Apple Inc. Business Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

orchard apple tree Inc. Business Analysis - Essay ExampleThe organizations contemporary strengths atomic number 18 multi-varied. Perhaps Apples greatest current strength is its competitive advantages. From the earliest incarnations of Apple Computer the company sought to carve out a competitive advantage through horizontal and vertical integration that restricted external product licensing (Apple computer, inc., 2011). Today among Apples strongest products are the iPh hotshot, iPod, iPad, and the macintosh book. These divisions have a strong presence in everyday recreation uses, artistic practices, and education. In addition, they are supported by Apples globally strong brand. Another prominent advantage is Apples attention to image elements. Building products from the ground up allows Apple to implement innovative design elements that create a loyal customer base. One copes the iMac released in 1998 with its eggshell design as prominently implementing this technique (Apple com puter, inc., 2011). This design advantage too extends into Apples image. Apple, Inc. increasingly cultivates an image that presents itself as the alternative choice to mainstream computer producers. This has allowed Apple to become a cultural force resulting in portentous commercialize advantage. The iPhone contains Apples droll operating system, allowing it significant quality advantage over competitors (Apple -- iphone, 2011). Indeed, quality product design has become one of the driving forces of Apples success and has created a significant competitive barrier for outside manufacturers, such as Google (Gilbertson, 2010). One must also consider the iPhones competitive advantage in terms of its position in the Apple whole. In these regards, Apple has been able to leverage its competitive position in mp3 with iTunes and its compatibility with the Macintosh operating system as a means of encouraging user identification (Schramm, 2011). The Apple App Store also provides the organiz ation with a unique advantage over other smart phone suppliers. In addition, Apples implementation of Siri voice activation technology will surely ram an amount of future sales. Weaknesses While Apple, Inc. has a number of strengths one must consider their potential weaknesses. One of the largest questions of the organization is the extent that they can continue their current unprecedented streak of innovation and growth. Perhaps the greatest challenge in this realm of understanding considers that company founder Steve Jobs recently died significant questions remain as to whether new CEO Tim Cook will be able to continue this past success. While the Apple App store is a highly important element in the iPhones success the Android Marketplace has begun developing a number of competitive applications as a means of threatening Apples smart phone sustainability (Wauters, 2011). In addition, Microsoft has developed a new smart phone design and will pose new challenges to Apples overarchi ng market share. Still, the greatest weakness is that while Apple has leveraged market share through product innovation the open source models have been able to reengineer many of Apples innovations. While Apple has engaged in a series of patent lawsuits, notably a recent victory over HTC, the extent that this frame a viable strategy remains greatly questionable. Furthermore, Googles position as a cornerstone of the Internet, coupled with the