apple supply chain case study solution

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iPhone's Supply Chain Under Threat

By: Benjamin Yen, Minyi Huang

The outbreak of COVID-19 (coronavirus disease, 2019) posed unprecedented challenges to the global supply chains. As a leading and innovative supply chain that achieved just-in-time manufacturing,…

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• Publication Date: Jun 1, 2021
• Discipline: Operations Management
• Product #: HK1284-PDF-ENG

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The outbreak of COVID-19 (coronavirus disease, 2019) posed unprecedented challenges to the global supply chains. As a leading and innovative supply chain that achieved just-in-time manufacturing, Apple's performance was put in the spotlight. This case describes how Apple's supply chain has coped with the COVID-19 pandemic. Apple's supply chain has weathered natural disasters, such as earthquakes, fires, floods, and SARS; the risks and challenges brought by the outbreak of COVID-19 were unprecedented and complicated. Unlike the symptoms of SARS patients with high fever, the symptoms of COVID-19 varied; some patients had no symptoms at all, which made them difficult to identify. Moreover, the pandemic complicated supply chain planning because it was difficult, if not impossible, to predict where the next epicenter would be and what measures local governments might take to prevent the further spread of the virus. Social distancing was effective to control the pandemic, but it brought both challenges and opportunities for companies like Apple. On the one hand, social distancing slowed the manufacturing process and had a negative impact on the economy, which could dampen consumer confidence and reduce demand. On the other hand, social distancing boosted the demands for electronic devices, as many people had to work at home. Using this case study, students will understand the importance of risk management in supply chain management and learn the challenges and opportunities of the disruption posed to business operations. The case provides an opportunity for students to discuss and understand why some companies can recover from the disruptions better than other companies and how a resilient supply chain can improve a company's competitiveness.

Learning Objectives

To allow students to understand the advantages of a lean and agile supply chain

To enable students to understand the importance of resilience in supply chain management

To provide an opportunity for students to discuss different strategies to cope with unexpected disruptions in supply chain management

Jun 1, 2021

Discipline:

Operations Management

Industries:

Consumer electronics

University of Hong Kong

HK1284-PDF-ENG

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A case study of Apple's supply chain

Friday, 11 September 2015

One key aspect of Apple’s supply chain is its use of multiple suppliers for the same component. Reviews on this aspect of Apple’s supply chain strategy to examine the role that boards and directors can play in enhancing supply chain management and organisational performance.

Managing Risk in the Global Supply Chain Supply Chain Management Review, August 2015

2015 Supply Chain Top 25 Gartner, May 2015

A pple has received multiple awards for its supply chain strategy. Recently, for example, Gartner, a US-based research and advisory company, awarded Apple its inaugural “Masters” award after previously ranking Apple No. 1 on its “Top 25 Supply Chains” list for the past 5 years.

One key aspect of Apple’s supply chain is its use of multiple suppliers for the same component. The Governance Leadership Centre reviews this aspect of Apple’s supply chain strategy to examine the role that boards and directors can play in enhancing supply chain management and organisational performance.

Apple’s use of multiple suppliers for the same component in its supply chain strategy

Apple has an extensive network of third party suppliers in its supply chain. According to recent  research , Apple has 785 suppliers in 31 countries worldwide, 349 of which are based in China.

According to Apple’s “ 2015 Supplier List ”, 97% of its supply chain (including procurement, manufacture and assembly) is accounted for by its top 200 suppliers. This would imply that 585 of Apple’s suppliers account for the remaining 3% of its supply chain, providing it with a significant degree of latent capacity.

Apple has a number of exclusive long-term agreements with its key suppliers and uses prepayments to negotiate favourable pricing terms, secure strategic raw materials and guarantee high volumes of production.

Apple has also diversified its supply chain to include new manufacturing partners in China and Taiwan. It has also secured multiple suppliers for key components relating to new products (such as the  Apple Watch ).

In addition to diversification, Apple  invests  in customised manufacturing equipment and automated assembly and milling technology. It has also recently  announced  environmental programs with its Chinese manufacturing partners to offset carbon emissions and utilise more clean energy.

Apple’s strategy of using multiple suppliers for the same component provides it with key advantages over its competitors. Commentators note that this strategy allows it to:

• mitigate supply chain disruptions and delays, allowing it to maintain gross-margins;
• adjust ordering ratios with existing suppliers, therefore minimising the risk of third party issues associated with volume dependency;
• quickly increase production capacity to respond to changes in consumer demand;
• encourage lower supply costs as multiple suppliers compete for its business;
• process large volumes of pre-orders, which it then analyses to create demand forecasts; and
• prevent competitors from utilising the same production capacity through exclusive relationships with suppliers.

Apple’s Chief Executive Officer, Tim Cook, has been described as a “supply chain specialist”. He is credited for streamlining inefficient areas of Apple’s supply chain and using inventory tracking mechanisms to reduce its number of suppliers and warehouses.

What can Australian boards and directors learn from Apple’s supply chain strategy?

According to a recent  report  from Deloitte, organisations with effectively governed third party relationships can outperform their peers with an additional 4-5% Return on Equity (ROE).

There are a number of ways in which boards can learn from Apple’s supply chain model to enhance their supply chain management and organisational performance:

• Consider the benefits of multiple suppliers for the same component:   Boards should encourage management to consider the use of alternative suppliers and whether this may reduce single supplier risks or provide an avenue for improving performance. For example, a recent survey of 150 supply chain executives by  Haslam College of Business’ Global Supply Chain Institute  found that more than a third of individuals surveyed (38%) stated that their organisations’ supply chains sourced from a single supplier and only half (53%) considered their organisations had a ‘back-up’ plan due to natural disasters or major equipment failure.
• Measure and evaluate performance:   Boards should closely monitor supply chain performance by analysing financial metrics such as  inventory turnover  and the  cash conversion cycle  (CCC). These metrics can be used by boards to evaluate whether management is using the company’s financial resources efficiently.
• Encourage a compliance culture and the use of regular audits:   Boards should encourage compliance cultures within their organisations and the use of regular audits. For example, Apple has a strict code of conduct and standards that all its subsidiaries, affiliates and subcontractors are required to abide by. It also produces an annual “ Supplier Responsibility Progress Report ”, which outlines the number of audits it has undertaken and provides details on its labour and human rights initiatives, such as repayments to workers for unpaid overtime or due to excessive recruitment fees charged by brokers.

“More progressive global organisations are now starting to demonstrate bimodal thinking around how to maximise the opportunities out of the third party extended ecosystem while managing the related risks at the same time” , suggests Deloitte.

The GLC has previously interviewed  Dr Richard Welford , chair of consulting firm CSR Asia, about the role of directors in managing supply chain risks.

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Apple Inc.: Global Supply Chain Management

Nov 12, 2020

• Apple Podcasts

Fraser Johnson , professor of operations management at the Ivey Business School, joins host Matt Quin to take another look at his  award-winning  case,  Apple Inc.: Managing a Global Supply Chain  (2014), as well as the recently published update,  Apple Inc.: Global Supply Chain Management  (2020).  In this episode, Johnson and Quin discuss Apple's business model, how he has brought the company into the classroom over the years, and why junior faculty ought to consider writing cases. Professor Johnson is the Leenders Supply Chain Management Association Chair at the Ivey Business School, Western University, where he teaches courses in supply chain management and operations. Johnson is also the Director of the  Ivey Purchasing Managers Index , one of the most widely watched and utilized indicators of future economic activity in Canada.

