Preview

Apple's Beethoven

Best Essays
Open Document
Open Document
3550 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Apple's Beethoven
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
INTRODUCTION

This report will thoroughly go through the case of Apple, a company that is at the forefront of entertainment technology. Our team of expert analysts and consultants has carefully evaluated the situation of the company, determining what practices and innovations have led to its current position, developing a plan will continue to help the company further it’s position, and provide logical rationale and follow up to our plan. Before getting into the details of the company’s managerial and innovational practices, the report will provide a brief overview of the company. Apple is in a critical position with the loss of its former CEO, Steve Jobs, but with implementation of certain practices and policies, it can continue as a company that is representative of innovation.

OVERVIEW OF THE COMPANY

Apple is one of the world’s leading computer companies, selling laptop, desktop and tablet computers, as well as cell phones and they revolutionized the music industry with the release of its mp3 player, the iPod. Apple also develops computer software, such as iTunes, which has an online store to buy music, movies, books, and software. Buyers love its products, as they are deemed much simpler to use than competitors. Apple at one point held a very small share of the computer market, but with the introduction of the iPod, business began to boom. Today the company boasts impeccably sound financial and accounting practices. The main premise of the company is to provide superior, innovative technological products.

OVERVIEW OF THE ISSUE

Apple has focused on innovation as the driving force behind its vast success. Innovation led the company to the forefront of the technology industry. A problem the company faces is to remain driven and produce industry-changing products, as it did with the iPod. At times, innovation has hurt more than helped the company, namely compatibility issues in the 1980s and 90s. While trying to stay ahead of the



Cited: Chen, B. (2008, October 21). Jobs: Apple is Thrid Largest. Retrieved December 2, 2011, from Eppicenter: http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2008/10/with-iphone-app/ Mahmood, O. (2007). Appl Inc. 2007. Retrieved December 1, 2011, from TecKnowledge: http://www.tecknowlogic.com/2011/01/apple-inc-2007-present-reaching-unlimited-heights-day-1-article-6/ Ostrow, A. (2009, January 14). Breaking: Steve Jobs Taking a Leave Of Absence. Retrieved November 29, 2011, from Mashable: http://mashable.com/2009/01/14/steve-jobs-leave-of-absence/ Reisinger, Don. (2011, October 7). Big mo: In one week, apple icloud hits 20m users; 25m use ios 5. Retrieved from http://news.cnet.com/8301-13506_3-20121323-17/big-mo-in-one-week-apple-icloud-hits-20m-users-25m use-ios-5/ Schnendler, B. (2005, February 21). How big can apple get. Fortune, 66-73. Slivka, E. (2011, September 8). Apple Institutes New Charitable Matching Program for Employees. Retrieved December 3, 2011, from MacRumors: http://www.macrumors.com/2011/09/08/apple-institutes-new-charitable-matching-program-for-employees/ Sorkin, A. (2011, August 29). The Mystery of Steve Job 's Public Giving. Retrieved Decebmer 4, 2011, from DealBook: http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2011/08/29/the-mystery-of-steve-jobss-public-giving/ Zaleski, K. (2009, January 14). Leave of Absence. Retrieved December 1, 2011, from HuffPost: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/14/steve-jobs-leave-of-absen_n_157963.html

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Powerful Essays

    Apple is one of the most successful companies that is globally known, which has proving them to be the leaders in consumer technology. The company is over 30 years and is still very successful and has no signs of slowing down their success. Apple continues to surprise the world with new products year after year using top of the line technology. Apple has produced several products like the Apple I, Apple II, a Quick Take camera, the iMac, and the iPod those are just five of the amazing products the Apple has produced. Though very successful since 1976, they have had some issues with competitors but has overcome and passed them with annual revenues in the billion’s.…

    • 1398 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Disclosure Analysis Paper

    • 903 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The publicly held company selected to use as the basis for this paper is Apple Inc. Apple Inc. designs, manufactures and markets mobile communication and media devices, personal computers, and portable digital music players, and sells a variety of related software, services, peripherals, networking solutions, and third-party digital content and applications. The Company’s business strategy leverages its unique ability to design and develop its own operating systems, hardware, application software, and services to provide its customers new products and solutions with superior ease-of-use, seamless integration, and innovative design. The Company believes continual investment in research and development and marketing and advertising is critical to the development and sale of innovative products and technologies. (Form 10-K, 2011, p. 1)…

