Apple Inc 2012

1. What are the chief elements of Apple’s overall competitive strategy? How well do the pieces fit together? Is the strategy evolving?

Apple has done a very excellent job in developing and piecing together their very different and distinct strategy through effective industry leading innovation. This strategy has allowed them to be the frontrunners in new product introductions and the improvement of existing products. Apple has applied a differentiation strategy in order to meet the needs of a global market by providing customers innovative new products and also improved existing products. An important parts or the key piece of their strategy involves meeting the needs of the converging digital electronics and computer markets. Apple has chosen to apply its strategy by designing and developing their operating systems and software technologies. This has all allowed them to be very flexible in developing new products since they have complete control over the software as well as the hardware.

As technology develops, I believe Apple’s strategy is also evolving. Initially, Apple only focus was on the computer industry as they were computer industry since they were introducing innovative products. Apple continues to introduce innovative products in the computer industry. However, Apple recently has focused a great deal of strategic attention and resources on entering into the digital electronics and computer markets. These, along with the successful entry into the personal media player industry, show a clear evolution in Apple’s strategy. In addition, Apple’s entry into the tablet computer industry with their iPad and mobile phone industry with its iPhone are the proof of a further developing strategy.

2. What are the key elements of Apple’s strategy in computers, personal media players, tablet computers, and smart phones? Have its strategies in its core businesses yielded success? Explain.

The key elements of Apple’s strategy in computers,...