Apple's Organization Website Review

Apple Inc is one of the most famous companies worldwide. It is best known to manufacture computers and digital or smart devices maker that provided its services with a concrete foundation regarding its distinct technology implementation in their merchandises. Apple Inc values its reputation, and they strive to be the best in the industry that (Form 10-K, 2017). The company believes that by availing their customers with high-quality products, the existing clients would be loyal to the company. Also, the company believes that by availing high-quality products they would attract new customers. This paper answers some question about Apple Inc. 

1. Explain your initial impression of the organization based upon your initial review of their corporate website. 

Upon reviewing the website of Apple Inc, I was impressed by the rich history of the company that is found on the company’s website. I was informed how three friends founded the business in the 1970s; they were Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne ( Thao & Tsanthaiwo, 2017) . Also, upon reviewing the Apple Inc’s website, I realized the impression people have about Apple Inc (Form 10-K, 2017). I learned that people expect more when it comes to the products of Apple Inc. The company is known for their distinct design and uniqueness ( Maine & Nguyen, 2017) . Moreover, when reviewing the website of Apple Inc, I came across comments of a client who reviewed Apple products, most customers praised the company for the product they produce since they are of high quality ( Thao & Tsanthaiwo, 2017) . Furthermore, upon reviewing the website, I realized that Apple Inc follows different strategies where all manager and employees are required to work together when the product of the company is being created. The main goal of Apple Inc is to aim at ‘customer relationship management’ since it has helped the company achieve its goal. 

Lastly, after reviewing the website of Apple Inc, I discovered the company uses several kinds of internet business models such as Business e-commerce to sell the computer and other products they produce; this supports the company’s operation thus gaining a competitive edge over other businesses ( Maine & Nguyen, 2017) . The marketing model for iMac, iTunes, iPods along with other products sold to different individual other than businesses is known as Customer e-commerce ( Thao & Tsanthaiwo, 2017) . Another business model that Apple Inc uses is the Government e-commerce model; this model involves selling any apple products to the organizations that are operated by the government. 

2. Analyze their Vision, Mission, and Goals about the company’s competitive strategy, branding and messaging. 

Apple’s Vision: 

Man is the creator of change in this world. As such he should be above systems and structures, and not subordinate to them. 

Elucidation of APPLE’s vision: 

Consequently, Apple Inc has placed its aims in a position that enhance uninterrupted progress; applied strategies are focused on achieving its objectives as well as ensuring that the company employs right marketing approach and finances alongside its operation structures which are positioned to execute the laid strategies (Apple, 2017). 

According to Maine & Nguyen (2017), Apple fulfills its vision via its technologies which they design and manufacture for corporation, governments or individuals. Over the years, the company has strived to ensure its customers are the masters and are in control of the products they have purchased ( Thao & Tsanthaiwo, 2017) . Apple Inc does not just formulate statements. The company ensures all is manager and employees comprehend the vision of the company and encourages them to strive to attain it. To fulfill the vision of Apple Inc, the management has established systems that assist in the interaction with clients. 

Apple’s Mission: 

Apple designs Mac PCs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OSX, iLife, iWork, and professional software. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store. Apple reinvented the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App Store and had recently introduced its magical iPad which is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices. 

Explanation of APPLE’s vision: 

According to Maine & Nguyen (2017), the company aims to provide technology that satisfies the desires of its clients. The only way that the company can satisfy the desires of its client is by advancing its technologies each year. The mission of the company is translated through the products that the company produces each year since there to be the technological advancement of the products the company produces ( Thao & Tsanthaiwo, 2017) . For instance, the company has produced iPhone for the last seven years, and each phone is technologically advanced from the previous model. iPhone 5 has advanced technology compared to iPhone four, and the trend continues to iPhone X. Similarly, MacBook also has undergone some technological advancements over the years. 

Apple’s Goals and Objectives 

According to Apple Inc (2017), the most important company goal is to offer superior value products to their loyal clients; not just for earning money in the process. The leaders of the company think that if the accuracy of all the project being undertaken is increased, the quality of goods produced will be approved by clients ( Thao & Tsanthaiwo, 2017) . Therefore, the company will be able to keep the existing clientele base and attract more customers. 

3. Analyze the company’s strategic approach to globalization and their approach to competition, sustainability, CSR, marketing, analysis (external, internal, industry), and cross-border issues. 

The strategic approach of Apple Inc to globalization is providing quality services and products with effective implementation and design, and vendors best quality commodities that include Mobile phones, Music and computer.

The company’s main business as elaborated above is to design and produce its products ( Maine & Nguyen, 2017) . Products produced are sold all over the world with Apple ’s global presence in the market of mobile and computer devices selling where the firm have their manufactured devices such as smart devices and PCs with different specification with Apple’s copyright which has been sold all over the world where clients are of different diversity buying its products.

Also, Apple Inc is considering all its client’s requirement and incessantly emerging of new technologies as per the market requirement as well as the users in a global marketplace where the company uses an e-commerce model for selling iMac, iTunes products to different customer diversity all over the world ( Maine & Nguyen, 2017) . Through globalization, Apple’s market value has been increasing hence continuously expanding its outlets all over the world.

