Week 8 Assignment

Please see attached assignment for week 8. Must be completed by 21 January 2018.

W8 Discussion “Review and Reflection”

Review and Reflection

Please respond to the following questions along with at least 2 substantive peer replies (for a minimum of 3 posts):

· Review and reflect on what you learned in the past 8 weeks. What is the most practical and easily applied lesson you learned? What was the hardest to grasp? Why?

Your initial post should be a minimum of 150 words and specifically reference the applicable elements of the lessons you’ve chosen.

W8 “Final Project”

Final Project

· Using APA formatting requirements (12 point Times New Roman font, double-spacing, 1″ margins, title and reference pages), write a 1,500-2,500 word paper in which you diagnose a process/structure/environment in an organization that you’re familiar with (and that you chose in week 1 and have been researching during the term) and that needs improvement and design an organizational development (OD) intervention to achieve positive change.  

· In addition to your standard APA formatting requirements, your paper should include an Executive Summary which succinctly describes your recommended change(s), highlights of what will be required during the change process, and a projected timeline for implementation.  For a detailed sample structure for your paper, please review the lecture from Week 1.

W8

Discussion

“Review

and

Reflection
”

Review and Reflection

Please respond to the following questions along with at least 2 substantive peer replies (for a minimu
m
of 3 posts):

·

Review and reflect on what you learned in the past 8 weeks. What is the most practical and
easily applied lesson you learned? What was the hardest to grasp? Why?

Your initial post should be a minimum of 150 words and specifically reference t
he applicable elements of
the lessons you’ve chosen.

W8

“Final

Project
”

Final Project

·

Using APA formatting requirements (12 point Times New Roman font, double
–
spacing, 1″
margins, title and reference pages), write a
1,500
–
2,500 word paper

in which you diagnose a
process/structure/environment in an organization that you’re fa
miliar with (and that you chose
in week 1 and have been researching during the term) and that needs improvement and design
an organizational development (OD) intervention to achieve positive change.

·

In addition to your standard APA formatting requiremen
ts, your paper should include an
Executive Summary which succinctly describes your recommended change(s), highlights of what
will be required during the change process, and a projected timeline for implementation.

For a
detailed sample structure for your
paper, please review the lecture from Week 1.

W8 Discussion “Review and Reflection”
Review and Reflection
Please respond to the following questions along with at least 2 substantive peer replies (for a minimum
of 3 posts):
 Review and reflect on what you learned in the past 8 weeks. What is the most practical and
easily applied lesson you learned? What was the hardest to grasp? Why?
Your initial post should be a minimum of 150 words and specifically reference the applicable elements of
the lessons you’ve chosen.

W8 “Final Project”
Final Project
 Using APA formatting requirements (12 point Times New Roman font, double-spacing, 1″
margins, title and reference pages), write a 1,500-2,500 word paper in which you diagnose a
process/structure/environment in an organization that you’re familiar with (and that you chose
in week 1 and have been researching during the term) and that needs improvement and design
an organizational development (OD) intervention to achieve positive change.
 In addition to your standard APA formatting requirements, your paper should include an
Executive Summary which succinctly describes your recommended change(s), highlights of what
will be required during the change process, and a projected timeline for implementation. For a
detailed sample structure for your paper, please review the lecture from Week 1.

APPLEINC. 1

APPLE INC. 2

Apple Inc.-Annotated Bibliography

Khan, U. A., Alam, M. N., & Alam, S. (2015). A Critical Analysis of Internal and External Environment of Apple Inc. International Journal of Economics, Commerce, and Management, 3(6), 955-961.

http://ijecm.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/3660

This source is a journal article by the International Journal of Economics, Commerce, and Management published on June 2015. Primarily, this journal article is a critical analysis of both the internal and external environment of the company Apple Inc. According to Khan, Alam & Alam (2015), the main focus of this article is on the social responsibilities and governance by Apple. Additionally, this article focuses on the evaluation of the management techniques as well as conflict resolution strategies. The main strategies to be used in the critical analysis of the business environment both internally and externally include PESTLE, SWOT, and Porters five forces and BCG matrix analyses. Khan, Alam & Alam (2015), also highlight the secrecy of the product development strategy by Apple including its product differentiation and market focus and segmentation. This source is important in understanding Apple Company through its business strategies and philosophies. It will also provide critical information about both the internal and external information on Apple.