Hi, I'm at Quinn. Thanks for joining us for decision point from Ivy Publishing at the Ivy Business School. Today we returned to another award winning and best selling case. Apple INC managing a global supply chain, originally published in two thousand and fourteen. Authoring Professor Frasier Johnson from the Ivy Business School, presents a snapshot of Apple up against competitors such as blackberry and Samsu. Unlike other companies with leading supply chains, such as Walmart, apple's approach to supply chain strategy and supplier management padded, investing far less in assets to support distribution. Instead, the company is now famous for its focus on innovation, new product development and brand management. In this episode we ask Professor Johnson about how apple was able to use its business model and supply chain strategy to help it continue capturing significant value from hardware sales. We also take a look at the updated two thousand and twenty case in the increased complexity for apple as it continues to add services in products to compete in the mature smartphone market. I hope you enjoyed today's episode. So, Frasier, thanks very much for joining us today. Apple was a really different company in two thousand and fourteen. What prompted you to write the case then, and how have you audit what's changed as you've taught it throughout the years? Well, apples a fascinating company. A lot of the cases that are done in the supply chain area tend to be with traditional manufacturing companies like Toyota or large retailers like Walmart, and one of the things that really interested me about apple was or business model with the IPHONE, with these annual product introductions, with big spikes in demand, and exactly how were they able to get their supply chain organized to be able to meet these big peaks in demand that they were facing. So the great thing about cases is it puts the student in the seat of a protagonist. This particular case Examines Apple from the perspective of Jessica Grant. She's an analyst with a Toronto based Money Management Firm. You, as an author, did a great job of giving students a primer of how apple was able to reach the margins with the iphones through supplier relationships and really tight coordination of the supply chain. Can you remind listeners what's at stake in the case for apple when it was set in two thousand and fourteen. Well, apple was one of the early innovators in the smartphone business and if you take a look at what's happened to the company over the last decade or so, the iphone is a way that apple connects with their consumers. Those they do things like sell services to individuals. Really, you know, the analogy that I use in the teaching note is that the iphone represents the the the razor that they used to be able to sell the blades to the consumers. So as apple looks to expand as market in the smartphone business, really what it does is give them a platform to be able to connect with their consumers. And from the students perspective, you're putting them in the role of the analyst in the case allows them to take a look at the entire business operation as opposed to taking the role of a functional executive with a specific functional related problem. So let's talk teaching notes for a second, because you've written a lot of case as many of them are best sellers. Let's dive into the teaching note part of this. In the teaching note you mentioned flexibility as a key part of the apple supplier management strategy. With recently apple moving away from mentell process. There's in away from Samsung as a screen supplier. It seems that the company is really continuing to embrace this approach of flexibility. What do you see in the company? Back in two thousand and seven when apple launched the iphone, they basically outsourced everything. HMM. So to bring a iphone to market they had to work closely with their suppliers. And the other interesting part of this is a short product life cycle of the IPHONE. They bring a new product ote every year and that was one of the it's one of the other important parts of the case. How do you work with suppliers where you're constantly launching and relaunching a new product every year, in selling product in the in the millions? So if you take a look at a company like Walmart, for example, they practice every day low pricing, so they try to minimize the bull whip effect and provide stable demand so they can work with their suppliers to reduce their total costs. Apples a complete opposite. They embrace variability. They have, as I said earlier, these annual releases with huge product introductions, with high volumes and then volumes taper off slowly until they bring out a new product and repeat the process all over again. And so you've built this in these comparators, in in the narratives. So one of the things that we know is important about the uptake of a case, in the sales of a case, is also the teaching note, and you write great teaching notes. You've mentioned apple versus Walmart. What are some other things that you try to include in a teaching note to help a faculty member use it in the classroom? What are your keys to success? Well, you know, what you want is, as somebody writing a case, to have a teaching note that resonates with other instructors. So when I say resonates, it's got to be something that they can relate to. It doesn't want to be so complicated that when they read the case and then take a look at the teaching note, become intimidated with the material that they see. They have to be able to understand it. They'd be had to be able to translate the material that you provided the teaching note into a classroom setting, so being able to talk about the issues at instructors face, including a teaching strategy appropriate questions to ask as part of delivery of the material are all very important. The other thing that I think is important to recognize is it before the case is completed, you've also got to write the teaching note. So don't publish the case and then come back to the teaching note a month later or two months later. Rate both documents simultaneously, because you have to use your teaching note as a quality control check to make sure that there's enough information in the case for the students and the instructors to be able to complete the analysis properly. And I know something you've done and our other colleagues have done is way to finalize that teaching note, if you will, until you've taught it a couple times and see how certain questions go or there might be some new information that comes out that you can include. So I know you've done that a few times as well. Right. Yeah, for many of the cases that I've written I will go back to the great staff at I've publishing and make revisions to the teaching note and perhaps to the case I'm talking about, minor at it to make in case issues have come up in the class discussion and I can help clarify the case by making qualifying statements. Sometimes when you're right a case, even with the editing process that you go through, sometimes students don't always interpret the information properly. So gives me a chance to be able to go back in and, you know, just a couple of sentences put not tend to clarify what certain peoples of data mean. For example, one of the tips that you gave is to try to not make things overly complicated. At the time of the case there's a lot happening at at apple with the five c being released. Profit margins were down slightly from, you know, two thousand and nine to two thousand and eleven. What do you think of and consider as you're writing a case to maintain that focus without, you know, there's a lot that you can put in a case. How do you remain so focused as an author? Well, I think that you're right a case in a particular point of time and as you as you say, you know, a lot has happened at apple in the last decade, or I guess thirteen years, since they brought out the first iphone, and you know the way that I view a lot of cases. You like my one an apple my other cases on Walmart and Amazon, is that they're almost live cases in the sense that, you know, I keep crack of what's going on in these organizations throughout the year before I teach the case so that we can use the information in the case is kind of a launching board, but we can also I can also incorporate through the introduction of power point slides, for example, and other information in terms of more recent developments. In the case of Apple, you see them, for example, insourcing more product buying the chip division from Intel and moving more to insourcing mode as opposed to an outsourcing mode, and that's the kind of stuff that you can incorporate into the class discussion. You've mentioned that you've released an updated case, which is great. We encourage faculty to do that and authors to do that. We welcome that and it's a smart thing to do because the cases evolve, the companies evolved in the situations, in the environment that the business is working evolved as well. Could you talk a little bit about the new case and the new complexities for Apple? Is As we sit here, in two thousand and twenty I wrote the first apple case, as you stated earlier, in two thousand and fourteen and if you take a look at what was happening to apple at that point, the sales for iphones were on the upsway and you know, if apple had a problem at that point, it was simply keeping up with demand. Now, if you take a look at what's happening in two thousand and twenty, the situation that the company faces and the challenges for its supply chain or are a lot different. As we talked about earlier, it's more moved to more of an insourcing model. On the other side of it, sales of the IPHONE are now starting to flatten out and the smartphone market is starting to mature. So we've see in back in two thousand and fourteen, apple competing in an environment where the markets growing margins are pretty healthy and it's having trouble keeping up with the man to in two thousand and twenty, where you're facing consecutive years of sales declines of the IPHONE and a maturing market with a lot of price pressure on margins. The other thing that you see with apple in two thousand and twenty compared to two thousand and fourteen is an increased emphasis on services. So one of the things that we can talk about in the new case is how does apple manage its services supply chain? So it really gives you a double edge. On one side we can talk about changes to the iphone and what apple does to manage its iphone successfully, but also how do they use the iphone in terms of its relationships and connectivity with its customers as part of its services supply chain? I've mentioned before how popular this case is. It's been climbing up the best seller list for years. Why do you think that is it? Is it the brand? Is it because the student can hold this thing in their hands and have a relation with with the company? What do you think is made us so popular? You know, I like to say cases like this teach themselves, and you know it's an overused line maybe in some areas, but students are familiar with the company, instructors are familiar with the company. The brand is strong. Even students that don't necessarily get excited about coming to class and talking in a case discussion do like the technology companies and I think there's something in the case for people that most people, particularly students, can relate to in terms of the technology and how they use their iphones and even the debate among the students in the class, among the iphone users versus the non iphone users. So every time I teach the case I ask you know, who's using apple products, and iphones included, and who's not using them, and why is that? You know, why do you like apple? Why do you use your products? On the other end of the spectrum, who are the Anti Apple people and why have they made a conscious decision not to participate in what I call in my new case apple ecosystem? And that kind of allows us to talk about the company strategy, which then evolves into a further more detailed discussion about how they're able to support Tho strategy with their supply chain capabilities. Yeah, it's a very accessible for for students of many Undergrad students, Grad students, high school students, can they can all take a different approach with it, but apple is a company is pretty accessible. Have there been any challenges or surprises when you've taught this where you go, oh, that's a different perspective or I have to remember to the include that in my next version of the case. Anything that comes to mind. The major event for me was in two thousand and nineteen as I was teaching the case and my supply chain management elective. And you know, as I'm standing up in front of the class talking about what's happening with a company in two thousand and nineteen, about exactly how much it changed at at Apple, and you know that point. You know after I, as I do after every class, I make notes to myself in terms of things that I want to remember for the following year, I made the decision that I commit the time to updating the case and writing and ended up doing that writing the case this year. So to me, you know, when you deal with cases like apple, you know a lot of the changes and things that happen, both in the classroom as a result of what happens at the company and as part of your preparation in terms of teaching the case. Is kind of evolutionary. Is of most revolutionary. Yeah, but eventually, you know, with companies like this, you do reach a point where you've got to think about revising the product, and that's one thing I want to give as a really good tip, and I don't want to overlook this, I'm just looking at some notes I've got here, is that the importance of immediately after the class, taking down notes as an instructor H who's either taught this case a number of times or just new to it. All the great case teachers that I've seen makeup point immediately, even at the breaks, of writing down some notes about ways it could be done differently or different things to approach or something that didn't go so well. So I want to make sure that if we hit that point for those that are listening, because that's such a great tip that I don't want to overlook. So anything else that you make a point of doing right before class or during a break or right after the class as a process for case teaching? Yeah, yeah, I think that this is maybe a minor point, but I think a relevant one. I think regardless of how many times you've taught a case and regardless of whether or not you're the one that wrote the case, and sometimes I think people that write cases can be too overconfident in terms of their level of understanding with the material to invest the time before class to get ready, regret, regardless of how many times you've taught the case. So don't just pick the file up and walk into class. US remind yourself about the essential details of the case and the case facts and think about how you're going to manage the conversation with the student. And, as I said earlier the debrief after class, every time I teach a case, I sit in my office after class and make note to my teach on the front of my teaching plan in terms of things that I would adjuster do differently or things that I want to remind myself worked well and to do. And that regular pays off, because I've seen you teach. You've welcome to a lot of our team members from I be publishing to watch a teach. So I've seen it at work. As we wrap up today on the discussion, I want to come back to the writing of cases. Do you have anything that stands out to you that you wish somebody had told you when you were just starting to write cases? Any any tips for new case writers as they ventured down this road? I think that you, as a new faculty member, writing cases is a is a great way to first of all learn about management practice and if you're writing feel cases working with companies in terms of material or case development, it gives you a chance to be able to talk to managers about some of the issues that they're facing and it keeps you current and, you know, being able to and you can do that through your research, certainly, but writing cases is another way to be able to stay in touch with what's going on in terms of management practice. The second point is a writing cases helps you establish credibility with your students. Students pay attention to the material that's being used in terms of the case studies, and if your name's on the author list of the case study that they're using, it tells the students that you know you're doing work in this area. These chances are they're probably not reading your research and helps establish some credibility in terms of your familiarity with the subject matter and the material that you're using in class. Well, that's fantastic. Thank you so much, Frasier, for taking the time to speak with us and, moreover, working with our team on publishing cases and bringing cases to the class. I know when we get a submission from you, our team always enjoys the process, so thank you for that as well. It's my pleasure. Thanks for the great job that everybody to I be publishing, does and supporting the word that the faculty does in terms of writing and publishing cases. If you enjoyed today's episode, subscribe to Decision Point on spotify or wherever you listen. Be sure to check out the show notes for links to cases, resources and more. have any feedback, send us an email at cases at IV DOC A.

