APPLE INC

Strategic Management and Leadership

Strategic Management and Leadership

Introduction

Company Background

The first company who came up with the low-cost speed disk drive, with good storage space, along with sufficient memory for multitasking, creation of the pointing device called mouse, first one to introduce 3.5 inch disk and CD room, manufacturer of powerful computers with cool look, apple computer inch founded by Steven Wozniak and Steven Jobs. Apple Inc., Formerly known as Apple Computer Inc., is a multinational company U.S. base that designs and sells consumer electronics, from computers and computer software.

Among the best-known products of the company's computers are Macintosh Mac Hardware, the iPod, the iPhone and the iPad, the media player iTunes, the office suite iWork, the multimedia suite iLife and software for professionals such as Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro. In 2010, the company comprises of 46 600 employees for an annual turnover of 65.23 billion dollars and operates 301 Apple Stores in 11 countries including United States and an online store that sold the hardware and software from Apple but also from third parties. At the end of September 2010, company showed 52% increase in revenues ($65,225 million) over 2009. The increase in revenue was due to the growth in sales of iPhone and sales in iPad. Company's operating profit in 2010 was $18,385 million and net profit was 14,013 million in FY2010, increased by 70.2% compared to 2009 (Caulfield, 2011, Pp. 7).

In 2007, company changed its name to Apple Inc from Apple computer which represents that, apple is expanding their portfolio of product and enhancing their consumer electronics market. Apple Inc prime business is based on the geographic. It has five operating segments Asia- Pacific, Japan, Europe, America and retail. Similar services, hardware and products offered in each operating segments. There are several competitors of Apple Computer Inc in the cell phone market which includes Nokia, Samsung, Motorola, Sony Ericson, IBM, Microsoft, Intel etc. These all companies are giants and are playing in the market of cell phones since many years. In a nutshell, Apple will have to face a tough competition in this market.

They primarily target teenagers and youngsters but gradually it will serve all classes of the customers like middle age and elders. As far as the classes concerned “Apple Computer” will target middle, upper-middle and upper class customers. In other words, all classes and all age groups targeted gradually. The different models of the phones launched in order to cater the needs of all age groups and all classes (Apple Inc, 2011, Pp. 1).

The Business Environment in the Last Ten Years

Apple computer inch business environment changed in the last ten years due to the new innovation in the iPhone and development of new products.

Macro-environment

Macro environment influences the company in many ways. The factors such as competitors, suppliers, labour unions, government, creditors, customers, trade association, local communities shareholder and all those factors which has a direct relationship with the environment of the company (Steve Jobs: The Man, ...