...Management Planning Management: Theory, Practice and Application/330 Management Planning Planning is identifying the goals to be accomplished and making a decision to move forward the suitable actions needed to achieve those goals (Bateman and Snell, 2009). Examples of planning may include examining current situation, predicting the future, establishing goals, choose what types of activities one will engage, and selecting the resources needed to achieve the said goals (Bateman and Snell, 2009). In order for a company to be successful, the organization must have a systematic process of making decisions about goals and 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...
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...Internal Environmental Analysis STR 581 August 27, 2012 Barbara Fuller External and Internal Environmental Analysis Apple Inc. was first launched into the technology market as a computer company. In 1976, Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak launched Apple Inc. with the mission of reaching a diverse community globally to market its products. Since that time, there have been changes in the external environment of the company that has an impact on the decisions the organization makes. Apple Inc. has implemented frameworks to assess its external and internal environment. The company has identifies the specific domains that affect the operations of the company from the outside. These forces of the organization enable the operations of the company to be influenced. Apple Inc. considers the global market to be of high importance. Globalization is becoming a criterion for large organizations to excel above their competition. Apple Inc. needs managers and executives proactively understanding that if the company is not globalizing it can leave them behind of the competition. This can be a tough challenge for Apple because many U.S. companies have not been successful capturing many global markets. Apple never thought about capitalizing on its digital future globally until they made a change in their strategy. Apple had to realize just how much influence it would make by expanding its products and service to a global level. It would help to increase...
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...“Case 14: Apple Computer, Inc.: Maintaining the Music Business while introducing iPhone and Apple TV” Assignment 2; “Case 14: Apple Computer, Inc.: Maintaining the Music Business while introducing iPhone and Apple TV” Anthony Green Professor Milan Havel BUS499 July 24, 2011 “Case 14: Apple Computer, Inc.: Maintaining the Music Business while introducing iPhone and Apple TV” * Describe the key strategic challenges facing Apple Computer. * Describe the dimensions along which company success can be measured. * Describe the critical external and internal environmental factors that have strategic implications for Apple's future. * Describe how Apple's strategy stands up against industry rivalry. * Describe the recommendations you would make to enhance the effectiveness of the company's strategy or to change its strategic approach for better results. “Case 14: Apple Computer, Inc.: Maintaining the Music Business while introducing iPhone and Apple TV” Describe the key strategic challenges facing Apple Computer Apple's is currently a very innovative company. It has gone through many ups and downs over the past 30 + years. From a successful company that brought in millions thanks to 2 guys a garage and a dream, to Steven Jobs, one of the founders, walking away from the company and in the process causing competitors to acquire ideas due to legal mistakes. Apple computer has faced many challenges throughout its 24 year history. Steven Jobs left...
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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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...and External Factors There are four functions of management; planning, organizing, leading and controlling. Planning happens within these functions and helps to deliver strategic value to a business. Organizing builds a dynamic business, and leading helps to mobilize employees. Controlling is a part of learning and changing as a business grows and expands. All four of these functions are necessary and are key factors to having effective management. Internal and external factors influence the decision-making process, which therefore affects management. Competitive landscapes are constantly changing, so managers must consider businesses and people from around the world. Globalization, innovation, technology, diversity, and ethics require comprehensive planning, and are essential in every aspect of management. One such organization is Apple, who uses strategic planning and organizational tools to successfully manage and market technology. Globalization is an external, driving factor that has a major impact on the way managers run businesses. It is the result of a notable increase in cross-border trade, cultural exchange, investments, emergent economies and population growth (New World Encyclopedias, 2008). Globalization affects the four functions of management directly, or directly affects the core competencies of management which are planning, organizing, leading and controlling (Bateman & Snell, 2011). Globalization...
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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, was...
