HR Strategy for the Apple Company - Case Study Example

The Apple Company concentrates on the provision of the digital services that include the production of computer hardware, as well as the software. The company’s CEOs; Steve Jobs and Tim Cook, have a view and specialty in the innovation of new products that tend to create a revolution in the digital industry. The following article provides an HR strategy that speculates on a comprehensive policy that fits the daily operations of the company. The HR plan leads to the consideration of the competitive strategy that coincides with the business strategy of the institution. The document takes into account the supply chain as per the implications that the consumers create. Consequently, the publication tends to create an insight into the possible changes that are applicable to the organization. The instances follow an all-inclusive research of the company. The research also concentrates on the HR strategies that tend to provide the blueprint for the publication. The script also follows the outline of the assignment and tends to have the layout of two questions. Each part follows the guidelines and the various discussions follow the strategies that comprise the course discourse. A reference list appears at the completion of the document to validate the propositions that are therein. A HR strategy for the apple company The Apple organization is one of the few top enterprises in the computer and mobile industry in the world. A comprehensive human resource strategy of the apple companies relates to the particular industries that the enterprise. The institution intends to be the ultimate lead in the creation of computer software, as well as the computers. In addition, the company expects in the continued creation of a revolution in the music inductee that involves application data that is available on the internet. Accordingly, the company has a couple of different commodities that fit every unique category of the particular market with the essence of creating perfection in the achievement of the goals. The various products include the desktop computers, the iPhone, the iPad, the Mac notebook plus the iPod. In regard to the music on the internet, the company has the iTunes that create a revolution in the music industry (Crainer, 2013, p. 13). Competitive strategy The competitive strategy should fit the business or organization plan of the apple company. The most precise plan for competition is the innovative approach. The company employs a leadership role in the market that is only possible through innovation. The instance of change makes sure that the company provides new and unique products to the consumer that is different from products from other competitors in the same market (Crainer, 2013, p. 16). Business strategy The best model is as by Miles and Snow. The organization model relates to the fact that in the venture of a company to be a success, the business plus the human resource strategy should be in harmony. In the scenario of disharmony of the two strategies, then a company becomes a failure in the market (Edwards, 2009, p. 6). Prospector The business strategy is a composition of the Miles and Snow model of an organization. The plan depicts that a company tends to employ innovation in the daily business activities. The primary objective is the acquisition of new markets and the creation of new products in the market. Consequently, the company emerges as a leader in the market since the incorporation of new goods and markets is in a fast manner that considers time as an important factor. The Apple institution is thus in a way that innovation becomes the central driving force. The company, therefore, fits the prospector model (Koskinen, 2009, p. 39). Resulting human resource issues In the case of the apple institution, the employment of the prospector as the central business strategy, requires that there be sure instance be clear especially those that affect the human resource. Firstly, the company way of acquiring human resource is in a matter that considers the talent that potential workforce can offer. The businesses can thus source talent from other firms that are in the same field. The act of recruitment should be in a manner that is different from the interviewing style only. The recruitment should consider the experience that each potential employee has and the various abilities (Koskinen, 2009, p. 43). The instance reduces the training period and creates more room that each employee is in contact with the work. The case also calls for a flexible culture as well as a flexible structure. The situation creates more room for self-exploitation into one’s talent. Challenges The business strategy that encompasses innovation is solely reliant on the workforce. Therefore, in the event that the workforce fails in their capacity might lead to the failure of the company’s mission. The creation of a flexible culture might also lead to some of the HR having more time off duty. The innovation practices are also dependent on the recruitment process. The instance implies that an error in the hiring process does not have a simpler correction measure in the future that will lead to an upsurge in the innovation level of the institution (Fahey, 2007, p. 8). b) SHRM model The model which the company employs should be in alignment with the business strategy. However, the model should be in a manner that considers the ambiguities that may be present themselves in the company circles. The model should also take consideration of the drastic variables that may occur in the market. The Best Practice Model The model is the best choice since it does not consider the competitive strategy. In the case, that a company wishes to shift the competitive strategy, the model remains intact and is c compatible with the new policy that results. In the event of the Apple Company, the strategy still maintains the competitive strategy that retains the innovative measure as a primary competitive measure (Stone, 2010, p. 6). Attributes of the model Reward of performance The primary aim of the enterprise should be a reward system that considers performance. The instance tends to create a new view in terms of innovation. Workers tend to have a more practical method of motivation when there is the recognition of every effort that they do. The instance also creates a healthy relationship in the company and consequently discovers the talent in the enterprise. The talent becomes the driver of the innovation strategy, and the company becomes a leader in the market (Patil and Kant, 2012, p. 322). Communication The company has a role to improve the media within the enterprise. The company ensures that there is a comprehensive method that tends to ensure that there is necessarily sharing of information in the company. The instance also makes that the staff reduce the time that they use in conveying the messages