Strategies in Action - Apple inc and Microsoft - Assignment Example

Running Head: Strategies in action Strategies in action [Writer’s Name] [Institute’s Name] Strategies in action Introduction This paper shall outline the main strategies being used by the Apple inc. as compared to the tactics being used by Microsoft in order to be sustainable in the market to gain more customers to be successful in the competitive market. A clear difference has been seen in the strategies between Microsoft and apple. The strategies of the Apple inc. include using innovation while Microsoft believes in price-based strategies. Apple and its strategies Apple inc. is known for the troubles it had with the bog box sale staffers that had been ill informed about the importance of the products. Thereby the standards were not being differentiated regarding the Apple inc. products by the sale staff when the large computing crowd is there. 1. Separate sales office The main strategy used is the separate sales offices that are only for the Apple inc. products so the difference is cleared out between the Apple inc. products and the other manufacturers. The separate shops make sure that customer loyalty is increased within the large group of customers that are specifically dedicated for Apple. The MAC and PC users are encouraged to talk around these stores, thus the new gathering that is present at the shop not only enjoys the newer innovations that are present but also older experiences. 2. Complementing the products The second main strategy is that all the Apple’s products complement each other. The iPod is a product that can be handled and controlled with the iTunes and this is the only software that is needed in order to use the iPod. Similarly, the Mac users also have a complete software and hardware solutions that help in increasing the customer loyalty. Complete boxes are given to the customers so they do not have to stray around. 3. Attracting the younger generation One of the main strategies used by Apple inc. is that the brand has been considered as a hippy brand which represents the younger generation of the worlds. The products of Apple inc. are up to date and smart. One of the main differences been noticed between MAC and PC is that MAC users are up to date and PC users are now relying on the older technology. 4. Lower entry cost The Apple inc. products are newer and more innovative thus these products are attractive for the customers so the Apple’s iPods and MAC users are always ready to use the newer Apple inc. products. Lower entry cost is the strategy being used by Apple inc. to sale out the products that helps in creating new customers for Apple. The first main aim of Apple inc. is to make the customers buy the products so that they buy them repeatedly as they enjoy the products. 5. Media frenzy Another main strategy is to be in news constantly. Newer products and newer innovations, shops being closed down, the rates and prices as well as the opening of newer online stores have been in the news that keeps the customers in constant touch with their favorite brand. Thereby the main changes noticed are many blogs that are posted online on the daily basis so as to keep the customers up to date. 6. Educational innovation Apple inc. has targeted schools and universities in order to increase the sales of the products and converting the classrooms into the showrooms. The main advantages noticed is the easier interface and superior performance that is enjoyed by the students thus increasing their knowledge Thereby Apple inc. realizes the potential customers of the future. Apple has been one of the most successful organizations as it has regarded the fact that the customers and their demands are to be taken into account as these demands ask for more innovation and style in the newer products. The marketing researchers at Apple inc. make sure that there is an extensive research carried out in the market before the product is released in the market. The rule that is being implemented here is the innovation with an increased knowledge as well as skills. A lot of planning is involved in the product release and this is the main reason of customer satisfaction and a successful customer relationship with the company. The planning and the use of extensive research is the main cause of the creation of easy to use and robust products that make the customers happier, so the customers buy the products for a longer period of time with trust and reliability. 7. Innovation in products One of the main strategies been constantly followed by Apple inc. is the innovation. It has been noticed that all of the Apple inc. products are more oriented towards the innovation as well as the easy use. Apple has offered its customers many ways to enjoy the products in an easy yet innovative manner. The opportunities been given to the customers include the usage of the products by the customers by keeping the products in their pockets, offices, homes and where ever desired by the customers. The company thereby maintains the brand loyalty as well. The products of Apple inc. have been more than appealing and the attraction starts from the packaging till the release of the products. A smiling icon, colorful products and smart hardware with the easy to use software lures the customers. Recommendations for Apple Inc. However, some errors have been noticed in the strategies used by Apple. These include the lower interactions of the customers with the company. In the normal situations the customers are not in contact with the company other than if the situations ask for it. These issues have been realized by Apple inc. and the iPhone has been in link with the AT&T that helps solve the issues faced by the customers in case of the billing errors and signal building. The basic architecture of all of the products of Apple inc. has been the same and it is the rule that makes the products to be used in an easy way by the customers. Thereby the customers who are already using the Apple inc. products are aware of the main technology been used in the products so making the use easier. Thus the adaptation to the products is safer and consistent. Microsoft and its market strategies Issues faced by Microsoft 1. Windows Vista For Microsoft, the year of 2008 