Apple Computer Case

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

One key element of Apple’s strategy in computers, personal media players, tablet computers, and smart phones is product innovation, diversification and development. Over the years Apple has been very successful in integrating software and hardware in new developing products. Despite the struggling economy in recent years, Apple has been able to grow their market share and stay ahead of the game.

Since 1976 Apple’s innovation has helped the company become a market leader in computer and mobile electronics. Through this time the company has faced a number of challenges either it be an internal power struggles or criticism from the media for certain aspects of their business model. This report covers five different issues that the company is facing or may face in the future.

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 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 has prospered internally and it is necessary to consider both strengths and weaknesses. Apple has lots of strengths, the major of them being it’s impressive brand reputation, Apple managed to position the brand as “premium products” for “elite” people. Customers are loyal and tend to stay in Apple’s ecosystem. Apple’s self-reinforcing ecosystem, it has a diverse ecosystem which integrates various hardware and software products into one large interactive space. Status of top innovator, Apple is perceived as the leading innovator and its products are highly anticipated. Apple’s very strong financial performance, high profit margins and very high liquidity. It’s network of retail stores, high-quality customer service helps to create advanced user experience. A powerful marketing strategy, Apple’s team masterly uses various marketing techniques to create a hype for their products and to strengthen the brand.

I learned that Apple is a juggernaut when it comes to their technological products and marketing goals. Apple focuses on the needs of customer’s light years ahead of their competition and even before most consumers have realized they want Apple’s products. Through their innovative marketing involving social media, word of mouth, Apple Stores they have convinced consumers about the high value of their product even lending to the formation of a “Mac cult” for its diehard fans. The way ahead for Apple is not to lose sight of its brand loyalty and continue to service the customers and entice them with the brand’s prestige. Even with the death of Steve Jobs, I believe Apple forge ahead to differentiate itself from the markets they are in.

Apple has a share of five percent of the market, but has had a shipment growth of 27.7 percent. In the first quarter of 2011, and overall computer (PC) shipments dropped 1.2 percent. Unlike Apple, PC’s don’t come from on single manufacture and there are wide varieties of the PC. Apple computers cost quite more than a PC with very similar specs. Apple is also very selective about where is sells its computers where as Microsoft and other companies are not (“Pumphrey”).

Even though Apple has encountered many setbacks, it continues to bring new and improve products to the market. Apple’s competitive strategy has been innovation. They have made an extraordinary effort developing, implementing, and executing its very unique strategy through innovation which has resulted in new product, and the enrichment of the existing ones. More specifically, Apple attempts to meet and supply the needs of a global market, by offering eager and enthusiastic consumers with innovated and high-quality products and services. Apple has employed a differentiation strategy linked to innovation with its three core products (computers, personal media player, mobile phones, tablets and other accessories). A key piece of their strategy involves meeting the needs of the converging digital electronics and computer markets. Apple has elected to implement its strategy by designing and developing proprietary operating systems and software technologies, thus allowing for strict protection of its intellectual rights.

Current rivalry: Apple faces an intense and fierce competition in the PC market, which has a very low switching cost. Competition comes from IBM, Dell, HP and Toshiba. In the multimedia solutions category, initial companies such as Napster and Kazaa was the main rivals to Apple’s iTunes and iPod but due

Most demanded and sold Apple products are laptops, therefore producing more types to meet as many needs as possible.

Capabilities are the firms ' capacity to deploy resources that have been purposely integrated to achieve a desired end state (Hit, Ireland, and Hoskisson, p.81).In the case for Apple the firm 's unique marketing abilities, engineering skills, creativity, and R&D. Apple 's distinctive core competencies lie within their ability to provide quality products through their vertically integrated inbound activities. Not only are Apple 's finished goods differentiated by quality, they are innovative and cutting edge. Innovation is driven by consistent investment in R&D. Apple has also shown competencies in building brand reputation and generating buzz for its products. Their marketing campaigns have been successful and remain a value added activity. One of Apple 's key capabilities comes from co-founders, Steve Jobs, who has effectively manage to steer Apple into a new market and gain new market share. Apple has effectively integrated its supply chain and distribution channels with the installation of SAP R/3. It now offers built to order machines that can compete with Dell. Apple also has become a key innovator with products such as the

This is a crucial area for Apple to consider, as it faces a strong force of

This report had conducted a critical analysis of the Apple computers newer product lines, its competitors and recent events. This report has identified that monitoring a c company most modern product lines, its competitors and events that they carry out in the market is suitable for learning on the enterprise information and as such makes logical decisions about the future of a venture. In light of the Apple computers company, this report has established that of late, the company has incorporated the recent development in technology to come up with newer product lines. In this regard, the company has been able to gain a meaningful competitive advantage in this market through

The next force is the threat of new entrants. When Apple Computers were begun in the early 1980’s, the threat of new entrant was significant. During that period of time, PCs were relatively new to the market with existence of only few competitors, little distinction, no government regulation and the assembly of PCs was simple compare to now. In Apple’s case, the brand loyalty is the one reason that causes entry barriers for new companies, and also large startup costs, due to Apple’s computers are highly priced so that may be an opening for others computer companies in order to achieve lower prices for customers within the market. Unsurprisingly, the new enterprises appeared quickly and forced Apple to distinguish their product over time. After years of continued, finally, Apple was forced to produce more innovation, distinctive and superiority products, which is a dynamically favorable to both Apple and the industry. At the same time, the industry’s dominant players were becoming established, reducing the threat of new entrants and solidifying Apple’s position. Since the existing companies have created strong branding awareness, so this threat would be very low.