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Competitive Strengths Of Apple Case Study

Apple Case Study Apple

Competitive strength assessment of Apple's computer business

A competitive assessment of Apple reveals that Apple has these factors everything ready devices, design and innovation, R&D oriented, and greater vertical and horizontal integration. Apple has made its devices be everything ready, which reduces the consumer's headache in sourcing for software or additional hardware to suit their individual purpose. Ensuring that the devices are ready for the consumer's use also offers the consumer the confidence to purchase and use the computers. Consumers are willing to pay premium prices provided they know they can get all they need in one device (Pavlou & El Sawy, 2010), and they will not have to search for additional hardware and devices. This differentiation has offered the company competitive advantage over its computer rivals. The design of the computers are attractive, and they are easy to use. Innovation has ensured that the company is able to offer its consumers products that are ahead of time, and they have undergone market research. The innovativeness of the company has allowed it to have computers that challenge the market trends, but are liked and appreciated by the consumers.

Apple is oriented towards research and development. This factor has enabled the company to improve continuously on its computers. R&D orientation has allowed the company to challenge the market and offer products that its competitors do not have. Apple has a greater vertical and horizontal integration, which enables the company to reduce its production costs and control production of its hardware and software. Integrating the development of its products ensures the company can effectively have components...

This integration is vital to the company's competitiveness, since most if its rivals lack integration.
Is the company's competitive positions in the media players and smartphones are stronger or weaker than its position in computers?

In the personal computers market, Apple has a market share of 10% and is ranked third. In the media player market, the company holds 73%, while, in the mobile market, Apple controls 24% and is ranked second (Goasduff & Pettey, 2012). This does reveal that the media player and smartphone have a stronger market share than in the personal computer industry. Since 2007 when the company launched the first iPhone, the smartphone has attracted a greater number of consumers. With subsequent releases, the smartphone has increased in popularity and consumer base. This demonstrates the company has a stronger competitive position in this industry than in its personal computers industry. The product offerings the company has allowed it to differentiate itself and capture a significant portion of the market. Product diversification ensures the company is able to meet the needs of different consumers. The hardware design of its smartphone is unique and demonstrates the company's innovativeness.

The digital players market is highly competitive with various brands that are cheaper than iPods, but Apple has managed to maintain a 73% market share. All the other rivals have not managed to an achieve market share greater than 5%. This demonstrates the company has a stronger competitive position in this industry than in the PC industry. Incorporating and coming up with an integration platform that no other rivals have managed to…

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References

Al-Debei, M.M., Aloudat, A., Al-Lozi, E., & Al Asswad, M.M. (2014). The Role of Value Networks in the Design of Mobile Platforms: The Case of Apple iPhone. Approaches and Processes for Managing the Economics of Information Systems, 123.

Goasduff, L., & Pettey, C. (2012). Gartner says worldwide smartphone sales soared in fourth quarter of 2011 with 47% growth. Visited April.

Pavlou, P.A., & El Sawy, O.A. (2010). The "third hand": IT-enabled competitive advantage in turbulence through improvisational capabilities. Information Systems Research, 21(3), 443-471.
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