has been a problematic year. One of the major software been released by the Microsoft was Windows Vista and there were some complaints about the software in the previous year. Thereby the customers were made to use the MAC OS X and Windows XP. 2. Internet explorer and Windows mobile In addition to this, the customers are not using the internet explorer in a consistent manner. The customers are not satisfied well enough with Windows mobile to cause a change in the market share of Apple Inc. As a conclusion, it can be seen that tougher times have been faced by the Microsoft as compared to the winning times faced by Apple. However, many critics say that the year of 2009 was the better year in the history of Microsoft. One of the main changes seen was the creation of Windows 7, the deal with Yahoo! as well as the resurgence of the Microsoft on the web. 3. Hasty products Many discussions can prove that the innovation or the changes brought to the products are not by keeping in mind the demands of the customers in the maker. One of the main examples is the release of the Windows Vista. There was no testing carried out to make sure that the product is easier to use. In fact, there were many problems faced by the customers so the products failed in the market. Without a hitch Windows Vista was released in the market. As compared to Microsoft, the product released by Apple was known as the Snow Leopard and it took the lead against the Windows Vista thereby all the market was celebrating the success of the operating system released by Apple. Successful products 1. Success in Windows 7 In comparison to the failure OS has been released by the Microsoft, the Windows 7 has been a success as compared to the Vista. The task bars are much more improved and the user interface simpler. In addition to this, the main change has been the addition of the BitLocker To Go that was easier to use by the customers. Affordable prices have been set for the operating system that has made the customers buy the OS. 2. Development of Bing One of the successful innovatory changes been brought about by the Microsoft is the development of Bing. Live search from this search engine is the main fact that has made the customers like the search engine. Because of the release of Bing, the market share of Microsoft has increased as compared to Apple. There are several features in the search engine and these include the virtual search engine as well as the live search. The major improvement is the addition of the Maps choice through which the users can find the maps of the desired places. Bing maps have had a success over the Google maps. It has been observed that Bing shall be a success in the year of 2010. 3. Agreement with Yahoo Microsoft has been the software giant and one of the major moves made by the Microsoft is the deal with Yahoo. By the help of this deal, it has been anticipated that the market share shall increase quite to an extent. 4. Fresh graduates employment The main strategy used by the Microsoft is that the fresh graduates from the colleges as well as the universities are hired, as Bill Gates not only looks for the smart brains but the teenagers who are enthusiastic as well as super smart and looking for more. Bill Gates has realized that the dynamic markets cannot be faced just by hiring the fresh graduates, but the younger and more innovative of minds who are risk takers. Along with more intelligence and knowledge, the corporate IQ is also required by the organization as big as the software giant that is Microsoft. The main principle followed is that the knowledge is to be upgraded as well as shared in order to increase the learning. The ideas of the employees as well as the staff members are used to create better products. The knowledge from the past is being stored and the current knowledge exchanged, thereby increasing the information in a deeper manner making sure that the intelligence is reflected in the products. Collaboration of the knowledge along with the sharing has increased the perspective of intelligence in the market. According to Bill Gates the power is needed to be gained in order to gain success in the market and it has been observed that the power cannot be gained just by an up gradation in the knowledge but the best way is the development of the team that shares the best of knowledge and ideas from throughout the staff that can help in the creation of the best of products. Recommendations There are some recommendations that have been generated for Microsoft to be followed ion the years to come. It has been added that the year of 2010 shall be a challenging ear for the software giants. The main competitor that has been declared for the year of 2010 is Google. In addition to this it has been seen that there are many strategies that have been designed by goggle teams in order to compete with their competitors, the Redmond. The main competitor in the mobile market that is to be faced by Microsoft is Apple that has been enjoying many undisturbed winnings in the previous years. One of the main worried that are to be faced by the software giant is that the strategies that are designed by the researchers and the mangers at the Microsoft are to be changed. There is a great difference between the strategies that are followed by the Microsoft and Apple Inc. for the purpose of gaining more customers and the greater customer hold as well as the market share. The main strategy that is followed by Apple inc. is the main demands from the customers that include the style and innovations. The strategies that are followed by the Microsoft are the newer products that are not built by keeping in mind the demands that are given in by the software using customers thus leading to a decrease in the customers in the market, as well as the market share and an overall decrease in the sales volume. As compared to the problems that are seen in the case of the products, it has to be realized by Microsoft that there is a desperate need to make improvements in the window mobile. There is a need to make the improvements in the mobile operating systems so as to make their places in the market as well as to increase the customers. One of the main facts that has been seen to be lagging in the products is the multi touch