Scribd
Upload
2K views10 pages

Apple A Case Study

The document provides a case study analysis of Apple Inc. from 1976 to 2011. It outlines key events in Apple's history, including the founding in 1976, the launch of the Macintosh in 1984, Jobs returning as CEO in 1997, and the launches of the iPod in 2001, iTunes in 2003, iPhone in 2007, and iPad in 2010. It analyzes the causes of Apple's problems when it kept its software exclusive and played it safe in the market. Critical facts noted include Apple identifying new strategic opportunities in personal electronic devices, the success of the iPod launch, and Apple partnering with recording companies. The case is viewed from the CEO's perspective over this time period.

Uploaded by

Julian Alba
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
2K views10 pages

Apple A Case Study

The document provides a case study analysis of Apple Inc. from 1976 to 2011. It outlines key events in Apple's history, including the founding in 1976, the launch of the Macintosh in 1984, Jobs returning as CEO in 1997, and the launches of the iPod in 2001, iTunes in 2003, iPhone in 2007, and iPad in 2010. It analyzes the causes of Apple's problems when it kept its software exclusive and played it safe in the market. Critical facts noted include Apple identifying new strategic opportunities in personal electronic devices, the success of the iPod launch, and Apple partnering with recording companies. The case is viewed from the CEO's perspective over this time period.

Uploaded by

Julian Alba
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 10

Apple Inc.

: A Case Study

I. Title
II. Time Context
III. View Point
IV. A. Company Background
V. Critical Facts
Cause of the Problem
Analysis
B. General environmental Analysis

I. About

The case focuses on the strategic management of Apple to survive in the market.

It presents a detailed report on Apple’s business history and its changing leadership.

The company has seen lapses and problems yet it made a way to get back in making

profits and creating products that are premium quality. Thus, it also constitutes the

different factors that have led to changing leadership positions of the company.

II. Time Context

The case explores in 2008 where Apple Inc. made a significant shift in the

company’s strategy. Also, some of the significant events are the following:

 1984 – The launch of Apple Macintosh (Mac) 

 1990 - Microsoft had developed and distributed a new version of Windows 

 2000 - Apple identified a new strategic management opportunity

 2001 – The launch of Apple’s Ipod

 2003 - iTunes Music Store


  2007 -Apple followed up the launch of the iPod with the iPhone

 2010 - Launched the Apple Tablet 

 2011 - The second generation Apple tablet

III. View Point

The case is viewed from the point of view of the company’s CEO

IV-A. Areas of Consideration

Company Background

Apple Inc. is an American Multinational Corporation that designs, develops, and

sells, computer software and personal computers (Editorial, 2019). The company is best

known for their Macintosh personal computer line, Mac OS X, extremely loyal user-

base, iTunes media application and the iPod personal music player. The company

headquarters is in Cupertino, California, CEO and co-founder is Steve Jobs and the

company boasts 284 retail locations spanning 10 different countries.

It was founded in 1976 by three men, Steve Wozniak, Steve Jobs, and Ronald

Wayne. Apple Computer Inc. was the first commercially successful line of personal

computers (Nakono, 2017). Jobs left the company in 1985 and founded NeXT

computers which could never become commercially viable. In the year 1997, then Apple

CEO Gilbert Amelio bought out NeXT and Jobs was brought back to Apple as part time

advisor.
Jobs returned to Apple in 1997 and his key focus immediately was to strengthen the

relationships with third party software developers including Microsoft and Adobe to

produce Mac compatible programs. From 1999 till 2001, Apple began acquiring

software companies and creating entertainment software products. In the same year,

Apple began selling built-to-order computer systems online and also introduced the

IBook laptop.

Today, Apple is known to be a high end brand that provides satisfaction to the

people through its premium quality products. Some of the company's products and

services include iPhone, iPad, Mac, iPod, Apple Watch, Apple TV, a portfolio of

consumer and professional software applications, iPhone OS (iOS), OS X and watch

OS operating systems, iCloud, Apple Pay and a range of accessory, service and

support offerings.

Critical Facts

When founded in 1976, Apple sets itself as a premium brand of computers. It

manages to be safe in the market by having the non-cooperation strategy that turned

out to be its biggest mistake. This has been felt by the company when Microsoft

developed a version of Windows that would run on virtually all IBM-compatible personal

computers. This has led Apple to develop a more competitive strategy. The company

takes hold on the identification of this new strategy in order to exploit the growing

worldwide market in personal electronic devices.

The case also stated the launching of Apple’s new innovations such as the IPod

and IPhone. The company applied its expertise in human interface engineering to make
IPod the easiest music player. The success of this launching had a great impact to their

performance and position in the market. Also, after having a new strategy, Apple

widened its market and developed its products by using its connections. They partnered

with the world’s five leading recording companies.

Cause of the Problem

Keeping the software exclusive

This was considered as the biggest break of the company that brought many

opportunities and development.

• Playing safe in the market

• Apple's high price policy

Critical Facts Analysis

 Battle with Competitor – Apple was threatened by Microsoft’s Windows 1.0,

therefore, they identified new strategies by venturing to personal electronic

devices (CD players, MP3 music players, digital cameras). By studying the

competitor’s behavior and improvements, Apple can develop a strategy to cope

up with it. This made Apple more innovative .

 Competitive Reactions– After identifying the problem and its causes, it is

important to start with the development of new strategies


 Innovation - The launch of Ipod is a significant event in Apple’s history because

this is where Apple’s new strategy was beginning to pay off.

 Partnership and Agreement– This has made Apple more productive because

they have negotiated to other companies

IV-B. Situational Analysis

General Environmental Analysis

Technology

Demographic Trends
Economic Trends

Political-Legal Environment
Socio-Cultural Environment

Global Environment
Assumptions

Alternative Courses of Action


Decision
http://www.dissertationindia.com/education-

news/apple_case_study_analysis_31.html

https://www.brighthub.com/computing/mac-platform/articles/65346.aspx

You might also like