Strategic Management (Case Group)

1. What aspects of Apple's strategy can you identify?
1. continuous innovation:  ipod, iphone, itunes
2. Mac as the core product
3. Apple TV
4. "Think Different"
5. Embodies Apple
6. Customer Experience
2. Analyze the industrial considerations underpinning Apple's strategy.
1. Strategic advantage derrived by improving the PC-> Mac
2. Creation of a premium prand
3. Manufacturing capability, supply chain capability
1. Chinese and Taiwanese suppliers
4. Apple contains the product in a package
5. PC Market structure- Lenovo puchased IBM - fewer competitiors
6. Substitutes for PCs, Ipad, portable devices
7. Global financial crisis- external environment
8. Final Cut Pro, Life:  Opened up OS so that developers could use their ecosystem.
3. What industry determinants have Apple been able to shape?
1. Vertical integration
2. strong supplier relationships
3. cross over collaboration and partnerships
4. What implications does Job's passing have for Apple's strategy?
1. Dynamic character
2. Tim Cook leads to a Charisma vacuum
3. PC sector dependency->  move from one sector to another such as Apple TV
4. shift to service
5. educate customers to like the Apple brand
6. Apple persuades customers to embrace the brand
7. Steve Job's core strategy was product based.  Would they be able to sustain
5. What scenarios exist for Apple?
6. What recommendations would you give, as a strategic consultant to the Board of Directors of Apple for the long term sustainability of their current market leadership?