StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

Apple Inc. Business Analysis - Essay Example

Cite this document
Summary
This paper 'Apple Inc. Business Analysis' tells us that under consideration is the organization Apple, Inc. Apple, Inc. will be examined for potential purchase and inclusion for the mutual fund. Once a thriving technology company, the organization went through a period of hardship after firing company founder and CEO Steve Jobs…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER98.3% of users find it useful
Apple Inc. Business Analysis
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "Apple Inc. Business Analysis"

? Apple, Inc. Business Analysis Introduction Under consideration is the organization Apple, Inc. Apple, Inc. will be examined for potential purchase and inclusion for the mutual fund. Apple’s history is well understood. Once a thriving technology company, the organization went through a period of hardship after firing company founder and CEO Steve Jobs. Jobs would later return and guide the organization to eminence, and Apple, Inc. is today the world’s most profitable technology company. In determining future investment viability a number of perspectives are advanced. SWOT Analysis Strengths One of the most overarching considerations is Apple, Inc.’s SWOT analysis. The organization’s current strengths are multi-varied. Perhaps Apple’s greatest current strength is its competitive advantages. From the earliest incarnations of Apple Computer the company sought to carve out a competitive advantage through horizontal and vertical integration that restricted external product licensing ("Apple computer, inc.," 2011). Today among Apple’s strongest products are the iPhone, iPod, iPad, and the Mac book. These elements have a strong presence in everyday recreation uses, artistic practices, and education. In addition, they are supported by Apple’s globally strong brand. Another prominent advantage is Apple’s attention to design elements. Building products from the ground up allows Apple to implement innovative design elements that create a loyal customer base. One considers the iMac released in 1998 with its eggshell design as prominently implementing this technique ("Apple computer, inc.," 2011). This design advantage also extends into Apple’s image. Apple, Inc. increasingly cultivates an image that presents itself as the alternative choice to mainstream computer producers. This has allowed Apple to become a cultural force resulting in significant market advantage. The iPhone contains Apple’s unique operating system, allowing it significant quality advantage over competitors ("Apple -- iphone," 2011). Indeed, quality product design has become one of the driving forces of Apple’s success and has created a significant competitive barrier for outside manufacturers, such as Google (Gilbertson, 2010). One must also consider the iPhone’s competitive advantage in terms of its position in the Apple whole. In these regards, Apple has been able to leverage its competitive position in mp3 with iTunes and its compatibility with the Macintosh operating system as a means of encouraging user identification (Schramm, 2011). The Apple App Store also provides the organization with a unique advantage over other smart phone suppliers. In addition, Apple’s implementation of Siri voice activation technology will surely drive an amount of future sales. Weaknesses While Apple, Inc. has a number of strengths one must consider their potential weaknesses. One of the largest questions of the organization is the extent that they can continue their current unprecedented streak of innovation and growth. Perhaps the greatest challenge in this realm of understanding considers that company founder Steve Jobs recently died; significant questions remain as to whether new CEO Tim Cook will be able to continue this past success. While the Apple App store is a highly important element in the iPhone’s success the Android Marketplace has begun developing a number of competitive applications as a means of threatening Apple’s smart phone sustainability (Wauters, 2011). In addition, Microsoft has developed a new smart phone design and will pose new challenges to Apple’s overarching market share. Still, the greatest weakness is that while Apple has leveraged market share through product innovation the open source models have been able to reengineer many of Apple’s innovations. While Apple has engaged in a series of patent lawsuits, notably a recent victory over HTC, the extent that this remains a viable strategy remains greatly questionable. Furthermore, Google’s position as a cornerstone of the Internet, coupled with the increasing coupling of telecommunication and search, could potentially allow Android to leverage compatibility with Google as a means of competitive advantage. Ultimately, the industry remains highly competitive; if Apple is unable to maintain constant innovation, its competitive advantage will quickly fade. Opportunities & Threats In addition to Apple’s strength the organization has a number of potential opportunities and threats. In terms of opportunities, Apple’s commitment to excellence presents significant potential for the organization gaining increasing market share in terms of its already existing products. Recently, Research in Motion (RIM) has experienced significant setbacks in terms of its Blackberry phone, leaving the door open for the Apple iPhone to assume much of this market share. Added to this Apple, Inc. has already designed and plans to soon release the Apple TV, there is the potential that the organization even extends beyond its current market position. Still, Apple, Inc. faces a number of threats. As noted earlier the emergence of Google’s Android smart phone, as well as Microsoft’s recent entry in the market could present a growing degree of new challenges. One also considers that Apple has gained recent negative publicity for the factory conditions of many of its Chinese manufacturing entities. Although the organization has downplayed these factory conditions, one recognizes the full extent of their conditions may be unknown and could present significant supply chain difficulties in upcoming years. Stakeholder Interest In terms of stakeholders, Apple, Inc. is a publicly traded company. As such its primary stakeholders are its stockholders. Apple’s stock has experienced tremendous growth in recent years the staggering degree of increase surely has surely delighted individuals both internally and externally. One considers that in February alone the organization’s equity valuation rose from $400 to $500, now resting at an all time high. Internally executive and employee compensation, while not specifically released to the public, is oftentimes linked to increasing stock prices and company net profits; as such recent expectations have been adequately met. A third potential stakeholder could be considered the social environment in which the organization operates, namely the United States. The recent strife surrounding factory conditions could be considered an area where Apple has failed to live up to expectations. Conclusion Ultimately, while it is recognized that Apple, Inc. has a number of weaknesses and threats that could dislodge its future market position, it remains an attractive investment option. Apple’s iPhone remains one of the preeminent options for smart phone customers. The iPad remains a strong seller and at the forefront of tablet design. In addition, the upcoming release of Apple TV is all but assured to carry with it significant growth potential for the organization. For these reasons this report recommends the purchase of Apple for inclusion in the mutual fund. References Apple computer, inc. -- company history. 2011. Retrieved from http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/Apple-Computer-Inc- Company-History.html Apple -- iphone operating system. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.apple.com/iphone/ios/ Schramm, M., 2011. Analysis: itunes holds 12.6% of the us music market. Retrieved from http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/04/analysis-itunes-holds-12-6-of-the-us- music-market/ Wauters, R., 2011, January. Apple’s mac app store opens with more than 1,000 apps. Retrieved from http://techcrunch.com/2011/01/06/apple’s-mac-app-store-opens- with-more-than-1000-apps/ Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“Apple Inc. Business Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words”, n.d.)
Apple Inc. Business Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words. Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/marketing/1443036-apple-incbusiness-analysis
(Apple Inc. Business Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 Words)
Apple Inc. Business Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 Words. https://studentshare.org/marketing/1443036-apple-incbusiness-analysis.
“Apple Inc. Business Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 Words”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/marketing/1443036-apple-incbusiness-analysis.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF Apple Inc. Business Analysis

