Apple computer 2006

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Apple computer 2006

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Abstract

Currently, Apple is one of the most renowned IT companies in the United States and across the globe. Indeed, the net income of the firm rose from $39 million in 1981 to $1335 million in 2005. In 2008 April 23 Apple announced the financial results for the second quarter of the fiscal ended in March 29. The company recorded a turnover of $7.51 billion and reported a quarterly net profit of $1.05 billion." It is a huge improvement which is a reaction to a specific global strategy, a sense of innovation and the loyalty of the customers.

The story of Apple has started on the 1st of April 1976 when Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak built a computer circuit board on their family garage. The company quickly had another member to manage the business: A.C. "Mike" Markkula, Jr., who worked for the chip maker Intel till his retirement at the age of 33.

The team:
-Steve JOBS: the visionary
-Steve WOZNIAK: the technical genius
-A.C. "Mike" MARKKULA, Jr.: the experienced business man

For this case study, I will start from Apple's major competitive advantages since the inception of the company. Then, I prefer to explain the development of over the last 15 years, which is followed by the evaluation of the Apple's strategies since 1990. Too conclude, I will analyze Steve Jobs' efforts to solve problems and the innovative products like, iPod and iPad that contributed much for the success of Apple..

From a historic perspective, what were Apple's major competitive advantages?
1. From 1976 to 1985
2. The SCULLEY years from 1985 to 1993
3. The JOBS years from 1997 to today
4. Recapitulation of the competitive advantages of Apple from a historic perspective
Analyze the structure of the personal computer industry over the last 15 years. How have the dynamics of the PC industry changed?
1. Consumer-oriented approach
2. Consumer = knowledge and experienced
3. Household, laptop, internet access, interactivity
Evaluate Apple's strategies since 1990
1. International growth
2. Easy-to-use
3. Control
4. Alliances and joint venture
5. Low-cost and mass market
6. Internet
7. Innovation
8. Retail operations
Has Steve Jobs finally solved Apple's long-standing problems? What impact has the iPod had on Apple's success?
1. Innovation
2. Image of Apple and design
3. New arguments, new way to convince
4. What impact has the iPod had on Apple's success?

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[...] computer circuit board on their family garage. The company quickly had another member to manage the business: A.C. Markkula, Jr., who worked for the chip maker Intel till his retirement at the age of 33. The team: - Steve JOBS: the visionary - Steve WOZNIAK: the technical genius - A.C. MARKKULA, Jr.: the experienced business man For this case study, I will start from Apple's major competitive advantages since the inception of the company. Then, I prefer to explain the development of over the last 15 years, which is followed by the evaluation of the Apple's strategies since 1990. [...]

[...] Household, laptop, internet access, interactivity At the end of the twentieth century and at the beginning of the twenty first century, consumers have changed a lot and they wanted a computer not only in the work place but also at home. This was really an economic boom for the PC industry because the demand did not stop till a good number of homes had the access to a computer. It was also a period of the open war of technological innovations to produce more computers, to seduce consumers, to be the leader on a market with more competitors (Dell, Hewlett-Packard, Lenovo for example). [...]

[...] Company name change Apple Computer changed its name on 9th of January 2007 to Apple Inc. because of the misunderstandings from the consumers. Steve Jobs wanted to be clear and convey the message: Apple is not only a computer company but also develop a range of other products. Conclusion In 2006, Apple turned 30 years old and everybody could see and think about the evolution of such company driven by the innovation, the desire to make information and technology accessible for everyone. [...]

[...] Recapitulation of the competitive advantages of Apple - a historic perspective Easy-to-use The first competitive advantage of the Apple Computer was its user friendliness: consumers were able to use it without learning techniques. It still continues to be one of the competitive advantages of the company, About the software, the interface and the multiple peripherals that the company created to work specifically with their software. Everything is gathered together; a customer does not have to buy something else to run the programs. [...]

[...] The two major companies, Apple and IBM, had divided the market in two parts due to the different strategies: - Apple: easy-to-use computers at premium prices - IBM: low prices and mass consumption The market evolved again when Apple launched its new product Macintosh in 1984. But the consumers were not satisfied with this computer because of slow performances: the software was not compatible and buyers could not share information, documents, pictures and other stuff. Then the company went through a crisis, which resulted in the departure of Steve Jobs, who found a new company: NeXT. [...]

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