support. If there is a need to increase the number of customers online than there is a need to leverage Bing. There is a need that the company should start leveraging Bing in everything that the company does in all of its operations. One of the main recommendations that has been given ion is that Bing should be introduced in the windows mobile. In addition to this it has been said that Bing should be the main part of the windows 7. The online services that are provided by windows is the one that should incorporate Bing. In the case of being a software giant it has been seen that there are some demands that are put up by the European Union and for gaining more success it has been seen that there is a need to follow these demands. It has been seen that the EU has a major issue with Microsoft. It has been seen that there are some activities that have been considered as unacceptable by the European Union. It has been seen that there was an offer by the Microsoft giants that the users could download more than twelve different levels of browsers and it was considered as an unethical business move by the software giants. These kind of strategies cannot help in managing the success of Microsoft thereby it is important that the Microsoft implies to the main demands that are set by the European Union. One of the irresponsible moves that has been taken on by the Microsoft is that it has allowed Google to move into the online space rather than being successful online itself and all of the main success has been gathered by Google, thereby it has to be kept in mind by Microsoft that the online customers have to be won by the other online service providers. More over it has to be seen that the online operating system space is the one that has to be occupied by Microsoft as compared to the other strong competitors in the market. One of the main products that has been designed by Microsoft is the Azure and hard work is needed in the case of brining it on the web thereby making the customers more attracted to it. This is the product that can help in increasing the support that is required for the online OS support that is needed by Microsoft. The main complaint in the year of 1990 was that the market share that the Microsoft had was a result of the monopoly that hot played and this was the monopoly power that was abused in many ways. It has been observed that in the previous years the internet explorers were being forced onto the customers. The internet explorer was offered as a part of the windows thereby the customers had no choice but to use the explorer. In this case also it is seen that the products that the Microsoft has offered were forced onto the customers against their demands and their wishes that has also caused a decrease in the overall market share for the company. In comparison to this it has been seen that the products that are offered by the Apple inc. are the ones that are loved by the customers rather than being forced on the customers. People love iPods and it has been seen that the customer love to use the iPods as they are easier to use. It has been seen that the Apple inc. has been copied in variety of ways by the Microsoft. It has been seen that there are many features of MAC that have been copied by Microsoft as the features of trash cans, folders as well as the resizable windows. In this case the main innovator was the operating system space sand these are the features that were introduced by Apple inc. and Microsoft has been copying these features ever since. Many features that were produced by Apple inc. were duplicated by Microsoft for many years thereby there were many complaints against these. The best thing that has been noticed in the case of the most famous innovations, the iPods is that the multitouch User interface with the gestures. In this case it has been seen that there is a lawsuit that was filed by Apple inc. against Microsoft for preventing them to use the User interfaces that were the creation of Apple inc. and were being used in their products thereby the infringement was being prevented. Apple’s Lisa as well as Macintosh operating systems have been known to be using these interfaces. It has been strongly claimed by Apple inc. that the look that Mac OS has is copyrighted. Similarly there are many court cases that have been filed against Microsoft for the copyright infringement. There are thereby many changes that are required by the Microsoft in order to maintain the stability of the industry in the coming years. In the previous years, it has been seen that there are many court cases, monopoly hype as well as the court cases that have been face by the company in the past that has consumed all the resources of the organization. thereby there is a need of the strategies that make sure that the resources that the company has are used in the best way. In addition to this there is a need that the Microsoft understands that the choice has to be given to the customers in order to accept the products thereby the products that are designed are the ones that are to be designed by keeping in mind the demands of the customers. Conclusion The main changes that are required by the companies include the changes in the innovation strategies realizing the fact that the products are not to be forced on the customers but they are to be designed by keeping in mind the demands that are place in by the customers. In addition to this, Microsoft needs to save the energy as well as the resources by designing the products rather than fighting the cases and the legal monopolies. Here it can be seen that Apple inc. believes in innovation and creation while Microsoft believes in creating the products without keeping in mind the demands that are given in by the customers. In addition to this the resources that both companies have are the ones that are utilized in a strategic manner in the case of Apple inc. while the use has been non strategic in the case of Microsoft. Apple has used all the resources for the creation of better innovation but in the case of Microsoft, it has been seen that all the resources are used up in the legal court cases and copyright infringement cases. References Lambert, Laura. (2005). The Internet: a historical encyclopedia. Biographies, Volume 1. ABC-CLIO. Read More