...Yolanda Davis Scanning the Environment American InterContinental University Online July 4, 2013 Apple SWOT Analysis Strengths Key Factor-Innovation Apple has been the leader in technological innovation with the release of such products as the MacBook Computers, iPods, iPads, iPhone and more recently the announcement of iTV. According to the 2012 Global Innovation 1000 conducted by Booz & Company, Apple ranked number 1 for the 3rd year in a row. Although many may feel that innovation is about creating new products all the time, Apple’s idea of innovation is about creating quality products (Krasnv, 2013). By building on their strength over the years to create quality products they have also built a foundation as lead innovators and constantly change the technological game with their products. Key Factor-Brand As a leader in innovation, Apple has also secured their brand value by constantly creating products that are well designed but also by understanding that brand is less about the logo and more about aligning the business strategy and employee base with the ability to influence how the consumer felt about the product. This factor is demonstrated by the fact that at least half of every U.S. household own one Apple product minimum despite the price of their products (Gralnick, 2012). Although not infallible, brand power does reflect a company’s marketing ability and Apple has shown the world that they have marketing power by ranking number two behind Coca Cola in 2012...
Words: 2830 - Pages: 12
...Tribune 435 N. Michigan Ave. Chicago, IL 60611 Zora Bouadjenak; MBA Strategic Advisor Email: zora.bouadjenak@NEWSPAPER.com Tel: +1 437 555 670 Dear Mr Sullivan, I am pleased to present to you the report about the current effects of Applications and Ecommerce on newspaper publishers and furthermore strategic recommendations for your company. This report has been prepared according to the upcoming extraordinary session of Chicago Tribune Newspapers CEO’s, Strategic Advisor and the consultancy assistance of McKinsey Strategic Department. This report covers the current situation of circulations and subscriptions regarding the digital era as well as available technologies for newspaper publishers to increase their revenues. Also includes an evaluation of business strategies and activities regarding Chicago Tribunes’ major competitors. This report covers some recommendation for further strategic positioning and investments to create a competitive advantages. In presenting this report, I want to pay tribute to the work of every one of my colleague throughout the strategic department and all journalists within this newspaper. It is a pleasure to find strategies and solutions to keep our business alive and develop further goals. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at any time. Yours sincerely, Zora Bouadjenak; MBA Strategic Advisor Chicago Tribune 1 HOW DOES THE IMPLEMENTATION OF APPS AND E-SUBSCRIPTIONS EFFECT NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS REVENUES...
Words: 4897 - Pages: 20
...Purchasing management is the critical business function to every organization as no organization can exist without suppliers’ support. Traditionally, purchasing was viewed as a clerical activity that only did some documental work required by other departments. There was usually no communication between purchasing and other departments within the organization. Also, suppliers were usually selected based on price and availability only. However, purchasing management has undergone a great change since 1960s. Organizations began to realize that purchasing can become a profit-making activity rather than just a profit-taking activity. A study performed by Carr and Pearson (2002) shows that purchasing management has a positive impact on the organization’s financial performance, no matter the firm is small or large in scale. It always plays a major role in the organization’s efforts to improve the quality of products and, in turn, market share. An effective purchasing management can improve the overall productivity, profitability, and return on investment of an organization. Therefore, in modern organizations, purchasing is viewed as a vital element in gaining competitive advantage. Coordination with other departments, such as marketing, production and financial, was augmented. Purchasing professionals nowadays are required to work across functional boundaries, for example, working with the production department to plan the schedule for goods acquired and delivered. More importantly...
Words: 1106 - Pages: 5
...Contents Page Purpose 4 1. External Analysis 5 2.1 Industry Life Cycle............................................................5 2.2 Market Analysis....................................................................6 2.3 PESTEL.................................................................................7 2.4 Porters 5 Force ....................................................................8 2. Internal Analysis 9 2.1 Microsoft Competency Framework....................................9 2.2 Microsoft VRIN Framework.................................................10 2.3 Microsoft Strengths and Weaknesses ..............................10 2.4 Nokia Competency Framework...........................................11 2.5 Nokia VRIN Framework........................................................12 2.6 Nokia Strengths and Weaknesses......................................12 3. Issues and Challenges ...
Words: 6930 - Pages: 28
...extent is a positive culture and the correct culture ESSENTIAL to a firms success? Culture can be important to a firms success because it can help with a product e.g Pixar has competitors like dreamworks. Pixar is only as good as its next big idea. Apple rely on iPhone, macs and iPads- if any of those three decline in sales then Apple are in trouble. 2016 is the first time that apples sales haven't grown because the market is saturated so share price could come down as a result. Product is the most important P of the marketing mix. In Peters and Watermans 'In search of excellence' one of the characteristics of successful companies is that they launch products quickly-possibly gaining the first mover advantage. Nokia didn't have a good enough innovative culture so didn't have good enough products. In 2007, the company supplied 40% of the worlds mobile phones but by 2014, this had dropped below 10%. However, Innovation is expensive, time consuming and you could spend a lot of money on it but there is no guarantee that you will produce good products. Another reason why positive culture within a business leads to success is that it helps to motivate employees. Firms that tend to have good culture is John Lewis partnership who share profits with workers so the workers become owners in one sense. They have a customer focuses culture.in Google the workers can use 20% of their work time to work on their own projects and create their own ideas. This led to projects like gmail,...
