Analysis of Fortune 500 Leader Apple Computer Executive Summary Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) has emerged as the dominant global manufacturer and marketer of advanced personal computer, desktop and consumer electronics products including the iPod, iTouch and iPhone Series of MP3, tablet PC and smartphone products. Apple's innovative approach to new product development requires intensive coordination and confidentiality on the part of suppliers, as the company will often move quickly from market test to launch in a matter of weeks. The speed and agility Apple moves with is exceptional given its size and the highly competitive nature of the industries it competes in as well (Franke, Schreier, 2010). While best known for its personal computers, MP3 players, tablet PCs and smartphones, Apple is also a leading innovator in the area of systems development and operating systems as well (Apple Investor Relations, 2012). Apple's go-to-market strategy relies on a global multichannel management system of distributors, resellers and its network of 318 retail stores. There are over 200 of these in the U.S. alone and 86 located internationally (Apple Investor Relations, 2012). As their retailing channels have been the most effective in selling iPods, Apple reports that the iTunes platform is now indirectly driving nearly 49% of all profitability fro the latest full fiscal year (Apple Investor Relations, 2012). For their latest full fiscal year, the company generated a record $108B in revenue,
Apple Incorporation is one of the largest organizations dealing into Information Technology. Apple has a host of products ranging from Laptops, Desktops, Mobile Phones and Multimedia Devices. The company has been extremely innovative in the field of multimedia and it owes it success to one of the greatest innovators, Steve Jobs. The company has always believed in innovation and that is the major reason why it has been so successful in the mobile phone segment. In recent years Apple is second only to Samsung in the Global Mobile Phone industry. However the operations have been largely based in the United States and in times of recession any organization needs to focus on economies of scale and thus focus on growth
This additional elasticity in Apple’s business strategy shows its aspiration to conquer Dell, HP and Microsoft, done with a exceptional and groundbreaking mixture of digital media and personal computer creations.
Apple is a global company represented in many parts of the world, but born in the United States by computer wizards by the names of Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak who founded the company back in 1976 (Capon, 2008). The organization deals with the design and sale of computer hardware, software and offers tech support to its customers. Examples of the hardware the company manufactures and sells include mobile phones, personal computers, iPads, tablets and iTunes with associated brands, like the MacBook and iPhones that represent Apple’s driving force towards its success. It is recognized as a brand leader in consumer electronics by the world in terms of quality and customer satisfaction and despite the wide product range, Apple manages each product in a distinct way that is a single business unit (Mittan, 2010).
Apple Inc. commonly known as Apple has effectively managed to be a successful company in a very competitive consumer electronics industry by been innovative and differentiating the company’s products with similar products in the markets by offering high quality products and good customer service while the actual manufacturing of the products is outsourced to trusted third party suppliers. On a wider perspective, the company has set high standards that even the company itself has to be on its level best to maintain the standards that it has set. Over the last few years, the consumer electronics market has
Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) is one of the world leaders in the research, development, marketing, sales and service of personal digital music & video devices, in addition to personal computers globally. Its' innovative music and digital content delivery service, iTunes, has sold over 1 billion songs to date. As of the close of their latest fiscal year the company generated $156B in Sales and generated a Gross Profit of $68B earning a Net Income of $41B (Apple Investor Relations, 2013). The intent of this analysis is to evaluate Apple's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) and provide an analysis of each. The cause, impact and recommendations for each specific strength, weakness, opportunity and threat are provided along with an action plan of how to maximize strengths and opportunities and mitigate the effects of weaknesses and threats. The Apple brand is among the most valuable in the world and its ability to innovate with successive product generations unmatched, yet this has led to a high dependence on its iPhone and iPad platforms, to the exclusion of entirely new businesses. The Apple iTunes platform and ecosystem delivers 30% of all profits and a significant portion of overall revenue, making this single business a stabilizing force in their strategic product and services roadmap (Apple Investor Relations, 2013). Despite these challenges however Apple continues to attain
"Pcs Industry Profile: United States." Pcs Industry Profile: United States (2012): 1-39. Business Source Premier. Web. 8 Oct. 2013.
