Analysis of Apple Inc. business Strategic Unit

Analysis of Apple Inc. business Strategic Unit (iPad unit)

Contents
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 2
1. Strategic position of Apple Inc .................................................................................................................. 2
1.1 Competitive strategic position ............................................................................................................ 2
1.2 Strategic group mapping ......................................................................................................................... 4
2. External drivers of change affecting Apple’s Strategic Business Unit ....................................................... 5
2.1 PEST Analysis ....................................................................................................................................... 5
2.1.1 Political and legal drivers ............................................................................................................. 5
2.1.2 Economic factors .......................................................................................................................... 5
2.1.3 Socio-cultural factors ................................................................................................................... 6
2.1.4 Technology ................................................................................................................................... 7
2.1.5 Legal factors ................................................................................................................................. 7
2.1.6 Environment................................................................................................................................. 8
2.2 Five Forces Model

References: Aaker, D. A, and Mcloughlin, D. (2010) Strategic market management global perspectives, Chichester, Wiley. Apple official website (2012) Resolutionary, Accessed July 4th 2012, (July Barrow, C. (2011) Starting a business for dummies, Chichester, West Sussex, John Wiley. BBC News Business (2011) VAT rise from 17.5% to 20% [Online]. Available at: (July 4th 2012). Berglof, E. (2011) ‘A European Perspective on the Global Financial Crisis; Corporate Governance’, International Review, 19(5), pp Businesslink.com (2011) Mergers and Acquisitions [Online]. Available at: (August 1st 2012). Capon, C. (2008) Understanding Strategic Management, London: FT Prentice Hall. Chen, Y, and Ching-Hsun C. (2012) "Enhance green purchase intentions: The roles of green perceived value, green perceived risk, and green trust", Management Decision, 50 (3), Finlay, P. (2000). Strategic Management: An Introduction to Business and Corporate Strategy, London: FT Prentice Hall. Grant, J. (2008) "Green marketing", Strategic Direction, 24(6), pp.25 – 27. Harrison, J. S, & John, C. H. (2010) Foundations in strategic management Mason, Ohio, SouthWestern Cengage Learning. Ideavist, (2011) Apple’s Business Unit Strategy, Accessed 2012-04-21, http://www.ideavist.com/blog/2011/03/03/apples-business-unit-strategy/ Jackson, S, and Schuler, R. (1995) ‘Understanding human resource management in the context of organizations and their environment’, Applied Review of Psychology, Vol Lei, D, & Slocum, J. (2010) ‘Strategic and Organizational Requirements for Competitive Advantage,’ Academy of Management Executive, 6(18), pp Meyer, C. (2012) Apple Business Strategy [Online]. Available at: (August 1st 2012) Mina, A, Connell, D, and Hughes, A. (2009) Models of Technology development in Intermediate Research Organizations, Working Paper, No Nilsson, F., & Rapp, B. (2005) Understanding competitive advantage the importance of strategic congruence and integrated control Porter, M. (2006) ‘The Five Competitive Forces That Shape Strategy’, Harvard Business Review Thomson, N, & Baden-Fuller, C. (2010) Basic strategy in context European text and cases. Thornton, P.H, Domingo, R.S, and Urbano, D (2011) Socio-Cultural factors and entrepreneurial activity: An Overview, International Smll Businesses Journal, 29(2), pp Williamson, E.A Harrison, D.k, & Jordan, M. (2004) ‘Information systems development within supply chain management’, International Journal of Information Management, 24(5), Wong, C.W. Y, Lai, Kee-hung, C, T. C. E. (2011) ‘The Value Of Information Integration to Supply Chain management: The Role of External and Internal Contingencies’, Journal of