Words: 756 - Pages: 4
...Environment Scans for Apple, Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble Nylor P. Coleman MGT/498 January 16, 2013 Robert Consonery, Facilitator Environmental Scan: Apple Inc, Amazon.com and Barnes and Nobles Environmental scanning indentifies the external and internal trends that influence the future direction of a business. This process provides the tools for evaluation within the three companies and how the process works. This paper will provide research regarding the internal and external environments for each of the three corporations. The changing environment in the marketplace will provide each business with the challenges and opportunities for competing and growing each business. The companies must adapt to the changes in the business environment for the long term survival. This paper indentifies how each company will create value and sustain its competitive advantage through the business strategy. The guidelines of each business will be explored and how each business will follow these guidelines to meet the business’ visions and missions. How effective these guidelines for each business will be explored. These guidelines will be highlighted and its effectiveness for the business for strategic effectiveness the each is using. Use of environment scanning directs the company’s budget in advertising and how much is spent on marketing. Environmental Scanning “Environmental scanning is the monitoring, evaluation, and dissemination of information...
Words: 1063 - Pages: 5
...Apple public relation plan Message Statement Apple public relations plan Chuey, Jaime, Char, Ellen Executive Summary This public relation plan is to inform and influence the public about the new iPhone 6 with using the features of the new phone as a starting point. The primary customers are known as the current and loyal customers. Apple’s employees and management are the face of the company to the public so the training will be key to keeping the key keeping the plan moving ahead. The main objective of this plan is assist in the public to take action in buying, informing others, and overall to get to know the new iPhone 6. The strategy is to always keep the right information of the new iPhone 6 going out to the public, by keeping the information positive, upbeat, and truthful. The actions and feelings we intend see doing and after the plan is excitement and eagerness to obtain the new iPhone 6. Communication Process Identifying Publics Customers The primary customers for Apple are current Apple customers, techies, business professional, iOS software users, brand awareness customers, Apple culture customers, satisfied customers, and high performance tech customers. The secondary customers are anyone in the market for a new phone, wants a company that is loyalty to customers, and customers that want a product with quality. Producers and Partnerships Apple has 156 companies that produce their products for their customers, with many of them being located outside the...
Words: 4124 - Pages: 17
... | | |4 | |8 | | | | | |5 |Criteria for evaluating strategic alternatives | | | | |10 | | | | | |6 |Three strategic alternatives and evaluation |11 | | |Recommended alternative and...
Words: 3267 - Pages: 14
...Major Case Assignment Case: Dell 2009 Concordia University John Molson School of Business July 22, 2010 INTRODUCTION Situation Synopsis After almost 20 years of unprecedented growth and industry leadership, Dell has started losing market share to its competitors: HP, Apple, Acer and Lenovo. Furthermore, its stock price has plummeted from its record 1998 high of US$139.88 to almost US$20.00 in July 2008. Due to poor performance, the founder of the company Michael S. Dell has returned to the company as CEO and has devised a plan to bring back Dell as a market leader in this industry and to improve its stock price. Company’s Current Strategy Vision: To be the world’s leading supplier of computer systems Mission: To enable millions of businesses and consumers to get online for the first time Objectives: Improving Dell’s stock price Corporate/Business Strategy: • Outsource full system manufacturing facilities in China for retail business. • Split product design departments into commercial and consumer teams. • Listening & reaching customers, expanding and customizing their product and service portfolio • Low cost structure - drive costs out of the company’s supply chain and expand into foreign markets • Grow company in consumer, enterprise and emerging markets 1. EXTERNAL ANALYSIS 1.1. General External Environment Demographic: Global commercial and consumer markets; Wide range of income distribution among customers from individual...
Words: 2404 - Pages: 10
...12 Apple Inc. Strategy Review and Recommendation Group: E2 12 Apple Inc. Strategy Review and Recommendation Group: E2 Content 1. Company Background 4 2. Report Aim and Scope 4 3. Analysis of the Current Environment 5 3.1. PEST Analysis 5 3.2. Porter’s Five Forces 7 3.3. Resource Portfolio Analysis 8 3.4. Current SWOT Analysis 10 4. Analysis of the Future Environment via Scenario Planning 11 4.1. Impact of Scenarios on Apple’s Five Forces 12 4.2. Impact of Scenario Planning on Internal Environment (VRIN) 13 4.3. Future SWOT 15 5. Evaluation of Existing Strategies 16 6. Analysis of Apple’s Organizational Direction 16 7. Strategic Option Generation 18 7.1. Generic Strategy Model 18 7.2. BCG Matrix 19 7.3. Directional Policy Matrix 20 7.4. ANSOFF Matrix 21 7.5. TOWS 22 8. Strategy Evaluation through SAFe 23 8.1. Corporate Level Strategic Evaluation 23 8.2. Media Devices & Mobile Communications SBU Strategic Evaluation 24 8.3. Personal Computers Strategic Evaluation 24 8.4. Portable Media Players Strategic Evaluation 25 8.5. Software Strategic Evaluation 25 9. Comparison of New and Existing Strategies 25 10. Conclusion 26 11. Report Limitations 28 12. References 29 1. Company Background Apple Inc was founded in April 1976 by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak. The company that invented the first personal computer has diversified into designing and producing a vast range...