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• Apple Inc.: Managing a Global Supply Chain
• Leadership & Managing People / MBA Resources

Introduction to case study solution

EMBA Pro case study solution for Apple Inc.: Managing a Global Supply Chain case study

At EMBA PRO , we provide corporate level professional case study solution. Apple Inc.: Managing a Global Supply Chain case study is a Harvard Business School (HBR) case study written by Fraser P. Johnson, Ken Mark. The Apple Inc.: Managing a Global Supply Chain (referred as “Apple Supply” from here on) case study provides evaluation & decision scenario in field of Leadership & Managing People. It also touches upon business topics such as - Value proposition, Organizational culture, Strategy, Supply chain, Technology. Our immersive learning methodology from – case study discussions to simulations tools help MBA and EMBA professionals to - gain new insight, deepen their knowledge of the Leadership & Managing People field, and broaden their skill set.

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Case Description of Apple Inc.: Managing a Global Supply Chain Case Study

An analyst for a money management firm is studying Apple Inc. as one of the firm's key investments. In 2013, Apple had a market capitalization of nearly US$500 billion and sales of US$171 billion. According to the research firm, Gartner Group, it had the world's best supply chain, ranking ahead of companies such as Walmart, Amazon and Inditex (Zara). As part of the analysis, a full review of Apple's supply chain is required to look for insight into the future performance of the company in order to decide whether or not the analyst's firm should continue to hold Apple shares.

Case Authors : Fraser P. Johnson, Ken Mark

Topic : leadership & managing people, related areas : organizational culture, strategy, supply chain, technology, what is the case study method how can you use it to write case solution for apple inc.: managing a global supply chain case study.

Almost all of the case studies contain well defined situations. MBA and EMBA professional can take advantage of these situations to - apply theoretical framework, recommend new processes, and use quantitative methods to suggest course of action. Awareness of the common situations can help MBA & EMBA professionals read the case study more efficiently, discuss it more effectively among the team members, narrow down the options, and write cogently.

