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Apple

Apple Computer was founded in 1976 by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak. Over the decades, Apple experienced both huge successes like the iPod and failures when Jobs was not involved. By the late 1990s, many thought Apple would not survive. However, when Jobs returned as CEO in 1997, he transformed Apple and led numerous innovative product launches. Today, Apple has over 160 retail stores worldwide and relies less on Mac sales due to the tremendous success of the iPod and iTunes store.

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irfan alam
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134 views

Apple

Apple Computer was founded in 1976 by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak. Over the decades, Apple experienced both huge successes like the iPod and failures when Jobs was not involved. By the late 1990s, many thought Apple would not survive. However, when Jobs returned as CEO in 1997, he transformed Apple and led numerous innovative product launches. Today, Apple has over 160 retail stores worldwide and relies less on Mac sales due to the tremendous success of the iPod and iTunes store.

Uploaded by

irfan alam
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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1975

INTRODUCTION

Apple Computer’s 30-year history is full of highs and lows, which is what we
would expect in a highly innovative company. They evolved throughout the years into an
organization that is very much a representation of its leader, Steven Jobs. Apple made
several hugely successful product introductions over the years. They have also
completely fallen on their face on several occasions. They struggled mightily while Jobs
was not a part of the organization. Apple reached a point where many thought they
would not survive. When asked in late 1997 what Jobs should do as head of Apple, Dell
Inc.'s (DELL) then-CEO Michael S. Dell said at an investor conference: "I'd shut it down
and give the money back to the shareholders.” (Burrows, Grover, and Green).

Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak founded Apple on April 1, 1976. The two Steves, Jobs
and Woz have personalities that persist throughout Apple’s products, even today. Jobs
was the consummate salesperson and visionary while Woz was the inquisitive technical
genius. Woz developed his own homemade computer and Jobs saw its commercial
potential. The company introduced the Apple II on April 17, 1977, at the same time
Commodore released their PET computer. Once the Apple II came with Visicalc, the
progenitor of the modern spreadsheet program, sales increased dramatically. In 1979,
Apple initiated three projects in order to stay ahead of the competition: 1) the Apple III –
their business oriented machine, 2) the Lisa – the planned successor to the Apple III,
and 3) Macintosh.

In 1980, the company released the Apple III to the public and was a commercial flop. It
was too expensive and had several design flaws that made for less-than stellar quality.
One design flaw was a lack of cooling fans, which allowed chips to overheat. In August
1981, IBM released their PC. Unimpressed and unafraid, Apple welcomed IBM to the
PC market with a slightly smug full-page ad in the Wall Street Journal. The year 2001
was an important year for consumers of Apple products. Apple opened their first 25
retail stores (totaling 163 stores in 4 countries as of May 2006). In September 2001,
Apple introduced the new iMac featuring a screen on a swivel. The new iPods (portable
music players) were a tremendous success. Apple sold so many that Apple’s
dependence on Mac sales was significantly less. This was no small feat considering
that the 2001 iMac became Apple’s best-selling product “by a long shot”. Apple offered
iTunes (a free application) to help their consumers organize music on iPods and Macs.
In 2003, Apple expanded iTunes by 1) opening the iTunes music store to allow Mac
users to purchase music online and 2) expanding iTunes to Windows users. Sales of
iPods skyrocketed and currently provide the bulk of product sales to Apple. In 2005,
Apple announced that it would start using Intel-based chips to run Macintosh
computers. In April 2006, Apple announced Boot Camp, which allows users of Intel-
based Macs to boot either Mac or Windows OS. This functionality allows users who may
need both OSs to own just one machine to run both, albeit not simultaneously.

Well, times changed, Business Week ranked Apple as the top performer in its 2008
Business Week 50. Apple attributes their recent success to robust sales of iPod music
players (62 million in 2008). They are optimistic about the economies of scope with
media giants, such as Disney and Pixar. Apple rarely introduces a new type of product.

Thus, instead of being the pioneer, they are an expert “second mover” by refining
existing products. Portable music players and notebook computers are examples. Apple
increases the appeal of these products by making them stylish and more functional.
They now appear poised to make significant strides in the home computer market and
to creating a total digital lifestyle whereby the home is a multimedia hub.
VISION STATEMENT

"Man is the creator of change in this world. As such he should be above systems and
structures, and not subordinate to them."

Explanation of vision

Apple lives this vision through the technologies it develops for consumers and
corporations. It strives to make its customers masters of the products they have bought.
Apple doesn't simply make a statement. It lives it by ensuring that its employees
understand the vision and strive to reach it. It has put systems in place to enable
smooth customer interaction. It has put objectives in place to continuously move
forward; implemented strategies to fulfil these objectives; and ensured that the right
marketing, financial and operational structures are in place to apply the strategies.

MISSION STATEMENT

"Apple is committed to bringing the best personal computing experience to students,


educators ,creative professionals and consumers around the world through its
innovative hardware, software and internet offerings."
External Environment

Demographic:
Demographic factors highly affect the computer industry. As buyers are of all ages and
different genders , also every individual have different choice like the use of iPod,
iPhone and iPad is increasing in young generation. Literacy rate is increasing in our
country and use of internet ans computer in education as well as in homes also
increasing. Children and teenagers are more interested in playing games on computers
and increasing usage of social networking website, chatting etc. Information technology
playing a vital role in business world due to these virtual organizations, are increasing.
So demographic factors plays important role in the industry.

Economical:
In the past few years, the industry has been affected by the slow economic and that
resulted in low consumer spending. There is no sign of improvement, consumer
spending and investment might decrease as well. Due to weak economic conditions,
India’s educational encountering large Budget deficits. This factor has a negative impact
over Apple’s sale in the educational segment.

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