Running Head: EXTERNAL ANALYSIS OF APPLE, INC.
APPLE, INC.
External Analysis of Apple, Inc.
Aaron Nance, Jeanette Odetola, Zuaibar Rashid, and Rachel Rozo
Strategic Management MGMT 4340
FALL 2012
Dr. Uche Nwaubeze
University of Houston, Victoria
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY……………………………………………………………….. 3
2. COMPANY HISTORY…………………………………………………………………... 2.1 Background…………………………………………………………………………. 2.2 Purpose of this study ………………………………………………………………
3. EXTERNAL ANALYSIS ……………………………………………………………….. 3.1 General Environmental Analysis ……………………………………………….. 3.1.1. Demographic Segment …………………………………………………… 3.1.2. Economic Segment ……………………………………………………….. 3.1.3. Political/Legal
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This additional elasticity in Apple’s business strategy shows its aspiration to conquer Dell, HP and Microsoft, done with a exceptional and groundbreaking mixture of digital media and personal computer creations.
2. Company History
Before there was Apple Inc., there were two young high school friends, Steven Jobs and Steven Wozniak. These two young geniuses were extremely interested in technology and electronics, and they used this passion to find employment. Jobs worked for Atari, and Wozniak worked for Hewlett-Packard. In April of 1976, in a garage with just $1,300, the two Stevens came together to form a dynamic duo. With Wozniak’s flair for computer design, and Jobs ability to look further into the future, they both created the Apple computer. Now branding began to emerge as Ronald Wayne became a 3rd founder of Apple Inc. since was responsible for creating the company’s first logo which he later resigned because he believed that the company would pose a financial risk. The new logo was created by Ron Janov designs. The company’s first president was Mike Scott. The company was not taken seriously until 1977 when the company came out with the Apple II, which was the “first personal computer to come in a plastic case and include color graphics,” at this point Apple Inc. became incorporated. The company continued to improve with the introduction of Apple III. In 1983, Apple Inc. became the fastest growing company in history, and at this time
Apple Inc. was founded on April 1, 1976 in Cupertino, CA and was incorporated on January 3, 1977 (Apple, 2010). The company was founded by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak. Jobs also asked his former colleague from Atari, Ronald Wayne to join them in their startup. Wayne designed the first Apple logo. In early 1976 Jobs approached a local company store, The Byte Shop, said they would be interested in the machine, but only if it came completely assembled (Foljanty, 2010). The shop ordered 50 Apple I computers which sold for $666.66. The three owners would assemble the Apple Is at night in their garage still managed to deliver the ordered Apple Is in ten days. In April of 1976 Ron Wayne resigned from Apple Computer because he felt the financial
Apple Incorporated has come a long way over the years, starting more than 3 decades ago in 1976. Apple was founded by Steve jobs, Steve Wonzniak and Ronald Wayne initially entering a niche market in the production of the first computer, the Apple I, followed by the Apple II in 1978. Apple began its career as a successful company based upon strategic innovation, and they remain that way today, but it wasn’t always sunshine and lollipops, they experienced their fair share of struggles too.
On April 1st of 1976, 2 college dropouts by the name of Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak founded the Apple Computers Company. They later Changed the name to Apple Inc. They started out by selling Apple 1s out of Job’s garage, without a monitor, keyboard, or casing. The Apple 2 revolutionized the computer industry for being the first computer to have color graphics. Sales skyrocketed from $7.8 million to over $117 million in the year of 1980, the year that Apple went public. Wozniak left Apple in 1983 due to a fading interest in running Apple computers from day to day. Steve Jobs also left in 1985 and went on to do other projects. He founded his own company NeXT Software, and purchased Pixar from George Lucas, which would become a successful animation
"Pcs Industry Profile: United States." Pcs Industry Profile: United States (2012): 1-39. Business Source Premier. Web. 8 Oct. 2013.
Apple Computer Company got its start in the early seventies when the two cofounders wanted to create a computer for every person. Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak got together and started creating one of the first personal computers. After CEO Steve Jobs was forced to leave the company and then return after ten years of working with other technical companies. In 1996, he made his return and they began to look into the music industry as there next big idea.
Apple, Inc. (formerly known as Apple Computer, Inc.) was incorporated in the State of California in 1977. Apple currently designs, manufactures, and markets a variety of computer and personal electronic products, including Macintosh computers, and the iPod digital music player. AppleÕs key markets are consumers, creative professionals, educational institutions, and business users.
