduct Helpline, or for participating in the investigation of any such complaint” (Apple, 2012)...
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...Apple Corporation is governed by a Board of Directors, a CEO and a standard Executive Board. Their Board of Directors includes such names as former Vice-President Al Gore, Chairman of the Walt Disney Company, Robert Iger, and Andrea Jung, Chairman of the Avon Corporation. Tim Cook took over CEO duties following the passing of Apple founder, Steve Jobs, last year. I studied both their Business Conduct documents and articles on employee satisfaction for this assignment (Apple, 2012). What immediately struck me were their basic principles of how they conduct their business. They are very focused on creating high-quality products and services and have four basic standards: * Honesty – demonstrate honesty and high ethical standards in all business dealings. * Respect – treat customers, suppliers, employees, and others with respect and courtesy. * Confidentiality – protect the confidentiality of Apple’s information and the information of our customers, suppliers and employees. * Compliance – ensure that business decisions comply with all applicable laws and regulations. (Apple, 2012). Second was the “Retaliation is Not Tolerated” policy, which states “Apple will not retaliate, and will not tolerate retaliation, against any individual for filing a good-faith complaint with management, HR, Legal, Internal Audit, Finance, or the Business Conduct Helpline, or for participating in the investigation of any such complaint” (Apple, 2012). Third, their Customer Policy...
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...because Apple is among the most recognised brands in the world? For an objective analysis, a deeper look into the management and supply chain must be investigated thoroughly. However, in order to study Apple’s supply chain management, parameters on what a supply chain is must be set. Traditionally “Supply chain management (SCM) is the management of a network of interconnected businesses involved in the provision of product and service packages required by the end customers in a supply chain.” Supply chain management spans all movement and storage of raw materials, work-in-process inventory, and finished goods from point of origin to point of consumption. SCM works on three different levels, the strategic level, the tactical level and the operational level. All three are imperative for a company to function properly Apple is the best in the world at innovative product development. Because the company develops hardware, software, and associated digital services—rather than just focusing on one dimension—it can provide an unmatched user experience. This allows Apple to capture high margins from its products and services. But by many definitions alone, product development is not supply chain management; procurement, manufacturing, and logistics are. That said, Apple has a fascinating supply chain that is very different from traditional supply chains. This supply chain comes with pre-built advantages and disadvantages. On the advantage side, demand management is easier. Apple doesn’t...
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...APPLE COMPUTER INC NYTIMES/ APPLE ANNUAL REPORT Oct 19, 2010 Apple Incorporated Apple Computer, Inc. is one of the most popular hardware and software companies in the world today. It is also the most innovative and competitive corporation in the technology industry. The Apple Corporation created mainly technological products that are available in the market these days. The company is famous for its quality and high technology innovations. Besides the current fame of the Apple Computer, Inc., like any other companies, it continuously experiences instability and uncertainty. Apple Corporation undergoes certain stages where it sees its strengths and weakness as wells as evaluates possible opportunities and threats to the company in maintaining and acquiring the status it currently has. The Apple Corporation has its strengths that set it apart from the rest. This company has made its own way on creating its name in the technology industry competing with IBM, Microsoft Corporation and other technology-based companies. Through the innovations done by the creative and talented minds in their company, the most sought after technological products today came from the Apple Computer, Inc. The Apple Corporation is the creator and maker of the widely known technological products like iPod, iPhone and Apple laptop. These creations have attracted most people specially those who are technically knowledgeable. Besides the products technical purposes, those are as well entertaining and useful...
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...The change in leadership led to changes in the internal environment and marketing strategies. (CI #2) ECONOMIC: Domestic Market Apple (iOS capable) phones are losing market share to Android capable phones. (CI #3) EXTERNAL ENVIRONMENT: Foreign Markets The Apple Corporation is criticized for manufacture issues and the lack of ability to acquire market share from foreign competitors overseas. (CI #4) SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT: Technological The Apple Corporation constantly faces criticism for various technological and security issues. I. CURRENT SITUATION A. CURRENT PERFORMANCE 2013 was a rough year for the Apple Corporation, closing the fiscal year down 29.1%. Despite the record breaking release of the iPhone 5S and 5C and a total revenue of $170 Billion, up 9.55%, net income was only $37 Billion, down 11.25% from the previous year. The Apple Corporation’s market share in smartphones was only 12.9% and 18% in application downloads. The Apple Corporation controls only a relatively small section of the computer market, but its market share has grown with the decrease in sale of windows machines. B. STRATEGIC POSTURE 1. Mission a. As of 2013: “Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OS X, iLife, iWork and professional software. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store. Apple has reinvented the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App Store, and is defining the future of mobile media and computing...
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...Name: Course: College: Tutor: Date: Apple Inc. Analysis & Strategic Management Introduction Strategic management is the process by which an organization drafts, implements and evaluates cross-functional decisions that enable the organization to achieve its long-term objectives. It entails the process of specifying the mission of the organization, its vision, objectives and the development of the various strategies to achieve the objectives of the organization. Apple Inc. (Apple) has managed to create substantial value in the highly competitive personal computer industry, by innovating and forging a path considerably different from those of the largest competitors in the industry. The corporation also successfully differentiates its products from those of the competitors by choosing to focus on quality, design elegance, and superior customer service, while outsourcing actual manufacturing to trusted original equipment manufacturers. Yet, despite the advantages, Apple has created for itself, the stiff competition within the industry and other external factors present formidable challenges to the firm. The personal computer/notebook market is becoming increasingly commoditized, leading to intense rivalry among competitors within the industry, driving prices down and creating potentially destructive price wars (Buy, 2009). Utilizing key resources and capabilities including industry-leading design teams, talented software and hardware engineers, backed by a sizeable research...
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...models are available in many different configurations. All models since 1994 are based on the PowerPC microprocessor. They believed had a real advantage for consumers who were becoming entrenched in a digital lifestyle. Also, digital cameras, portable music players, and digital camcorders. That they though could be the preferred hub to control integrate, and add value to the devices. Also to control of both hardware and software.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. Apple's Mission Was to bring an easy-to use computer to market, which led release of the Apple II in 1978. Also, Apple is committed to protecting the environment, health and safety of their employees, customers and the global communities where they operate. They can offer technologically innovative products and...
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...Apple Inc. Apple was established in 1976 as a computer company. However, in the last decade, Apple has expanded into a complex company that specializes in much more than just computers. In 2001, Apple broke the barrier of the music devices with the iPod, eventually becoming the dominant market leader in music players. In following, Apple joined the phone industry in 2007 with the iPhone, which has also been widely successful. Apple competes with many different companies throughout the different industries it takes part in. (21 competitors: Asiarim Corporation, Concurrent Computer Corporation, Dell Inc., Digi International Inc., Hewlett-Packard Company, Lenovo Group Limited, Insight Enterprises, Inc., RadiSys Corporation, SteelCloud, Inc., Silicon Graphics International, Super Micro Computer, Inc. etc). Apple recently reached third place in personal computer sales in the U.S., selling more Macs. Also, Apple is the leader in the tablet market with its iPad. In one quarter sold 9.52 million iPads. Apple has established a unique reputation in the consumer electronics industry since it is flexible from its philosophy of comprehensive aesthetic design. Its main characteristic is that it has a very strong customer base, which is extremely important in understanding Apple, has diversified its market and range of products to increase its profits and market share. Among its highest traded products is the iPod which enjoys global recognition. The company is currently operating over 350...
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