...Professor: Date: Table of Contents Abstract 2 Apple Products 2 Apple’s current position on the company’s ethical and social responsibilities 3 Impact of publication of ethics and social responsibilities violations made by Apple’s suppliers on Apple’s reputation 5 Methods that Apple can utilize to ensure that its suppliers adhere to wage and benefits standards going forward 6 Apple’s customers willingness to pay more for its products if Apple were to increase the selling prices in order to provide better wages and benefits for suppliers’ workers 7 Analysis of Apple’s current overall marketing strategy and actions that Apple can take in order to improve its competitive advantage in the global marketplace 8 Conclusion 9 References: 10 Apple’s Corporate Responsibility and Marketing Strategies Abstract In the business world, the ultimate mission is not only to make good returns alone. A company that directs all its efforts in profit making alone is destined to untimely failure. This is because it will find itself on the wrong side with the government, stakeholders and the public as a whole. For this reason, any company that aspires to exist beyond its current boundaries must focus on its ethical and social responsibilities to company’s employees, consumers, shareholders and the public fraternity. Such corporate social practices brand a company positively as a good job provider, investor and provider of products and services. Apple Inc. has for the last few years appeared in...
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...Professor: Date: Table of Contents Abstract 2 Apple Products 2 Apple’s current position on the company’s ethical and social responsibilities 3 Impact of publication of ethics and social responsibilities violations made by Apple’s suppliers on Apple’s reputation 5 Methods that Apple can utilize to ensure that its suppliers adhere to wage and benefits standards going forward 6 Apple’s customers willingness to pay more for its products if Apple were to increase the selling prices in order to provide better wages and benefits for suppliers’ workers 7 Analysis of Apple’s current overall marketing strategy and actions that Apple can take in order to improve its competitive advantage in the global marketplace 8 Conclusion 9 References: 10 Apple’s Corporate Responsibility and Marketing Strategies Abstract In the business world, the ultimate mission is not only to make good returns alone. A company that directs all its efforts in profit making alone is destined to untimely failure. This is because it will find itself on the wrong side with the government, stakeholders and the public as a whole. For this reason, any company that aspires to exist beyond its current boundaries must focus on its ethical and social responsibilities to company’s employees, consumers, shareholders and the public fraternity. Such corporate social practices brand a company positively as a good job provider, investor and provider of products and services. Apple Inc. has for the last few years appeared in...
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...Apple Computers Strategic Audit Guillermo Magana Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Abstract This paper analyzes Apple Computers current state as a business and industry leader. Each part of their strategic audit is dissected and broken down to have a better understanding of it. From the company’s current performance and strategic posture to its leader, Steve Jobs, and the team that drives the company to its incredible success. Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) analysis is discussed to determine how External and Internal factors affect the decisions being made by management. Finally and attempt is made to provide alternatives and a strategy to further the success Apple currently enjoys. So kick back play your favorite song on iTunes, check your stocks on your iPad and make sure to put your iPhone on silent before we start. Apple Computers Strategic Audit Current Situation Current Performance: Strong financial results for the third fiscal quarter in 2011; no debt. Best quarter ever recorded with $28.57 Billion in revenue. Record $7.31 Billion in net profits. The number of retail stores amounted to over 300 retail stores worldwide. Strategic Posture: The company strategic posture is clearly stated, and is also backed up by its strong performance. Mission, Apple is committed to bringing the best personal computing and music experience to its customers. The company has a unique ability to design and development its own hardware and software...
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...Social Performance of Organizations Apple Inc. is an American multinational corporation headquartered in Cupertino, California, that designs, develops, and sells consumer electronics, computer software, online services, and personal computers (www.apple.com). Apple Company was developed on the 1st of April, 1976 by the co-founders named Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak. The first 30 years of the company was named Apple Computer Inc. but later on January 9, 2007, the word “Computer” has removed (Business Insider, 2013). Apple is a very established and diversified company that offers consumers several choices in electronics that has the capability to simply our daily lives. In my opinion, Apple’s most successful product consists of their mobile devices with internet capabilities that allow you to access your information from any location that offers a wireless firewall (wi-fi). Apple has a unique organizational structure that follows the top-down model which influences accountability within the individual departments that create Apple products. Identifying and evaluating alternative strategies should involve many of the managers and employees who earlier assembled the organizational vision and mission statements, performed the external audit, and conducted the internal audit (Strategic Management Concepts, pg 22). Additionally, all other key players should be invited to attend the meeting to provide additional input to facilitate and recommend steps to improve their...
