Operation Managemen of McDonalds and Apple Inc - Case Study Example

McDonalds and Apple Inc McDonalds: An American based service providing company that deals and specializes in fast food. It has chains spread not just all over America but beyond borders and continents. It is a famous and favorite fast food across the world. Brief History: McDonalds is in services since the 50s decade of 20th century and ever since is on constant growth (Gilbert,6). Its services system is based on franchise partnership. Has its customers bench spread over hundred nations and thousands of employees recruited both nationally and international. It helps the economy by providing large scale jobs all over the country in its fast food chains in different parts. Menu: the menu provides a large array of food items, beverages, ice creams and other delicious items that are highly sought after. Franchise based Model: McDonalds follows the franchise based model. In such model, the main outlets are being outsourced and small percentages of the franchise are directly owned by the parent company. Marketing strategy: The marketing strategy is based on Market Mix strategy which takes into account various factors namely Customer segregation: Their food articles target and attract the teenagers, mid twenties mostly. For children there are special packages that are heart favorite amongst the kids. Various meals are provided in form of happy meal, jumbo deal and various other offers which target and fulfill the requirements of various cadres of the fast food eating people. Pricing: Pricing plays an important role in attracting the clients towards itself. McDonalds has always aimed at providing the services in the most reasonable rates, and probably this is one of the major reasons it has attracted large number of customers towards itself throughout its history. Tag Line: quality food, value for money and customer care: Promotion: Promotion and proper advertisement holds the key towards the success or failure of any service or product. McDonalds is no exception in this regard and it is fully aware of the challenges and the need of promotion. For this purpose it is in the front row every time there is need for promotion. All over the roads where ever their franchise are based, we see their logos, advertisement banners, billboards informing the customers about the new services. Market research: market research is an essential part of any successful project and service. No service can be successful without proper market research. The market research enables getting to know the opinion and wish list of the customers. Knowing what the customers want, what is their priority, all lead up to effective marketing and branding policies. Targeting various customers bench, various products and offers are introduced. Keeping in view the requirements of each segment of the population, the meals and offers are offered accordingly with aim to cover maximum percentage of the population who normally get attracted to fast food. S.W.O.T Analysis: Like any other enterprise, McDonalds has its strengths, weaknesses and the possible threats. Threats: The threats are faced from other fast food chains that operate across the country and in other countries in parallel. Many of them have their services based on the state of the art technology and full customer satisfaction. Hence they have multiple rivals in the market which serve as a threat. The recent recession across the world is another threat which is faced in common by McDonalds. Each customer has large number of options to avail from. K.F.C, star bucks, Pizza Hut, Hardees, Nandos etc are few of these which can catch any customer’s attention any given day. Hence it has to be special in its regard to services. Strengths: The good quality food, the customer care, good response, in time services with no delay, a reliable brand name that has been tested and tried for more than a decade serves as its strength. The F.D.A approved food items is another plus which attracts health conscious customers towards this brand ahead of other brands in the market. The global nature of the company serves as its strength. World renowned brand name is another plus to its strengths column. Weaknesses: Bring in the market for a long time; it has to come up with new items, ideas and innovation. However it cannot rely on single set of food items for ages. The pizza market is yet to be explored. Followed by the employees turn over occasionally is another weakness and challenge at the same time. The tag name of Fast food is a negative against its name since fast food has created many concerns all over the world in recent times. Opportunities: The joint ventures and extending the cooperation to beverages companies like Coca Cola is an opportunity in offing. It will enable more investment, more opening of market options. Mass Segregation: it is divided into two broad sections. The vegetarian section and non vegetarian list. Multiple Ps of McDonalds: Pricing Promotion Place Process Apple Inc: Apple Inc is a ubiquitous name that is all around in modern times. It specializes in digital technology and electronic equipment. Apple Inc devices its inspiration from the legendary man Steve Jobs. Apple Inc is all over. In the field of computers, in music devices, in cell phones, in gadgets. It has achieved this distinction through effective marketing strategies. Marketing strategy: the marketing strategy of Apple Inc is based on innovation. It is a no secret and the first word that comes to mind hearing about this brand is its classiness and innovation. Every time a product is being launched, there is something new, crispy and innovative to it. Hence it has become the de facto label of the company (Bui). Their strategy is strictly based on in time communication with the customers. Based on their responses, their desires for new products, the products are being launched accordingly. For example, the music gadget, I pod was introduced to bring something new in the sphere of music listeners world. In the same manner, to bring about innovation and change the course in which the previously handled computers were being operated, I pad was being introduced. It brought about revolution in the field of tablets. Core Competence: this lies in the excellent interfaces and innovative ideas being introduced by Apple Inc every time a new product is being launched. Loyal customers bench is another core competence being enjoyed by Apple. The first to market is probably best of all that defines the core competence of Apple Inc. The brand personality: It encompasses the class, the sense of taste, state of the art technology, innovation and creativity. All these define the brand personality possessed by the incumbent organization- Apple Inc. Target market: Different items target different segments of society: Customers’ experience: Their innovation, their updated responses and time to time release of new models and items has its clients and customers glued to it. For this reason its online store Apple store is being visited by millions every day online. The main centre in United States is visited by over five thousand customers every day. This shows their loyalty an interest in the brand. S.W.O.T Analysis: Strengths: Its brand name, Innovation Customer care First to market concept Design feature These are few of the strength enjoyed by it. The products and gadgets introduced by Apple Inc are sleek, stylish and unique in working and features. Threats: the element of living up to its brand name and innovation are a threat at the same time since a common management trait is that every strength is a weakness and vice versa. The loss of the legendary man himself is a threat since it would take something special to replace him and come up with same geniuses. The concept of Apple vs. rest of the industry is gaining weight as a debate since Android, Nokia and others are equally geared up towards the mobile market expansion. Opportunities: Expanding its market share across the other continents is its opportunity in terms of new markets expansion. Integrating its relationship with Microsoft and Intel can help them gain advantage over other competitors. Weaknesses: Apple T.V hasn’t been much of success so far. There is need for more in this area in order to make it to the clients’ hearts. One man company especially when the man is no more, it could serve as a serious blow. Client target segmentation: for music gadgets, the teenagers and mid twenty clients are the focuses. For i-phone a generic client bench is targeted and can be used by any age group above teen age. The I Mac is more dedicated towards the business enterprises. Bottom Line: Apple Inc is the market leader in mobile industry for now, yet it has to live and think beyond Apple 5 which is the brain child of Steve Jobs. Continuing the legacy left behind by the legend is a challenge in its on right. Extending ventures to other giants of industry is the order of the day. Too much isolation could lead to loss in market share and hence customer diversion. References Brandau, Mark. McDonalds to stress value in marketing strategy. 23 June 2012. 22 October 2012 . Bui, Dave. The Best of Apple’s Marketing Strategies. 13 March 2012. 22 October 2012 . Gilbert, Sara. The Story of McDonalds. The Creative Company, 2008. Read More