Apple; a Swot Analysis

Apple-Business Analysis III

“I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple’s CEO, I would be the first to let you know…Unfortunately that day has come” (Rosenwald, 2011). These were the words of Steve Jobs when he announced in a statement that he was stepping down from Apple’s CEO position on Wednesday August 24, 2011. In the last decade Apple has catapulted itself from the brink of bankruptcy to being one of the most admired companies in the world. “…in 2009, 51% of corporate leaders surveyed said they admired Apple, an unprecedented majority…One explanation is that it is the company that has single-handedly changed the way we do everything from consume music and access information to design products and engage with the world around us. Because of its track record, consumers and businesses alike trust Apple's inventions and its ability not only to churn out products that connect with customers but also to introduce a new way of doing things-to literally show us what's next. Says Norbert Reithofer, CEO of BMW (No. 22): "Apple's customers are more than customers-they're fans. The whole world held its breath before the iPad was announced. That's brand management at its very best" (Bernasek, 2010). In this paper I will discuss Apple’s strategic initiatives as it relates to their organizational and operational adapting to changing markets. I will provide explanations of how recent economic trends have influenced their business, strategies Apple has used to adapt to changing markets. I will discuss tactics implemented by Apple to achieve their strategic goals and the role human resource management plays in achieving Apple’s goals.

The recent economic downturn that has occurred in the U.S. has had little to no effect on Apple’s sales; they were still able to remain profitable. During the height of the recession Apple made gains of increasing their operating profit by 56% and net profit by 70% from...