Vergara, R. A. G. (2012). Samsung Electronics and Apple, Inc.: A Study in Contrast in Vertical Integration in the 21st Century. Am Int J Contemp Res, 2(9).

http://www.aijcrnet.com/journals/Vol_2_No_9_September_2012/9

This source is a journal article by the American International Journal of Contemporary Research, published on September 2017. Mainly, the subject of analysis is the application of the vertical integration strategy of the twenty-first century. Precisely, Vergara (2012) highlights the application of vertical integration by two of the largest technology companies, Samsung and Apple. Focus on Apple, Vergara, 2015, indicates the application of vertical integration in achieving effective value chains and market coverage and analysis. This article highlights that Apple outsources some parts for its value chain towards achieving optimal proficiencies in their business models. Notably, Vergara (2015) highlights how the vertical integration strategy is important in reducing transaction costs towards meeting the needs of the dynamic and contemporary electronic consumer base. This article on vertical integration is important in identifying the strengths of Apple Company through its marketing strategies. It is also resourceful on its approach towards balancing between profitability and satisfying the consumer needs.

Gupta, A., & Prinzinger, J. (2013). Apple, Inc.: Where Is It Going From Here?. Journal of Business Case Studies (Online), 9(3), 215.

https://search.proquest.com/openview/52182cc0653be5c6787224f002cc5c4e/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=2026883

Gupta and Prinzinger, 2013, present an article published in the Journal of Business Case Studies. This journal article focuses on the progress of Apple Inc.as a business entity. Most importantly, Gupta and Prinzinger (2013) describe how Apple Company has not changed its business model since its emergence. It also sheds light on the how Apple is a global market leader in the innovation of consumer electronics towards producing reliable proprietary software and hardware. Gupta and Prinzinger (2013), also recognize the advantages of the non-PC product portfolio with products such as iPad, iPod, and iPhone. Despite its market leadership, Apple is still facing increased competition from emerging smartphone companies. In general, this paper analyzes the possibility of Apple moving to the next level through its emerging and existing product portfolio. Most importantly, this research source is critical in evaluating the future of Apple through a few identified products. It provides information on the performance of both its emerging and existing products towards predicting the future market position of Apple Inc.

Lazonick, W., Mazzucato, M., & Tulum, Ö. (2013, December). Apple’s changing business model: What should the world’s richest company do with all those profits?. In Accounting Forum (Vol. 37, No. 4, pp. 249-267). Elsevier.

http://www.theairnet.org/files/research/WorkingPapers/LazonickMazzucatoTulum_AppleBusinessModel_AIR-WP13.0701

Furthermore, there is the research paper on the changing business model of Apple. This article is an academic research paper that analyzes Apple Company and how it should utilize its profits. According to Lazonick, Mazzucato, and Tulum (2013), Apple is described as the most famous and richest by the time of publishing this paper. This paper highlights three elements that make Apple which include its former CEO Steve Jobs, the ioS software and some of its signature products such as iPhone. It is indicated in this paper that the reputation of Apple is responsible for its successful stock market prices. Lazonick, Mazzucato, and Tulum (2013) primarily described the performance of Apple as an investment portfolio and its sustainability of rewarding its shareholders. Primarily, this paper analyzes the role of innovation and the finance portfolio towards achieving market leadership and sustainability. This paper is critical in analyzing the future of Apple towards maintaining market leadership either through its technology innovation or its different dynamic of the financial business model.

Nar, Y. Strategic Analysis of Apple Inc..

http://www.yasinnar.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Strategic-Analysis-of-Apple-Inc.