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...Task 2 Internal Audit I shall perform a marketing audit on Blackberry; this involves both an internal and external examination of the company. A marketing audit can be used to identify both the strengths and weaknesses of a business and how it is affecting their ability to meet their overall aims and objectives. An internal audit is broken down into 5 main categories, these include: Resources- The resources of a business can include their Technical resources, financial resource, their organisational structure as well as their managerial skills Research in Motion has created value for its customers through R&D for the last 10 years, and they have as a result used their R&D as a distinctive advantage. As an innovator in wireless email solutions in the late 90’s they were able to establish assets such as licenses and patents related to data security, wireless transmission of data, and what they are known best for; their push email service. By securing these licences and patents it has given Blackberry an edge in the market with the features it offers, and allowed them to establish a target market which was business people and professionals, before moving into the general market. The major stakeholders of the company are two of the founding members, who currently serve as Co-CEOs of the firm. RIM performs well financially on a consistent basis, with revenue figures reaching $4.2 billion in 2011, although this is down 15% from the previous quarter. In the USA RIM...
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...Name Course Instructor Date Situation Analysis 1 Key objectives 1 Competition 2 Current performance 2 Cultural and structural issues 2 Organizational resources 3 Environmental analysis 3 Political Analysis 3 Economic Analysis 3 Social Analysis 3 Technological Analysis 4 SWOT Analysis 4 Strengths 4 Weaknesses 4 Opportunities 5 Threats 5 Marketing process 5 Marketing mix 5 Products 5 Distribution Strategy 6 Promotion Strategy 6 Integrated Marketing Strategies 7 Situation Analysis Key objectives Apple was voted the general victor of the 2012 CMO Survey Award for Marketing Excellence. Apple has been chosen as the victor or co-champ for five back to back years by the example of top advertisers. Apple's unique points: 1. Empathy – Apple comprehends the needs of their customer superior to other organizations. 2. Focus – keeping in mind the end goal to benefit a vocation of the things the company chooses to do, Apple pans to dispose of the majority of the irrelevant opportunities 3. Impute –Apple may have the best item, the most elevated quality, the most helpful programming, and so forth; the company displays its product in an imaginative, proficient way to ascribe the coveted qualities ("Corporate Goals And Objectives For Global Final Paper- Apple Inc."). Competition Apple is being led by Samsung as purchasers are requesting telephones with bigger screens at less expensive costs. Indeed, even with the presentation of iPhone...
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...executed by the board, management, and employees of the institution. Corporate Social Responsibility is intertwined with Social Performance as it involves the firm utilizing its resources to respond or solve a social problem and achieve a social goal at the same time (Myers, 2013). The discussion highlights the elements of social performance and responsibility linked to Apple Inc, and shares insight on various corporate social responsibility concerns associated with the firms' past operational practices. Apple Products Over the last decade, Apple has managed to build a recognized brand in the communication industry. The electronics industry is very competitive with various companies offering diverse and innovative products and services (Myers, 2013). Apple Inc is an established American Hi-tech firm that has been in operation for over four decades with its headquarters in Cupertino California. The multinational corporation offers general hardware products, but it specializes in software and technology relied on by its customer niche on a daily basis. As explicated by Khan, Alam, and Alam (2015), Apple explores a unique top-down organizational model within its corporate structure. The firm is corporate based owned by stakeholders. Employees of the company are encouraged to come up with ideas, and the rest of the workforce team is invited to contribute key points that will improve the project...