Apple, Inc. Business Analysis

With this concern, the balance sheet, income statement and the cash flow statements of apple inc.... The total equity was observed to depict an increase compared to the previous year (apple inc, 2011).... The operating profit or revenue of the company is considered to be the fundamental source of capital for supporting its regular business functions.... apple Incorporation was established in the year 1976 by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak and has its head office in California....
5 Pages (1250 words) Essay

Advantages and Disadvantages of tables computers for traveling salespeople

… As per the analysis of the paper, it has been observed that although there exist certain disadvantages associated with cost, increase in work and certain other issues but it offers significant advantages to salesperson in the form of mobility, functionality and features.... The main aim of this paper is to provide a detailed analysis of the growing use of tablet computers by sales people.... The main aim of this paper is to provide a detailed analysis of the growing use of tablet computers by sales people....
6 Pages (1500 words) Essay

Quantitative Techniques in Business as Expressed from the Analysis of Samsung and Apple Companies

Consequently, they act as vital tools in the analysis of the financial performance of different companies.... cademics and business people have applied the concept business model in determining and providing a comparison of how business both within the same sector and different sectors operate.... These models help to establish what a business does and the activities they engage in to do such things.... There is an interesting competition majorly between Smartphone giants like Samsung and apple....
15 Pages (3750 words) Essay

Competitive Strategy of Apple

The SWOT analysis… ried out on the apple inc, Nokia, Samsung, and Lenovo demonstrates the firms' dominance in the market that was achieved through strategic leadership and utilization of core competencies.... apple inc targets both low-level clients and high-level clients by releasing by introducing different standard phones with different pricing in China.... The Apple's existing strategies have been the core drivers towards the current success in carrying out business in China....
11 Pages (2750 words) Research Paper

Apple Business Strategy

The author of the following paper "Apple business Strategy" comments on the corporate strategies of Apple corporation.... Reportedly, apple has effectively managed to be a triple-crown company in a very competitive consumer industry by being innovative.... hellip; apple has very good strategies put in place to ensure that it overcomes the pressure from its close rivals such as Samsung and Sony Ericson.... apple does not allow other organizations to affect the brands and services it creates....
12 Pages (3000 words) Research Paper

Social Performance of Organizations (Apple)

The organization structure is simplified depending on apple inc.... Critical decision-making that affect the entire apple inc are made at the top and directives communicated to subsidiaries as policies.... Before Google launched and sold out android software, apple inc gave Google such a stiff competition in the market.... Such products include mobile phones, media devices, software, applications, PCs, digital musical players, third-party… The specific products are iPhones, iPads, Mac PC, apple TVs and iPod together with their related applications and software....
4 Pages (1000 words) Essay

Unethical Issues in Apple Company

n Apple's supply responsibility progress report for 2013, the company has stated that it has over 200 suppliers it deals with directly, majority of whom produce software with a few large ones producing hardware (apple inc.... To produce such high returns, apple puts pressure on its suppliers to deliver many gadgets that meet market demands and the result is that employees in the… Chinese labor laws have accused apple of violating its social responsibility code by contracting companies that employ underage people and forcing people to work for many hours without paying Two major unethical cases were with Pingzhou Electronics and Foxconn that have hired underage persons....
6 Pages (1500 words) Case Study

Segmentation, Target Market, and Positioning of the Fortified Wine

This paper "Segmentation, Target Market, and Positioning of the Fortified Wine" focuses on the fact that the Australian wine industry ranks high in the world in terms of volume and value of production and also retains a good position in terms of export.... It offers an array of wines.... nbsp;… Fortified wines are those which are popular with the rich famous and aristocrat....
10 Pages (2500 words) Business Plan
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us