Apple INC
Originality Score 5%
Name: Donna Caesar-Roberts Professor: Jon Gettman Subject: MGMT 670 Date: 04/06/2014
Case 14: Apple Computers in 2012
Background
Apple computer Inc. is a multinational corporation that creates consumer electronic, personal computer, computer software, commercial servers and digital media. Apple‘s core product lines were iPhone, smart phones, iPads, tablet computers iPods, portable media players and Macintosh computers. The founder, Steve Jobs, and Steve Woziak started Apple Computers in 1976 and incorporated it into a company on January 3, 1977 (Cusumano, 2002). For more than two decades, Apple Computers predominantly manufactured computers, which included the Apple II and Macintosh computer product lines. The company upon establishment was successful, but later faced a slump in sales and low market share in the 1990s. Jobs, who had been ousted out of the company in 1985, returned to Apple in 1996 after his company NeXT was purchased by Apple. The following year he became the company’s interim CEO, and afterwards became the CEO. Because of his leadership style and philosophy, Job subsequently instilled a new corporate philosophy of products and simple design, which began with the introduction of the Mac computer. Apple success can be attributed to the aggressive business strategy to become a leader in the computer industry mainly due to the effort input in product innovation and development. Apple computer product expansion and competiveness enables them to become successfully in order to meet the demand of the consumer. Through Steve Job leadership, Apple introduced products that were considered new entrants in the market (Siameki, pg 50 2012). Some of competitors introduced products that were similar to Apple’s,
Name: Donna Caesar-Roberts Professor: Jon Gettman Subject: MGMT 670 Date: 04/06/2014
Case 14: Apple Computers in 2012
Background
Apple computer Inc. is a multinational corporation that creates consumer electronic, personal computer, computer software, commercial servers and digital media. Apple‘s core product lines were iPhone, smart phones, iPads, tablet computers iPods, portable media players and Macintosh computers. The founder, Steve Jobs, and Steve Woziak started Apple Computers in 1976 and incorporated it into a company on January 3, 1977 (Cusumano, 2002). For more than two decades, Apple Computers predominantly manufactured computers, which included the Apple II and Macintosh computer product lines. The company upon establishment was successful, but later faced a slump in sales and low market share in the 1990s. Jobs, who had been ousted out of the company in 1985, returned to Apple in 1996 after his company NeXT was purchased by Apple. The following year he became the company’s interim CEO, and afterwards became the CEO. Because of his leadership style and philosophy, Job subsequently instilled a new corporate philosophy of products and simple design, which began with the introduction of the Mac computer. Apple success can be attributed to the aggressive business strategy to become a leader in the computer industry mainly due to the effort input in product innovation and development. Apple computer product expansion and competiveness enables them to become successfully in order to meet the demand of the consumer. Through Steve Job leadership, Apple introduced products that were considered new entrants in the market (Siameki, pg 50 2012). Some of competitors introduced products that were similar to Apple’s,
References: Azadi Siamek and Rahimzadeh, E. (2012). Developing Marketing Strategy for Electronic Business by Using Porter’s Five Competitive Forces Volume 2 pg 47-57 Cusumano, M. (2002). Technological Strategy and Management. The Puzzle of Apple Inc. Harvard Business School Press, Boston MA. Renko. N. Sustic I. (2004). Designing Market Strategy Using the Five Competitive Forces by Michael Porter International Journal of Management Cases. Pg 376-382 Thompson, A and Gamble. J (2006) Strategy, Core Concepts and Analytical Tools: Copyright the McGraw-Hill Companies.