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...Select one external communication posted in Module Three and assess it for the legal, compliance, and brand implications to the stakeholders. In your initial post, summarize your assessment of the external communication. Outline what legal aspects must be considered with the communication, what compliance issues need to be addressed, and how the brand could be affected. Ensure that you clearly identify the original communication you assessed. Review at least one external communication analysis, and argue or defend your classmate’s position regarding the communication he or she reviewed. Explain any additional recommendations you would make to improve the effectiveness of that communication. A: Summary: A communication strategy involves the formulation of a desired position for the organization in terms of how it wants to be seen by its different stakeholder groups. The content of a communication strategy is influenced by the process by which it is formed and by the different individuals and layers in the organization who have had a stake in it (Cornelissen, 2014). When an incident arises that has the possibility of attracting public or media attention, it is important for an organization to be prepared in regards to their stance regarding the issue. For the purposes of this exercise, an example will be referenced regarding a press release from Whole Foods Market. This combination style external communication is a well-written example of an informative as well as a persuasive...
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...CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY IPhone is Apple’s well celebrated smart phone which has taken the mobile phone industry by storm. The iPhone idea came about when Apple CEO Steve Jobs told Apple engineers to explore the concept of touch-screens. There are many reasons a consumer would favour iPhone over other smart phones, whether the reason lies in its sleek, metallic design or the entertainment kicks the consumer obtains out of using it, it is crucial that Apple looks in greater depth at more sophisticated business tools in order to cater professionals like surgeons, businessmen and engineers. Iphone’s attractive brand image can be single-handedly gunned down by other strong factors, like the mentioned business element for instance, should Apple not expand its utilisation potency. Brand audit has been performed by using Keller’s CBBE Framework. In order to understand the iphone’s degree of competitiveness in the market, it is essential to conduct a SWOT analysis so that it becomes clearer to which side weighs more: the pros or the cons. The audit offers recommendations to the sort of improvements that will help establish iPhone’s brand positioning, brand management and marketing value. Keller’s model is not the only model that can be adapted to measure brand equity. Its limitations are discussed and other brand equity models are explained briefly. INTRODUCTION The mobile phone industry is progressing fast in today’s modern society. Not only does the mobile phone...
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...Executive Summary This Marketing Plan Audit provides an analysis of the brand situation, current strategies and provides suggestions and implementation plan for Nokia Corporation. Nokia is a Finish manufacturer of mobile devices, which makes a full range of cellular phones for all major consumer segments worldwide, including Internet-enabled devices enable people to experience music, maps, media, messaging and games. Company has over 132,000 employees in 120 countries, sales in more than 150 countries and global annual revenue of over 60 billion dollars and operating profit of 2.86 billion dollars as of 2010. Nokia is the world's largest manufacturer of mobile phones: its global device market share was 31% in the fourth quarter 2010, but dropped below 30% in the first quarter 2011. In June 2011, Nokia was overtaken by Apple, as the world's biggest smartphone maker by volume. For many years Nokia enjoyed an overwhelming domination on the market of personal mobile devices. The company managed to build the strong brand, easily recognizable style of it’s devices and consumer favorite. Due to serious mistakes in product and distribution strategy, as well as growing competition from companies like Apple, Samsung ,Motorola and others, Nokia started to experience serious problems with its sales, market share and consumer loyalty. Presented Audit defines Nokia’ current issue with the Brand positioning, that caused the diminishing of the brand popularity and lowered competitive strength...
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...Lesson 4 Assessment Tool: Marketing Plan Framework This Assessment Tool contains real world examples, guiding principles, practical worksheets, and information that can help you complete a 4E-based marketing plan for your business. This Tool can serve as companion activities for Lesson 4. 4.1. Executive summary: This is a summary of the marketing plan, so it is usually prepared after the plan has been completed. It should summarize: Situation analysis results Marketing goals and objectives Proposed marketing actions (strategies and tactics) to meet goals and objectives Proposed marketing budget and key resources that are necessary to implement the marketing actions Expected outcomes of the proposed marketing actions 4.2. Mission Statement: This statement summarizes the guiding principles for your business. Some example mission statements are shown below with the type of information to be included. The three examples are presented in the way that you can see one from a well-established government organization and two from small businesses like yours. Try one on your own after examining the examples. A. Federal Food and Drug Administration (http://www.fda.gov/opacom/morechoices/mission.html): “The FDA is responsible for protecting the public health by assuring the safety, efficacy, and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, medical devices, our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, and products that emit radiation. The FDA is also responsible for advancing the...