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...Strategic Quality Management and Customer Satisfaction Strategic Quality Management and Customer Satisfaction Strategic quality management application may produce superior customer satisfaction. Organizations which build strong vision and mission statements are capable of accomplishing quality objectives by providing ample services to the public. Apple, Inc. is a widely known organization that successfully gained customer appreciation from start-up, to the slumps, and rising again to global domination. It is through innovation and hard work that Apple, Inc. made a name for them in a highly competitive world. To understand how an organization achieves this level of total quality management, one must understand how vision and mission support an organizations goal. Performance of a SWOT analysis is a way to capture a snapshot of the organizations strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Furthermore, a SWOT analysis provides data for an organization, like Apple, Inc., to create strategic plans, appropriating resources and developing tools or actions to bring about continued success. Vision Technology and innovation are essential to the growing demand for people around the world and should have a means for the best of both. Mission To lead the world into the next realm of technology and communication, by creating the perfect and top quality products to meet the needs of all individuals participating in a society demanding the attention of people from all directions...
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...value chain approach was introduced by Michael Porter in the 1980s in his book “Competitive Advantage: Creating and Sustaining Superior Performance” (Porter, 1985). The concept of value added, in the form of the value chain, can be utilized to develop an organization’s sustainable competitive advantage in the business arena of the 21st C. All organizations consist of activities that link together to develop the value of the business, and together these activities form the organization’s value chain. Such activities may include purchasing activities, manufacturing the products, distribution and marketing of the company’s products and activities (Lynch, 2003). The value chain framework has been used as a powerful analysis tool for the strategic planning of an organization for nearly two decades. The aim of the value chain framework is to maximize value creation while minimizing costs (www.wikipedia.org). In this essay I will try to provide a scholarly overview of the “Value Chain Framework” with Critique and Analysis the same in firm Level....
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...Strategic Management Process Paper “Strategic management is a set of managerial decisions and actions that determines the long-run performance of a corporation. It emphasizes the monitoring and evaluating of external opportunities and threats in light of a corporation’s strengths and weaknesses.” (Wheelen & Hunger 2010). It short it is the planning, environmental scanning, and industry analysis for the company. It can be broken out in four phases: Phase 1-Basic financial planning: Managers plan and propose the following year’s budget. They perform this task on very little information given from within the firm. In short it’s a projection/estimate of the following years proposed budget. This happens usually over the timeframe of one year. Phase 2-Forecast-based planning: This is where a more long term projections is created and manager propose five-year plans. Which is when they begin to analyze the much longer and time intensive projects that may take longer than one year. Something of this magnitude is very time consuming, often a full month of managerial activity to make sure all the proposed budgets fit together. Endless meetings take place to evaluate proposals and justify projections. Phase 3-Externally oriented (strategic) planning: Upon failure or Frustration with ineffectual five-year plans, top management takes control of the planning process by initiating strategic planning. The company seeks to increase its responsiveness to changing markets and competition...
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...External and Internal Environmental Analysis Apple Inc. is a computer product company that was launched into the market through the collaborative efforts of Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak in the year of 1976 and is aimed at reaching the diverse global community. The changes in the external environment of the company determine the decisions that the corporation will make. Apple Inc. has reputable frameworks that have been developed to assess the external environments of the company. The company has identifies the specific domains that affect the operations of the company from the outside. These forces on the organization enable the operations of the company to be influenced. In a broader sense, the entities that fall outside the operations of the Apple Inc and relate to the company are the external environment. These are the elements that exist outside the company confines and still affect the organization and its operations. The fast expansion of e-commerce in the business realm is one of the major external factors that affect the operations of Apple Inc. The company will hence have internal adjustments of its systems so as to keep up with the changing e-commerce. Apple Inc interacts with its external environment to accomplish it set goals. Apple Inc is aimed at creating value and competition that is sustainable for the company to attain great profit maximization levels. Through the following internal competitive environments, Apple Inc can remain top in the computer market. The strong...
