Apple Computer: Case study

MARGARET K.

Order the writing of a tailor-made Accounting Case study

Free quote online

Case study Format .doc

Apple Computer: Case study

Download

Read an extract

Reader
Abstract
Contents
Extract

Abstract

The iPhone basically provides its users with three features which include a mobile phone, an Internet device that can also be used for communication and an iPod that would allow its users to download and listen to music from the iTunes Music Store. The iPhone offers its users a different user interface that is entirely based on a multi-touch display. The phone does not make use of QWERTY keypads or the conventional keypads that are found in most phones. The touch display therefore allows users to experience the many features offered by the iPhone improving user interactivity and allowing users to control the functions of the phone through their fingers. The additional talk time as well as the 24 hours allocated to audio playback will allow the phones users listen to iTunes without having to recharge the phone's battery (Ireland et al, 2009).

The Apple TV was created to revolutionize the Internet video industry as the Apple iTunes Music Store revolutionized the music download industry over the Internet. The Apple TV offers users the ability to download movies, music videos and TV shows through the iTunes online service and also through YouTube. However, industry analysts have noted that the Apple TV will flop like the Power Mac Cube which was unable to download movies from the iTunes store directly to the television set. Some of the cons that made the Apple III and the Power Mac Cube to be unpopular amongst consumers were that they required a high definition TV to download the movies but because the movies were of a lower screen resolution, the pictures ended up looking fuzzy and unclear (Ireland et al, 2009).

Introduction
Qn 1. Describe the key strategic challenges facing Apple Computer
Qn 2. Describe the dimensions along which company success can be measured
Qn 3. Describe the critical external and internal environmental factors that have strategic implications for Apple's future
Qn 4. Describe how Apple's strategy stands up against industry rivalry
Qn 5. Describe the recommendations you would make to enhance the effectiveness of the company's strategy or to change its strategic approach for better results
Conclusion

Get this table of contents for free after login.

Extract

[...] Staying on top of its marketing game will be one of Apple's major challenges as the company continues to develop a wide range of products to meet the ever changing needs of technologically savvy customers. The company also faces the internal challenge of balancing the demands of its shareholders and running a company that is successful. The company launched into full marketing activities during the launch of the iPhone in 2007. The successful nature of the company made it possible for the product to be well received in the market which in turn increased investor and customer expectations thereby boosting the company's stock price. [...]

[...] However, industry analysts have noted that the Apple TV will flop like the Power Mac Cube which was unable to download movies from the iTunes store directly to the television set. Some of the cons that made the Apple III and the Power Mac Cube to be unpopular amongst consumers were that they required a high definition TV to download the movies but because the movies were of a lower screen resolution, the pictures ended up looking fuzzy and unclear (Ireland et al, 2009). [...]

[...] (2011). Strategic management: Competitiveness and globalization, concepts and cases. Mason, Ohio: South- Western Cengage Learning. Ireland, R.D., Hoskisson, R.E., & Hitt, M.A., (2009). Understanding business strategy: concepts and cases, 2nd Edition. Mason, Ohio: South-Western Cengage Learning Vuolle, M., Aula, A., Kulju, M., Vainjo, T., & Wigelius, H., (2008). Identifying usability and productivity dimensions for measuring the success of mobile business services. [...]

[...] Apple Computer: Case study Qn 1. Describe the key strategic challenges facing Apple Computer. The iPhone basically provides its users with three features which include a mobile phone, an Internet device that can also be used for communication and an iPod that would allow its users to download and listen to music from the iTunes Music Store. The iPhone offers its users a different user interface that is entirely based on a multi-touch display. The phone does not make use of QWERTY keypads or the conventional keypads that are found in most phones. [...]

[...] Profit and sales margins are some of the most commonly used indicators to determine whether the products and services produced by a company are successful in the market. The profitability of a company such as Apple helps inform the managers, investors, employees and other important stakeholders of the company that the company's products are performing well in the market (Hitt et al, 2011). Profitability demonstrates that a company is able to breakeven after making its sales at the end of the year. [...]

doc