Written analysis of apple Inc

approach this project as though you are a management consultant hired by a company to present a strategic “audit” of the firm. The written reports should answer the following.

1. I know a lot more about this company than before reading this audit.

2. I understand the company’s mission.

3. I understand the competitive conditions in this firm’s industry.

4. I understand the company’s strengths and weaknesses, especially its core competencies.

5. I understand both the corporate and business level strategies this firm is pursuing.

6. It is clear to me what this student thinks the company needs to do now.

Final project outline: in preparing your final case project, you must follow this outline. All of the following sections are to be included in your final paper. Points will be deducted for missing sections.

a. introduction and purpose of case project audit paper

b. background of the organization

c. definitions of:

1) Strategy

2) Competitive advantage and their implications for strategic planning

d. general, macro, or pest external analysis of the industry your firm competes in

1. Economic trends / what effect on the firm?

2. Political, legal, and regulatory / what effect on the firm?

3. Natural resource trends / what effect on firm or its suppliers?

4. Technology – innovation - what’s new, what’s changing? / What is the effect on the firm? How does technology affect customers?

5. Socio-cultural trends (include demographic changes) / what’s the effect on your firm, including the target market(s)?

e. the micro/competitive or industry environment (intra-industry analysis)

1. Porter’s five forces framework for analysis

a. bargaining power of suppliers (low, moderate, high and why)

b. bargaining power of buyers “

c. threat of new entrants or rivals “

d. threat of substitute products and services (not rivals!) “

e. intensity of rivalry among competitors “

f. construct your answers to support your arguments for each force