Steve Jobs may be the most recognizable founder name as it relates to Apple, but two other men played equally important roles in the successful startup of Apple: both Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne. Jobs met Wozniak, or more commonly known as Woz, in a computer club that was held in a garage in a California park (Rawlinson). Jobs and Wayne, on the other hand, were coworkers at Atari and through their time together, they became friends. However, Wayne’s time working with Jobs and Woz was short lived, as he only invested financially in their start-up (Dormehl). Wozniak was actually the one who produced the first Apple I computer by using a type-writer type keyboard and a TV screen as the output device. However, he never had the intentions of changing the world, just wanted to more-less showoff his geek skills. Jobs saw the cleverness of Woz’s creation. He sold it, and together, with Wayne, founded Apple Computer Inc. (Rawlinson)
Stephen Woziniak and Steve Jobs founded Apple Computer in 1976, which was called the Apple I, then in year 1978 just two years after, Apple II was introduced. More than 10,000 units were sold which relatively was a success, Macintosh (Mac), which dramatically change personal computer. iMac, iBook, iPod, iPad, iPhone, and other come from the lineage of Apple.
Apple Inc. (Apple) was incorporated on April 1, 1976, by two college dropouts Steve Jobs, and Steve Wosniak, and Ronald Wayne. During the time when Wozniak had built boxes that allowed them to make free long-distance phone calls and were able to sell over 100 units. Wayne much older than Jobs and Wosniak had money, business knowledge, and concept. Although, rarely mentioned in affiliation with Apple, Wayne was as involved as both Jobs and Wozniak. In fact, Jobs liked Wayne’s knack for disentangling quarrels. Jobs offered Wayne 10% of the company stock to serve as the determining vote in the event that Jobs and Wosniak ever had a conflict. Wayne accepted but changed his mind 12 days later and sold for a couple hundred dollars a holding that would be worth more than $62 billion today. Wayne was accredited with designing the company 's first logo, wrote the Apple 1 computer user 's manual and drafted the company 's original partnership agreement. Wayne leaves the partnership in June 1976. As stated in the Washington Post; ‘he continued to assist them with the logo and the cabinet design and various other things, because I wanted to help in any way I could before he and Apple parted ways.’ [Washington Post, 2016] Wayne is also responsible for the creation of the iPhone, iPad or iMac.
Nowadays, Apple has positioned itself to be an innovator in the personal computer industry and Apple has developed by offering modern products compared to its competitors. According to Apple’s mission statement last year, “Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OS X, iLife, iWork and professional software. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store. Apple has reinvented the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App store, and is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices with iPad.” (Business Management,
Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak founded Apple Computers on April 1, 1976 in an obscure location in California. The two young entrepreneurs built the first Apple out of their garage. The first Apple computers did not include a monitor, keyboard, or casing. Despite the company's humble origins, in 1998 Apple reached a benchmark by introducing the Mac OS X operating system, which was the company's first server software. It is interesting to note that the company started differentiating themselves at this time by adding bright colors to the computers casing; a theme that can definitely be seen in today's Apple products. The company also began marketing to younger target markets by providing deep discounts to schools and universities. This also acted to build the levels of product loyalty that can be seen today in more mature market segments.
For the past 30 years, Apple, Inc. has been the pioneer in the computing industry with its landmark products. In 1976, the founders Steve Jobs, Ronald Wayne and Steve Wozniak introduced Apple Computers, Inc. to the American public which revolutionized the industry. The logo for Apple, Inc. F.K.A as Apple Computers, Inc. is possibly the most recognizable logo in history. It is just pure marketing genius on how they made this company a household name. For more than 3 decades, Apple, Inc. has introduced groundbreaking products and accessories that truly defy the technological barriers such as its Macintosh line of Mac computers and Mac OS X software
Apple Inc. is globally renowned as one of the leading companies, especially for its specialization in the personal computers and consumer electronics industry. The company is most well-known for the iPod, a digital music player and Macintosh, a personal computer released in 1984.
In its infancy, Apple Computer Inc. began with the Macintosh personal computer. The company was founded on April 1, 1976. The founders were Steve Wozniak and Steven Jobs. They incorporated the company in 1977, on January 3rd, in Cupertino, California. In the twenty years that followed, the company produced personal computers. Besides the Macintosh, Apple Inc. made Apple II, and the Power Mac lines. Although they lasted for decades, during the 90’s the company experienced some turbulent times with low sales and market share. Steve Jobs left Apple Inc. and came back in 1996 when his company, NeXT was purchased by Apple. In 1997, Jobs became the interim CEO. In later years it became a permanent position for him.
Apple Inc. is a multinational corporation that specializes in the production of consumer and business computers, electronics, and software. The company was established on April 1, 1976 by three individuals named Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne. It was then incorporated on January 3, 1977 and was initially known as Apple Computer, Inc. for 30 years thereafter, until it was changed to Apple Inc. on January 9, 2007, so as to include a more diverse line of products to the market than just computers, as the former name suggested.