Apple Case

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

Apple is able to provide a basis of differentiation within their competitive strategy, therefore customers have been willing to spend more on their products. Apple has a competitive advantage over others within their markets.

The chief elements of the competitive strategy are that Apple has focused differentiation with their product lines that are targeted to all consumers, education, and businesses. They also used focused differentiation with keys to maintaining the strategy in which they stick to their brand across the board from computers to phones to tablets. Apple also uses broad differentiation with production emphasis and strategic target. They strive for product superiority of all other companies within the computer and phone industries. They are targeting everyone who may have interest in computers, phones, music players, and on the go products such as tablets.

The pieces of Apple’s competitive strategy fit together through retaining their brand across all units they have. Apple has a strong value chain within the company and has been able to be successful with making sure each activity supports and compliments the others.

Apple’s strategy is evolving with the evaluation of products and services it offers and how successful each is playing in a role of their brand. They have continued to stay innovative in their products, but still are falling behind Samsung and their technology that has been released to the public.

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

The key elements of Apple’s strategy in computers, personal media players, table computer, and smartphones are initiatives to build competitive advantage by serving a market...