    • 903 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    In the last decade Apple Inc. has yielded exponential growth. As a company, the imaginative and invocative approaches of technological product advancements have enable Apple, Inc. to achieve an elite status among technology companies throughout the world. Apple, Inc. serves as an inspiration to many companies through higher benchmark standards they created. Though their product margin is not as vast as most technological competitors, Apple, Inc. innovates and releases a new product to consumers. Apple, Inc. has proven to able to move and create new markets with one product that allows Apple, Inc. to rain as the elite player in technology.…

    • 1351 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Apple Inc. is world famous for creating the Mac. They are known by everyone and everyone knows they are the best when it comes to electronics. Apple has created MacBook’s, IPod’s, and ITunes software and know the MacBook Air. Almost every year they seem to come out with the latest technology. Because Apple is so well known, many think they are thriving, but the real question is are they? In this essay you will read about Apple Inc.’s progress and areas that need to be fixed. The Apple brand is so well known with high popularity, it enables the company to create premium pricing and significant demand for its products. When people buy electronics they prefer to buy their products because of the brand and quality. This also gives them an advantage over regional and global competitors, but because of the increase in popularity of the Android; can affect the attraction of Apple’s iOS and can affecting their market share. The company’s strength mostly comes from the brand. It also claims a strong financial performance and gives major capital for future growth (Apple Inc., n/d). The R&D team is constantly pouring innovation and combining its…

    • 885 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Our analysis of Apple Inc. will incorporate the general overview of the company and how it records it revenues. We will observe how they make an honest effort to be within compliance of all accounting standards according to the Financial Accounting Standards Board for recording and disclosure of its income. Apple’s leading competitor, Google Inc., will also be examined to see whether they are comparable to Apple and still within compliance of the Securities and Exchange Commission and FASB for revenue recognition. Apple takes on design, development and marketing of personal computers, portable digital music players, and media devices that exceed the reach of everyday needs. The company also sells a variety of related software, services, networking solutions, and digital content and applications through its centralized internet store. The company’s assortment of attributes consist of iPhone handhelds and iPad portable multimedia and computing devices, Macintosh computers, and iPods line of portable digital media players. The company primarily operates in the US. It is headquartered in Cupertino, California and employs 46,600 employees (DATAMONITOR).…

    • 1412 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Although it is argued that Apple has relied on innovation and design to become a major competitor in the technology sector, their success is largely due to its ingenious organizational structure, authority, and job design utilized within the company.…

    • 1134 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Better Essays

    Apple has been known to be an inherently personal computer company. However, it is also well known that there is no better example of innovative strategic thinking and execution. Apple’s strategy has remained to creating and sustaining value for customers across the world. Jobs returned to Apple in 1997 and the company never looked back since. However, it is also said that Apple lost the pc business because of ignoring the trends in pc industry. Apple’s business strategy is primarily based on innovation for creating differentiated products. It has built products that are cool to use as well as simple and intuitive. Its…

    • 3440 Words
    • 14 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    The Apple Company is a giant in the electronic industry and have proven themselves most successful over the past 40 plus years, and continue to be innovative and grow with the ever changing industry. Apple is most well-known for the iPod, iPad, iPhone, iTouch and the mac computer. These devices are mostly sold in their retail stores and the company’s online site, and third party cellular network carriers worldwide. The company is also well known for their iTunes and App Stores.…

    • 1017 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Apple had been a very successful company since its foundation in 1976. It has been a leader in the computer and mobile technologies field since its first release of the Apple- I to the most recent revolutionary product, the iPad. Through its core competencies innovative design, advanced technology, ease of use, and premium pricing strategy; the company has always positioned itself as a quality leader. Despite their disadvantage in pricing, Apple has seen consistent success throughout its history, specifically since the release of its new mobile devices, as is evidenced by the 15-fold increase of its share price since 2003. Since its early years, Apple has had a drive for innovation and excellence, striving to release new hit products every six to twelve months. This strategy has been greatly successful for the company, as their new products are redefining the industry every year. These products can continue to be refined and perfected to appeal exactly to the company’s target market.…

    • 738 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    accounting final project

