Core competencies are what differentiates organizations from their competitors and tend to create advantages for companies against their competitors. For a business to succeed, they need to determine what their core competencies are going to be and be able to exploit those to stand out against their competitors. I feel like some core competencies are subjective because some people value different benefits more than others. This is why Android and Apple have such loyal fan bases that have a few differences in what each company offers.

One of the major core competencies that Apple offers is rapid innovation with technology. The camera on their iPhone is a notable example. Apple took a leap of faith when it decided to start improving the camera feature. Their main factor in moving forward was figuring out whether people would be willing to pay more money for upgraded cameras on the iPhone. It ended up paying off for them which has led to more advances on the camera itself. Safari was already the world$$s fastest desktop browser, and they chose to update it$,$ making it faster with new features. They are great at taking customer feedback and working to integrate ideas from its users into their products. Through innovation, they can bring new equipment and modern technology at a record pace. In a world where we must have everything right now, Apple does not make its customers wait exceedingly long for new products.

Another core competency I feel Apple does well in is product mix diversity. When Apple released their first computer in $1976,$ I do not think they were able to forecast that their next big device would be the game changer for them. In $2001$ Apple released the first gen iPod. Until then, they were dabbling in personal computers and laptops, and I feel like this catapulted Apple to become the company that it is today. The iPod became wildly popular, and Apple quickly released the iPod mini and iPod shuffle. In $2007$ Apple took its biggest risk and released the first gen iPhone, along with the Apple tv$.$ The iPad came along in $2010.$ Apple has been able to provide new products every year or two and fans are loyal to the brand. The capability for users to be able to connect all their products together has really made Apple stand out from its competitors.

Another core competency Apple has that stands out from its competitors is the employee compensation packages. Apple runs as a functional organization which means that instead of separate departments, the company operates as one P&L$.$ This allowed for alignment of expertise and business rights. Bonuses for upper management are reliant on company performance instead of revenue from products, which pushes employees to produce better products.

Some of the winner qualifiers for apple products would be features like being water resistant, the capability for facial recognition and having an easy user interface. For the order winner, Apple$$s technology is what people will pay for.

Apple has easily kept customers with product diversity. This is what keeps most people Apple users. Being able to combine all your information into several devices allows you to decide which device you want to take, whether you are going on a trip or just running to the store. Whichever device you pick up will have all your information on it$.$ They also never stop producing innovative ideas. The WWDC that is put on every year highlights what Apple is working on next and the fact that they release products so quickly after they announce them means consumers do not have to wait too long to get their hands on new products.

Apple stores offer an experience that few other manufacturers offer, the stores themselves have become destinations for tech people that love to spend their evenings checking out the brand$$s new products. They offer something very important, other companies don$$t keep all its development in$-$house with no open sourcing, their products have always been at the forefront of technology. One key selling point Apple uses is that its products are very simple to use.

Even though apple didn$$t invent the smartphone, the creation of the iPhone revolutionized the way the public saw smartphones. The way Apple presents its products to the public has always been a differentiator with competitors. It is not a secret that Apple quality products uphold Apple$$s edges and are the most important part of its profits. We as a team believe Apple$$s products exhibit high quality. Apple has differentiated itself from competitors and created brand value.

The level of trust the company has in the market is superior to competitors, based just simply on the quality products Apple creates and manufactures. The level of prominence is an indication of how solid the brand is positioned. Apple has been known for creating new and innovative products that stand off from its competitors. The company prioritizes the use of premium materials in the products they create the attention to detail extends beyond