Apple, Inc. Case Study: Apple Inc

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).

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.

Apple Inc. is considered to be one of the most successful consumer electronics at the market. The company is aimed at bringing the best user experience to its customers by means of the innovative hardware and software. As a part of its strategy, the company continues to improve its product line for the development of digital content and applications through different Internet Services allowing customers to discover digital contents. Apple Inc. focuses on the ongoing investments in research, marketing and advertising, which are of great value for the production of innovative products and technologies. Even though the company constantly launches new products, Apple investors might want to take the long-term analysis in order to make a deeper analysis about the company and its potential as an investment in the years ahead. The objective of the financial ratio analysis is to look closer at the

This graph shows the total number of Apple employees at the end of each fiscal year from 2005 to 2016. As of 2016, the total number of full-time employees had reached more than 110 thousand. Apple is the most valuable brand in the world in 2016 (Forbes, 2016), but it is not the world’s largest companies in terms of staff. A lot of companies in technology industry, such as Amazon and Samsung, have a larger number of employees than Apple.

In this research paper I would like present the strategies of the World’s most Profitable, Leading and Uniquely Recognized Company: Apple Inc.

“Apple was two months from bankruptcy” in September 1997 which led to CEO Steve Jobs to reconstruct their plan. In order to bring Apple back up into the competitive market, Jobs implement a new strategy which “shrunk Apple to a scale and scope suitable to the reality of its being a niche produce in the highly competitive personal computer business. He cut Apple back to a core that could survive” (12). What made Job successful was focusing on the sources and barriers to be successful in the market and to utilize the opportunities that came by. The strategy of eliminating unnecessary cost or reducing risk help transform Apple’s business

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.

When the leadership of Apple changed from the visionary leader and founder Steve Jobs to Tim Cook many people viewed the transition with skepticism because of the big shoes that Tim was expected to fit in. The competition was high especially in the smart phones and watches market where the rate of innovation from the other competing companies is also high. The creativity of firms like Sam Sung had threatened to wipe out the legacy of Apple as the leading producer of smart devices.

One of the major challenges facing Apple was to get the appropriate replacement of the company’s visionary Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Steve Jobs who died on October 2011. The CEO was responsible for turning Apple into what it is today. Apple is in this case challenged to purse the strategies employed by Steve, that propelled the company to new heights, and which saw the company become a

Introduction The intention of presenting this report is to give a full strategic appraisal and evaluation of Apple Inc. In 1976, the company was founded in a garage in Santa Clara, California. The American multinational corporation mainly involves in designing and marketing consumer electronics, computer software and as well as personal computers. Differentiation is the current strategy position of Apple Inc. There are five main firms in the PC industry and among them; the world’s leading brand is Dell. Apple’s major target is to sustain their present strategic position and to take over the market position as a leader. The key stakeholders include Steve Jobs, employees, lenders and the government.

This paper presents a case study of Apple Inc. Apple Inc. is a technology based corporation with emphasis on computer software and hardware (MAC and Apps), tablets (IPad), smart phones (IPhone), and mp3 plays, (ITouch). Apple Inc. has grown tremendously over the years and ever since 2001 has expanded its brand and retail stores to over 375 stores/outlets globally. The business has seventy two thousand eight hundred employees in thirty eight countries. Apple Inc. has truly become one of the most efficacious corporations within its field behind or competing with Microsoft and Google Inc.

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).

Damages and FRAND. Apple seek $2.525 billion in damages. Samsung seeks $400 million in royalty fees. As per Apple, Samsung asked for 2.4% of every iPhone or iPad sold to cover infringement of its patents. Whereas Samsung hasn’t asked any other users of the baseband chip to pay any such amount. Which infringes the FRAND (Fair, Reasonable and Non-Discriminatory) patent licensing terms.

Apple Inc., has come a long way since 1976 and is one of the most valuable companies in the world. Throughout its history, Apple has faced many external factors that have influenced the company; however, the company has become an industry leader by managing market growth through Innovation. The main strategic issues Apple faces are competitive rivalry and the bargaining power of buyers or customers. The most interesting thing about this case is how Apple was able to transform itself into the Industry leader bringing its stock price up from a low of $6 to a high of $705 through its ability to innovate and raise substantial brand loyalty. In addition, how Bill Gates pretty much stole the whole idea behind what made Microsoft 3.1 so great.

The iconic American technological company Apple is worth a staggering $498 billion (CNN Money, 2016) and has the biggest customer loyalty base. This once garage operating company start-up is now one of the largest multi national companies taking not only the millennial by storm but also our baby boomers. People of all ages are enjoying the innovation and originality of Apple products. Apple has a growth rate of 44% annually (CSI Markets, 2015) and makes up 35% of the global technological market (Edwards 2014). Although Apple may operate out of California they have a vast presence overseas, especially in Eastern Countries. China is where Apple manufactures all of their crazed products annually. 71% of smart phones are manufactured in China (Ibisworld 2016). If Apple were to move manufacturing of their products to the US it would cost the company $4.2 Billon US (Forbes, 2013). Many multinational companies call China home to manufacturing due to the low cost of in capital, undervalued currency, energy and tax incentives.