The building and management of successful business organizations entail carrying out numerous activities. The corporate communication strategies are the most significant aspects that firm owners and managers need to take into consideration if their firms are to post exemplary results. Corporate communication strategy refers to a scheme that is developed within a firm with the aim of enabling a company attain long-lasting success (Green, 2015). Apple Company due to its size and huge success in its trading activities can be used in providing an elaboration of the aspect. The research paper will provide a brief overview of Apple Inc., the reputation that the company holds amongst its stakeholders and its corporate communication functions to employee, customers and investor relations.
Company Overview: History and Development’s Major Information
Apple Inc. was founded in the year 1976 by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak who happened to be college dropouts. The primary reason behind the setting up of the Apple Company by the duo was the desire to develop computers that were user-friendly. The Apple 1 computers, which lacked monitors and casings were built from the garage of Steve Jobs. The two lacking computer components were added onto the gadgets in 1977, a thing that acted as a curtain-raiser for the Apple 11. Wozniak, citing a lack of interest in the daily managing of the Apple Computers exited the company in 1983 ( Khan et al., 2015). Jobs, in looking for a person to replace Mr. Wozniak procured the expertise of John Sculley, as the president of the firm. The decision to hire Mr. Sculley backfired as it made Mr. Jobs to also move out of the organization due to the many controversies that had emerged between him and president John Sculley.
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The firm posted excellent results throughout the 1980s, with the hallmark being in 1990 when the company recorded the highest profit margins ever. The great success is usually linked to the plans that Jobs had set running within the business organization before he exited it. The deal with Adobe Company which is famous for its PDF product is one of the plans that Jobs had set rolling before he left Apple. The partnership between the two firms led to the birth of the desktop publishing phenomenon. Steve Jobs later one rejoined Apple as an interim CEO in 1997, with a desire to save the business enterprise from closing down its operational doors. The return of Jobs to the firm led to the revamping of the computers and the introduction of the iBook. Jobs also introduced the branching out the iPods and iTunes. In recent days, Apple has also manufactured the iPhone and Apple televisions. Steve Jobs died on 5th October 2011 after a long battle with pancreatic cancer ( Khan et al., 2015).
Reputation
Apple Company has got an excellent reputation amongst its stakeholders. The employees, for instance, noted that the management of the firm treated them with maximum dignity and respect. The suppliers also indicated that their engagement with the company’s management was largely fruitful (Burke et al., 2018). The organization indulges in close partnerships in the fight against bonded labor and the engagement of workers in activities that exceeded the standard working hours (Dowling, 2016). The image and reputation of the company amongst its stakeholders are in a good position, more precisely at the peak of the same. The positive reviews by the suppliers and workers, who form part of the firm’s stakeholders is a positive indicator that the image and reputation of the enterprise are excellently regarded.
Corporate Communication Functions: Investor, Employee and Government Relations
Investor Relations
Apple Company has established mechanisms that ensure that the relationship between the organization and the firm is a cordial one. The company provides the investors with superb financial performance in a bid to assure the investors that they will attain maximum returns from the investments they have incorporated on the firm (Apple, 2017). The outstanding financial performance is significant to the company as it gives confidence to the investors, who, in turn, pump a lot of resources to the organization which is important for the growth and expansion of the group.
Consumers Relations
Apple treats its customers with high regard, a thing that has made it to devise corporate communication strategies for the accomplishment of the same. The firm has always endeavored in selling quality products to its customers. The company also provides repair services to its customers in a situation where there Apple products become damaged (Betz, 2016). The corporate communication strategy adopted by Apple Inc. with regards to serving their clients is substantial as it helps in keeping the loyalty of their customers, a thing that also plays a role in the attainment of the mission of the organization.
Employees Relations
Employees of Apple Company are highly treasured by the management. The workers are accorded an attractive compensation and they are also allowed to develop their careers. The corporate strategy of granting employees high remuneration and allowing them to advance their careers is vital for the attainment of the objectives of the firm ( Doorley & Garcia, 2015) . The workers draw satisfaction from the incentives that are offered to them, an occurrence that makes them to be thorough in their work hence making the organization to attain its objectives.
Recommendations
There are some adjustments that the company is required to make on its corporate communication functions to attain absolute effectiveness on the matter. For example, the firm should seek at revising its reparation policy from paid to unpaid one for their longtime customers. The current guidelines in relation to the repairing of damaged Apple products do not consider seniority but cuts across all groups of individuals provided that the spoilt merchandises were bought from genuine Apple dealers. The policy should be done away with as it overlooks the simple business strategy that advocates for the appreciation of customers as per the engagement duration that has existed between the individuals and the individuals.
References
Apple, M. W. (2017). Cultural and economic reproduction in education: Essays on class, ideology and the state . Routledge.
Betz, F. (2016). Strategic thinking: A comprehensive guide . Emerald Group Publishing Limited.
Burke, P. F., Dowling, G., & Wei, E. (2018). The relative impact of corporate reputation on consumer choice: beyond a halo effect. Journal of Marketing Management , 34 (13-14), 1227.
Doorley, J., & Garcia, H. F. (2015). Reputation management: The key to successful public relations and corporate communication . Routledge.
Dowling, G. (2016). Defining and measuring corporate social reputations. Annals in Social Responsibility , 2 (1), 18.
Green, S. (2015). Apple . Bellwether Media.
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.
