Apple computer 2006

Résumé du document

Currently, Apple is one of the most renowned IT companies in the United States and across the globe. Indeed, the net income of the firm rose from $39 million in 1981 to $1335 million in 2005. In 2008 April 23 Apple announced the financial results for the second quarter of the fiscal ended in March 29. The company recorded a turnover of $7.51 billion and reported a quarterly net profit of $1.05 billion." It is a huge improvement which is a reaction to a specific global strategy, a sense of innovation and the loyalty of the customers.

The story of Apple has started on the 1st of April 1976 when Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak built a computer circuit board on their family garage. The company quickly had another member to manage the business: A.C. "Mike" Markkula, Jr., who worked for the chip maker Intel till his retirement at the age of 33.

The team:
-Steve JOBS: the visionary
-Steve WOZNIAK: the technical genius
-A.C. "Mike" MARKKULA, Jr.: the experienced business man

For this case study, I will start from Apple's major competitive advantages since the inception of the company. Then, I prefer to explain the development of over the last 15 years, which is followed by the evaluation of the Apple's strategies since 1990. Too conclude, I will analyze Steve Jobs' efforts to solve problems and the innovative products like, iPod and iPad that contributed much for the success of Apple..

Extraits

[...] The objective of this strategy is to be closer to the customer to explain the products in a better way and this strategy worked because the revenues of Apple boosted. Has Steve Jobs finally solved Apple's long-standing problems? What impact has the iPod had on Apple's success? When Steve Jobs became again the Chief Executive Officer of Apple in 1997, the company was not so healthy due to debts, losses, old image of the company, etc. But Steve Jobs managed to solve Apple's long-standing problems. How? [...]

[...] He acquired the company TBWA Chiat/Day to help Apple in design: it was the same agency which had designed ads for the original Mac. After that a new campaign had been launched: “Think Different”. Jobs replaced the Apple Company more like a cultural force. New arguments, new way to convince The new campaign “Think Different” wanted to promote Apple Computer as a alternative to other computer brands”[5]. In the beginning of this case study it is mentioned that Apple's idea was to be the only alternative to the IBM-compatible standard. [...]

[...] Rediscovery of the Apple brand The iPod was the innovation through which everyone has rediscovered Apple. Thanks to the iPod that Apple is recognised and profitable company. This product enhanced the other products from the company. This chart explain the evolution of Apple in the market stock exchange: in 2003, Apple's share was at $ 9.16 (5-19-2003) and today Apple's share is at $ It is a huge difference in just five years. And this began in 2001 with the launch of the first iPod. [...]

[...] The goal was to satisfy consumers' needs. Household, laptop, internet access, interactivity At the end of the twentieth century and at the beginning of the twenty first century, consumers have changed a lot and they wanted a computer not only in the work place but also at home. This was really an economic boom for the PC industry because the demand did not stop till a good number of homes had the access to a computer. It was also a period of the open war of technological innovations to produce more computers, to seduce consumers, to be the leader on a market with more competitors (Dell, Hewlett-Packard, Lenovo for example). [...]

[...] As well all know, that when there is a big release we need to wait for the smart man to come stage and give us an idea of what we can expect. Bibliography The Case study: Apple Computer Harvard Business School http://www.marketwatch.com/tools/quotes/intchart.asp?symb=AAPL&sid=609&intfl avor=basic http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple,_Inc.#2007_:_Apple_Computer_Inc._devient_ Apple_Inc. [...]