Case Study Solution Approaches

Three Step Approach to Apple Inc.: Managing a Global Supply Chain Case Study Solution

The three step case study solution approach comprises – Conclusions – MBA & EMBA professionals should state their conclusions at the very start. It helps in communicating the points directly and the direction one took. Reasons – At the second stage provide the reasons for the conclusions. Why you choose one course of action over the other. For example why the change effort failed in the case and what can be done to rectify it. Or how the marketing budget can be better spent using social media rather than traditional media. Evidences – Finally you should provide evidences to support your reasons. It has to come from the data provided within the case study rather than data from outside world. Evidences should be both compelling and consistent. In case study method there is ‘no right’ answer, just how effectively you analyzed the situation based on incomplete information and multiple scenarios.

Case Study Solution of Apple Inc.: Managing a Global Supply Chain

We write Apple Inc.: Managing a Global Supply Chain case study solution using Harvard Business Review case writing framework & HBR Leadership & Managing People learning notes. We try to cover all the bases in the field of Leadership & Managing People, Organizational culture, Strategy, Supply chain, Technology and other related areas.

Objectives of using various frameworks in Apple Inc.: Managing a Global Supply Chain case study solution

By using the above frameworks for Apple Inc.: Managing a Global Supply Chain case study solutions, you can clearly draw conclusions on the following areas – What are the strength and weaknesses of Apple Supply (SWOT Analysis) What are external factors that are impacting the business environment (PESTEL Analysis) Should Apple Supply enter new market or launch new product (Opportunities & Threats from SWOT Analysis) What will be the expected profitability of the new products or services (Porter Five Forces Analysis) How it can improve the profitability in a given industry (Porter Value Chain Analysis) What are the resources needed to increase profitability (VRIO Analysis) Finally which business to continue, where to invest further and from which to get out (BCG Growth Share Analysis)

SWOT Analysis of Apple Inc.: Managing a Global Supply Chain

SWOT analysis stands for – Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. Strengths and Weaknesses are result of Apple Supply internal factors, while opportunities and threats arise from developments in external environment in which Apple Supply operates. SWOT analysis will help us in not only getting a better insight into Apple Supply present competitive advantage but also help us in how things have to evolve to maintain and consolidate the competitive advantage.

- High customer loyalty & repeat purchase among existing customers – Apple Supply old customers are still loyal to the firm even though it has limited success with millennial. I believe that Apple Supply can make a transition even by keeping these people on board.

- Strong Balance Sheet – The financial statement of Apple Supply looks strong and will help the company going forward.

- Apple Supply business model can be easily replicated by competitors – According to Fraser P. Johnson, Ken Mark , the business model of Apple Supply can be easily replicated by players in the industry.

- Low profitability which can hamper new project investment – Even though Apple Supply financial statement is stable, but going forward Apple Supply 5-7% profitability can lead to shortage of funds to invest into new projects.

Opportunities

- Lucrative Opportunities in International Markets – Globalization has led to opportunities in the international market. Apple Supply is in prime position to tap on those opportunities and grow the market share.

- Increase in Consumer Disposable Income – Apple Supply can use the increasing disposable income to build a new business model where customers start paying progressively for using its products. According to Fraser P. Johnson, Ken Mark of Apple Inc.: Managing a Global Supply Chain case study, Apple Supply can use this trend to expand in adjacent areas Organizational culture, Strategy, Supply chain, Technology.

- Customers are moving toward mobile first environment which can hamper the growth as Apple Supply still hasn’t got a comprehensive mobile strategy.

- Growing dominance of digital players such as Amazon, Google, Microsoft etc can reduce the manoeuvring space for Apple Supply and put upward pressure on marketing budget.

Once all the factors mentioned in the Apple Inc.: Managing a Global Supply Chain case study are organized based on SWOT analysis, just remove the non essential factors. This will help you in building a weighted SWOT analysis which reflects the real importance of factors rather than just tabulation of all the factors mentioned in the case.

What is PESTEL Analysis

PESTEL /PEST / STEP Analysis of Apple Inc.: Managing a Global Supply Chain Case Study

PESTEL stands for – Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Environmental, and Legal factors that impact the macro environment in which Apple Supply operates in. Fraser P. Johnson, Ken Mark provides extensive information about PESTEL factors in Apple Inc.: Managing a Global Supply Chain case study.

Political Factors

- Political consensus among various parties regarding taxation rate and investment policies. Over the years the country has progressively worked to lower the entry of barrier and streamline the tax structure.

- Little dangers of armed conflict – Based on the research done by international foreign policy institutions, it is safe to conclude that there is very little probability of country entering into an armed conflict with another state.

Economic Factors

- Foreign Exchange movement is also an indicator of economic stability. Apple Supply should closely consider the forex inflow and outflow. A number of Apple Supply competitors have lost money in countries such as Brazil, Argentina, and Venezuela due to volatile forex market.

- According to Fraser P. Johnson, Ken Mark . Apple Supply should closely monitor consumer disposable income level, household debt level, and level of efficiency of local financial markets.

Social Factors

- Leisure activities, social attitudes & power structures in society - are needed to be analyzed by Apple Supply before launching any new products as they will impact the demand of the products.

- Consumer buying behavior and consumer buying process – Apple Supply should closely follow the dynamics of why and how the consumers are buying the products both in existing categories and in segments that Apple Supply wants to enter.

Technological Factors

- Artificial intelligence and machine learning will give rise to importance of speed over planning. Apple Supply needs to build strategies to operate in such an environment.

- 5G has potential to transform the business environment especially in terms of marketing and promotion for Apple Supply.

Environmental Factors

- Consumer activism is significantly impacting Apple Supply branding, marketing and corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives.

- Environmental regulations can impact the cost structure of Apple Supply. It can further impact the cost of doing business in certain markets.

Legal Factors

- Intellectual property rights are one area where Apple Supply can face legal threats in some of the markets it is operating in.

- Property rights are also an area of concern for Apple Supply as it needs to make significant Organizational culture, Strategy, Supply chain, Technology infrastructure investment just to enter new market.

What are Porter Five Forces

Porter Five Forces Analysis of Apple Inc.: Managing a Global Supply Chain

Competition among existing players, bargaining power of suppliers, bargaining power of buyers, threat of new entrants, and threat of substitutes.

What is VRIO Analysis

VRIO Analysis of Apple Inc.: Managing a Global Supply Chain

VRIO stands for – Value of the resource that Apple Supply possess, Rareness of those resource, Imitation Risk that competitors pose, and Organizational Competence of Apple Supply. VRIO and VRIN analysis can help the firm.

What is Porter Value Chain

Porter Value Chain Analysis of Apple Inc.: Managing a Global Supply Chain

As the name suggests Value Chain framework is developed by Michael Porter in 1980’s and it is primarily used for analyzing Apple Supply relative cost and value structure. Managers can use Porter Value Chain framework to disaggregate various processes and their relative costs in the Apple Supply. This will help in answering – the related costs and various sources of competitive advantages of Apple Supply in the markets it operates in. The process can also be done to competitors to understand their competitive advantages and competitive strategies. According to Michael Porter – Competitive Advantage is a relative term and has to be understood in the context of rivalry within an industry. So Value Chain competitive benchmarking should be done based on industry structure and bottlenecks.