Every company is supposed to have a Company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) plan ( Form 10-K , 2017). The CSR plan helps Apple Inc to follow certain business practice where several factors are supposed to be met either through corporate values, ethical standards, and government regulations so that the business could be managed effectively ( Thao & Tsanthaiwo, 2017) . Therefore, below are considerable points for Apple’s CRS;

Concentrated effort:  satisfied services guideline and quality products (for internal use) 

Change Management: It entails a change in strategy by the management so that service which is satisfactory can be provided in different seasons ( Maine & Nguyen, 2017) .

Regulated Business Practices: It assists Apple to include business basics such as selling concepts, products pricing mechanism, and business model.

Social needs in Business practices: it helps Apple accommodate different types of customers since social needs are included in the business plan ( Maine & Nguyen, 2017) .

Quality and depth of information:  This CRS is crucial since it aids apple to include the value of ethical and social responsibilities that are necessary to manage a business.

Examine the company’s financials included in their most recent annual report and review the profit margin statement from the CEO. What conclusions can you draw from their financial statements? 

In the first quarter of 2018, Apple made public its financials for the fiscal year 2017, the first quarter last on December 27, 2017. The revenue of the 2017 fiscal year was $80.9 billion (Apple, 2017). Apple Inc recorded a quarterly profit of $ 5.32 per diluted share or a total profit of $ 20 billion. These results compare to revenue of $ 75.8billion and a net profit of $1589 billion, or $ 3.85 per diluted share which the company experienced in 2016 (Apple Inc, nd). The financial report of 2017 fueled all-time-record revenue from iMac and iPhone as well as record revenue generated from APP store. In 2017, Apple sold iPhone worth 90.8 billion which is a new recording eclipsing the record of the previous year ( Form 10-K , 2017). In 2017 financial year international sale of iPhone products accounted for 68 percent of the company’s revenue.

Thao & Tsanthaiwo, (2017) observed that in 2017, Tim Cook the CEO of iPhone thanked Apple’s customer for an incredible year since the demand of iPhone soared to all-time high and the company made a profit of $80.9 billion. Also, he thanked all the workers and managers who made it possible to attain the vision of the company in 2017.

From the financial statement and the speech that Tim Cook gave in 2017 it is evident that Apple Inc is a healthy company that makes profit each year ( Maine & Nguyen, 2017) . The company makes huge profits each year because of the policies they have implemented such as ensuring the goods the company produces is of high quality ( Form 10-K , 2017). Therefore, the company is more attractive to investors since they can get back the money they invest in the company within a short period.

Evaluate the firm’s Corporate Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility Policy. What expectations are presented in the policy? Explain the tangibility of the company’s policies 

The cultural framework is employed in evaluating and comprehending notationa l cultural difference within the work environment of the company. Therefore, Apple uses Hofstede’s basic model for cultural analysis.

Aspects to be considered: 

Uncertainty avoidance

Power-distance

Collectivism/ Individualism

Femininity/ Masculinity

Apple has an organizational standard, and they must be upheld. The company motivates its employees to meet the set standards by offering them conveniences and motivational incentives. The rules of Apple and motivation is the most sort after ideology in the whole tech industry ( Thao & Tsanthaiwo, 2017) . For instance, employees working for Apple Inc do not have much worry besides their work responsibilities since the array of benefit that the company offers aims to motivate employees and ensure they are always happy and healthy in the whole aspect of their lives. If the employees take care of the values that the company set then the company will reciprocate and take care of them.

The expectations presented by the policies is that the product that Apple produced should be able to be sold anywhere in the world: this explains the need to observe high standards when designing and manufacturing of Apple products ( Maine & Nguyen, 2017) .

The policies of the company dictate that all the consumer's requirement which keep on changing should be addressed and assimilated when Apple is developing new technologies. To ensure the company is competitive, the policy of the company encourages managers to use different e-commerce model when selling the product of the company to different diversity ( Maine & Nguyen, 2017) . The e-commerce model will enhance the market value of the company and its products all over the world.

Include an organizational assessment using SWOT or Porter’s Five Forces 

SWOT analysis helps to formulate a plan for the business and also can assist in evaluating its inner weakness and strength. Below is a table depicting the SWOT analysis of Apple Inc.

Explain the company’s capacity to be able to fulfill strategic missions while increasing profit margin 

The gross profit margin of apple is 45.08; it is higher compared to the average industry value which is 43.5 whereas the S&P 500 of 38.98. Apple Inc has several retail stores that help the company allocate its administration and selling expenses effectively; this helps the firm eliminate the discount fee to distributors and wholesales (Form 10-K, 2017). 

Additionally, the pricing of Apple products is done using premium pricing strategy which might be an aspect that explains why the company experienced higher gross profit margin ratio (Form 10-K, 2017). Apple’s net profit ratio is 27.99 which is slightly higher than the average industry ratio which is 26.99. Apple spends 2.7 percent on R&D expenditure because of the company’s blue ocean strategy, and this can “delay” the net profit margin to be similar with the industry. 

References 

Apple (2017). Apple’s official Webpage. Retrieved from www.apple.com 

Apple Inc. (nd) (NASDAQ: AAPL). Retrieved From: https://www.google.com/finance?fstype=ii&q=nasdaq:aapl 

Form 10-K. (2017). Apple Inc. United States Securities And Exchange Commission 

https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/320193/000032019317000070/a10-k20179302017.htm 

Maine, J. A., & Nguyen, X. T. (2017).  The Intellectual Property Holding Company: Tax Use and Abuse from Victoria's Secret to Apple . Cambridge University Press. 

Thao, T., & Tsanthaiwo, S. (2017). Apple Inc. In the Years to Come.