OPERATIONS OF APPLE FOLLOWING THE IDEA OF NICCOLO MACHIAVELLI - Essay Example

?You Can Make A Topic (But Still Using Apple Inc INTRODUCTION The book d, “The Prince”, was written by Niccolo Machiavelli who was renowned asa political philosopher in the late 15th century. Principally, the book aims at providing a comprehensive understanding about the aspect of efficient ruling and factors associated with it. Machiavelli, in “The Prince”, describes that a prince is not the same with the people whom he rules; rather, he poses a greater stature in the society. Expanding this vision propounded by Niccolo Machiavelli, the principles of ruling and managing a mass of individuals can also be deemed as applicable in modern organizational field of operations. In this regard, Machiavelli’s description of the qualities of a prince or a person or a corporation can be viewed as similar to that of modern day organizations, having its operations and influencing factors networked in the realms of politics, regulatory as well as economic and certainly in social paradigms as well. Moreover, as Machiavelli precisely mentions that gaining goodwill of the citizen is quite important with regard to rule properly with utmost effectiveness, his principles can be argued as justifiably applicable in 21st century organizational context where sustainability and moral principles are supposed to be one of the prime concerns. THESIS STATEMENT Critically analyzing the strategic operations of Apple Inc., this thesis will aim at discussing those bases or grounds where Apple’s operations follow the principles affirmed by Machiavelli and those opposing Machiavelli’s viewpoints. In addition, justifications will also be delivered on the inferences drawn so as to gain an in-sight to the concerned issue in this thesis. OPERATIONS OF APPLE FOLLOWING THE IDEA OF NICCOLO MACHIAVELLI Today, Apple is renowned as one of the leading Information Technology (IT) companies of the world. With its worldwide operations, the company has emerged as one of the most successful and renowned brands. It is in this context that alignment of the operational approach of Apple with that of the ideas presented by Machiavelli in ‘The Prince’ is quite likely to reward a succinct understanding of the possible influences, which can be reasoned as the causes of Apple’s success to date. In precise, Machiavelli describes about various principles of ruling, keeping in concern the autocratic system of the then scenario, i.e. of the 15th century. The principles thereby depict about the methods to be followed with regard to govern and maintain power in a particular demographic region, which can also be characterized as organizational environment in today’s context. Notably, sustainability constitutes major significance in these principles, in the form of the morally sound attitude deciphered by the ruler through his works, human behavior influenced by their heredity and surrounding environment as well as demand for transparency in the entire working process by both the ruler and those who are ruled. In accordance with this principle, Apple’s operations all over the world, intended to capture maximum share of the technology industry, can be found as emphasized on ethically sound principles rendering high priority to its customers’ needs, in accordance with its stakeholders’ and organizational needs (Reuters, “Apple Inc (AAPL.OQ)”). Heading towards being more argumentive, the principles in Machiavelli’s “The Prince” depict that hereditary princedom is much beneficial from new princedom as it assures greater loyalty from the followers. Contextually, Apple is one of those companies that intend to operate in the competitive market in which they are present as a strong brand, following its hereditary princedom. This may also be considered as a major reason as to why Apple has been quite reluctant in reaching to the various non-competitive markets in the global realm. As Machiavelli argues, trusting in hereditary princedom is one such aspect that enables a prince to maintain his power and attain highest possible commitment from his followers at the very initial stage of being crowned. Apple can also be examined to follow this idea to solidify its position in the known territory where it has been operating over the years, further enabling it to maintain its brand power (brand image) in the same (Machiavelli 1-3; Reuters, “Apple Inc (AAPL.OQ)”). Machiavelli also highlights about how a new territory should be captured as it is very much required so as to preserve followers’ loyalty in the later phases of ruling. Contextually, it has been observed from the Assessing the entry strategy of Apple in a new market it can be ascertained that the company follows a similar principle where the company usually adopts the approach of franchising to enter a new market and establish its operations successfully (Machiavelli 1-3; Reuters, “Apple Inc (AAPL.OQ)”). Machiavelli also asserts that in order to rule a particular state it is important not only to defeat the top or the existing rulers but also the peers who might affect them in the future (Machiavelli 20-21). In this context, Apple’s approach to conduct its business operations in a particular place can be illustrated, where its operations are designed in a manner that not only challenges the growth of the other top players in the market but also prevents the threat of new entrants that might pose stern competition risks for the company from a futuristic perspective. The company takes its operational decision in accordance to the facts gathered about both the group of players, i.e. the existing top competitors and possible new entrants (Reuters, “Apple Inc (AAPL.OQ)”). Additionally, Machiavelli argues that a prince had to ensure maximum trust of the people in the states, in order to continue ruling for a considerable period. Correspondingly, a business needs to earn maximum goodwill from the customers in order to ensure its effective performance and long-run sustainability in the market. Apple intends to satisfy the customers and their needs and demands in