What is BCG Growth Share Matrix

BCG Growth Share Matrix of Apple Inc.: Managing a Global Supply Chain

BCG Growth Share Matrix is very valuable tool to analyze Apple Supply strategic positioning in various sectors that it operates in and strategic options that are available to it. Product Market segmentation in BCG Growth Share matrix should be done with great care as there can be a scenario where Apple Supply can be market leader in the industry without being a dominant player or segment leader in any of the segment. BCG analysis should comprise not only growth share of industry & Apple Supply business unit but also Apple Supply - overall profitability, level of debt, debt paying capacity, growth potential, expansion expertise, dividend requirements from shareholders, and overall competitive strength. Two key considerations while using BCG Growth Share Matrix for Apple Inc.: Managing a Global Supply Chain case study solution - How to calculate Weighted Average Market Share using BCG Growth Share Matrix Relative Weighted Average Market Share Vs Largest Competitor

5C Marketing Analysis of Apple Inc.: Managing a Global Supply Chain

4p marketing analysis of apple inc.: managing a global supply chain, porter five forces analysis and solution of apple inc.: managing a global supply chain, porter value chain analysis and solution of apple inc.: managing a global supply chain, case memo & recommendation memo of apple inc.: managing a global supply chain, blue ocean analysis and solution of apple inc.: managing a global supply chain, marketing strategy and analysis apple inc.: managing a global supply chain, vrio /vrin analysis & solution of apple inc.: managing a global supply chain, pestel / step / pest analysis of apple inc.: managing a global supply chain, swot analysis and solution of apple inc.: managing a global supply chain, references & further readings.

Fraser P. Johnson, Ken Mark (2018) , "Apple Inc.: Managing a Global Supply Chain Harvard Business Review Case Study. Published by HBR Publications.

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Case study description.

An analyst for a money management firm is studying Apple Inc. as one of the firm's key investments. In 2013, Apple had a market capitalization of nearly US$500 billion and sales of US$171 billion. According to the research firm, Gartner Group, it had the world's best supply chain, ranking ahead of companies such as Walmart, Amazon and Inditex (Zara). As part of the analysis, a full review of Apple's supply chain is required to look for insight into the future performance of the company in order to decide whether or not the analyst's firm should continue to hold Apple shares.

Organizational culture, Strategy, Supply chain, Technology

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Step 1 - reading up harvard business review fundamentals on the leadership & managing people.

Even before you start reading a business case study just make sure that you have brushed up the Harvard Business Review (HBR) fundamentals on the Leadership & Managing People. Brushing up HBR fundamentals will provide a strong base for investigative reading. Often readers scan through the business case study without having a clear map in mind. This leads to unstructured learning process resulting in missed details and at worse wrong conclusions. Reading up the HBR fundamentals helps in sketching out business case study analysis and solution roadmap even before you start reading the case study. It also provides starting ideas as fundamentals often provide insight into some of the aspects that may not be covered in the business case study itself.

Step 2 - Reading the Apple Inc.: Managing a Global Supply Chain HBR Case Study

To write an emphatic case study analysis and provide pragmatic and actionable solutions, you must have a strong grasps of the facts and the central problem of the HBR case study. Begin slowly - underline the details and sketch out the business case study description map. In some cases you will able to find the central problem in the beginning itself while in others it may be in the end in form of questions. Business case study paragraph by paragraph mapping will help you in organizing the information correctly and provide a clear guide to go back to the case study if you need further information. My case study strategy involves -

• Marking out the protagonist and key players in the case study from the very start.
• Drawing a motivation chart of the key players and their priorities from the case study description.
• Refine the central problem the protagonist is facing in the case and how it relates to the HBR fundamentals on the topic.
• Evaluate each detail in the case study in light of the HBR case study analysis core ideas.

Step 3 - Apple Inc.: Managing a Global Supply Chain Case Study Analysis

Once you are comfortable with the details and objective of the business case study proceed forward to put some details into the analysis template. You can do business case study analysis by following Fern Fort University step by step instructions -

• Company history is provided in the first half of the case. You can use this history to draw a growth path and illustrate vision, mission and strategic objectives of the organization. Often history is provided in the case not only to provide a background to the problem but also provide the scope of the solution that you can write for the case study.
• HBR case studies provide anecdotal instances from managers and employees in the organization to give a feel of real situation on the ground. Use these instances and opinions to mark out the organization's culture, its people priorities & inhibitions.
• Make a time line of the events and issues in the case study. Time line can provide the clue for the next step in organization's journey. Time line also provides an insight into the progressive challenges the company is facing in the case study.

Step 4 - SWOT Analysis of Apple Inc.: Managing a Global Supply Chain

Once you finished the case analysis, time line of the events and other critical details. Focus on the following -

• Zero down on the central problem and two to five related problems in the case study.
• Do the SWOT analysis of the Apple Inc.: Managing a Global Supply Chain . SWOT analysis is a strategic tool to map out the strengths, weakness, opportunities and threats that a firm is facing.
• SWOT analysis and SWOT Matrix will help you to clearly mark out - Strengths Weakness Opportunities & Threats that the organization or manager is facing in the Apple Inc.: Managing a Global Supply Chain
• SWOT analysis will also provide a priority list of problem to be solved.
• You can also do a weighted SWOT analysis of Apple Inc.: Managing a Global Supply Chain HBR case study.

Step 5 - Porter 5 Forces / Strategic Analysis of Industry Analysis Apple Inc.: Managing a Global Supply Chain

In our live classes we often come across business managers who pinpoint one problem in the case and build a case study analysis and solution around that singular point. Business environments are often complex and require holistic solutions. You should try to understand not only the organization but also the industry which the business operates in. Porter Five Forces is a strategic analysis tool that will help you in understanding the relative powers of the key players in the business case study and what sort of pragmatic and actionable case study solution is viable in the light of given facts.

Step 6 - PESTEL, PEST / STEP Analysis of Apple Inc.: Managing a Global Supply Chain

Another way of understanding the external environment of the firm in Apple Inc.: Managing a Global Supply Chain is to do a PESTEL - Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Environmental & Legal analysis of the environment the firm operates in. You should make a list of factors that have significant impact on the organization and factors that drive growth in the industry. You can even identify the source of firm's competitive advantage based on PESTEL analysis and Organization's Core Competencies.

Step 7 - Organizing & Prioritizing the Analysis into Apple Inc.: Managing a Global Supply Chain Case Study Solution

Once you have developed multipronged approach and work out various suggestions based on the strategic tools. The next step is organizing the solution based on the requirement of the case. You can use the following strategy to organize the findings and suggestions.

• Build a corporate level strategy - organizing your findings and recommendations in a way to answer the larger strategic objective of the firm. It include using the analysis to answer the company's vision, mission and key objectives , and how your suggestions will take the company to next level in achieving those goals.
• Business Unit Level Solution - The case study may put you in a position of a marketing manager of a small brand. So instead of providing recommendations for overall company you need to specify the marketing objectives of that particular brand. You have to recommend business unit level recommendations. The scope of the recommendations will be limited to the particular unit but you have to take care of the fact that your recommendations are don't directly contradict the company's overall strategy. For example you can recommend a low cost strategy but the company core competency is design differentiation.
• Case study solutions can also provide recommendation for the business manager or leader described in the business case study.

Step 8 -Implementation Framework

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• Detailed understanding of the case,
• Clarity of HBR case study fundamentals,
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• Developed an ability to prioritize recommendations based on probability of their successful implementation.