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...Strategic Quality Management and Customer Satisfaction Team B MGT 449 May 22, 2012 Teresa Knox Strategic Quality Management and Customer Satisfaction Every organization must establish a strategic position at which it wants to enter or maintain in their chosen industry. They accomplish this by developing a quality management approach and customer satisfaction measurements adhered to by all employees. This paper illustrates Apple Inc.’s SWOTT analysis and how the company develops its vision, mission, and guiding principles based on this analysis. This paper also reviews how Apple’s strategic plans and objectives define quality as a core principle. Finally, an assessment of some tools Apple uses to measure customer satisfaction and how these measurements can enhance quality. Apple Inc. Apple designs, develops and markets personal computers, media devices, and portable digital music players. Founded in 1979 by Steve Wozniak and Steven Jobs, Apple has become a world leader in the personal electronic entertainment industry. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online stores. The company reinvented the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and application stores, and has recently introduced its magical iPad that is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices. The organization built this empire by sustaining the Four Basic Values establish from its conception. Honesty; Ensures Apple demonstrate honesty and high ethical standards...
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...Implementation of SWOT Analysis at Apple Presented By: Chanda Snyder Marketing November 18, 2012 Introduction The Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis guides you to identify the positives and negatives inside and outside of your organization. Program directors, policy groups and management teams can use this resource to help with both strategic planning and decision-making. A SWOT analysis will provide perspective, and reveal connections and areas for action. (Strategic Management, 1993). Strength, Weakness, Opportunity, Threat. A SWOT analysis guides you to identify the positives and negatives inside your organization (S-W) and outside of it, in the external environment (O-T). Developing a full awareness of your situation can help with both strategic planning and decision-making. (Strategic Management, 1993). The SWOT method (which is sometimes called TOWS) was originally developed for business and industry, but it is equally useful in the work of community health and development, education, and even personal growth. (Strategic Management, 1993). SWOT is not the only assessment technique you can use, but is one with a long track record of effectiveness. Compare it with other tools found in the Community Tool Box (especially Chapter 3) to determine if this is the right approach for your situation. The strengths of this method are its simplicity and application to a variety of levels of operation. (Strategic Management, 1993). SWOT analysis...
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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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...APPLE, Inc. CASE STUDY WHATIS STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT AND WHY IS IT CRITICAL TO THE SUCCESS OF AN ORGANIZATION IN MEETING ITS GOALS AND MISSION? Regiane Velez Kaplan University GB520: Strategic Human Resources Management APPLE, Inc. What is Strategic Management, and why is it critical to the success of an organization in meeting its goals and mission? What is Strategic Management? The concept of "strategy" is based in a war scenario, the constant fights and battles over the centuries have caused the military to start thinking before you act- the battles are analyzed and planned in advance. In General Sun Tzu’s words: “The general who wins a battle makes many calculations in his temple ere the battle is fought.” When translating it to today’s Strategic Management’s words, it means: “Those companies and individuals who win in the business world make much calculation, planning and deliberations on their strategy and plans. Those who plan less have lower chance of success, much less those who don’t plan anything at all.” (Soo, 2011). Developing a Strategic Planning increases the likelihood that in the future, the organization will be in the right place at the right time. Strategic Management collects all activities and processes utilized by an organization in order to align resources and actions with mission, vision and strategy throughout the organization. When applied correctly, strategic management activities...
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...University of Phoenix Nana Offei MGT498 Strategic Management The role of ethics and social responsibility August 30, 2012 Abstracts Ethics and social responsibility occupy an important place in human value system. Customer confidence in how business operates has been severely shaking by recent corporate scandals and collapses, such as Enron and bank failures. Hence it is important for companies to consider incorporating ethics and social responsibility into their strategic planning. The (term) ethnics are derivative from the Greek word ethikos, which meaning tradition or character. In philosophy ethical behavior is that which is respectable in the area of moral, philosophy involves in developing, defensive and also recommending concept of right and wrong behavior. These ideas do not change as one desire” and inspiration This applies whether a company is involve with customers one-on-one, such as apple or Dell, Inc.; there are various ways to define ethics the simplest may be to say that ethics deals with right and wrong. However, it is difficult to judge what may be the right or wrong in a particular situation without some frames of reference. However” this paper will illuminate the role of ethics and social responsibility in developing a strategic plan while considering stakeholder need and agendas. In addition apple Inc. will be the example of organization drive that will overstepping the ethics boundaries for stakeholder agendas and the types of...
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