Strategic Planning at Apple, Inc.
Apple Computer, Inc. whose humble beginnings were borne from two high school friends, Steven Wozniak and Steven Jobs, is now based in Cupertino California and is a Fortune 500 company. The company began in 1976 when Wozniak designed what would become the Apple l (Apple Computer, 2005).
Apple Computer, Inc. 's principle activity is to design, manufacture and market personal computers and related personal computing and communicating solutions. The products are for education, creative, consumer, and business customers. The personal computing products are desktop and notebook personal computers, related devices and peripherals, networking and connectivity products and third party hardware products. The principle software products include operating system software, application software, Internet software, integration and services. Today, computers are still a very important part of the Apple Company, but music-related products are at the top of Apple 's list.
The company scored a hit with its digital music players (iPod) and online music store (iTunes). Other products include servers (Xserve), wireless networking equipment (Airport) and publishing and multimedia software. Apple 's personal computing products accounted for 79% of the fiscal revenues in 2002 and the software and services accounted for the other 21% (Apple Financial, 2006).
Strategic planning involves making decisions about an organization 's long-term goals and strategies. These plans have strong external orientations and cover major portions of the organization. Senior executives are responsible for the development and execution of the strategic plan even though they usually do not formulate or implement the entire plan (Bateman, 2004). Successful companies have been diligent in the planning of the organization 's long-term goals and strategies and have targeted results needed for long-term survival, value, and growth. Apple Computer 's beginning years were mostly reactive to the fast-paced and
Apple Computer, Inc. 's principle activity is to design, manufacture and market personal computers and related personal computing and communicating solutions. The products are for education, creative, consumer, and business customers. The personal computing products are desktop and notebook personal computers, related devices and peripherals, networking and connectivity products and third party hardware products. The principle software products include operating system software, application software, Internet software, integration and services. Today, computers are still a very important part of the Apple Company, but music-related products are at the top of Apple 's list.
The company scored a hit with its digital music players (iPod) and online music store (iTunes). Other products include servers (Xserve), wireless networking equipment (Airport) and publishing and multimedia software. Apple 's personal computing products accounted for 79% of the fiscal revenues in 2002 and the software and services accounted for the other 21% (Apple Financial, 2006).
Strategic planning involves making decisions about an organization 's long-term goals and strategies. These plans have strong external orientations and cover major portions of the organization. Senior executives are responsible for the development and execution of the strategic plan even though they usually do not formulate or implement the entire plan (Bateman, 2004). Successful companies have been diligent in the planning of the organization 's long-term goals and strategies and have targeted results needed for long-term survival, value, and growth. Apple Computer 's beginning years were mostly reactive to the fast-paced and
References: Apple Announces Corporate Reorganization (1996). Scripting News. Retrieved May 12, 2006, from http://www.scripting.com/davenet/mail/msg36.html Apple Computer, Inc Apple Financial (2006). Retrieved from the Business.com Web site, May, 2006 from http://www.business.com/directory/computers_and_software/apple_computer,_inc/profile/. Bateman - Snell (2004). Management: The new competitive landscape. McGraw-Hill. FEI (2006). Managing for Value Studies. Financial Executives Research Foundation [online] Retrieved May 12, 2006, from http://www.fei.org/rf/download/value.pdf Lower, J Mossberg, W. (2003). Interview with Steve Jobs. All Things Digital. Bag and Baggage [Online] Retrieved May 12, 2003 from the World Wide Web: http://bgbg.blogspot.com/2003_05_25_bgbg_archive.html Speaking Out: The view from the top BW (2003, Aug Spears, T. (2003). Apple Computer Inc. -Basic Information. Retrieved May 12, 2006, from www.bsu.edu/web/TASPEARS/profile.html What does the future hold for Intel, Apple and Microsoft? (Nov/Dec, 2004). Strategic Direction, 20, pg. 10. Retrieved from ProQuest research database, May 12, 2006. Document ID: 773279221.