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...Product and Brand Management (MGMT-MKTG-638) - Revision Exercises - 1. “Customer analysis & competitor analysis are necessary for developing product strategy”. Comment. 2. Explain the steps involved in developing a new product with suitable examples. . Idea Generation The development of a product will start with the concept. The rest of the process will ensure that ideas are tested for their viability, so in the beginning all ideas are good ideas (To a certain extent!) Ideas can, and will come, from many different directions. The best place to start is with a SWOT analysis, (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats), which incorporates current market trends. This can be used to analyse your company’s position and find a direction that is in line with your business strategy. In addition to this business-centred activity, are methods that focus on the customer’s needs and wants. This could be: •Under-taking market research •Listening to suggestions from your target audience – including feedback on your current products’ strengths and weaknesses. •Encouraging suggestions from employees and partners •Looking at your competitor’s successes and failures #2. Idea Screening This step is crucial to ensure that unsuitable ideas, for whatever reason, are rejected as soon as possible. Ideas need to be considered objectively, ideally by a group or committee. Specific screening criteria need to be set for this stage, looking at ROI, affordability...
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...Table of Contents 1. PESTEL analysis 2 2. Porter's five forces model 4 3. Strengths and weaknesses of Apple, Inc (7-s model) 6 4. Core competency of Apple Inc and VRIO model. What were Apple’s competitive advantages? 8 5. New formula to create a sustainable competitive advantage 8 6. Assessment of Apple’s initial strategy for the iPhone. Quick change to a different strategy. 8 7. EFE and IFE matrix; strategic recommendations on Apple Inc SWOT matrix; SPACE matrix; evaluation of strategic choices on QSPM. 9 8. Balanced scorecards 13 PESTEL analysis Beginning in the 1950's, research on organisations emphasised the importance of understanding the wider macro-economic environment in which organisations operate. An organisation on its own cannot affect environmental factors, nor can environmental factors affect the profitability of an industry or an organisation. Conducting a strategic analysis entails scanning the general or macro-economic environment to detect and understand the broad, long term trends. [1] The PEST analysis divided the general environment into the following categories: 1. Political 2. Economic 3. Social 4. Technological 5. Environmental 6. Legal 1) Political-Legal Forces * Different countries have different legislations and these in some ways restrict the company or give opportunities to the company. * NAFTA, European Union and other regional trade unions open doors to market in Europe, Asia, Latin America that...
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...the company achieves goals through customer satisfaction. However, there are has the limitation of marketing concept. Four issue, the marketing concept as an ideology, marketing and society, marketing as a constraint on innovation, and marketing as a source of dullness. Marketing orientation: Marketing orientation focus on customer needs. Company need to change present potential market opportunities to drive the company. Marketing orientation companies seek to demand of current marketing and latent marketing to adapt their product and service. And company gets closed to customers that understand their need and problems. For example, BMW corporate according to customer different needs. Company assigning different car brand, such as BMW, Mini, Rolls-Royce. Companies understand customer’s motivation and behavior. However, there is not all company used a marketing orientation....
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...of Apple Inc. Managing Strategy Course Tutor: Mr William Edward Hearne Introduction The intention of presenting this report is to give a full strategic appraisal and evaluation of Apple Inc. In 1976, the company was founded in a garage in Santa Clara, California. The American multinational corporation mainly involves in designing and marketing consumer electronics, computer software and as well as personal computers. Differentiation is the current strategy position of Apple Inc. There are five main firms in the PC industry and among them; the world’s leading brand is Dell. Apple’s major target is to sustain their present strategic position and to take over the market position as a leader. The key stakeholders include Steve Jobs, employees, lenders and the government. Apple markets Apple’s industries Person computers Person media Africa North/South America Desktops IPad I phone Apples markets Asia and Middle east Europe IPod Apple store Notebooks Apple services iTunes Apple’s products Laptops Mission statement Apple’s mission statement is to become a leader in providing simple, powerful, high-quality information products and service for people who learn, communicate, and create. External and internal analysis In order to identify the major threats and opportunities faced by Apple, conducting an external analysis is very important. The models that are going to be used include; PESTEL analysis, Porter's 5 forces and SWOT analysis (opportunities...
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