Words: 12121 - Pages: 49
...author provides two companies used as examples to review the internal and external environment effects. The paper will also determine what competitive advantages each company has and what strategies each company is using. Before an organization can begin strategy formulation, it must scan the external environment to identify possible opportunities and threats and its internal environment for strengths and weaknesses. Environmental scanning is the monitoring, evaluation, and dissemination of information from the external and internal environments to key people within the corporation. A corporation uses this tool to avoid strategic surprise and to ensure its long-term health. Research has found a positive relationship between environmental scanning and profits (Wheelen & Hunger, 2010). Apple is the first company that serves as an example of a company committed to the protection of the environment. Their total footprint is created by 61% manufacturing, 5% transportation, 30% product use, 2% recycling, and 2% facilities. Apple reports environmental impact comprehensively. They do it by focusing on their products: what happens when they design them, what happens when they make them, and what happens when the customers take them home and use them. They know that the most significant thing they can do to decrease their impact on the environment is to improve their products’ environmental performance. That is why they design the products to utilize a smaller amount of material, ship...
Words: 1217 - Pages: 5
...Apple Inc. Case Study Alex Sorokin Julia Andrejeva Anastasija Citajeva Inga Plavane Karina Tidrike EBS3 1. Opportunities * The online sales of computer are rapidly increasing. * Large population, which are extremely brand conscious and individualistic. * Laptops are highly demanded products of Apple Company therefore more types of laptops can be developed which will meet as many needs as possible. * Increase in worms and viruses on PCs so the antivirus solution can be developed by Apple * Downloadable music and MP3 players are highly marketable. * Increasing bonds and developing partnerships with other companies. Threats * The switching in technology is very fast. * In laptop segment Apple is facing strong competition from Dell, HP, Sony and Toshiba. * In phone segment Apple is facing huge competition from Nokia. * Media Piracy (Downloading free music from other online source without paying cost is common it may impact the iTunes sales.) * The long lasting recession may impact the sales of the company due to higher prices of the products and services * Companies not seeing Apple as compatible with their software. * Apple software, Cell phone and hardware are expensive as compared to other competitors such as Dell. * Microsoft launched Microsoft Vista, Windows 7 which is gaining market share. PESTEL Political influences As it was reported in 2007 52% of sales were outside the U.S. which...
Words: 5410 - Pages: 22
...Page1----------Introduction of Apple Page2--------- Organizational culture, design, structure Page3--------- Management of conflict and motivation of employees & Conclusion Page4------- Recommendation& Referencing List If there is a survey about which business you believe is the most valuable and has most revolutionary influence on the society last ten years, it must be true that most of the people will choose Apple. From some professional evaluation about Apple, it describes Apple as an enterprise which has ability to take over the world one bite at a time and is already doing it. As of July 2011, Apple is the largest publicly traded company in the world by market capitalization with 357 retail stores in ten countries and 60,400 permanent full-time employees and 2,900 temporary full-time employees around the world. (Profile: Apple Inc, n.d.)At the same time, its revenue and profit is more than Google and Microsoft combined, and its annual revenue is totaled $65 billion in 2010 and is growing to $108 billion in 2011 miraculously. (Harry Wilson, 2012) Apple not only is one of the most successful enterprises in the world nowadays, but also already is a creative, miraculous and revolutionary company which is founded by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne on April 1, 1976 during its starting stage. (Cyrus Farivar, MacCentral, n.d.) Apple’s organizational mission is providing products which are innovative leadership and needed for consumers. (Apple Employee Handbook...
Words: 2404 - Pages: 10
...Page1----------Introduction of Apple Page2--------- Organizational culture, design, structure Page3--------- Management of conflict and motivation of employees & Conclusion Page4------- Recommendation& Referencing List If there is a survey about which business you believe is the most valuable and has most revolutionary influence on the society last ten years, it must be true that most of the people will choose Apple. From some professional evaluation about Apple, it describes Apple as an enterprise which has ability to take over the world one bite at a time and is already doing it. As of July 2011, Apple is the largest publicly traded company in the world by market capitalization with 357 retail stores in ten countries and 60,400 permanent full-time employees and 2,900 temporary full-time employees around the world. (Profile: Apple Inc, n.d.)At the same time, its revenue and profit is more than Google and Microsoft combined, and its annual revenue is totaled $65 billion in 2010 and is growing to $108 billion in 2011 miraculously. (Harry Wilson, 2012) Apple not only is one of the most successful enterprises in the world nowadays, but also already is a creative, miraculous and revolutionary company which is founded by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne on April 1, 1976 during its starting stage. (Cyrus Farivar, MacCentral, n.d.) Apple’s organizational mission is providing products which are innovative leadership and needed for consumers. (Apple Employee Handbook...
Words: 2404 - Pages: 10
...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...
Words: 10734 - Pages: 43