    • 1187 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Apple Inc. (Apple), an extremely successful and profitable American multinational corporation, was founded in the 1970s. As a technology company, it designs, manufactures, and markets personal computers, computer software, mobile phones, digital music players and sells related music software, and sells related product accessories. Furthermore, Apple’s distinguished and well profitable products and services include iPod, iPhone, Mac computers, Apple TV, Xserve, consumer and professional software applications, and iTunes (a platform of digital media application). Moreover, the Company sells its products all over the world through its retail stores, online stores, contractual cell phone carriers, and many value-added resellers. According to the New York Times, as September 25, 2010, Apple had opened a total of 317 retail stores, including 233 stores in the U.S. and 84 stores internationally. In addition, Apple Inc. is rated as the most valuable publicly traded Technology Company in 2011. In this project, I will do the brief discussion of Apple Inc.’s financial performance through its fourth quarter financial report for 2010.…

    • 1187 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Apple 2010

    • 1157 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak created Apple Computer Inc. in 1976, introducing the first apple personal computer that was mass produced. Throughout the years apple has attained great heights and success in the computer and technological arena. The company has had a competitive advantage in the creation and marketing of the iPod, iPhone, and various other personal media devices including the apple personal computer. This paper will address the following:…

    • 1157 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Apple Case Questions

    • 2665 Words
    • 11 Pages

    investment in iPods? The iPods have revolutionized the way Americans buy, listen and enjoy their favorite music. In just a few short clicks, consumers across the globe can download that "oldie but goodie" taking them "back down memory lane". However, the investment in the iPods was only just the beginning for Apple. It opened the door to a whole new portfolio of sleek. fun and clever technological advances for men, women and children everywhere. When Apple capitalized on iTun es and the iPods ten years ago, the iPod shuffle, iPod Touch, iPod nano and the iPod Classic were all born. Then came the iPhone and the iPad. Not to mention the extensive line of computers including the MacBook, the MacBook Air, the MacBook Pro, the iMac, MacMini and the MacPro. From the co,nception of just one idea, Apple has evolved into a multi-billion dollar company. If Apples top executives had not supported investment in the iPod, the company wou ld not be in the financial position it is in today. In fact, the company could have very well gone under. In the article, "In from the cold: How Apple has blossomed" the author states, "Just a decade after almost fold ing, the consumer-electronics provider is worth over $1 oo billion and now rubs shoulders with the USA s most prestigious organizations" (Unknown Author, 2008, p, 13). By getting in front of the MP3 trend that began back in 2000, Apple took its competitive advantage to a whole new level. Steve Jobs and other company executives saw the tremendous opportunity and took action to invest in it. That bold and smart step fore\(er changed the game of technology and entertainment and secured the company s future . 2. Formulate a strategy for how Apple can use efficiency IT metrics to improve its business. Companies like Apple have to constantly find ways to improve the way they do business. Executives can not simply rest on…

    • 2665 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    This paper examines how Steve Jobs brought about change in Apple due to his leadership. It looks at ways he has continually pursued new, successful ventures to benefit Apple. Also, it will show that Jobs has managed to figure out what customers want before they even realize it themselves. Additionally, it will review how he makes the hard choices and stands behind his decisions. Then, it will examine Jobs’ communication abilities and how he creates enthusiasm for upcoming products. Finally, it will illustrate the impact Jobs has made in the world of Apple.…

    • 1408 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Androids vs Iphones

    • 1132 Words
    • 5 Pages

    The Apple Computer Company is arguably one of the most innovative technology companies to emerge in the last three decades. Apple, Inc. is responsible for bringing to market such products as the Macintosh computer and laptop, iPod and iTunes, and most recently, the iPhone. The success of the company can be traced primarily to a single individual--founder, Steven Jobs. Jobs and his friend, Steve Wozniak founded and built Apple into a 32 billion dollar company. The company enjoyed much success during the past decade with its stock price hitting a high of $200 in 2007. (Finkle 31)…

    • 1132 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Planned Obsolescence

    • 1797 Words
    • 8 Pages

    Gardner, David. "Steve Jobs’ Secret Legacy: Dying Apple Boss Left Plans for Four Years of New Products." Mail Online. Daily Mail, 8 Aug. 2011. Web. 14 June 2012. <http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2046397/Steve-Jobs-dead-Apple-boss-left-plans-4-years-new-products.html>.…

    • 1797 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays