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This essay is a short introduction to the importance of the triple bottom line. Based on the atta

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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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