every possible way in order to ensure positive results in return, similar to the initiatives taken by a prince to preserve his princedom in any particular state (Machiavelli 20-27; Reuters, “Apple Inc (AAPL.OQ)”). OPERATIONS OF APPLE AVOIDING THE IDEAS OF NICCOLO MACHIAVELLI Observably, Machiavelli’s “The Prince” argued upon certain ideas, which can be assessed to be in contrast with the operational approaches taken by Apple. According to Machiavelli, in order to gain as well as preserve princedom in the long-run, rulers should follow the set examples of the previous princes. On the contrary, the approach taken by Apple, after succeeding its influential leader Steve Jobs, can be examined as quite different from that practiced by the company in its earlier phase. Notably, undergoing a transition phase in its leadership behavior, the company now focuses on imbibing creativity and better sustainable innovation strategies to sustain in the increasingly competitive environment (Machiavelli 37-42; Rogowsky, “Two Years Ago, Apple Lost Steve Jobs; Has it lost its Way”). Machiavelli further depicted that gaining power in a particular state depends on various sources among which, the support of the citizens is primary. Goodwill of the citizens is quite likely to allow a leader to rise in power and maintain the same over the long-run (Machiavelli 43-47). Although a critical examination of Apple’s approach can be argued as emphasizing customer needs and preference, a critical examination of its marketing approaches can be observed to practice a degree of monopolistic power in the market intending to steer its customers rather than maintaining flexibility to obtain highest possible support from its customers, especially in the recent decade. Arguably, in some of the markets, where the company operates, its performance has often been criticized to lack in reaching the standard level. This is largely owing to the fact that the company was unable to work in alignment with the nature of the customers, which obstructed it to gain complete control in the particular market (Cooper, “Apple fails to make cut of influential firms in India”; Mehra and Ghosh, “Lost Opportunity: How Apple got its Strategy Wrong”). COUNTERARGUMENTS ON THE APPROACH OF APPLE INC Surprisingly, as the above discussion made it apparent, some of the operational approaches adapted by Apple are very much similar and directly related with the principles affirmed by Machiavelli in the 15th century, almost 5 centuries ago. Evidently, the influence of the ideas presented in Machiavelli’s “The Prince” can be identified in the approach taken by Apple; while few of the organizational approaches are identified to be in contrast with the mentioned principles in the book. Arguing on the approach of Apple that is deemed to follow the ideas of Machiavelli, it can be depicted that with the changing nature of the modern market, the company is forced to maintain an impressive brand image in the market. Focusing on almost a similar scenario in the political paradigm, Machiavelli stated in his work that in order to remain in power, rulers should change their approach in accordance to the change witnessed in the situational context. It is in this context that the company, in parallel with the views of Machiavelli’s hereditary princedom principle, is also seen to adopt the franchising mode of entry to enter unexplored markets, but contrasts with the principle of changing situational context with lesser degree of flexibility in its business and corporate strategies to adopt changes as required in accordance with the environmental conditions alterations. Again, Apple can be identified to be somewhat reluctant to take rapid and continuous innovation approaches following its previous prince, Steve Jobs, which contradicts the idea presented by Machiavelli connoting that new leaders or rulers should work in accordance to the directives applied by previous leaders. This approach of Apple can be supported from the fact that the nature of the market and the preferences of the customer changes constantly in today’s business owing to which, companies are forced to change their strategies in regular intervals and therefore following the same directives as in its earlier phase shall prove to be less productive. Moreover, Machiavelli stated in his work that in order to gain power in a particular region, it first necessary to gain the support of the citizens. However, Apple’s approach to structure the market, rather than make its ideologies and strategic frameworks more flexible to adapt to situational variances denote a contrasting viewpoint to that presented in “The Prince” by Machiavelli. It can further be argued that perhaps, it is owing to this particular lacuna that Apple has been witnessing lessened sustainability and high competitive impacts in its recent performances. CONCLUSION From the overall discussion, it can be comprehended that the ideas developed by Machiavelli in “The Prince” astonishingly has considerable significance in the modern day business. Thus, companies can implement the ideas of the author in order to gain control in the market. However, it must also be noted that success drivers today is much different from that observed in the 15th century as well as varying not only in different industrial paradigms but also in possessing similarity with political leadership and organizational leadership tactics. It is thus arguable that with adequate understanding of these principles in alignment with the strategic goals and operational needs of modern organizations today, better sustainability can be gained by global companies like Apple. Works Cited Cooper, Rachel. Apple Fails To Make Cut Of Influential Firms In India. 2011. Web. 25 Nov. 2013. Machiavelli, Niccolo. The Prince. 1515. London: Sovereign, Print. Mehra, Priyanka and Shauvik Ghosh. Lost Opportunity: How Apple got its Strategy wrong. 2008. Web. 25 Nov. 2013. “Apple Inc (AAPL.OQ).” Reuters. 2013. Web. 25 Nov. 2013. Rogowsky, Mark. Two Years Ago, Apple Lost Steve Jobs; Has it lost its Way. 2013. Web. 25 Nov. 2013. Read More