As stunning developments in the technology industry go, this one happened in a manner that felt inevitable. In yesterday afternoon's crisp, matter-of-fact letter, Steve Jobs told Apple's board and the world that he was unable to continue as the company's chief executive. He asked to serve as chairman, and recommended that Apple COO Tim Cook succeed him as CEO. And he said that Apple's best days were ahead of it and expressed gratitude to his coworkers.
Of course, one hopes that Jobs chose this particular week to step down as CEO not because his health left him no other option but because he felt Apple was ready to move on without his day-to-day involvement. If so, his timing was impeccable. The iPhone and iPad are enormous hits that have left most of Apple's competitors flummoxed; Apple's market capitalization, revenue and profit have all passed those of Microsoft. Simply put, it's this era's preeminent technology company.
In a sense, this week's news simply ratifies an existing reality. Since January 2009, Jobs' two medical leaves have curtailed his role for a total of around thirteen months. With Cook as acting COO and longtime Jobs associates such as design god Jonathan Ive and marketing honcho Phil Schiller in place, the company has continued to create blockbuster products, generate hoopla and generally thrive.
(See pictures of Steve Jobs' storied, visionary career.)
Thanks to the iPhone and iPad, Apple is extraordinarily well positioned to thrive in the post-PC era, especially if Jobs continues to chime in as chairman. But happens when a CEO famous for micromanaging every aspect of his companies' products officially steps back from managing at all?
It helps that Jobs' vision has been so consistent for so long. In 1976, w...
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... multiple generations of these devices to come.
(See why Steve Jobs' resignation shouldn't be a surprise.)
Apple can't just churn out better versions of today's products, though. It needs to figure out what the next big thing is, and to do it better than anyone else. It must ensure that the landmark achievements of Jobs' two tenures at Apple — the Apple II, Mac, iMac, iTunes, Apple Store, iPod, iPhone and iPad — are followed by landmark products in new categories.
If the company succeeds at doing that in the years ahead, it won't be evidence that Steve Jobs turned out to be replaceable. Instead, it'll be proof that he taught the company which so many fans and detractors believed was a one-man show to go on being Apple without his intensive involvement. That would be Jobs' final and finest one more thing — and right now, the odds seem decent that he'll pull it off.
Apple Computer Inc designs, manufactures, and markets personal computers and related personal computing and communication solutions. The return of Steve Jobs, the companies founder, as CEO has pulled the company’s stock price up 775-percent through his launch of innovative products such as the iMac computer line. On January 5, 2000, Jobs announced that he was dropping interim from his CEO title and taking the job full-time. With this news and Apple’s new products such as the iBook, a portable pc and Quick TV, an internet television access feature, Apple Computer is headed for success and is sure to increase their share in the computer market.
Steve Jobs is a world-renowned entrepreneur who revolutionized the technology industry. He is best known as Apple’s co-founder (“Obituary: Steve Jobs”, 2011). Jobs’ numerous innovations not only changed the world, but they also developed the personal computer industry. The Apple co-founder never seized to amaze his audience with his endless unique innovations. Throughout his career, Jobs contributed to the technology industry with devices such as the Macintosh, iPod, iPhone, iPad, iMac and MacBook (O'Reilly, 2011). His death on October 5, 2011 marked the end of an innovative streak (O'Reilly, 2011).
Sir Steve Jobs, the almighty co-founder of Apple started apple dreaming big. The Harvard College dropout carried through with that dream. According to Leander Kahney, author of “Inside Steve’s Brain,” “apple went public 1980 with the biggest public offering since 1958” (2008), this offer proved successful as apple soon became a super power. Apple suffered a fall out though, but Steve Jobs came back and rescued them, reviving them to their previous stature.
There were many setbacks for Jobs, but this had never discourage him. Instead, he started a new beginning. There was a marketing and production issue that caused Jobs to leave the company in 1985. He then began a new hardware and software enterprise called NeXT Inc. Later, he invested $50 million in Pixar Studio Animation Studies, which produces numerous award-winning movies. He became the largest shareholder as a result. In 1997, he returned to Apple and became the CEO of Apple again. Jobs faced many obstacles, but he was brave enough to push forward no matter the problem.
Steve Jobs (CEO and chairman of Apple Inc.) was an American entrepreneur and inventor. He was born in February 24, 1955 and founded Apple Inc. with his high school buddy Steve Wozniak in 1976. But later in 1976, when Apple was about to bankrupt he returned to it as advisor and Interim CEO. He made Apple profitable from near bankruptcy by 1998 (Walter Isaacson, 2013). From (1996-2011), he proved himself as one of the best engineering leaders of the world and made Apple the most innovative company of the world.
...e CEO of Apple Incorporations. “Jobs' constant innovations led Business 2.0 to name him the fifth most important leader in business in 2006. It called him "easily the greatest marketer since P.T. Barnum" and a muse for innovators” (“Steve Paul Jobs”). A man this powerful and intelligent will never be forgotten. That extraordinary phone called the iPhone that almost everyone in the world has is only here because of Steve Jobs. Thanks to him there are barely any more of those somewhat embarrassing flip phones.