to the respective destinations. Status The company involves itself in the elimination of the structures. The various structures attribute to the superiors in the companies. The instance ensures that the entire workforce engages itself in the activities that are positive to the innovation prospects of the enterprise. The case also provides that the operation creates a suitable environment that favors individual work and consultation (Crainer, 2013, p. 17). In the event of the apple company, there may be the need to maintain a difference in status. However, the company can focus on the reduction of the differentials that relate to the workforce. The structure, that connects the company, should in a manner that accessing the superior levels is not in a bureaucratic way (Reilly, 2012, p. 129). Comprehensive training The instance of practice relates to the enhancement of the skills that tend to involve the workforce in the primary activities that attribute to the computer and the mobile industry. With a view to the Apple company, the primary [perspective should be to give the potential workforce the necessary that may be fundamental in the computing field. The training should also be extensive that it caters for all areas that have a direct or indirect relation to the computing or the phone industry. In addition, the company should involve in extensive development activities of careers of the workforce. The development of the careers becomes a motivation that becomes a positive mark on the innovation aspect of the company (Reilly, 2012, p. 131). Decentralization The aspect of decentralization depicts the aspect of creating freedom to the junior workers. The workers have the freedom to set up their working regulations that take account of the individual goals. The personal goals should also be smart and should be in a manner that satisfies the mission, plus the corresponding vision of the company (Patil and Kant, 2012, p. 322). In order to achieve the decentralization, the apple company should employ the teams that have self-management. The self-management teams tend to improve the working relationship in the enterprise and also raise the level of competition that increases the output of the industry. In order to achieve the above adjustments, the apple company needs to recruit the right people. The acquisition of the right people will enable the business to have easier instances that involve the creation of teams, the compensation for a performance degree, as well as more natural training method. The company should also have an emphasis on the job security of the employees. Job security also acts as an upsurge of the motivation measures that the company can impact on its HR. The aspect creates more HR output within the business premises and in the market (Patil and Kant, 2012, p. 324). c) The contribution of the HR strategy to the competitive strategy The HR strategy should enhance the innovative approach which is the particular plan for the Apple Company in this specific case. The main features of the Best Practice approach significantly impacts the rewarding of the employees. The human resource forms the core unit that the company is reliant in order to perform in the market. The rewarding of the employees is subject to performance that simultaneously becomes a definite mark on the motivation of the employees. The HR strategy also impacts the innovative strategy through the skills that the workforce possesses. The extent, to which an employee can discern the most important details in the work discourse, is dependent on the skills. The skills should also be those that are relevant to the particular job description. The instance is possible through training and the career development measures that are prevalent (Sorokin, 2012, p. 85). Furthermore, there is the creation of performance indicators crucial in the company evaluation performance in regard to the perspective of the employee. The group or teams become the primary indicator of the performance of the enterprise. The evaluation of performance from a team level is also more manageable than the assessment of individual employees. The ultimate impact of the HR strategy is the definition of the jobs. Job definition eliminates the ambiguity plus the uncertainty that arises in the job environment. The instance also creates a harmony of the various duties that form the ultimate objective of the company. The apple company can indeed depict the specific functions for every category that constitutes the employment composites of the enterprise. The instance is possible through the reduction of the differential status that is prevalent in the enterprise (Steidl, 2009, p. 3). Every employee knows the particular task and function that entails his or her position in the institution. Question two Examining the supply chain policies of apple as per the consumer implications a) Importance of the implications to the apple company The Apple Company is the best in production and development of new products. However, the company should have a distinct variation that creates the difference between product development and the supply chain. The main reason is that the fact that the business is capable of providing unmatched experiences for the users does not create room to rule out the supply chain. In fact, the company mainly involves itself in the product development and invests lowly on the supply chain. The supply chain includes the procurement, the logistics as well as the manufacturing. The marketing buzz The marketing buzz is one advantage of acquiring an upsurge in the competitive strategy of the company. The instance tends to create loyal consumers who are willing to wait until the company produces new items. Furthermore, the customers can even pack in a line for a day during the dissemination of a new product. The instance provides a consistent market. However, there is the need to venture into new markets. The new markets create the competitive advantage that is very crucial in a market that has high competition (Crainer, 2013, p. 19). Procurement power A proper consideration of the market power of the company from the numbers that the company has can give the company a huge purchase advantage. The power is useful in the quotation from other manufacturers. The reference includes a detail of all the expenses that sum up to the product at hand. The instance takes into account the labor costs, the various costs of materials as well as the projection of costs. The example tends to be an advantage to the company. The company acquires exact costs and also benefits from the projections. The institution also has a bargaining power and thus can [procure the best items in the market before another dealer tacks the transaction. Moreover, the company creates more time for the employee’s to work on their projects while it remains relevant ion the market. The instance is useful since it