Please help me solve the following marketing questions according to the Case Study Below:

Questions

1) Briefly discuss how Apple influences need recognition.

2) Discuss two factors that influence consumer behavior of Apple customers (it can be

from the same category or different categories).

3) What type of buying behavior is most likely to be used by Apple customers? Justify

your choice.

Case Study 5: Apple Apple Inc. is a company that specializes in the manufacture of computer software and computer hardware. It has also ventured the market for electronics and this strategy has led to the development of products such as the iPhone, iPod and other electronic products. In the recent past, Apple penetrated the music industry by introducing products which match the market demand. The company has Sold many iTunes and Movie products and this was achieved after the management realized the high potential in music industry. Apple has been able to sell a lot of music products by the use of Online and retail stores. The company has been able to develop effective marketing strategies which have captured a lot of consumers in the market. Due to the strong marketing focus, Apple has been very successful in creating a very loyal customer base that think, live and act in a different way. In the year 1998 Apple was born again when Steve Jobs launched the iMac. This new computer comes with a complete collection of software's and new operating system called MAC OS X. It was a success. Then after Apple launched its iBook (laptop). However, the home run was scored by the introduction of iPod in the year 2001 grabbing more than 70 percent of market share in the US. Furthermore, Apple made a deal with intel to become compatible with Microsoft Windows. Since then, iPod is enjoying market leadership in the domain of competition. Ever since its inception, Apple has remained busy with developing more than one product at a time. In retrospect we nd that in the year 1984, Apple commercialized two products namely Apple C and Macintosh, in 1986 it launched Apple IIgs and Macintosh Plus, 1987 it launched Macintosh II and Macintosh SE. In 1989 it commercialized three computers namely Macintosh Portable, Macintosh Illci and Macintosh Hr. In the year 1990 it launched another three computer models Macintosh Classic, Macintosh IIlsi and Macintosh LC. Similarly, in the year 1993 Apple commercialized seven products namely Color Classic, Quadra 800, Macintosh centris, Macintosh LCIII, Power book 180c and Macintosh LC 475. In the year 2001 Apple again launched three products namely Power Macintosh Quick silver, iMac Patterns its home run product under the name of iPod rst generation. In the year 2004 Apple commercialized four products namely xServe G5, iMac GS, iPod click wheel and iPod Mini and in the year 2005 again Apple launched four successful products namely, iPod shufe, iPod Nano, Video iPod, and Mac Mini. In the year 2006 again four successful products namely iPod shufe, iPod Nano, iMac slimmer Intel and Mac Pro. As we all know that in the year 2007 Apple scored a home run by launching its premier iPhone. By analyzmg the above trends in new product development (NPD) and commercialization, we can easily deduce that Apple is constantly churning out new innovative products at unprecedented rate. This is mainly due to the fact that at Apple is using concurrent engineering philosophy to good effect. As earlier on stated in such a process, the product under development may lie in more than one stage of development and thus, we can also deduce that Apple is following a rugby approach to new product development which can go back as well as in forward direction simultaneously. These factors have enabled Apple in terms of speed, accuracy, and quality. Apple has invested heavily in new product development process and therefore attained the status of market pioneer. Apple has established the myth of creativity and innovation in the computer industry. It is through its innovative strategies that the company has been able to create products with a high demand in the market. Despite stiff competition in the global market, Apple Inc has been able to overcome this competition by establishing differentiated products and matching the consumer demand to the products manufactured by the company. The culture of the company has been very favorable in developing innovative products which are readily acceptable in the global market. Steve Jobs established the culture of leadership and the use of new technologies to develop products which are innovative. The employees of the company are provided with an environment which is suitable for developing innovative products and this has been a major competitive strategy which has led to the development of better manufacturing and marketing processes. This was especially true for Apple a couple of decades ago as well as today. Because with the advent of iPod rst generation in 2001 on the market, it revolutionizes the electronics industry and had a major impact on competitors. Ever since, Apple has successfully launched several other line extensions of the older version with small incremental improvements. For example, in the year 2003 Apple launched iPod 3rd Generation and in the subsequent year 2004 it launched two more extensions of the products namely iPod Mini and iPod click Wheel. Again, in the year 2005 Apple came up with some improved products in the form of iPod Shufe, Nano and Video iPod. And nally, in the year 2007 iPhone was launched under the same brand umbrella term. The success recipe came to Apple in the form of iPod, and even Apple personal computers sales started going up because of this hit product. Apple has been very clever in its ploy of planned obsolescence, which is a deliberate ploy such as fashion and fads, as it is launching iPod after iPod and that too with new improvements. The new improved product has the cool feeling assorted around it. Therefore, it is compelling customers to engage in repeat purchase, which serves the long-term purpose of the company, thanks to planned obsolescence. > Sources: httpsfmmv.ukessays.comfessaysfmarketingr'acase-studyof-apples-success-storymarketingessayphp; httpsivypanda. comfessaysimarketing-case-st'udy-of-apple-incdeport