What strategy or strategies has Apple! adopted since it was created?

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MNG00114 Competitive Strategy

Session 3, 2015

Assignment 1: Research Project Apple

Core Information:

Due:                                      Due by 11.00pm AEST, Friday Week 7 (4 December 2015)

Weighting:                          30% (5% of which will come from peer assessment)

Individual/Group             Group Assignment

Word limit:                          2000-2500 words in total (plus or minus 10%)

 

Aim

 

The purpose of this assignment is to provide you with an opportunity to apply knowledge, theory, frameworks and tools from the early part of the unit to an analysis of the strategy and strategic practices of a real organisation. You will work in teams, since this is what happens in real organisations, in analysing the strategies pursued by Apple since its creation. You will evaluate the strategies and their effectiveness and relate those real-life experiences to relevant research and theory. The aim is to provide experience of strategic analysis and practice and to determine your ability to relate real strategy to theory and research.

 

The Overall Task

 

Apple has been at the forefront of technology products and with the release of the Ipods range and many other products that meet the needs of the technology users both in business and entertainment. Arguably a leader in innovation and inspiration products for everyday use.

 

Your task in this case analysis is to answer three questions by critically analysing Apples history, resources and market situation. Please do not just describe events, although you should read Apples history to understand the background to your analysis. You should use the principles and concepts that you have learned in Topics 15 to answer the following three questions:

 

  1. What strategy or strategies has Apple! adopted since it was created? Answer this question by applying one or more of the theoretical approaches discussed in the earlier part of the course e.g. Porters Five Forces.

 

  1. Does the RBV (resource based view) offer any insights into Apples success? E.g. assessing the company using the VRIN framework

 

  1. What strategic options can you describe for Apple! if it wishes to remain a successful organisation throughout the next decade? Answer this question based on a SWOT analysis of the circumstances that exist in 2015 and your best forecasts of relevant future industry factors.