Management of Financial Resources and Performance

Management of Financial Resources and Performance

Introduction

Apple Computer, founded in 1976, company is considered one of the groundbreakers of the technological, innovative industry. It has its Headquarter in Cupertino, CA and retail branches located worldwide. The company has more than 10,000 staff. Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak were the founders of the company (Apple, 2011). Apple is the creator as well as innovator in the whole industry it is regarded as a company whose work is not only to lead the market but to improve it through making innovative changes. The company has developed a flexible and strategic decision making process through which they lead the technology market as well as they influence the customers buying behaviour. The company is on the view to strengthen its technology market through its effective decision making process. The process of decision making has been changed as according to the market conditions prevailing in the market.

Apple Inc. - One of the largest U.S. corporations. Initially the company was based Apple Computer in 1976 by three people, but the third co-founder does not believe in the success of the venture and sold its shares (10%) for 800 dollars. Today, these 10% are worth $ 540 million. However, the company has become one of the few in the industry, quickly conquered the market. The first personal computer (Apple initially began to specialize on them, rather than bulky computers that occupied an entire room for) Apple I became quite popular. This was the first computer, which had a built-in support for a keyboard and connected to a monitor, i.e., prototype of the modern desktop PC

The company holds a number of award winning models of cell phone and computing devices. Now innovation has become the core competency of Apple and is moving on the way to explore new horizons.

Strategic management

It is the management that relies on human potential as the basis directing production activities to customers, requesting quick responds, conducting timely changes in the organization, meeting the challenges of the environment and allowing achievement of competitive advantage. The subject of strategic management is the problem that is directly connected with the general objective of the organization, problems and solutions associated with any element of the organization and problems related to external factors that are out of control.

Aims

The aim of this paper is to analyze the critical appraisal of the financial performance of Apple. On the other hand, the impact of major strategic decisions on the performance of Apple has also been analyzed in accordance with its financial performance and market value. The main aim is to analyze the impact of that selected decision on the performance of the company.

Objectives

To identify the financial performance of Apple.

To analyse the strategic decision making and its impact on the company performance in long run as well as, short run.

To provide suitable recommendation to enhance the performance of the company.

Rationale

The main purpose for this analysis is to highlight the Apple's shift from computer ...