...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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...activities that the group will pursue in order to achieve its objectives. Furthermore, planning is an effort that is directed and controlled by managers of an organization and draws on the knowledge and experience of employee’s throughout the organization (Bateman and Snell, 2009). This paper will discuss the planning functions of management within Apple Inc. Apple Inc., was co-founded by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, in 1976. Steve Jobs who revolutionized consumer technology, was able to slash expenses from $8.1 billion in 1997 to $5.7 billion in 1999 by outsourcing manufacturing, trimming inventories, shifting 25% of sales to an online store, and slicing the number of distributors from the double digits to two (Bloomberg BusinessWeek, 2000). In addition to outlining Apple’s planning function of management, this paper also discusses legal, ethical, and social responsibility issues that impact Apple Inc. and its success. For example, in 1994, Apple Computer Inc. was in a lawsuit with Microsoft Corporation over patent protection (Sherman, 2010). Finally, the paper will conclude with three factors that influence Apple’s strategic, tactical, operational, and contingency planning. Factors include innovation, profitability, and resources to take...
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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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...Analysis: Apple, inc. Strategic Human Resources Management Unit One – Case Analysis The intended goal of this paper is to explain strategic management and why it is crucial to the success of an organization in meeting its goals and mission. The focus will be on the case study provided by the Harvard Business School on the company Apple, Inc. from the year 2008. I will give a brief overview of the case and identify issues or problems therein. Alternate solutions to solve the problems Apple, Inc. faces will be identified. The best solution to permanently resolve these issues and problems and an implementation plan will be outlined. The computer circuit board, named Apple I, created in a garage on April Fools’ Day 1976 was the beginning of Apple, Inc. Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and A. C. Markkula Jr., the creators, became the industry leaders in 4 years, finally launching their IPO in 1980. Since its inception, Apple has fought to continually and steadily increase its market share and profits worldwide. Technical innovation has been no problem for this company with its numerous devices available. Their competition from Dell, Hewlett-Packard, Acer, and others and trying to compete made the company falter. According to Slind and Yoffie, Hewlett-Packard led the market share with 18.8% and Apple followed with a mere 2.6% in 2007 (2008, pg. 21). But after some hard work and diligence on Jobs’ end, Apple once again began to flourish. One obvious problem for Apple was the constant...
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...Trecian Brown GB520: Strategic Human Resource Management Professor Susan Pettine Kaplan University Apple Inc. Case Study 2008 Apple Inc. Case Analysis Introduction The 2008 Harvard Business Case Study on Apple Inc, describes the illustrious company which is fast becoming the wealthiest company ever with a net worth of $500 billion dollars. It illustrates how the company has had some issues, but still find a way to yet sustain its’ name and position over the years. The status of the company was examined in detail by the article which revealed a number of strategic moves under the leadership of several CEO’s in marketing, the PC industry and the consumer electronics industry. This paper offers an analysis of how I view Apple Inc. using the Strategic Management Process. Therefore, the latter part will offer recommendations of some difficulties Apple Inc. faced as it made successful changes (Slind & Yoffie, 2008). Synopsis (Background) of the Situation April 1, 1976 Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak cofounded Apple Computer in Los Angeles, California from Jobs garage; they built a computer circuit board and named it Apple I. In just a few months they sold 200, in less than three years Apple had annual sales of $1billion which quickly propelled them an industry leader. Apple was thriving to a degree that seemed to be beyond the capacity of Apple computer. Although Mac sales surged in recent years, Apple’s share...
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...Strategic Management Strategic Human Resources Management June 18, 2013 Introduction What is strategic management and why is it critical to the success of an organization in meeting its goals and mission? Strategic Management is essential for the success of any business. It is critical for any organization to properly plan and implement that plan that will align the organization’s strategy to key objectives. In a nutshell, strategic management can be defined as the process where an organization performs an analysis on what needs to happen in order to achieve and meet the objectives of the organization (Mello, 2011). In other words, it is the process utilized by top management in order to align the organization to the environment. The process of strategic management includes the organization’s mission statement, an analysis of the environment, the organization’s self-assessment, setting goals and objectives, and setting a strategy (Mello, 2012). Apple Inc. is a great example as to why strategic planning is critical for the success of any organization. Background What started at a family garage by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, is now a multibillion-dollar corporation. Back in the late 70s, Jobs and Wozniak built the very first Apple, a computer circuit board named Apple I. After several months, they sold 200 of them. Shortly after that, Jobs and Wozniak partnered with Mike Markkula, a 33 year old retired millionaire. Together with Markkula as the businessman and Wozniak...
