Market Share Strategy Introduction Since 1977, Apple Computers, Inc. has been a leader in the computer and technology industry. From the advent of the Apple II to the iPhone, Apple is a company known for innovation, vision, and transformation within the field. What began as a home-based operation in Menlo Park, California has transformed into a multi-billion dollar corporation with influence internationally (Encyclopedia Britannica 2008). The advancement for which much of today’s computer hardware and software are based, were developed by Apple. Currently, Apple is enjoying great success within the technology and PC industry. The Apple brand is one of the most recognized brands in the world and tremendously popular with users (Baxter, 2008), often obtaining repeat business from its customers. Apple is at the top of the list for introducing so many new products to the market. This ranking was compiled by consulting 1,000 senior managers in a survey comparing companies based on the level of innovation. Apple also integrated seven types of technology in order to secure this ranking (McGregor, Arndt & Berner, 2006). Despite an impressive reputation and an illustrious history as a business leader, Apple must ever be watchful of increasing competition and well as the market forces surrounding it. Problem Statement The technology field is constantly transforming. In spite of near limitless opportunity for growth, there are still numerous obstacles which threaten the continued success and stability of the technology industry as a whole. Even with its current standing as a media and technological front-runner, Apple still faces threats not only from competitors within the technology field, but like every corporation, market forces as well. Since the time shortly after it was founded, Apple has been besieged by rival companies like IBM and Microsoft. At one time the Apple was the sole company offering personal computer systems for household use. By 1992, however, Apple was fending off the advancement of the more user-friendly Microsoft Windows. Even though the company still enjoyed high returns, its market share was falling rapidly (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008). After reviewing the current data concerning Apple’s revenues for this quarter, it seems that Apple is doing well within its sector. According to its first quarter results released January 22, 2008, the company posted a net quarterly profit of $1.58 billion. Gross margin was 34.7 percent up from 31.2 percent in the same quarter a year ago (Apple, Investor Relations, 2008). The company second quarter results show a net quarterly profit of $1.
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.
Apple Inc. is a worldwide company that is one of the most valuable brands to ever be founded. As of today, the company is worth a staggering $786 billion! The reasons behind this giant company’s success is through their products that they sell. All their products are very well made and the customer loyalty is very stable. Apple was founded by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak in 1976. They incorporated the company in 1977. For more than three decades, Apple was predominantly a company that sold personal computers including the Apple II, Macintosh, and the Power Mac. Steve Jobs was fired from the company in 1985 because of the poor sales and low market share that the company was facing. During that time, Apple started to be more of the innovators. Because Apple was starting to make enough money to start acquiring smaller companies that benefited the company, Steve Jobs’
Within the last decade Apple has become one of the largest growing companies in the world and the largest valued company in the United States. According to a recent article in The Guardian, a global financial news website, “Apple set a record by becoming the first company to be valued at over $700bn (£446bn).” (Fletcher, N. 2014) This comes as no surprise to the average computer aficionado and shareholder as Apple has been making a name for itself since its inception. From its earliest Macintosh models to today’s iPhones, Apple has been a trailblazer for software, technology and revolutionizing the way we communicate on a Macro level. Their dedication to innovation, quality and service has made them
Apple Inc is a multinational organization in America and has its headquarters in California. The organization specializes in the design as well as development of consumer electronics including: computer software 's, and also personal computers. The organization has for long been offering a broad range of communication mobile communication as well as its own company software’s. The organization has quite an upright name in the business world. For a long period it has been producing quality product and their designers really bring out uniqueness in their products (Linzmayer, 2004). Apple Inc has established itself as being the world’s leader in innovation. Thus according to statistics; it is classified as being the fourth most valuable technology
It was Steve Jobs who made Apple leave the garage and make leaps and bounds in the world of technology. Steve Wozniak made the first prototype, but it was Jobs who “saw the potential” in his computer and persuaded Wozniak to sell it (Peterson 106). Even though that first computer saw very little success, Jobs knew that Apple had potential and so released the Apple II. From the beginning Jobs knew what the consumers wanted, and where computers were going to take the world; he had a vision of the opportunities in technology and saw that Apple needed to move in a different direction. In 1984, one year before he left, Jobs finished the Macintosh computer system. He was pushed from his original computer design project, “the Lisa”, and then raced to release the Mac first, but the Lisa was released to the public first. Although the Lisa came out first, the Mac “[became] synonymous with Apple, mark[ing] a…revolution in…personal computing,” (Peterson 106).
