Operational Strategy: Case Study, Apple Inc.

Introduction

Apple Inc. is responsible for designing, developing and manufacturing electronics as well as other services including music players and communication services. Additionally, the company provides both hardware and software, networking solutions and peripherals. Throughout the world, the company has amassed a loyal following, which has led to the establishment of retail and online stores without forgetting the use of third parties in the selling process. On the iTunes stores, the company provides software and support to customers. Additionally, the company products are limited to its signature production, which ensures that all products access different resources on a single platform. The concern of this essay is to establish the influence of operational strategy on Apple Inc.'s supply.

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While other competitive companies focused on other factors, Apple Inc. concentrates on developing brilliant, distinctive products and services for the clients. For example, a sample of the iPhone, iPad, and iPod displays characteristics that are unlike any mobile producer in the world. Apple Inc. designers and developers hinge their products on the fact that other employees perceive them as good products before the products reach the market. By first wanting the product for themselves, the designers centered their work upon the belief that a particular product was a necessity instead of being an option. By working the human capital, better results are realized by the company (Mankins & Garton, 2017). Taking the development of the iPod over the years, one cannot fail to recognize the subtle modification that worked to accumulate both MacOS and Windows users.

Another element attributed to the Apple success is the simplicity in their design. By incorporating a friendly user interface, most users prefer to use the product. As per the case study, although the emphasis is on the uniqueness of the product, the company recognizes the essence of consumers enjoying using their products (Kim & Mauborgne, 2014). The few buttons with different applications embedded in Apple Inc. products attest to this belief. All iPhones regardless of how much it costs utilizes the same menu, allowing the user to transition from one product to another without worrying about whether they could be able to use the upgraded products. Unnecessary confusion is avoided resulting in both loyalties in the brand as well as an advantage over the competition.

High-quality components also illustrate how committed the company is towards the production of unique products. While other electronic components incorporate different hardware for suitability in their functions, the company solely relies on its parts to ensure satisfaction to the customers. Presently, the company is in a purchase and integrate high-quality components with a guarantee that they will generate profits. By capitalizing on the company position to guarantee sales from the loyal brand customers, immediate returns can be foregone with future speculation that whichever products they develop will have a ready market in place due to their uniqueness (Zylla-Woellner, 2011). While suppliers often shy away from establishing factories that focus on individual productivity, Apple Inc. contradicts this action by encouraging the establishment of such systems.

The company integrates quality hardware and software components to guarantee products are foul proof. Meticulous efforts focus on developing both the software and the hardware which results in the two being compatible (Menipaz & Menipaz, 2011). As experienced in the development of iPhones, iPads, and iPods, the company introduced the iTunes to ensure the provision of software that supports the devices. Additionally, the iCloud service syncs to every company product providing the opportunity of storing data online while the iStore and iTunes also offer an extensive platform for enjoyment including video streaming and digital songs. Furthermore, such services are regularly updated to ensure users gain access to the latest products and services which is unlike other existing platforms.

However, often, the operationalization strategy surmises with the company always being a step ahead of the competition. By being the first company to purchase rights to a specific component, the company ensures it has exclusive access and usage for the first three to five years creating a monopolistic environment of operation (Cavusgil et al., 2014). The company, therefore, reaps profits and benefits long before the competition catches up. Additionally, before the competition gets a head start, the company already will have a loyal customer base invalidating any action that may follow the launching of a particular product. By combining legal and strategic moves, the company often finds itself weathering the upheavals that develop in the technology industry while managing to not only survive but prosper as well.

Ultimately, by centering its strategic operationalization around the company's product, Apple Inc. manages to amass profits every financial year with few incidences of losses. To date, the company's electronic devices are presumed to be the most secure products on the planet ensuring users are protected from hacking attempts or any malicious intends. By encouraging simplicity and user-friendly interface, and by tapping into the willingness of people to believe in the validity of the company's products, there is no doubt that there will always be a ready market all over the world for Apple Inc.'s products. Security and uniqueness characterize the company, and as such, demand and hopes for both products and services will often skyrocket, which may only upset if another start-up comes up with a different flair that would hook people to it.

References

Cavusgil, S. T., Knight, G., Riesenberger, J. R., Rammal, H. G., & Rose, E. L. (2014). International business. Pearson Australia.

Kim, W. C., & Mauborgne, R. A. (2014). Blue ocean strategy, expanded edition: How to create uncontested market space and make the competition irrelevant. Harvard business review Press.

Mankins, M. C., & Garton, E. (2017). Time, talent, energy: Overcome organizational drag and unleash your team's productive power. Harvard Business Review Press.

Menipaz, E., & Menipaz, A. (2011). International business: theory and practice. Sage.

Zylla-Woellner, J. (2011). Corporate Strategy for Apple Inc Company. Munich GRIN Verlag GmbH.