makes sure that the introduction of a new product in the market tends to receive acceptability. The fact is at a higher rate than it would have if it had been absent in the market before the introduction of the new product (Edwards, 2009, p. 2). Through the implications of the consumers, the company is capable of growing despite paying more for products that it acquires through procurement. The competitive advantage also hikes a notch. For instance, Samsung lost a deal with Elpida worth of ten million dollars. The loss was because Apple Company did place a better deal as per the implications of the consumers (Patil and Kant, 2012, p. 327). In the case of a proper organization of the supply chain, then the company will have an addition airfreight that conveys the company’s product to new markets. The company also acquires more manufacturing capacity that raises the competitive advantage through larger production. The acquisition of more markets means the employment of more human resource personnel. The inclusion of new talent in the team will lead to more innovations that emanate from the company. b) Recommendations for the apple company In the venture to make changes in the supply chain management, the apple company needs to take a make changes that accrue to the supply chain whereas maintaining the product development aspects. The instance requires the enactment of a job description that defines what the work of every employee. In detail, the management o the supply chain should include the section that involves the management of the various demands. The part ensures that the company takes note of the changing preferences ion the consumers. The instance then graduates to the duties that give rise to the new job descriptions (Reilly, 2012, p. 134). The company attention should focus on the demand in the market and stop being solely reliant on the innovation aspects of the workers. However, the workforce should be innovative in a manner that fits the demand in the market. The company also needs to establish a management section that involves itself in the performance as well as the issuing and renewal of contracts. The instance will be an evaluation of the human resource since they are significant to the excellence of the company. The example also extends to businesses that have products that are of interest to the enterprise. The instance thus implies that the business’s policy of remuneration as a subject of the output will be precise. The existence of contracts also acts as a performance indicator that would be beneficial to the company (Steidl, 2009, p. 4). The contracts ensure that each personnel in the business qualifies to be part of the team. The company drops persons who are under performing and creates room for fresh talent to enter the company. The prospects coincide with the company’s HR strategy, the particular business strategy as well as the competitive strategy. With the erection of the departments, the company can then consider other factors that are external. The variables should also consider the implication that emanates from the consumers. The primary method is the use of exclusivity agreements in the procurement of new products from other companies. The instance ensures that the company protects the uniqueness of the commodities. The company can also venture in the lending of the HR as well as the production equipment to its partners in manufacturing (Stone, 2010, p. 4). The instance ensures that the company creates the components that are individual in a product thus creating a mark in the differentiation aspects of the products. The company can also invest in large production machinery that ensures the automatic exclusivity. The instance creates a competitive advantage in the market and also reduces the level of competition that emanates from a similarity of commodities in the market. In view of the HR strategy, the Apple Company needs to review the [problems of the labor relations. The relations are as per the reports by various journals. The instances include the strife’s of labor as well as the accidents that constitute the employees. Although most customers do not give much attention to the reports, the instance can be a definite mark in the market. Moreover, the instance will connect to the social responsibility that different customers show in buying the product of the company. The company needs to review some of the manufacturing centers that pay close relationship to the production of the commodities. For instance, the conditions of Foxconn that is a constituent of Apple tend to raise various questions (Inside Apple: how Americas most admired--and secretive--company really works, 2012, p. 6372). The company should at least invest in the conditions of working to improve the working environment. The instance also acts as an add up to the ten working hours that are prevalent in the company. The creation of conducive condition attracts new customers due to the attachment that connects the conditions to the social responsibility. In addition, the aspect assists in the maintenance of the human resource as well as the attraction of new talent in the company (Fahey, 2007, p. 11). In conclusion, the Apple Company has more room that poses as the potential market. However, the alignment of new strategies that may replace the already existing ones may not be in the best interest of the company. However, the company has an obligation to review the small aspects of the business practice. If the enterprise follows the strategy that is part of the publication, then the company is bound to generate more profits. Consequently, the company will tend to create more employment opportunities and exciting new products for its consumers. On the other hand, the organization remains to be the most creative enterprise in the industry of digital services. The work of the management as well as the existing human resource is very commendable. Conversely, the neglect of the demand in te market and the over-reliance on the company on brand new products is perilous. The act may create pressure on the human resource and may lead to the retrenchment of intelligent and talented employees. The strategy should thus encompass the consideration of the demand as well as the emphasis on innovation for a more penetration in the market. Bibliography Crainer, S. (2013). SQUARING THE CIRCLE. Business Strategy Review, 24(4), pp.13-19. Edwards, C. (2009). Sony chases Apple’s magic. Strategic Direction, 25(5). Fahey, L. (2007). Connecting strategy and competitive intelligence: refocusing intelligence to produce critical strategy inputs. Strategy & Leadership, 35(1), pp.4-12. 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JOIS, 5(2), pp.82-87. Steidl, P. (2009). Strategic savvy (company management during the recession). Strategic Direction, 25(11). Stone, N. (2010). A model of best practice. Strategic HR Review, 9(5). Read More