Implementation framework helps in weeding out non actionable recommendations, resulting in awesome Apple Inc.: Managing a Global Supply Chain case study solution.

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Step 10 - Critically Examine Apple Inc.: Managing a Global Supply Chain case study solution

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Apple Inc.: Managing the global supply chain Case Solution & Answer

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Apple Inc.: Managing the global supply chain Case Solution

Apart from this, Apple also have a strong logistic system. It formulates the logistic strategy by incorporating forward and backward logistic both, making it the best choice of the consumers.The company while pursuing the logistics strategy in the supply chain, operates through DHL and other three courier as the main logistic partners. It develops the partnership with the logistic so to get the premium service in reaching the market. In addition, Apple also develop the supply chain strategy by reaching the customers and businesses directly opening up the Apple stores and offering the franchising rights to different suppliers, increasing the market reach and penetration while making the production efficient.

This has allowed the company to develop strong competitive advantage in the markets since the effective supply chain management and the hold and control over its functions allows the company reaching the market timely before the competition, and by controlling the demand and supply of the product along with the control over cost, it allows the company to fulfill it promises and its adherence with the business strategy.

• Over the period of time, from 2012 to 2014, the share price of Apple is on the decline, which has depicted the low revenues and low level of operations during the particular period.Though Tim Cook has reassured the business cycle performance with new product launch in the market, the BXE team is concerned over the dropping share price of Apple.
• Since Apple has always been practicing controlling the backward and forward business integration and supplier relationship, the high control on supplier capacity at the time of demand has exhausted some of the supplier since they are unable to offer the service to other players in the market, making them dependent on one client i-e Apple. This has reduced the bargaining power of the supplier and has reduced the profit margin. Analyzing this, many of the suppliers have started dealing with Apple on the limited productions scale, which on one hand has increased the cost of logistics and production,while on other hand has increased the overall supply chain cost.

Competitive Analysis of Apple supply Chain

Apple has a very strong supply chain management. It deals in the market and manages the supply and demand of the product though well-developed technological software’s timely JIT and improves the efficiency of the production in timely manner.This allows Apple to reach the market efficiently and also enables it to hold the competitive edge in market by procuring the raw material or technology before the competition.

In addition to this, Apple has also developed the closed and well-knitted relationship with the suppliers.This has allowed the company to maintain a strong control over the production facilities and also the quality of the products. Also the close relationship and development of supplier ecosystem also allows Apple to negotiate the terms and the productions capabilities to meet the demand. This practice of the supply chain allows Apple to mold the supply chain operations, offering high flexibility to the supply chain, and hence strong and efficient reach to the market, keeping the customers captivated with the brand.

Also, while pursuing the supply chain strategy in the market, the company developed a franchising model in about 160 countries.This has allowed the company to reach to the customers and businesses with out incurring any cost. However, here again in order to maintain the quality and service offered, the company has opened different apple stores in the busy markets to offer the customer first hand experience of the product, developing market awareness and re inforcing the competitive position side by side.

Lastly, Apple has a strong logistic system.This allows the company to manage the inventory cost and the transportation cost effectively. While managing the logistic, the company has developed the partnership with DHL, ORS as the courier partners to manage the freight.In doing so,Apple acquires certain quota in the organization to access the premiums service and hence reached the markets and stores before Samsung or any other brand.This develops the competitive advantage in the market and offers a fist move advantage to the company,while on other reinforces the company’s brand image and brand value in the customer mind.

In addition, to the forward logistic, the company also maintains the backward logistics.This includes calling back the defected items back to the company without customer reaching for the company. This characteristic of the Apple supply chain has offered it’s the competitive advantage in maintaining customer trust and loyalty with the brand.Also, it has allowed the company to fulfill its business strategy of offering innovative solutions to the customer that linger in the daily life. Hence through effective backward logistics the company itself calls back the defected or damaged product to the customer in a fixed time. Developing strong, market value and customer convenience leading to high brand efficacy and brand advocacy in the market……………

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Apple Inc.: Managing a Global Supply Chain Harvard Case Solution & Analysis

Home >> Human Resource Cases >> Apple Inc.: Managing a Global Supply Chain

An analyst for a money management business is scrutinizing Apple Inc. as one of the business's crucial investments. In 2013, Apple had revenues of US$171 billion along with a market capitalization of approximately US$500 billion. As stated by the research firm , Gartner Group, it had the world's best supply chain, ranking ahead of companies like Walmart, Amazon and Inditex (Zara). As section of the investigation, a full review of Apple's supply chain must search for insight to the future performance of the business in order to decide whether the analyst's firm should continue to hold Apple shares.

PUBLICATION DATE: May 16, 2014 PRODUCT #: W14161-HCB-ENG

This is just an excerpt. This case is about LEADERSHIP & MANAGING PEOPLE

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Apple Inc Global Supply Chain Management Case Study Solution & Analysis. Get Apple Inc Global Supply Chain Management Case Study Analysis & Solution. Contact us directly at buycasesolutions(at)gmail(dot)com if you want to order for Apple Inc Global Supply Chain Management Case Solution, Case Analysis, Case Study Solution. P. Fraser Johnson Less

Email us for Any Case Solution at: [email protected] Apple Inc Global Supply Chain Management Case Study Solution & Analysis Apple Inc Global Supply Chain Management Case Study Solution & Analysis. Our tutors are available 24/7 to assist in your academic stuff, Our Professional writers are ready to serve you in services you need. Every Case Study Solution & Analysis is prepared from scratch, top quality, plagiarism free. Authors: P. Fraser Johnson Get Case Study Solution and Analysis of Apple Inc Global Supply Chain Management in a FAIR PRICE!! Steps for Case Study Solution & Analysis: 1. Introduction of Apple Inc Global Supply Chain Management Case Solution The Apple Inc Global Supply Chain Management case study is a Harvard Business Review case study, which presents a simulated practical experience to the reader allowing them to learn about real life problems in the business world. The Apple Inc Global Supply Chain Management case consisted of a central issue to the organization, which had to be identified, analysed and creative solutions had to be drawn to tackle the issue. This paper presents the solved Apple Inc Global Supply Chain Management case analysis and case solution. The method through which the analysis is done is mentioned, followed by the relevant tools used in finding the solution. The case solution first identifies the central issue to the Apple Inc Global Supply Chain Management case study, and the relevant stakeholders affected by this issue. This is known as the problem identification stage. After this, the relevant tools and models are used, which help in the case study analysis and case study solution. The tools used in identifying the solution consist of the SWOT Analysis, Porter Five Forces Analysis, PESTEL Analysis, VRIO analysis, Value Chain Analysis, BCG Matrix analysis, Ansoff Matrix analysis, and the Marketing Mix analysis. The solution consists of recommended strategies to overcome this central issue. It is a good idea to also propose alternative case study solutions, because if the main solution is not found feasible, then the alternative solutions could be implemented. Lastly, a good case study solution also includes an implementation plan for the recommendation Email us for Any Case Solution at: [email protected] Note: This Article is only for format and is not related to case study. If you want original case solution, please place your order on the Email.

