Business Activities of a Global Technological Company - Case Study Example

Name: Tutor: Course: Date: Task 2 Thesis, Questions and Маrking Сritеriа Executive Summary In terms of the revenue generated, Apple Inc. is one of the major international corporations that provide retail goods and services to its increasing number of clients around the world. During the end of the financial year 2015, Apple Inc recorded net revenue amounting to about $233 billion across most of its stores. The company has built a solid brand in the recent years considering the preference offered by consumers across the international market. Although most of its practices are considered universal, it is likely that through the objectives, Apple is able to maintain a positive competitive advantage in a needy market. However, the business has encountered constant criticism over the labour practices and the social responsibility obligations that it fails t meet. Introduction As a global technological company, Apple Inc. has been involved in a number of business activities through its proactive workforce to ensure that the company maintains a global nature in the field. Among the major factors, that the company concentrates on includes its sales strategies and procedures. Arguably, for such a prominent company, online sales, and store-based sales contribute largely to the attainment of profits. Therefore, to attain more from the various departments, the company ensures that there are clear objectives for each department highlighting the requirements (Kaplan and Norton 317). Apple Inc. implements such procedures to ensure that each department is responsible for the success and meets the required standards in terms of performance. Sales Goals and Objectives For online sales, one of the major objectives that the company has is to ensure personal and professional development of the members and workforce. Evidently, any online team needs to manage an online platform for the sale of goods and services. In this case, Apple Inc. intends on attending the various webnairs that global companies such as Google host while developing their online platforms. Engaging e-commerce websites and making sure mobile devices are featured on every large mobile carrier forms part of the company objectives (Kaplan and Norton 321). Similarly, one major online objective is identifying tech savvy insights that will prove relevant in modern and frequent search engines to display their products. For store-based sales, Apple concentrates on ensuring that it expands a nationwide chain of Apple stores globally, it maintains a positive revenue generation through all its stores and stock products in every retail store that carries electronic devices. Tools to Analyse the Competitive Environment Applying competitor profiling on the procedural and static activities of competitors based on personal objectives help sin understanding the indifference and similarity capabilities as well as the threats imposed. For instance, company profiling based on the background information intends on offering Apple with information regarding the location of offices, stores and online presence of the respective competitor (Barney 50). Similarly, the historical background and shareholder percentage as well as the organizational structure relays credible information that could help Apple attain increased competitive advantage in the diverse market. To counter such factors, Apple engages in concise competitor analysis using the applicable models, theories and tools that offer the company an overview of the performance of the competitive companies (Barney 51). An analysis of the financial ratios, dividend policies and profitability margins enable Apple to question its procedures and effect in the market. Furthermore, the liquidity, cash flow systems and method of growth ensures that the company understands the scope of effect in terms of consumer acquisition that competitors pose in the market. Competitive profiling based on the product is the most common analysis tool used by the prominent company considering the various issues covered during the course. For instance, product line, new products, brands, SWOT analysis and quality control as well as social responsibility act as a basis of evaluation for Apple. Alignment between Goals and Objectives and the Technology Technology and digitalization have become a common aspect of consideration for companies that desire global influence. Technology has enabled companies accrue more in terms of consumers, reach a diverse market pull, improve the quality of its goods and services and maintain a competitive advantage over companies in a similar supply chain (Nonala and Kenney 79). To understand the importance of technology in the different areas of the company, Apple Inc. identifies technological improvement needs to be ascertained through creating a connection between its goals and objectives. In this case, the core values of the company are blended with the ability to accommodate technological improvement to gain more from its investments and operations. For instance, Apple aims at ensuring that the consumers are educated regarding the products and services attained through online platforms such as the company website. A major core value of the company is to ensure that accessibility is ascertained for the consumers. In this case, the technological aspect that may be considered includes providing detailed information about the goods and services sold by the company ensuring that it is reliable and credible. Most companies that fail to consider the implications that technology has to business in terms of availability fail to meet its objectives in a rapid growing arena. The environment and social responsibility is a major objective that the company has come to value as it creates a positive perception on the intentions of the company to the consumers. Through technology and digitalization, Apple is able to employ imagery and videos of major programs that foster positive and socially responsible activities (Nonala and Kenney 83). Inclusion and diversity blended with technology ensures that people within remote areas can access Apple products and information provided by digital handsets and network providers. Authorized Apple employees ascertain the credibility, safety and privacy of company as well as consumer information through the incorporation of secure proxy protocols that are accessible. Improved Alignment Although the company has proven successful in the alignment of its objectives with the increasing adaptability to technology, Apple often identifies methods it may use to ensure success and dependability in its procedures. An online presence does not imply that a company experiences improved performance. However, Apple can improve its alignment through training it staff on the importance of meeting company objectives in a technologically adapting world. In this case, offering training to its workforce will ensure that the employees understand the significance of meeting the goals considering its alignment to the company (Mithaug, Horiuchi, and