Further on exploring Apple as a Company, a strategic analysis report about Apple will be analyzed. This article is as accomplished by a Masters Student in Business Administration. In analyzing the strategic position of Apple, this paper aims at identifying both present and future approaches to business. Particularly, Nar focuses on the analyses frameworks of SWOT and Porter’s five forces in identifying the competitive edge of Apple in both internally and in the technology industry. In understanding the strategies employed by Apple, this report aims at picking out the weak areas of Apple in its business model and offering recommendations that probably would help Apple to achieve optimal strategic approaches to business, and the management techniques its should apply for its strategies. Notably, this article is important towards building an understanding of the present strategies that Apple is using towards achieving and maintaining market leadership. Additionally, this paper is also resourceful through its forward-looking approach that focuses beyond the current strategies to develop solutions for the future.

Lehuan, W., Xuan, F., Danfei, L., Yongming, J., Hao, Z., & Changhua, L. (2011). Apple Inc.. Copenhagen Business College.

http://denmark.chsnenu.edu.cn/Apple

Lehuan et al., (2011) also present another resourceful paper in the scope of understanding Apple better. This paper was submitted to the International Business Department of Copenhagen Business College on the subject of Apple Inc. Lehuan and colleagues, 2011, describe Apple to be engaging in the primary business of developing information technology electronic products. This paper also analyzes Apple through the frameworks of SWOT, marketing 4Ps, PEST MODEL and STP. Primarily, these frameworks are used to shed light on the internal and external environments of Apple. The analysis of the business environment is done concerning the brand health and success and how it enforces different market strategies towards maintaining market leadership. With the help of the business environment analysis, this paper by Lehuan and colleagues, 2011, recommends the extension of distribution markets and channels as well as developing products suitable for developing economies. Therefore, this paper is resourceful in identifying the strategies employed by Apple towards attaining its market leadership.

References

Gupta, A., & Prinzinger, J. (2013). Apple, Inc.: Where Is It Going From Here?. Journal of Business Case Studies (Online), 9(3), 215. https://search.proquest.com/openview/52182cc0653be5c6787224f002cc5c4e/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=2026883

Khan, U. A., Alam, M. N., & Alam, S. (2015). A Critical Analysis of Internal and External Environment of Apple Inc. International Journal of Economics, Commerce, and Management, 3(6), 955-961. http://ijecm.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/3660

Lazonick, W., Mazzucato, M., & Tulum, Ö. (2013, December). Apple’s changing business model: What should the world’s richest company do with all those profits?. In Accounting Forum (Vol. 37, No. 4, pp. 249-267). Elsevier. http://www.theairnet.org/files/research/WorkingPapers/LazonickMazzucatoTulum_AppleBusinessModel_AIR-WP13.0701

Lehuan, W., Xuan, F., Danfei, L., Yongming, J., Hao, Z., & Changhua, L. (2011). Apple Inc.. Copenhagen Business College. http://denmark.chsnenu.edu.cn/Apple

Nar, Y. Strategic Analysis of Apple Inc.. http://www.yasinnar.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Strategic-Analysis-of-Apple-Inc.

Vergara, R. A. G. (2012). Samsung Electronics and Apple, Inc.: A Study in Contrast in Vertical Integration in the 21st Century. Am Int J Contemp Res, 2(9). http://www.aijcrnet.com/journals/Vol_2_No_9_September_2012/9

Apple Organization
3

Apple Organization

Apple delivers the best user experience evident in their products, but still, there are still crucial areas within the facets of the organization that needs improvement and design. Despite leading concerning innovation all over the world, Apple is in dire need of strong marketing vision to spearhead the company forward regarding development. It is important to acknowledge the fact that Apple has outstanding pricing strategies with commitments to designing each foundation of its hardware to produce compelling customer electronic experience.

Primarily one of the areas that need improvement in Apple is pricing. Despite the fact that Apple offers the best user experience in their products it is also however crucial to acknowledge the fact that their products are getting increasing exorbitant in developing economies. By all accounts, it is not possible for everyone to afford their products, therefore, cutting down the prices a little bit would contribute profoundly in leveraging the companies’ profits regarding distribution and sales.

