Apple Inc. Competitive Strategies
Tim Cook assumed leadership from the founder of Apple Steve Jobs and upholding the competitive company culture was not an easy task. Steve Jobs, before his death, had introduced several products that remained unique to Apple alone. Some of the products that Tim Cook found existing in the market include Imac, Itunes, Apple Store, Ipad, and iPhone. Tim Cook’s leadership approach was more objective in improving the quality of the existing Apple products than innovating new ones (Investopedia, 2019). Until now, the company has managed to introduce Apple Watch, Apple Pay, Ipad mini, Air Pods, and Ipad Retina under Cook’s watch. Observers claim that Cook is more democratic than dictatorial like Steve when it comes to his interaction with the employees. At his time, Cook ensured that Apple employees had an equal voice in the innovation and contribution to the company’s future success. It is a strategy that helped the company launch new and unique products to the smart gadgets markets helping the company continue to record high revenues and significant growth globally.
Likewise, Apple’s use of unique software for its hardware has made it comparatively advantaged over other major electronic producing firms like Huawei, Samsung, and Sony. The iMac computers and iPhones run on IOS operating systems that are exclusively compatible with Apple hardware products, making them unique in the Smart Gadgets market. Again, the firm has identified itself with premium products that cost higher for the best quality services and secure data. The premium products have captured the elite and wealthy market segment that will purchase the merchandise for prestige and brand recognition (Haque, 2020). Thus, it has enabled Apple to enjoy considerable sales revenues from the wealthy and celebrities who help market it to other potential buyers. For example, in the USA, iPhones running on IOS operating system are the most used smartphones, which gives the firm a competitive advantage over other manufacturers.
Apple’s success factors remain propelled by its initial company objectives and goals of producing the best electronic devices that offered quality and secure services for its customers. Cook helped the company transition well from the leadership of Steve Jobs by upholding the company mission and vision strategies that have made the company maintain its competitiveness. Part of the long-term strategy for sustainability is the introduction of 100% usage of renewable energies by the firm. Renewable energies usually reduce energy costs by 80%, which saves Apple the funds to invest more in the innovation of new products making the company well placed in the market. Also, Cook has strengthened the relationship between senior management and junior employees, promoting the right working environment suitable for innovation. It gets observed that if all personnel work towards the objectives and goals of the firm, then success will become inevitable (Gamble et al., 2015). All staff continues to give their best effort to ensure the company offers unique products that will keep making Apple competitive over other manufacturers.
References
Gamble, J., Thompson, A., Peteraf, M., & III, A. J. (2015). Crafting & executing strategy: The quest for competitive advantage: Concepts and cases. McGraw-Hill Education.
Haque, F. (2020, April 25). Competitive advantages of Apple Inc. The Strategy Watch. https://www.thestrategywatch.com/competitive-advantages-apple-inc/
Investopedia. (2019, June 25). Tim Cook leads Apple into a record-breaking 2015 (AAPL). https://www.investopedia.com/articles/professionals/081715/how-does-tim-cooks-management-style-differ-steve-jobs.asp