Apple Inc: SWOT Analysis

One key element of Apple’s strategy in computers, personal media players, tablet computers, and smart phones is product innovation, diversification and development. Over the years Apple has been very successful in integrating software and hardware in new developing products. Despite the struggling economy in recent years, Apple has been able to grow their market share and stay ahead of the game.

Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) has emerged as the dominant global manufacturer and marketer of advanced personal computer, desktop and consumer electronics products including the iPod, iTouch and iPhone Series of MP3, tablet PC and smartphone products. Apple's innovative approach to new product development requires intensive coordination and confidentiality on the part of suppliers, as the company will often move quickly from market test to launch in a matter of weeks. The speed and agility Apple moves with is exceptional given its size and the highly competitive nature of the industries it competes in as well (Franke, Schreier, 2010). While best known for its personal computers, MP3 players, tablet PCs and smartphones, Apple is also a leading innovator in the area of systems development and operating systems as well (Apple Investor Relations, 2012).

Thesis Statement: The Apple Corporation exceeds competing companies in product sales because of the company’s high recognition as a top selling brand, along with the dependability of its product and the technological innovations it consistently provides for consumers.

Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) is one of the world leaders in the research, development, marketing, sales and service of personal digital music & video devices, in addition to personal computers globally. Its' innovative music and digital content delivery service, iTunes, has sold over 1 billion songs to date. As of the close of their latest fiscal year the company generated $156B in Sales and generated a Gross Profit of $68B earning a Net Income of $41B (Apple Investor Relations, 2013). The intent of this analysis is to evaluate Apple's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) and provide an analysis of each. The cause, impact and recommendations for each specific strength, weakness, opportunity and threat are provided along with an action plan of how to maximize strengths and opportunities and mitigate the effects of weaknesses and threats. The Apple brand is among the most valuable in the world and its ability to innovate with successive product generations unmatched, yet this has led to a high dependence on its iPhone and iPad platforms, to the exclusion of entirely new businesses. The Apple iTunes platform and ecosystem delivers 30% of all profits and a significant portion of overall revenue, making this single business a stabilizing force in their strategic product and services roadmap (Apple Investor Relations, 2013). Despite these challenges however Apple continues to attain

Apple is an American based company specializing in the manufacture of electronic products mainly computers and related accessories since 1976 (year of establishment) in California. The company has a new technology for their products that unfortunately, under the able management of the CEO, Tim Cook, experience compatibility issues for software and hardware applications with other existing computer. This has erupted into global debates in the industry with key players blaming the company for locking in Apple customers. The company generally has a global reach with revenues amounting to more than $156,508 billion by the end of the 2012 financial year (Apple Inc., 2014).Apple had 60,400 full-time employees worldwide according to a form filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (Camm-Jones, 2011). In 2012, the employees had increased to about 72,800 with profits

It is clear that a strong brand image is very important for Apple Inc. because a strong brand image is one that consumers trust and feel is a sound investment representing value for their money. The company's financial performance is robust and this certainly is a positive attribute and predictor for survival of the company in the present economic crisis because Apple Inc. is well established and financially sound. Apple Inc. focuses on research and development which means that the company will stay abreast

Apple's strengths include the following. First, the company has a unique and highly differentiation supply chain that is able to quickly take conceptual designs and transform them into finished products (Cusumano, 2008). Complimenting their supply chain is their second significant strength which is their new product development and innovation processes that continually create products that redefine entire product categories (Cole, Matsumiya, 2007). Third, the creation and continual development of the Apple iTunes platform has revolutionized the music and electronics industries, illustrating the power of a platform to monetize a business (Jonash, Koehler, Onassis, 2007). Fourth, Apple has created a unique organizational structure that is very difficult to replicate, taking product engineering, ergonomics and usability, and

Apple’s over-arching company strategy follows an innovative, mysterious and customer-centered strategy. One of the main reasons for Apple’s success has to do with their large commitment to satisfying customers while continuously innovating their products and design without creating a sense of “too much” or confusing their consumers through new operating systems. These goals, which create a unique and successful company, are achieved through the ways in which they use the five key strategic elements: arena, differentiators, vehicles, staging and pacing, and economic logic.

Apple is one of the most innovative companies that were ever created to surface our technology world. Founder created it Steve Jobs and two others in 1976. Apple is an “American multinational corporation headquartered in Cupertino, California, that designs, develops, and sells consumer electronics, computer software, online services, and personal computers” ("Apple Inc.", 2014).Apple is most known for its hardware products such as the Mac computer, IPod, IPad, and the infamous IPhone smart phones, just to name a few. The sleek design of all these products mentioned, is one of the major components that separates this line from

Technology company, Apple, believes that they know what is best for consumers and creates their products based on that illusion. Although they are the industries leading brand, Apple forces their audience to accept Apple’s opinion that specific features to the iPhone and iPad are necessary. Although this is not necessarily a negative thing, it is clear that both the physical and digital elements in Apple products are created based on the company’s point of view. Features found on the highest end, most recent, Apple products are often outdated, inconvenient, and non-responsive to consumer suggestions and reports. Although Apple has adapted to trends based on competitors, Apple’s control of users is still

Many people all over the world own products manufactured by Apple, a multinational organization that is credited with revolutionizing the technology industry. The company was formed by Steve Wozniak, Ronald Wayne and Steve Jobs in 1976. During that time, computers were only available to scholars and researchers. However, the company made computers available for the use of ordinary people in the 1980s. Additionally, Apple has launched innovative products whose features have simplified business, education, and technology. The company is ranked among the most profitable companies in the world, achieving a whopping revenue of $170 billion in 2014 (Lusted 2010). This paper describes Apple’s strategies that contribute towards its success in the highly competitive technology industry.

And the last statement to study is cash flow, this is a A revenue or expense stream that changes a cash account over a given period. Cash inflows

When most consumers think of a leader in the electronics market, they think of Apple. For many years now, Apple has been the forefront of innovation in the consumer electronics market. Products that are known around the world, such as the iPod and iMac, are famous for their ease of use and their stylish exteriors. The popularity of Apple’s products seems infinite; each release of the iPhone has been outselling the last. This industry leader is based on a solid business model that keeps customers coming back time after time, and attracts many new customers every year.

Apple’s fundamental business model has not changed since it first began business in the late 1980’s. While being a leader in innovation, Apple has consistently produced proprietary hardware and software, eventually leading to a loss of market share in any particular market they have ventured into. Even though it has learned from some mistakes, Apple’s actions in the past few years have not shown a change from the core reasons for its failures and unless new actions are taken its current market lead will eventually dwindle.

Apple Inc has become the best product in the smartphone market around the world. Apple Inc also be a market leadership for a range of product and good. It is because Apple Inc aggrasive in product innovation from 1976 until now 2016. The first product produced by Apple Inc is iMac as computer table and after that Apple Inc release the same product but with the innovation that is Macbook Pro. That’s mean iMac can’t bring anywhere but Macbook Pro can bring anywhere. Now 2016, Apple Inc still produce Macbook but with innovation that can satisfy their cutomer. Macbook in 2016 is lighter so easier to bring such as MacBook Pro 13-inch have weight 3.02