Apple, Inc Strategic Audit
Introduction
Apple Inc. is a company that focuses on development and marketing of personal computers, media devices, design, and portable digital music players. Also, the company sells a variety of related software, services, peripherals, networking solutions, and third-party digital content and applications. The company 's portfolio of offerings comprises Mac computing systems, iPods line of portable digital music and video players, iPhone handsets and iPad portable multimedia and computing devices (8). Apple was the first to use a 3.5 disk and first graphic based interface to be sold to customers. This strategic audit of Apple analyses the company’s strategy formulation, implementation, and evaluation. To determine that research had to be done on the external and internal factors, financial ratios, and long-term objectives. Based on this information strategic alternatives and strategic advice is given to conclude this strategic audit.
History
In 1977, Apple Computer Inc. was incorporated. Steven Wozniak and Steven P. Jobs co-founded the company. They introduced the first Apple I computer in 1976, but it was a failure. Apple II was successful in 1980. Apple produced the first mouse 4 years later. By the 1990s, Apple lost about $68 million due to competition with Microsoft (8). Steve Jobs returned to the company and made an agreement with Microsoft and developed software called PowerSchool. In the following year, Apple, Ericsson and Sun Microsystems formed an alliance to create a standard format for delivering multimedia content to wireless devices, such as smartphones. The alliance combined the knowledge of cellphones and Apple’s QuickTime video software .
In 2003, iTunes (an online store for downloading music, TV shows, and movies) was launched. In the same year, Apple introduced its fourth generation iPod portable digital music player. Apple changed its name from Apple Computer Inc. to just Apple Inc. in 2007, to establish the fact of branching out to new
Apple Inc. is a company that focuses on development and marketing of personal computers, media devices, design, and portable digital music players. Also, the company sells a variety of related software, services, peripherals, networking solutions, and third-party digital content and applications. The company 's portfolio of offerings comprises Mac computing systems, iPods line of portable digital music and video players, iPhone handsets and iPad portable multimedia and computing devices (8). Apple was the first to use a 3.5 disk and first graphic based interface to be sold to customers. This strategic audit of Apple analyses the company’s strategy formulation, implementation, and evaluation. To determine that research had to be done on the external and internal factors, financial ratios, and long-term objectives. Based on this information strategic alternatives and strategic advice is given to conclude this strategic audit.
History
In 1977, Apple Computer Inc. was incorporated. Steven Wozniak and Steven P. Jobs co-founded the company. They introduced the first Apple I computer in 1976, but it was a failure. Apple II was successful in 1980. Apple produced the first mouse 4 years later. By the 1990s, Apple lost about $68 million due to competition with Microsoft (8). Steve Jobs returned to the company and made an agreement with Microsoft and developed software called PowerSchool. In the following year, Apple, Ericsson and Sun Microsystems formed an alliance to create a standard format for delivering multimedia content to wireless devices, such as smartphones. The alliance combined the knowledge of cellphones and Apple’s QuickTime video software .
In 2003, iTunes (an online store for downloading music, TV shows, and movies) was launched. In the same year, Apple introduced its fourth generation iPod portable digital music player. Apple changed its name from Apple Computer Inc. to just Apple Inc. in 2007, to establish the fact of branching out to new
Bibliography: 1. David, Fred R. (2009) Strategic Management: Concepts. Upper Saddle River, NJ. Pearson Education. 2. www.apple.com Retrieved March 8, 2012 3 4. http://investing.money.msn.com/investments/stock-balance-sheet?symbol=AAPL Retrieved March 10, 2012 5. http://www.barchart.com/financials.php?sym=AAPL&view=current_balance_sheet Retrieved March 14, 2012 6. http://invreports.galegroup.com/reuters/FinancialReport/RatiosReport.jsp Retrieved March 14, 2012 7. Stock-analysis-on.net/NYSE/Company/…/Long-term-Investment-Activity Retrieved March 16, 2012 8. http://360.datamonitor.com/Product?pid=5B0A0C20-9BB6-4284-A575-AC0F2261F45C Retrieved March 16, 2012 9. http://www.mergentonline.com/companydetail.php?compnumber=12161&pagetype=synopsis Retrieved March 16, 2012 10 11. http://web.ebscohost.com/bsi/detail?vid=3&hid=13&sid=eae1d5a6-8d65-4ba8-8a7a-98f7b35104dc%40sessionmgr14&bdata=JnNpdGU9YnNpLWxpdmU%3d#db=bth&AN=70457252 Retrieved March 16, 2012 12