Strategies used by Apple Company, Evaluate its SWOT Analysis and its Strategies (Coursework Sample)

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Apple Company
Introduction
Apple is one of the leading companies in the world that designs and manufactures mobile devices, personal computers and portable music player. Moreover, it deals with a variety of software's, peripherals, services and networking solution. Also, Apple Company also markets third-party iPod, Macintosh and iPhone products. Such as application software's, speakers, storage devices, printers among others.
The apple company now operates retail stores worldwide that have apple products. In September 2012, Apple Company operated around 390 retail shops worldwide. Of the retail stores, 250 operated in the United States and only 140 outside the United States. Apple has so far invested in research and innovation of new technologies and development of new products in order to enhance its existing products in computer, peripherals, and system software's, mobile devices, consumer electronics devices among other devices.So far, the company has grouped its geographic operations into 4 regions; and that is, Japan, America, Asia Pacific and Europe. (Apple inc. (AAPL), 21)
SWOT Analysis –Overview of Apple
Strength
Strong financial performance has enabled Apple Company to grow further and expand aggressively. In the year 2012, the company recorded 156.51 billion dollar revenue which was an increase by 44.58 from 108.25 billion dollar in previous year. This increase was as a result of rising in sales of iPad, iPhone and other related products. This increased the company income by 63.48 percent from 33.79 billion dollar in 2011 to 55.54 billion dollars in 2012. Therefore strong financial performance helped Apple Company to be the cream in the market. (Apple Inc, 32)
Also, strong market position of Apple Company enabled it to retain and attract numerous customer base. The company has dominated all over its geographical regions hence making it a leading market. It has become the world's second largest smartphone dealer after Samsun electronics in the world. For instance, the company sold 125 million iPhone in the year 2012 recording a very huge profit compared to the previous years.
Diversified geographic presence has also been one of the strengths of apple. This has enable apple to distribute the risks associated with overdependence of only one market. It is currently widespread in Europe, Africa, America and the Asian Pacific. Also, the company has established numerous offices across the world to enable efficient distribution of its products.
Weaknesses
Litigations and lawsuits is one of the weaknesses of apple. For instance, if various lawsuits are filed against the apple company, it may damage its reputation in the competitive market the company has so far been involved in many legal cases that has made the company to spend trying to defend itself. Such legal issues usually interfere with the company operations and management making it to lose a lot of money.
Also, overdependence on iPhone products is likely to iPhone business operation. Despite apple dealing with also iPod and iPad, it has concentrated more on iPhone business than the latter. Such overdependence on one line of product may jeopardize the company financial health since there is no distribution of risk.
Opportunities
There is rising demand of smartphones. The company has been taking the advantage on high demand of smartphone in the market and an increasing number of users. Major factors that has increased smartphone demand in the market place include expanding 4G net, various applications associated with smartphones, increase in competition among smart mobile manufacturers, decreasing prices among many others.
Positive outlook for tablet market has also been an opportunity for apple. Tablet shipment outlook matters especially when it is positive. This has made apple to dominate in the market especially with its tablet devices such as iPad 2 and iPad mini. The company has therefore has to maintain its positive outlook if it is to compete with other manufactures such as Samsun
New product launches is another opportunity that apple has taken advantage of. At a regular interval, apple has been launching new products and improving on the already existing products. This has enabled Apple Company to maintain its consumers and compete favorably in the market place. The timely release of its improved and innovative devices has benefited the company so far in realizing huge profits.
Threats
Growth of Android platform in the market places poses a great danger to apple products, the company so far has depended on IOS that forms a basis of its soft wares application. So far, many companies have embraced Android application making apple competitors to produce a range of similar products that are even more affordable than apple products. More than five hundred million android products had been activated globally by the year 2012. With the wide use of android by many smartphone manufacturers, this may jeopardize the future of Apple Company.
Theft of digital content is another danger that apple faces. Apple has iTunes stores where application ranging from digital content can be downloaded hence posing a risk of unauthorized access to its digital content. The illegitimate users may take advantage by hacking the content and making various changes and finally leak it to the internet users. This makes apple to lose a lot of money as people will be able to access its digital content free from the internet.
External Environment
Political Analysis- the apple company having retails all over the world is much exposed to political problems that might arise in such countries. Apple has also faced many legal stress due to political problems that they arise where there are located hence jeopardizing it in terms of profits and competition.
Economic Analysis- when developed countries such as China, Japan and U.S were in global recession, apple felt the heat. Furthermore, there has been slow growth in the world economy making apple products not to sale more.
Social Analysis-throughout the history of apple, it has been making many adjustments and changes to satisfy the ever rising needs of its client, for instance, apple has been involve in acquisition of other competing company such as Embark and Topsy.
Technological Analysis- apple has greatly invested in innovation to come up with the new products to satisfy their customer needs and also to cope up with ever rising competition in the market place.\
Porter's Five Forces Analysis
Rivalry among competing sellers-due to a rise of company that produce similar products just like apple, there has been immense competition making apple's sales to fall by a large margin. This has made apple to come up with user friendly products that are affordable in the market places. (Khan, Usman Ali, Mohammd Noor Alam, and Shabbir Alam,958)
Potential entry of new competitors. There has been low entrant o apple's competitors in the market hence making apple to perpetually continue to dominate in the market. This has been attributed by high income consumer who make it hard for new entrants company to grasp market share.
Competitive pressure of products that perform the same function- pressure due to substitute products that apple faces is high moderate. There is a substitute for almost all apple products that other competitors have developed.
Bargaining power of Suppliers- bargaining power of suppliers is low moderate due to their unique way to manufacture products to be used by Apple. Apple has a range of suppliers since they buy in large number giving them power to buy more.
Bargaining power of customer-since apple boasts of being innovative, producing quality products among other things, it continue to retain and attract more customers making their bargaining power to be low.
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Apple's Corporate Strategy
Apple corporate strategy is the dominant business such as computer business and software business making it to dominate in the competitive market. Also, product diversification has also been one of its corporate strategy. For instance, abo...