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...Name: Unit Number: Case Name: Apple Inc. Case Study Analysis Introduction This analysis is based on Apple Inc. case study in which the strategic management is analyzed. In the process of analyzing this concept, the article also indentifies the issues and problems as they are presented together with the identification of the major issues surrounding the organization and individuals that are involved with the Apple Inc. Alternative course of action is addressed together with the recommendation that is based on the analysis. Understanding strategic management Through strategic management, a series of moves are developed and executed with an aim of enhancing the organization to be successful in the current situation and also in the future. As the Apple Inc aggressive history is analyzed, a slew of examples are unveiled with an illustration of the irreproducible ability in the effort to have an adoption as well as own market creation. Apple’s strategic management The success of Apple Inc. has been based on its ability to integrate into its model of business operation a management that is strategic. Through strategic management diligent involvement, Apple Inc. has been able to ensure that it is not maneuvered; a strategy that has enabled the company for the past 3 decades to emerge as successful in the competition. However, believing that Apple Inc. has not gone through some setbacks would be illogical. In fact, this is...
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...Elders August 12, 2014 GB520-03N Unit 1 Apple Inc. Page 3 Apple Inc., 2008 Thesis statement Strategic management and what it will provide for the organization, the economy and the stakeholders using ethical stewardship for the benefit of contributing greater organization success according to (Mello, 2015). What is strategic management and why is it critical to the success of an organization in meeting its goals and mission? SHRM is a great example of the acronym for Strategic human resource management. HRP is the “critical” success because of an effective system of policies that align themselves with Apples values, goals and mission according to (Mello, 2015). In all cases, the ethical values of the company will define the maximum wealth creation for the framework of transformation leaders. Transformation to achieve and establish “environments” that are satisfying to the human capital of the company according to (Mello, 2015 p. 33). Introduction Apple computer is a great example of how a company was organized and develops, from entrepreneur that experiences a college education. Their college education led to a success in the computer business according to (Yoffie, Slind, 2008). The student was young in age and experiencing a typical company, based on what typical student browse, when they have nothing else to do. The young “college dropouts founded Apple Computer on April Fool’s Day, 1976.3”. The...
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...Case Analysis, Apple Inc. 1 Case Analysis, Apple Inc. 1 of 4 Case Analysis, Apple Inc. 2 This case analysis is written to analyze the topic of Strategic Management and answering the question of why it is critical to the success of an organization in meeting its goals and mission. This analysis will address the major issues surrounding the organization or individuals involved with the organization, will identify alternate courses of action to address the issues identified with a decision/recommendation for action. Once called Apple Computer and historically know for its Macintosh personal computers (PC) line, Apple Computer dropped the latter part of its name in 2007 and became Apple, Inc. Even though non-PC product lines drove the majority of Apple’s financial performance there still seemed to be no real change in the company’s strategic profile. There were several thousand people that were laid off and by lying off employees to try and fix their financial issues, could have been a portion of the problem (Yoffie & Slind, 2008). Jobs are what contribute to a company’s effectiveness. If the jobs had been retained and management had attempted to find new ways of conducting business to survive by being innovative, Apple, Inc. may have witnessed success earlier (Mello, 2011, pp 112-115). Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and John Sculley came on board and made great strides towards increase in effective marketing, partnering with other companies and joint ventures...
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...0 QUESTION 1 2.0 INTRODUCTION Apple a renowned technology company completely took the world by storm when it introduced its latest product; the iPad which completely changed how users interacts with computing devices and bridged the gap between holding a phone and having a laptop. Apple Inc, practically came back from a near bankrupt company to one of the world’s most valuable company taking on the music and movie industry with its itunes store; changed the way music is carried about with the ipod; had a huge impact in the telecommunication sector with its unveiling of the iphone, took on the advertising industry with its simplistic adverts and marketing strategy and with its sophisticated operating system (Macintosh and iOS), it has set itself apart from its competitors. Apple’s success was driven by Steve Jobs, a man who tech fanatics describe as Jesus in the tech world because of the vital role he played in redefining technology. Sutter (2011a) describes Jobs as the most indispensable chief executive on the planet. ‘Apple is Steve Jobs and Steve Jobs is apple’ he said. Apple was grieved to find out that its visionary and charismatic chief executive was bereft of life and the whole world including its huge customer base where all in a dilemma of hurt and uncertainty. 3.0 HR ISSUES Focusing on apple’s strategic framework (as developed by Sparrow and Pettigrew), it faces a number of human resource issues some of which are a. If apple was to create cheaper products, it...
