INNOVATIVE ORGANISATIONS

Innovative Organisations



Innovative Organisations

Introduction

Apple Inc. is a multinational U.S. company that designs and markets consumer electronics, from personal computers and computer software to mobile phones. Among the most famous products of the company are computers Macintosh, the iPod, the iPhone and iPad, the media player iTunes, office suite iWork, the multimedia suite iLife or software for professionals such as Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro. In 2011, the company had 60,400 employees. The company has an annual turnover of 108.25 billion dollars and operates 394 Apple Stores in 13 countries, as well as, an online store that sells equipment and software for Apple. Apple was established on 1 st April 1976 in Cupertino in California by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, and incorporated as a company January 3, 1977 originally under the name of Apple Computer (Amelio & Simon, 1998).

Because of its industrial philosophy of vertical integration approach, marketing based on innovation, ergonomics and aesthetics of its popular consumer products, its original advertising campaigns and customers who identify with the company and brand, Apple has established a unique reputation in the consumer electronics industry. According to a ranking of the Fortune magazine, Apple was the most admired company in the world in 2008, 2009 and 2010. The firm also receives much criticism of working conditions of its workers, its business and environmental practices, a large part of its products are manufactured in Asian countries like India or China.

Innovation

Innovative Products

Apple II

Released in 1977 The Apple II is considered the first personal computer in the world. Sales of this computer made Apple's wealth, and represented to the majority of its income into the second half of 1980.

Macintosh

The Macintosh family of computers, has been for nearly 20 years the main activity of Apple. Today, they consist of:

the iMac , all-in-one launched for the first time in 1998. Its popularity helped revive the company was in crisis (Amelio & Simon, 1998);

the MacBook Air, mobile ultra-thin public launched in 2008, which replaced the computer MacBook in 2011;

the MacBook Pro , a personal computer, the previous alternative, it is proposed in 13" and replaced the PowerBook when it was launched in 2006;

Retina MacBook Pro, a personal computer, it is available in 15 and 13 ", in addition to the MacBook Pro. This is a MacBook Pro with a better screen resolution, thinner, with no internal CD player and with a solid state drive series, at its launch in 2012;

the Mac Pro, a typical computer workstation that replaces the PowerMac at its launch in 2006 (extras.denverpost.com, n.d);

the Mac Mini, a compact desktop launched in January 2005.

Apple also sells many accessories for Macintosh (also compatible with other computers) such as Time Capsule, the Magic Mouse, the Magic Trackpad or Apple keyboards.

iPod

Launched for the first time in 2001, the iPod digital music player sign for Apple an entry into the world of music. The iPod is currently the market leader in digital music players in the world and has, since its launch in 2001, more than 275 ...