STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT ASSIGNMENT

Strategic Management Assignment

Strategic Management Assignment

Introduction and History

The purpose of this assignment is to choose an organization with global operations and suggest them strategic changes that could increase their global and local activities. For the purpose, Apple is chosen as the company. Steve Jobs founded Apple in 1976. Apple is in the business of designing, manufacturing, and marketing mobile communication devices, personal computers, video players and potable digital music. It also offers the associated software and services to its consumers. It has operations worldwide and is a global company.

Apple has been one of the most successful companies worldwide, which grew very rapidly, due to its flexibility to adopt various changes according to the environment. Technological Sector is one of the most complex sectors; it demands constant changes and innovation on the part of the company. The needs and tastes of the company keep on changing; hence the company has to constantly strive for improvement. Apple organizational structure is designed in such a way that encourages its employees to outperform and succeed in comparison to its competitors. Analyst believes that it would very soon become market Leader. Though the company would now miss Steve Jobs, who through his innovation and creative thinking led the company to reach the height of success (Ahmed, S., B.W. Ickes, P. Wang, and B.S. Yoo, 1993, pp.115-120).

Apple started with only developing computers only, but now it has produced different ranges of products and services including Ipads, Iphones, Ipad etc. Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne had founded Apple in 1976. Ronald Wayne at that time was not satisfied with company's performance and sold out 10% shares of the company for 800 dollars. These 10% shares are now worth equal to $540 million.

The first computer manufactured by Apple had a monitor and a built in keyboard, little similar to the current desktop PCs. In the next year, company was able to manufacture a more advanced and better version of computer Apple II. Apple II was a massive hit and was used for commercial and personal use. Apple is one of the biggest corporations of USA and its headquarters is located in different cities of USA including California and Cupertino.

Iphone, introduced by Apple has been one most popular of the modern era. It has brought an immense revolution and now other companies are trying to produce phones with touch screen, but not everyone is not able to produce such quality products. Company's revenue increased by 52% in the fiscal year 2010 and reached $65,225 million. Sale of Iphones largely contributed to such a significant increase in revenue in this particular period. Moreover, the company is selling its product almost all over the world which gives it a competitive advantage over others (Ali, M, & Shaw, R, 1988, pp. 105-127).

Mintzberg, one of the most popular writers on strategic management presented a theory of Innovation as Emergent Strategy. According to this theory innovation is an ongoing process and it comes from the bottom level of ...