Based on the Apple, Inc.case, your Web search of the current news, and the discussion in the textbook on culture, politics, and governance issues, cite examples of where you think Apple, Inc.has adapted its strategies to cultural, political, ecological and ethical considerations. What role should the board of directors play, or has the board played, in choosing the strategy?
Apple Inc., 2015 www.apple.com, AAPL Apple is the world's largest corporation based on a market capitalization of about $650 billion, approximately $200 billon more than Exxon, the world's second-largest company. Apple designs, manufactures, and markets the world's single-most popular smartphone, the iphone, even though Apple has only about 15 percent of the global market share in smartphones. Apple also produces the iPad, iPod, iCloud, Mac computers, and other accessory devices. Headquartered in Cupertino, California, Apple owns iTunes, the popular app and store where customers can download music. MyManagementLab For additional assurance of learning questions which prove you understand and are able to apply the strategic concepts in this case, go to the assignment section of your MyLab. New for Apple with the release of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus is Apple Pay, where customers can pay at retail stores by scanning their phone. Apple currently operates 450 Apple stores and employs 98,000. Apple's iPhone 6 and 6+ offer larger screens to better compete with Samsung. Initial sales of the iPhone 6 and 6+ broke records, with th higher margin 6+ doing best of all. Apple's new gold smartwatch released in spring 2015 sells for $41000 to $5,000. The aluminum model is priced at $349, and the stainles steel model at $500. On July 21, 2015, Apple announced financial results for its fiscal 2015 third quarter that ended June 27, 2015. Specifically, the company reported quarterly revenue of $49.6 billion and quarterly net profit of $10.7 billion, compared to revenue of $37.4 billion and net profit of $7.7 billion the prior year-ago quarter. International sales accounted for 64 percent of the quarter's revenue. In that third quarter Apple's year-over-year growth rate accelerated from the first half of fiscal 2015, with revenue up 33 percent and earnings per share up 45 percent. The growth was fueled by record third quarter sales of iPhone and Mac, all-time record revenue from services, and the successful launch of Apple Watch. The company's quarterly iPhone revenue was up 59 percent over last year. Apple Music was released in July 2015 and the company plans to release iOS OS X El Capitan and watchOS 2 to customers in Fall 2015. Copyright by Fred David Books LLC. www.strategyclub.com (Witten by Forest R. David)