2. Analyze the structure of the personal computer industry over the last 10 years. How have the dynamics of the PC industry changed?
Apple Inc. case study tells the history of the company, where and who had control in decision making to make the company increase in revenue. From the cofounders, Steve Jobs and Steven Wozniak all the way to replacement CEOs that the board members would appoint if predict profits were not where they expected. Apple’s only mission was success and producing better quarterly earnings. But everything comes with a price and Apple has seen their share of reported losses. John Sculley, Michael Spindler, and Gil Amelio had their turn in the CEO position put proved insufficient while running the head of operations.
The following paper aims at discussing the financial position of the American multinational corporation, Apple inc., which designs and markets consumer electronics, computers and personal computers mobile communication devices, and portable digital music and video players, as well as sells various related software, services, peripherals, and networking solutions. Apple Inc. together with subsidiaries sells its products worldwide through its online stores, retail stores, direct sales force, third-party wholesalers, resellers, and value-added resellers. The company sells its products to consumer, small and mid-sized business, education, enterprise, government, and creative customers. As of
In the last decade, Apple Inc. has become one of the utmost successful and wealthiest companies in the world. With the aid of other companies in the field of technology, Apple has achieved strides in the area of innovation that is nearly unparalleled in this modern age. How has the success of this once computer company turned into a multinational technology company, effected its workers, customers, and the social-economy that we live in? Slowly, Apple Inc. has become one of the largest companies in the world with their products being used everyday by millions of people and a major impact in the social economy and quality pay and benefits for their employees, however, with below average treatment in particular cases.
When most consumers think of a leader in the electronics market, they think of Apple. For many years now, Apple has been the forefront of innovation in the consumer electronics market. Products that are known around the world, such as the iPod and iMac, are famous for their ease of use and their stylish exteriors. The popularity of Apple’s products seems infinite; each release of the iPhone has been outselling the last. This industry leader is based on a solid business model that keeps customers coming back time after time, and attracts many new customers every year.
Apple has done an excellent job of developing a very distinct strategy through industry leading innovation. This strategy has allowed them to be the frontrunners in new product introductions and the improvement of existing products. Apple has employed a differentiation strategy in an attempt to meet the needs of a global market by offering customers innovative new products and improved existing products. An important part of their strategy involves meeting the needs of the evolving digital electronics and computer markets. Apple has chosen to implement its strategy by designing and developing its
In 2005, Apple Computers experienced significant sales increases attributable to the earlier rollout of the iPod (Robbins & Judge, 2009). The positive publicity and brand perception associated with that project also spilled over to its entire line of Macintosh computers, further bolstering sales revenue and corporate profits that year. The sales volume of virtually all Apple products increased after the introduction of the iPod, hitting $320 million in June of 2005 (Robbins & Judge, 2009). In general, every successful Apple product has benefited brand recognition and perception and invigorated the sales of other product lines, even those not directly related to it. By the end of 2005, Apple had sold approximately 22 million iPod units and more than half a billion individual song downloads through its music store, iTunes (George & Jones, 2008).
Apple has always been something of a trendsetter in the tech space. Its product history since Steve Jobs’s return in 1997 gives us a solid list of examples to choose from, from its very first iPod, to Apple’s PowerBook (and later MacBook) lines, to the iPhone and the iPad. Apple’s history is dominated by products that existed before Apple had a crack at them - but it was Apple who simplified them, made them appealing on a much wider scale, and ultimately made them objects of desire for the masses.
One factor that the company uses to penetrate the market is the fact that Apple deals in a variety of products, those of outstanding importance are the iPhone, laptops, desktop computers, the iPad, iPods and services like offering the iTunes. This way, the company