Consequently, entering other markets is a big challenge for Apple. Innovations dealing with wireless headphones and Apple TV, for instance, has become a thing of the past since Apple is limited and reluctant in exploring other market basements. It is crucial to note that with the expertise and experience they have in their industry it appeals to logic if they persist in limiting themselves to specific products.

Besides distribution of cash, the international warranty also needs a lot of improvement and design. Currently, a different warranty is limited to specific areas for instance instead of services for assurance are offered in particular countries. Finally, Apple organization has not pushed the agenda of acquisition front until the now specific specification is vital in ensuring the improvement of the company.

Reference

Kaplan, R. S., & Norton, D. P. (1995). Putting the balanced scorecard to work. Performance measurement, management, and appraisal sourcebook, 66, 17511.

FINALPROJECT 1

FINAL PROJECT 4

Final Project: Apple Inc.

1. Introduction

Apple Inc. is one of the top business entity in the information technology industry (Lehuan, et al., 2011). The success of the business entity can mainly be attributed to its business strategy and model as well as its business environment.

2. Overview of Apple Inc.

Apple Inc. is a public traded business entity based in the United States. The company was founded in 1976. The founders were Steve Wozniak, Steve Jobs, and Ron Wayne (Lehuan, et al., 2011).

3. Business Environment

The operations Apple Inc. are affected by several factors in its business environment. These are both the external and internal factors.

3.1 External Factors

The external factors are the outside influences. An organization does have the power to control them. The external factors are mainly based on the opportunities and threats to the business entity (Khan, Alam, & Alam, 2015).

3.2 Internal Factors

The internal factors, on the hand, are influences that come from within an organization. They are based on the strengths and weakness of the organization (Khan, Alam, & Alam, 2015).

4. Analysis of Apple Inc.’s Business Strategy

The growth and success of an entity are defined by its business strategy. Apple Inc.’s is focused on innovation (Nar, 2013). One the approaches that the company uses to achieve this is vertical integration (Vergara, 2012 ).

5. Business Model

A business model is a strategy used by an organization to create and capture value to ensure it stays profitable. Apple Inc. business model is mainly centered on a strong brand equity and innovation (Lazonick, Mazzucato, & Tulum, 2013).

6. The Future of Apple

With the level of profitability and innovation, Apple Inc. is only poised to improve in the future. The company will be able to come up with more superior products in the market and hence maintain the high-level of performance in the industry (Gupta & Prinzinger, 2013).

7. Conclusion

The business operations conducted by Apple Inc. are mainly based on innovation as well as a strong brand equity. This has made it one of the companies in the industry.

References
Gupta, A., & Prinzinger, J. (2013). Apple, Inc.: Where Is It Going From Here? Journal of Business Case Studies, 215. Retrieved from https://search.proquest.com/openview/52182cc0653be5c6787224f002cc5c4e/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=2026883
Khan, U. A., Alam, M. N., & Alam, S. (2015). A Critical Analysis of Internal and External Environment of Apple Inc. International Journal of Economics, Commerce, and Management, 955-961. Retrieved from http://ijecm.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/3660
Lazonick, W., Mazzucato, M., & Tulum, Ö. (2013). Apple’s Changing Business Model: What Should the World’s Richest Company Do with All Those Profits? In Accounting Forum, 249-267. Retrieved from http://www.theairnet.org/files/research/WorkingPapers/LazonickMazzucatoTulum_AppleBusinessModel_AIR-WP13.0701
Lehuan, W., Xuan, F., Danfei, L., Yongming, J., Hao, Z., & Changhua, L. (2011). Apple Inc. Copenhagen Business College. Retrieved from http://denmark.chsnenu.edu.cn/Apple
Nar, Y. (2013). Strategic Analysis of Apple Inc. Retrieved from http://www.yasinnar.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Strategic-Analysis-of-Apple-Inc.
Vergara, R. (2012 ). Samsung Electronics and Apple, Inc.: A Study in Contrast in Vertical Integration in the 21st Century. Am Int J Contemp Res. Retrieved from http://www.aijcrnet.com/journals/Vol_2_No_9_September_2012/9