Email us for Any Case Solution at: [email protected] strategies. This shows how through a step-by-step procedure as to how the central issue can be resolved. 2. Problem Identification of Apple Inc Global Supply Chain Management Case Solution Harvard Business Review cases involve a central problem that is being faced by the organization and these problems affect a number of stakeholders. In the problem identification stage, the problem faced by Apple Inc Global Supply Chain Management is identified through reading of the case. This could be mentioned at the start of the reading, the middle or the end. At times in a case analysis, the problem may be clearly evident in the reading of the HBR case. At other times, finding the issue is the job of the person analysing the case. It is also important to understand what stakeholders are affected by the problem and how. The goals of the stakeholders and are the organization are also identified to ensure that the case study analysis are consistent with these. 3. Analysis of the Apple Inc Global Supply Chain Management HBR Case Study The objective of the case should be focused on. This is doing the Apple Inc Global Supply Chain Management Case Solution. This analysis can be proceeded in a step- by-step procedure to ensure that effective solutions are found. In the first step, a growth path of the company can be formulated that lays down its vision, mission and strategic aims. These can usually be developed using the company history is provided in the case. Company history is helpful in a Business Case study as it helps one understand what the scope of the solutions will be for the case study. The next step is of understanding the company; its people, their priorities and the overall culture. This can be done by using company history. It can also be done by looking at anecdotal instances of managers or employees that are usually included in an HBR case study description to give the reader a real feel of the situation. Lastly, a timeline of the issues and events in the case needs to be made. Arranging events in a timeline allows one to predict the next few events that are likely to take place. It also helps one in developing the case study solutions. The timeline also helps in understanding the continuous challenges that are being faced by the organisation. 4. SWOT analysis of Apple Inc Global Supply Chain Management An important tool that helps in addressing the central issue of the case and coming up with Apple Inc Global Supply Chain Management HBR case solution is the SWOT Email us for Any Case Solution at: [email protected] Note: This Article is only for format and is not related to case study. If you want original case solution, please place your order on the Email.

Email us for Any Case Solution at: [email protected] analysis. The SWOT analysis is a strategic management tool that lists down in the form of a matrix, an organisation's internal strengths and weaknesses, and external opportunities and threats. It helps in the strategic analysis of Apple Inc Global Supply Chain Management Once this listing has been done, a clearer picture can be developed in regards to how strategies will be formed to address the main problem. For example, strengths will be used as an advantage in solving the issue. Therefore, the SWOT analysis is a helpful tool in coming up with the Apple Inc Global Supply Chain Management Case Study answers. One does not need to remain restricted to using the traditional SWOT analysis, but the advanced TOWS matrix or weighted average SWOT analysis can also be used. 5. Porter Five Forces Analysis for Apple Inc Global Supply Chain Management Another helpful tool in finding the case solutions is of Porter's Five Forces analysis. This is also a strategic tool that is used to analyse the competitive environment of the industry in which Apple Inc Global Supply Chain Management operates in. Analysis of the industry is important as businesses do not work in isolation in real life, but are affected by the business environment of the industry that they operate in. Harvard Business case studies represent real-life situations, and therefore, an analysis of the industry's competitive environment needs to be carried out to come up with more holistic case study solutions. In Porter's Five Forces analysis, the industry is analysed along 5 dimensions. • These are the threats that the industry faces due to new entrants. • It includes the threat of substitute products. • It includes the bargaining power of buyers in the industry. • It includes the bargaining power of suppliers in an industry. • Lastly, the overall rivalry or competition within the industry is analysed This tool helps one understand the relative powers of the major players in the industry and its overall competitive dynamics. Actionable and practical solutions can then be developed by keeping these factors into perspective. 6. PESTEL Analysis of Apple Inc Global Supply Chain Management Another helpful tool that should be used in finding the case study solutions is the PESTEL analysis. This also looks at the external business environment of the organisation helps in finding case study Analysis to real-life business issues as in HBR cases. • The PESTEL analysis particularly looks at the macro environmental factors that affect the industry. These are the political, environmental, social, Email us for Any Case Solution at: [email protected] Note: This Article is only for format and is not related to case study. If you want original case solution, please place your order on the Email.

Email us for Any Case Solution at: [email protected] technological, environmental and legal (regulatory) factors affecting the industry. • Factors within each of these 6 should be listed down, and analysis should be made as to how these affect the organisation under question. 7. VRIO Analysis of Apple Inc Global Supply Chain Management This is an analysis carried out to know about the internal strengths and capabilities of Apple Inc Global Supply Chain Management . Under the VRIO analysis, the following steps are carried out: • The internal resources of Apple Inc Global Supply Chain Management are listed down. • Each of these resources are assessed in terms of the value it brings to the organization. • Each resource is assessed in terms of how rare it is. A rare resource is one that is not commonly used by competitors. • Each resource is assessed whether it could be imitated by competition easily or not. • Lastly, each resource is assessed in terms of whether the organization can use it to an advantage or not. • The analysis done on the 4 dimensions; Value, Rareness, Imitability, and Organization. If a resource is high on all of these 4, then it brings long-term competitive advantage. If a resource is high on Value, Rareness, and Imitability, then it brings an unused competitive advantage. If a resource is high on Value and Rareness, then it only brings temporary competitive advantage. If a resource is only valuable, then it’s a competitive parity. If it’s none, then it can be regarded as a competitive disadvantage. 8. Value Chain Analysis of Apple Inc Global Supply Chain Management The Value chain analysis of Apple Inc Global Supply Chain Management helps in identifying the activities of an organization, and how these add value in terms of cost reduction and differentiation. This tool is used in the case study analysis as follows: • The firm’s primary and support activities are listed down. • Identifying the importance of these activities in the cost of the product and the differentiation they produce. • Lastly, differentiation or cost reduction strategies are to be used for each of these activities to increase the overall value provided by these activities. Recognizing value creating activities and enhancing the value that they create allow Apple Inc Global Supply Chain Management to increase its competitive advantage. Email us for Any Case Solution at: [email protected] Note: This Article is only for format and is not related to case study. If you want original case solution, please place your order on the Email.

Email us for Any Case Solution at: [email protected] 9. BCG Matrix of Apple Inc Global Supply Chain Management The BCG Matrix is an important tool in deciding whether an organization should invest or divest in its strategic business units. The matrix involves placing the strategic business units of a business in one of four categories; question marks, stars, dogs and cash cows. The placement in these categories depends on the relative market share of the organization and the market growth of these strategic business units. The steps to be followed in this analysis is as follows: • Identify the relative market share of each strategic business unit. • Identify the market growth of each strategic business unit. • Place these strategic business units in one of four categories. Question Marks are those strategic business units with high market share and low market growth rate. Stars are those strategic business units with high market share and high market growth rate. Cash Cows are those strategic business units with high market share and low market growth rate. Dogs are those strategic business units with low market share and low growth rate. • Relevant strategies should be implemented for each strategic business unit depending on its position in the matrix. The strategies identified from the Apple Inc Global Supply Chain Management BCG matrix and included in the case pdf. These are either to further develop the product, penetrate the market, develop the market, diversification, investing or divesting. 10. Ansoff Matrix of Apple Inc Global Supply Chain Management Ansoff Matrix is an important strategic tool to come up with future strategies for Apple Inc Global Supply Chain Management in the case solution. It helps decide whether an organization should pursue future expansion in new markets and products or should it focus on existing markets and products. • The organization can penetrate into existing markets with its existing products. This is known as market penetration strategy. • The organization can develop new products for the existing market. This is known as product development strategy. • The organization can enter new markets with its existing products. This is known as market development strategy. • The organization can enter into new markets with new products. This is known as a diversification strategy. The choice of strategy depends on the analysis of the previous tools used and the level of risk the organization is willing to take. Email us for Any Case Solution at: [email protected] Note: This Article is only for format and is not related to case study. If you want original case solution, please place your order on the Email.