Fanning 399). Similarly, as a technology manufacturing company, it is important that the company maintain a corporate culture despite its ability to cover a wider scope in business. This will enable the managers to preserve a concentrated aspect in their approach towards issues present in the discipline of technology as well as digitalization. Communication also appears as a relevant aspect in any business as it fosters continued exchange of information across different platforms. Apple needs to ensure that it maintains a clear and determined communication pattern with its consumers to be able to understand their needs. Benefits of Data Management As more people appreciate the impact modern technology in business has brought, the issue of big data often arises as users continually depend on stored information (Allcock et al. 751). However, companies like Apple Inc. continue to maintain an advantage over the competitive market considering its ability to accommodate big and moderate amounts of data. Before accepting to take up the challenge, Apple had to be conversant with the benefits accrued from engaging in data management operations. It identified with a number of beneficiaries to the process such as the consumers, the stakeholders and management as well as its advantage over any competitors. One of the major advantages of data management includes efficiency in research (Allcock et al. 755). Apple is engaged in research for development projects especially while understanding the market response once it launches a new technology. Through an analysis of collected data, Apple is able to evaluate performance of the product and decide on a course of action. Safety of company and client information forms a significant part of acquiring a competitive advantage for Apple. Considering the increasing number of clients who register in the company e-commerce website, it is likely that the consumer information be necessary in case of issues of integrity. Similarly, Apple through the security of important data ensures that its procedures and financial documents are safe from manipulation or exposure threatening their operations. Data management also exposes Apple to quality and reputable business procedures such as the research data and visibility to ensure that all aspects are covered and considered (Allcock et al. 759). When launching a new product in unprofitable areas, Apple is involved in concise evaluation of the advantages and disadvantages through an array of collected data. Manipulation of such data before evaluation implies that decisions will be made devoid of any accuracy rendering the company at a disadvantage. Compliance with ethical codes, data protection laws, journal requirements and policies seem to be advantages that Apple enjoys from data management. Adopt Web2 and Web3 Technologies Web 2 and Web 3 technologies are a unification of inherently modern applications in the design of websites and as applied in business. Web 2.0 sites permit user interaction and involvement through a user-friendly interface where one can edit and publish the existing information (Shin 429). As part of a collaborative process, Apple may adopt web 2 technologies to ensure that it meets the satisfaction needs of different consumers. Among the factors incorporated into this technology is the application of search engine optimization where web oriented architecture allows the user power and control over information. Applications such as podcasting, blogging and web content voting to identify the number of viewers in Apple website proves to be an effective way of managing data. Web 3 technologies operate on a very different scale. Here, websites will be able to generate raw data independently as more devices become connected to the internet (Shin 433). It is important for Apple to incorporate such technologies since the internet will be able to execute tasks more rapidly and efficiently, such as search engines being able to search for specific users desires. Effects of Complex and Dynamic Technological Environment While the benefits Apple derives from an increasingly growing technological environment may be visible, the company may succumb to various challenges. Initially, the cost of attaining such technological levels will require the company to forego some of its major investment projects such as launching retail and departmental stores in different countries. Decision makers of the company such as the leadership and management will face the daunting task of evaluating whether accommodating the developments will lead to the growth and development of the business. The complexity of procedures involved during upgrading and maintaining the inter-networked systems despite having qualified and experienced personnel may prove to be challenging considering the different scope of advancement in different departments and countries (Allcock et al. 763). For instance, in a rapidly developing country, Apple may enjoy faster growth compared to adaptability in a slower developing country that is still incorporating the older technologies. Conclusions and Recommendations Apple has often tried to remain at the forefront of every technological improvement considering the ever-increasing competitive market provides room for the penetration of other parties. Valuing the consumer is among the major ways Apple employs in its business processes that ensure that clients understand the objectives of the company. However, competitor profiling provides as careful understanding of the history and performance of competitive companies while seeking to understand the uniqueness of its processes. Companies that employ systematic company profiling enjoy competitive advantages over other businesses within similar supply chain. In this case, in a rapidly developing country, Apple may enjoy faster growth compared to adaptability in a slower developing country that is still incorporating the older technologies. Works Cited Allcock, Bill, Joe Bester, John Bresnahan, Ann L. Chervenak, Ian Foster, Carl Kesselman, Sam Meder, Veronika Nefedova, Darcy Quesnel, and Steven Tuecke. "Data management and transfer in high-performance computational grid environments." Parallel Computing 28, no. 5 (2002): 749-771. Barney, Jay B. "Looking inside for competitive advantage." The Academy of Management Executive 9.4 (1995): 49-61. Kaplan, Robert S., and David P. Norton. "Putting the balanced scorecard to work." The Economic Impact of Knowledge (1998): 315-324. Mithaug, Dennis E., Chiyo N. Horiuchi, and Peter N. Fanning. "A report on the Colorado statewide follow-up survey of special education students." Exceptional Children 51.5 (1985): 397-404. Nonala, Ikujiro, and Martin Kenney. "Towards a new theory of innovation management: A case study comparing Canon, Inc. and Apple Computer, Inc." Journal of Engineering and Technology Management 8.1 (1991): 67-83. Shin, Dong-Hee. "The effects of trust, security and privacy in social networking: A security-based approach to understand the pattern of adoption." Interacting with computers 22.5 (2010): 428-438. Read More