Steven Paul Jobs, co-founder, chairman, and CEO of Apple Inc. was born February 24, 1995, and died of cancer on October 5, 2011. Apple Inc., and considered a niche player for much of its history, is the most valuable company in the world by market capitalization as of this writing. Jobs is widely recognized as a pioneer of microcomputer revolution of the 1970s, along with Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak. Jobs made a vast amount of accomplishment in technology which has improved many people’s lives across the nation, he was an exemplary leader, and the utmost CEO ever. Steve Jobs changed several industries in so many ways. According to the article it states, “Steve Jobs was certainly a willful and driven leader,
Apple (from an interview with CEO Tim Cook): “We believe that we are on the face of the earth to make great products and that’s not changing. We are constantly focusing on innovating. We believe in the simple not the complex. We believe that we need to own and control the primary technologies behind the products that we make, and participate only in markets where we can make a significant contribution. We believe in saying no to thousands of projects, so that we can really focus on the few that are truly important and meaningful to us. We believe in deep collaboration and cross-pollination of our groups, which allow us to innovate in a way that others cannot. And frankly, we don’t settle for anything less than excellence in every group in the company, and we have the self-honesty to admit when we’re wrong and the courage to change. And I think regardless of who is in what job those values are so embedded in this company that Apple will do extremely well.”
On October 5, 2011 Steve Jobs passed away in his home in Palo Alto California; Jobs had been battling pancreatic cancer since 2003. Steve brought so much different technological advancement that most people use everyday without knowing who created them. Everything that Jobs created, he did because he understood what his customers wanted, and where the market was going. Steve Jobs believed in all of his products and innovations he sold to people, and had faith in the people he worked with was what really shaped Apple. After leaving the company and then returning, Steve Jobs’ influence made Apple one of the top computer companies in the world.
It seems like everyone has an Apple product such as an iPhone or iPad today. It is not unusual to see someone take out an Apple product. We have these products thanks to Steve Jobs, one of the founders of the Apple company. Steve Jobs is still recognized worldwide for the company he helped create and for the vision he had for Apple. Steve Jobs revolutionized the cell phone industry with the creation of the first smartphone and he became one of the youngest millionaires in America. Not only that but even after his death, his ideas and his company still continues to thrive. Steve Jobs left a lasting influence on America.
Taking a step back into Apple's product history, and noticing how ancient the first products seem, compared to the sleek, "cool" products of today, will leave you feeling inspired. Apple has gained technological superiority over its competitors, but how and does Apple plan to continue its advantageous market share in such a rapid, fast-paced technological era? Apple has a cult like following, consumers who are anticipating and ready to purchase new Apple products as soon as they are released. Technology has become second nature and a very important aspect of millions of consumers' lives.
We think Steve Jobs was a successful leader because he was imaginative, passionate about his job, he had the ability to push employees to create new things, had confidence, and believed in collaboration. Under Steve Jobs' leadership Apple was an innovative company and under Tim Cook's leadership Apple is now being seen as more of charitable, socially and ethically responsible company. While [he’s heard the repeated refrains that “Apple can’t innovate under Tim,” that the company needed a low-cost iPhone to thwart the progress of Google’s Android, that Cook never could replicate the Jobs magic—and therefore that Apple never again would be “insanely great.” ] (Lashinsky, 2015), he hasn’t changed his methods since Jobs’ passing and continues to lead in a way that he believes will raise Apple’s value in the eyes of society.
In the late 1990s, with the release of Windows, Apple was placed on the right track. Apple released its’ 20th Anniversary Macintosh in 1997 which marked the beginning of Apple’s return (Crofford, 2011). The next year, Apple released the IMac, which was a highly received by the public. Apple reported over $80 billion in cash on its’ last Form 10-K filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (Emerson, 2011). Today Apple produces several different products including IPhone...
Apple management must bridge the perceived innovation gap with some sort of product breakthrough. Otherwise, it is reasonable for the company to accept lower Street expectations built upon the premise that while the company remains an exceptional production, distribution and branded business, the days of unparalleled enterprising innovation and leadership may be ebbing.
Steve Jobs one of the founding fathers of Apple Inc used strategic planning to his advantage by making Apple’s mission a simple one- bringing easy to use computers to the general market, revolutionizing the computer market. In 2007, after thirty years, the organization changed its name from Apple Computer to Apple Inc., this was a significant move because the organization became more independent, and it was no longer known as a vendor to Macintosh personal computer line (Yoffie & Slind, 2008). This strategic move paid off; a year and half later, Apple Inc.’s third quarter net profit of $1.07 billion on a $7.46 billion in revenue (Yoffie & Slind, 2008). SWOT Analysis of Apple, Inc. Strengths (Competitive Advantage)