Email us for Any Case Solution at: [email protected] 11. Marketing Mix of Apple Inc Global Supply Chain Management Apple Inc Global Supply Chain Management needs to bring out certain responses from the market that it targets. To do so, it will need to use the marketing mix, which serves as a tool in helping bring out responses from the market. The 4 elements of the marketing mix are Product, Price, Place and Promotions. The following steps are required to carry out a marketing mix analysis and include this in the case study analysis. • Analyse the company’s products and devise strategies to improve the product offering of the company. • Analyse the company’s price points and devise strategies that could be based on competition, value or cost. • Analyse the company’s promotion mix. This includes the advertisement, public relations, personal selling, sales promotion, and direct marketing. Strategies will be devised which makes use of a few or all of these elements. • Analyse the company’s distribution and reach. Strategies can be devised to improve the availability of the company’s products. 12. Apple Inc Global Supply Chain Management Strategy The strategies devised and included in the Apple Inc Global Supply Chain Management case memo should have a strategy. A strategy is a strategy that involves firms seeking uncontested market spaces, which makes the competition of the company irrelevant. It involves coming up with new and unique products or ideas through innovation. This gives the organization a competitive advantage over other firms, unlike a red ocean strategy. 13. Competitors analysis of Apple Inc Global Supply Chain Management The PESTEL analysis discussed previously looked at the macro environmental factors affecting business, but not the microenvironmental factors. One of the microenvironmental factors are competitors, which are addressed by a competitor analysis. The Competitors analysis of Apple Inc Global Supply Chain Management looks at the direct and indirect competitors within the industry that it operates in. • This involves a detailed analysis of their actions and how these would affect the future strategies of Apple Inc Global Supply Chain Management . • It involves looking at the current market share of the company and its competitors. • It should compare the marketing mix elements of competitors, their supply chain, human resources, financial strength etc. Email us for Any Case Solution at: [email protected] Note: This Article is only for format and is not related to case study. If you want original case solution, please place your order on the Email.

Email us for Any Case Solution at: [email protected] • It also should look at the potential opportunities and threats that these competitors pose on the company. 14. Organisation of the Analysis into Apple Inc Global Supply Chain Management Case Study Solution Once various tools have been used to analyse the case, the findings of this analysis need to be incorporated into practical and actionable solutions. These solutions will also be the Apple Inc Global Supply Chain Management case answers. These are usually in the form of strategies that the organisation can adopt. The following step- by-step procedure can be used to organise the Harvard Business case solution and recommendations: • The first step of the solution is to come up with a corporate level strategy for the organisation. This part consists of solutions that address issues faced by the organisation on a strategic level. This could include suggestions, changes or recommendations to the company's vision, mission and its strategic objectives. It can include recommendations on how the organisation can work towards achieving these strategic objectives. Furthermore, it needs to be explained how the stated recommendations will help in solving the main issue mentioned in the case and where the company will stand in the future as a result of these. • The second step of the solution is to come up with a business level strategy. The HBR case studies may present issues faced by a part of the organisation. For example, the issues may be stated for marketing and the role of a marketing manager needs to be assumed. So, recommendations and suggestions need to address the strategy of the marketing department in this case. Therefore, the strategic objectives of this business unit (Marketing) will be laid down in the solutions and recommendations will be made as to how to achieve these objectives. Similar would be the case for any other business unit or department such as human resources, finance, IT etc. The important thing to note here is that the business level strategy needs to be aligned with the overall corporate strategy of the organisation. For example, if one suggests the organisation to focus on differentiation for competitive advantage as a corporate level strategy, then it can't be recommended for the Apple Inc Global Supply Chain Management Case Study Solution that the business unit should focus on costs. • The third step is not compulsory but depends from case to case. In some HBR case studies, one may be required to analyse an issue at a department. This issue may be analysed for a manager or employee as well. In these cases, recommendations need to be made for these people. The solution may state that objectives that these people need to achieve and how these objectives would be achieved. Email us for Any Case Solution at: [email protected] Note: This Article is only for format and is not related to case study. If you want original case solution, please place your order on the Email.

Email us for Any Case Solution at: [email protected] The case study analysis and solution, and Apple Inc Global Supply Chain Management case answers should be written down in the Apple Inc Global Supply Chain Management case memo, clearly identifying which part shows what. The Apple Inc Global Supply Chain Management case should be in a professional format, presenting points clearly that are well understood by the reader. 15. Alternate solution to the Apple Inc Global Supply Chain Management HBR case study It is important to have more than one solution to the case study. This is the alternate solution that would be implemented if the original proposed solution is found infeasible or impossible due to a change in circumstances. The alternate solution for Apple Inc Global Supply Chain Management is presented in the same way as the original solution, where it consists of a corporate level strategy, business level strategy and other recommendations. 16. Implementation of Apple Inc Global Supply Chain Management Case Solution The case study does not end at just providing recommendations to the issues at hand. One is also required to provide how these recommendations would be implemented. This is shown through a proper implementation framework. A detailed implementation framework helps in distinguishing between an average and an above average case study answer. A good implementation framework shows the proposed plan and how the organisations' resources would be used to achieve the objectives. It also lays down the changes needed to be made as well as the assumptions in the process. • A proper implementation framework shows that one has clearly understood the case study and the main issue within it. • It shows that one has been clarified with the HBR fundamentals on the topic. • It shows that the details provided in the case have been properly analysed. • It shows that one has developed an ability to prioritise recommendations and how these could be successfully implemented. • The implementation framework also helps by removing out any recommendations that are not practical or actionable as these could not be implemented. Therefore, the implementation framework ensures that the solution to the Apple Inc Global Supply Chain Management Harvard case is complete and properly answered. 17. Recommendations and Action Plan for Apple Inc Global Supply Chain Management case analysis Email us for Any Case Solution at: [email protected] Note: This Article is only for format and is not related to case study. If you want original case solution, please place your order on the Email.

Email us for Any Case Solution at: [email protected] For Apple Inc Global Supply Chain Management, based on the SWOT Analysis, Porter Five Forces Analysis, PESTEL Analysis, VRIO analysis, Value Chain Analysis, BCG Matrix analysis, Ansoff Matrix analysis, and the Marketing Mix analysis, the recommendations and action plan are as follows: • Apple Inc Global Supply Chain Management should focus on making use of its strengths identified from the VRIO analysis to make the most of the opportunities identified from the PESTEL. • Apple Inc Global Supply Chain Management should enhance the value creating activities within its value chain. • Apple Inc Global Supply Chain Management should invest in its stars and cash cows, while getting rid of the dogs identified from the BCG Matrix analysis. • To achieve its overall corporate and business level objectives, it should make use of the marketing mix tools to obtain desired results from its target market. Email us for Any Case Solution at: [email protected] Note: This Article is only for format and is not related to case study. If you want original case solution, please place your order on the Email.

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