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This essay is a short introduction to the importance of the triple bottom line. Based on the attached SWOT for Apple Inc., respond to the questions below.
? What are the three frameworks of the triple bottom line?
? What does the triple bottom line mean for a company?
? How does your company specifically address the triple bottom line?
Your essay should be at least two pages in length, double-spaced, and in 12 pt. Times New Roman font. The title and reference pages do not count towards the minimum page length. To complete this assignment, a minimum of two reputable sources must be used, cited, and referenced. Use APA style guidelines.
Running head: MBA 5101 UNIT II MINI PROJECT MBA 5101 Unit II Mini Project
Roger Carroll
Columbia Southern University
Strategic Management and Business Policy
MBA 5101
Professor Feliccia Smith
August 13, 2016 1 MBA 5101 UNIT II MINI PROJECT 2
MBA 5101 Unit II Mini Project Introduction
Apple Inc.?s current success is linked to the ability of the company to use its strengths to
overcome weaknesses and threats, and to exploit opportunities. Apple?s SWOT analysis gives
insights on the actions of the company to maximize its growth based on such strengths and
opportunities. This SWOT analysis also indicates the most significant issues that Apple must
address. For instance, the threat of competition is among the most notable. An understanding
of the dynamics of internal and external strategic factors also helps investors evaluate the value
of Apple?s business. Thus, this SWOT analysis of Apple Inc. is of practical use for investors and
the company?s leaders and managers.
BACKGROUND
Apple, incorporated in 1977 and headquartered in Cupertino, California, designs, manufactures,
and markets personal computers, mobile communication and media devices, and portable
digital music players, and sells related software, services, peripherals, networking solutions, and
third-party digital content and applications. Top revenue-generating product lines include
Macintosh notebook and desktop PCs, as well as the iPhone, iPad, and iPod franchises. These
devices are sold predominantly through the company?s online and retail stores, and through
third-party cellular network carriers around the globe. Applications and other digital content are
also available via the iTunes and App Stores.
Apple?s SWOT analysis highlights the most significant strengths that Apple can use to improve its
position and financial performance, as well as the weaknesses and threats that should be
addressed through innovative strategies. Apple?s SWOT analysis also identifies the major
opportunities that shape the strategic direction of the company. Below is the chart
compromised of Apple?s SWOT: Strengths Customer loyalty
Leading innovator in mobile devices
Significant growth rates and cash flows
Reputation Opportunities Weaknesses High reliance on iPhone and iPad
products
High price
Incompatibility with Operating System
Patent Violations Threats MBA 5101 UNIT II MINI PROJECT Robust growth opportunity
Positive outlook for smartphone and
tablet markets
Increase adoption of Apple products in
the Global market
Patents obtained through acquisitions
Increase in Cloud Services 3 Technology changing rapidly
US currency is Strong
Android and Samsung Galaxy growth
Competitors increase in online music
market Strengths This aspect of Apple?s SWOT analysis identifies the biggest strengths that enable the company to
withstand threats in its business environment. These threats can reduce business performance.
The following are the most prominent organizational strengths:
1. Customer loyalty
2. Leading innovator in mobile devices
3. Significant growth rates and cash flows
4. Reputation
Apple is one of the most valuable and strongest brands in the world. This SWOT analysis shows
that the company is capable of introducing profitable new products by virtue of its strong brand
image. In addition, Apple maintains its premium pricing strategy, which comes with significant
growth rates and cash flows. A major strength is the flexibility for Apple to adjust prices while
ensuring significant profits. Apple?s rapid innovation has them as one of the leading innovator?s
in mobile devices. The company?s strengths in reputation and customer loyalty continued to
leader the industry. Weaknesses
In this aspect of Apple?s SWOT analysis, the emphasis is on the weaknesses or inadequacies of
the company. Weaknesses can serve as obstacles to business growth. In Apple?s case, the
following organizational weaknesses are the most notable:
1. High reliance on iPhone and iPad products
2. High price
3. Incompatibility with Operating System MBA 5101 UNIT II MINI PROJECT 4 4. Patent Violations
Apple has a limited distribution network because of the company?s policy of exclusivity and its
patent violations. This part of Apple?s SWOT analysis shows that such an exclusive strategy
supports control over the distribution of products, but limits the company?s market reach and
its high reliance on iPhone and iPad products. The iPad: The tablet PC franchise, a huge initial
success and still the second-largest product line behind the iPhone, has been something of a
disappointment lately relative to Apple?s own high standards. Because of the high pricing, Apple
has the weakness of having most of its sales revenues from the high-end market. Customers
from the lower class, which represents the majority of buyers in the global market, are unable
to purchase Apple products because of the relatively high prices. Based on Apple?s SWOT
weakness analysis, the company continues to have major problems incompatibility with
Operating Systems which cause some limitations or weaknesses in the business. Opportunities
This aspect of Apple?s SWOT analysis pinpoints the most significant opportunities that the
company can exploit. Opportunities influence the strategic direction of business organizations.
