A Case Study: Looking at the Strategic Management of Apple Inc.

A Case Study: Looking at the Strategic Management of Apple Inc.

Strategic Human Resources Management

GB 520

Professor: Kevin Nash

By: Joe LaCoste

April 26, 2011

Strategic Management

“Strategic management refers to the art of planning your business at the highest possible level” (What is strategic, 2011). The Apple Inc story is a great example of strategic management. The Apple Inc story includes innovation, traditional business strategies, unplanned successes and an amazing record of leading the world with cutting edge technology. Jobs made Apple’s mission, “to bring an easy-to-use computer to market” (Yoffie, 2008). In December 1980, Apple went public and immediately took on a new company objective; make the stockholders money. Apple entrusted several leaders with different management strategies to accomplish these objectives. This case analysis will take a look at the different strategic plans implemented in Apple’s historic rise.

Apple maintained a strategy of continuous innovation in application and product development. In the early years their products were revolutionary, profitable and easy to use; but Apple still struggled due to lack of industry alliances. This early strategy to remain autonomous in the industry, may have caused some struggles early on but I believe is partially responsible for the recent meteoric rise. In the 90’s Apple began to reach out to establish industry alliances. This appeared to be the missing ingredient to help Apple achieve its original mission and the stockholders requirement to make lots of money.

Apple’s Leadership

In 1976, Apple through its founders Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak began to produce personal computers. They started off quickly dominating the personal computer industry. They set themselves apart from the rest of the industry by focusing on graphics and sound integration. Their strategy was to continuously improve in innovate. They introduced the cutting edge Macintosh computer in 1984....