Case Study : Apple Inc.

Apple Inc. started off as a small computer company and rose to prominence over the following years. They faced great challenges and obstacles to evolve and become one of the top notch corporations today. Having a great CEO, Steve Jobs, is credited for the success of Apple. Under the leadership of Steve Jobs, Apple was able to innovate industry changing technology.

Based in Cupertino, California, Apple Inc. has become one of the titans of the technological industry in the 39 years since it was created in the spring of 1976. This growing company employees over 115,000 people and has 450 retail stores in 16 different countries. With an annual revenue of $233 billion in 2015 Apple Inc. is the most prosperous technological company in the world. Along with its many retail locations Apple also runs the online Apple Store making it a truly global brand. Over the years Apple has expanded their product line; in its infancy the company specialized in personal computers but more recently the main product line is phones and tablets. Apple’s other significant products include computer software and other consumer electronics (iPod, Apple Watch, and Apple computers).

IBM entered the market in 1981 and gave Apple its first real competition. Apple managed to bounce back and thrived on this competition to abolish complacency and starting findings new ways to stay

Apple Company Incorporated was founded on April 1, 1976. Apple was established by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak. Both Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak sought to create computers small enough to be placed in households and workplaces. Furthermore, they wanted a “user friendly”computer . The first Apple product was built in Job’s garage. Moreover, the first Apple computer was sold and Apple’s sales jumped from $7.8 million in 1978 and to $117 million in 1980. The first computers were a triumph. However, Wozniak left the company in 1983. But Jobs made a deal with Adobe, a small company and the creator of the PDF (Portable Document Format). Together, Jobs and Adobe introduced desktop publishing. IBook, a personal laptop, was introduced by jobs and a while later MP3players ,more commonly known as iPods, were announced. Later, the media player software, iTunes was presented. Later, the iPhone and Apple TV were created. In January 2010, the first iPad was released. One year later on October 5, 2011, Steve Jobs died.Yet his legacy, Apple, continues.

This research portfolio is about Apple Inc., a multinational company that has many operating locations in the world, such as China, Taiwan, Japan, Ireland, Europe, Australia and so on. This paper will focus on Apple 's background information, its global operations and lastly, its employees and suppliers that help with the success of its daily operations.

Apple focused on two major long-term strategies and tactics under several CEOs. Initially under Steve Jobs Apple’s long-term strategy was “to bring an easy to use computer to the market” (Yoffie & Slind, 2008). Afterwards several strategic alliances were formed:

Since the 1970’s Apple computers has made a large impact on the computer industry and has revolutionized what it means to be a computer company. Beginning as a project between Steve Jobs and

According to "Apple And The Environment" (2012), “Apple is still the only company in our industry whose entire product line not only meets but exceeds the strict energy guidelines of the ENERGY STAR specification”.   According to "IBM Supplier Conduct Principles: Guidelines" (2004), “IBM suppliers will operate in a manner that is protective of the environment. At a minimum, suppliers must comply with all applicable environmental laws, regulations and standards such as requirements regarding chemical and waste management and disposal, recycling, industrial wastewater treatment and discharge, air emissions controls, environmental permits and environmental

Apple’s strategy has evolved as technology does. At the beginning, Apple focused on the computer industry

Please divide Apple 's history into periods and trace the changes in business models that took place over these periods.

Apple’s competitive position changed fundamentally in 1981 when IBM entered the PC market. The IBM PC, which used Microsoft’s DOS operating system (OS) and a microprocessor (also called a CPU) from Intel, was a relatively “open” system that other producers could clone. Apple, on the other hand, practiced horizontal and vertical integration. It relied on its own proprietary designs and refused to license its hardware to third parties.

Apple Inc., which designs, produces and famous for computers, MP3 players, phones, and tablets, is one of the largest and most profitable companies in the world. The company was found in 1976 by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak in Los Altos, California. At the beginning, Job’s mission was to bring an easy-to-use computer to the market, which led to the release of the Apple II in April 1978. After that, Apple quickly became the industry leader and launched a successful IPO in 1980. In 1985, due to decline of Apple’s net income, Jobs was forces out and John Sculley started to lead this company. Sculley pushed the Mac into new markets, most notably in desktop publishing and

Apple Inc. is a globally recognised pioneer in the tech industry. It is a corporation that designs, develops and sells electronic products such as tablets, computers and phones. Founded by Ronald Wayne, Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak in 1976, it is a multinational corporation with headquarters in Cupertino, California. Tim Cook has been CEO since Jobs’ passing in 2011.

Apple Inc. has launched its iPhone in January 2007 (telegraph) as a new product in the market with latest technology and it was the first multi touch smartphone adding the feature of iPod and received an overwhelmed response by selling 270000 units. It had created a new record for a new company like apple, iPhone had laid a stepping stone for the success of Apple and till this time iPhone is the best seller product of Apple Inc. during first quarter of 2016 apple has sold over 74 million iPhones worldwide. (statista, 2016).

In its infancy, Apple Computer Inc. began with the Macintosh personal computer. The company was founded on April 1, 1976. The founders were Steve Wozniak and Steven Jobs. They incorporated the company in 1977, on January 3rd, in Cupertino, California. In the twenty years that followed, the company produced personal computers. Besides the Macintosh, Apple Inc. made Apple II, and the Power Mac lines. Although they lasted for decades, during the 90’s the company experienced some turbulent times with low sales and market share. Steve Jobs left Apple Inc. and came back in 1996 when his company, NeXT was purchased by Apple. In 1997, Jobs became the interim CEO. In later years it became a permanent position for him.