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...Elexa Powell Unit 1 – Apple Case Analysis Strategic Human Resources Management GM520-01 December 6, 2011 Introduction Organizations experience changes throughout the course of business. Industries experience natural up’s and downs, it is the in between times that organization must focus its efforts to determine if the organization is headed in the right direction. Bliss (n.d.) believed that strategic management was the art of making plans and implementing the plans to exhibit long term profits for and organization. Analysis Apple Inc has experienced many industry highs and lowers from its inception over thirty years ago. In an industry that was previously unheard of Apple Inc forged its way to the top experiencing many setbacks, restructures and changes in leadership style and plan. Not all of the changes were beneficial for the organization but ultimately the organization was able to make adjustment and stabilize to become a household name (Yoffie, D. & Slind, M., 2008). Major Issue The major issues surrounding Apple Inc. history is the contrast leadership changes. With each change the new leader had a better way of doing business and many instances it was incorrect. One key component in strategic management is to understand the cause and affect of leadership decisions both long term and short term (Bliss, n.d.). The leadership team believed that sudden changes would bring immediate results when in fact it result in significant...
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...|3 | |6 | | |Problem Statement | | |4 | |8 | | | | | |5 |Criteria for evaluating strategic alternatives | | | | |10 | | | | | |6 |Three strategic alternatives and evaluation |11 | | |Recommended alternative and...
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...Apple Computer Inc. John V Pugh Strayer University Bus 499 January 29, 2012 Professor Erica Atkins Abstract This paper describes the key strategic challenges facing Apple Computer. This paper will also describe the dimensions along which company success can be measured. We will also describe the critical external and internal environmental factors that have strategic implications for Apple’s future. This paper will further explain how Apple’s strategy stands up against industry rivalry. In closing we will provide recommendations to enhance the effectiveness of the company’s strategy or to change its strategic approach for better results. Key Strategic Challenges facing Apple Computer Apple Computer, INC. We will describe the key strategic challenges facing Apple Computer. We will start with services which contribute minimally to Apple’s revenue but provide enormous influence. Content pricing power- Jobs told Mossberg that digital content can be sold when it’s priced for volume. The success of iTune’s .99 per song pricing demonstrates this but doing so also destroyed the music industry’s business model. Without album pricing, musician royalties and major labels CD revenue have dried up. Regression to the mean- As companies grow, their courage and capacity to “Think Different” abates. While this may sound like heresy relative to Apple history and strong, the uniquely demanding strength and influence of Steve Jobs is integral...
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...everyone else by performing different activities that will be hard to duplicate from the competition (Dess, et al., 2005). Sustaining a competitive advantage became hard for Apple Inc. as noticed in the Harvard Business School Premier Case. Therefore, this paper is an analysis of Apple, Inc. based on a 7-year old case written by David Yoffie and Michael Slind published by Harvard Business School (Yoffie, et al., 2008). The following paper examines in detail the strategies utilized by the company as outlined in the strategic management steps. Several recommendations are also proposed to handle the issues surrounding the organization. Summation Apple Inc. was created by two college dropouts, Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak and later joined by A.C. Markkula, Jr; they created the company with one circuit board (Apple I) and turned into 200 sales within two months time (Yoffie, et al., 2008). The company developed a premium-price differentiation strategy; in which two years later, Apple II was introduced to the world. Apple II tripled company sales to more than 100,000 in less than two years compared to Apple I (Yoffie, et al., 2008). This paper analyzes and reviews the strategies utilized by Apple Inc. based on my comprehension of strategic management; and propose recommendations for several problems that Apple faced to become a successful billion dollar company. Situation and Pending Decision Analyzing the case presented a huge problem for Steve Jobs and his management team,...
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...Environmental Scan Paper According to BusinessDictionary.com, “an environmental scan is the vigilant monitoring and evaluation of a firm’s external and internal environments for detecting early signs of opportunities and threats that may influence current and future plans” (BusinessDictionary.com, 2011). In strategic planning, an environmental scan can help an organization increase understanding of the internal and external environmental factors that are required to reach the long-term goals of the company. This paper’s purpose is recognizing and exploring the external and internal situations of two successful organizations, Apple and Coca Cola. Also, to examine the competitive advantages and strategies used by these organizations, as well as sustaining value in an increasingly competitive market through creative strategic business plans. Another area being explored is the measurement guidelines used to substantiate the strategic effectiveness for these organizations and the effectiveness of these measurement guidelines. Internal and External Environments The whole process can be seen as beneficial knowledge for managers wishing to increase the long-term efficiency and develop strategic plans for the business. An organization’s environment can be broken into two separate divisions. First, the internal environment which is generally compiled of the factors or elements directly involved within the company. This would basically include the managers, employees, stakeholders, and especially...
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