In Apple?s case, the following are the most significant opportunities in its business environment:
1.
2.
3.
4. Robust growth opportunity
Positive outlook for smartphone and tablet markets
Increase adoption of Apple products in the Global market
Patents obtained through acquisitions 5. Increase in Cloud Services
Apple has the opportunity to expand its distribution network. Such opportunity directly relates
to the weakness of the limited distribution network of the company. This part of Apple?s SWOT
analysis emphasizes the need for the company to change its distribution strategy. An expanded
distribution network can help the firm reach more customers in the global market. Also, Apple
has the opportunity to explore new product lines. Its current product lines are highly successful.
Through further innovation, Apple can introduce new product lines, like what the firm has
already done with the Apple Watch. Developing new product lines can support the company?s
growth. Thus, this dimension of Apple?s SWOT analysis indicates that the company has major
opportunities for further growth despite aggressive competition. MBA 5101 UNIT II MINI PROJECT 5 Threats
In this aspect of Apple?s SWOT analysis, the focus is on the threats from various sources, such as
competitors. Threats can limit or reduce the financial performance of companies. In Apple?s
case, the following threats are the most significant:
1. Technology changing rapidly
2. US currency is Strong
3. Android and Samsung Galaxy growth
4. Competitors increase in online music market
Tough competition in the industry is partly because of the aggressiveness of firms. Apple
competes with firms like Samsung, which also uses rapid innovation. This part highlights the
limiting effect of aggressive competition. Because of the aggressive behaviors of competing
firms, it is necessary to have strong fundamentals for maintaining competitive advantage. In
addition, Apple faces the threat of imitation. This threat is significant because of the large
number of firms that can easily imitate Apple?s products. Some local and regional firms could
partially imitate Apple?s product design. Moreover, rising labor costs in Apple plants, such as in
China, can reduce profit margins or push selling prices even higher. Based on this dimension of
Apple?s SWOT analysis, the company?s performance could suffer because of aggressive
competition and imitation of product design. Thus, Apple must take appropriate action to
prevent or overcome these threats. Conclusion of Apple?s SWOT Analysis
As you can see Apple faces some major challenges, Apple?s positives outweigh the negatives.
Apple?s SWOT analysis indicates that the company possesses major strengths that can be used
to effectively address organizational weaknesses. The company can also use these strengths to
exploit the opportunity to expand its distribution network. Apple can utilize its strong brand
image and quick innovation processes to effectively develop and launch new product lines.
Apple does face significant threats of aggressive competition and imitation, which are major
challenges affecting players in the mobile device industry. An appropriate course of action is to
address these threats through a stronger patent portfolio, along with continuous innovation to
ensure the competitive advantage of Apple products even when competitors try to catch up
(Wheelen, Hoffman, & Bamford, 2015). MBA 5101 UNIT II MINI PROJECT 6
References Lin, S. P., Huang, J. L., Chang, J., & Kao, F. C. (2012, July). How to start continuously improving
innovation in organizational knowledge: A case study on Apple, Inc. In Technology Management
for Emerging Technologies (PICMET), 2012 Proceedings of PICMET?12: (pp. 2290-2309). IEEE.
Wheelen, T. L., Hoffman, A. N., & Bamford, C. E. (2015). Concepts in strategic management and
business policy: Globalization, innovation and sustainability (14th ed.). Upper Saddle
River NJ: Pearson.
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