The company not only produces the number of highly technological devices, but also has a great brand ideology lying behind. The following chapters would review each of factors determining Apple`s success.
Apple has made reasonable management of its human and material resources since its innovational approach demands effective strategic allocation of its resources to the development and utilization of its productive resources to support its innovative investment strategies. Effective strategic control brings power to Apple’s decision-makers to allocate its resources to confront the technological, market, and competitive uncertainties which are inherent in the innovation
Apple can adopt the strategy to portray a picture of a not so conducive less profitable market, which could discourage new entrants from picking that path as they will be demotivated by the low return on investment resulting from low profitability levels. In order for apple to create a niche for t numerous products, it needs to adopt and implement such bold strategies of defense to protect their interests and continue to be profitable and successful (Ideavist, 2011). Entry of a new company into the technology sector would spell doom for most companies already struggling for market share as better priced and reliable products could imply consumers would shift their preference to the new entrant leading to a negative volume of sales stir for most already established companies. Another strategy that could be employed as part of Apple’s defense could be the pre-entry strategies that make it even harder for new entrants to compete and enter into the sector and this involve continuous improvement for their products, covering
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.
is yet to reach its maximum potential. Truly a unique entity in its accomplishments and organization, apple through the conviction and leadership of Steve Jobs its founder and then CEO; have pioneered the revolution of mobile technology. When it comes to strength, apple Inc, has a great marketing team with great marketing and advertisement capabilities, strong brand awareness, a strong and extensive distribution channel, and most of all a vertical integration and the most obvious which is customer loyalty. With the acquisition of valuable companies such as Beats, WhatsApp, mobile payment systems with the IPhone 6, wearable gadgets like the IWatch, apple uses these opportunities to satisfy its loyal
Market opportunities for breakfast cereals is vast, some segments of the market have been neglected, most notably that of the over-50’s. Insightful presentations were given at the “Older, Richer, Wiser” Conference that would suggest the over 50’s market segment is targetable.
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...
From 1980 to 1996, Apple’s competitive range in the PC industry was rocky. Although Apples products were unique and well built, they were overpriced compared to competing products from IBM and others. As competitor prices dropped, Apple prices stayed the same and the company saw a decline in sales as customers opted to purchase from its competitors. John Sculley, former CEO of Apple, took many steps to improve the company’s competitive advantage. One of those steps was to compete with price by producing a low-cost computers that appealed to a mass-market. The second step was to form an alliance with rivals IBM and Novel in order to create new operating systems and applications...
Apple Inc. was established by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak on April 1, 1976 as a computer designer, developer and seller company. However, the company shifted its focus from only personal computer to include other consumer electronics such as portable media player and mobile phone in 2007. Apple Inc becomes one of the most popular makers in its field since it seems that its popularity has increased according to a report on www.statista.com that Apple Inc’s products sales was generally increasing throughout the first quarter of 2006 to the first quarter of 2014. On the one hand, it has increased its revenue from about 14 billion US dollars to more than 170 billion US dollars in 2013. All in all, the company is highly successful corresponding to its products’ development and their sales growth in world’s market.
Organisation Analysis Apple - Value proposition and Culture Apple - Company Description Apple Inc., was founded by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne on 1976, is an American multinational corporation headquartered in Cupertino, California, that designs, develops, and sells consumer electronics, computer software and personal computers. Its best-known hardware products are the Mac line of computers, the iPod media player, the iPhone smartphone, and the iPad tablet computer. Its consumer software includes the OS X and iOS operating systems, the iTunes media browser, the Safari web browser, and the iLife and iWork creativity and productivity suites. Apple is the world's second-largest information technology company by revenue and the world's third-largest mobile phone maker. “Fortune” magazine named Apple the most admired company in the United States in 2008, and in the world from 2008 to 2012.