The Story of Apple:

Apple Inc. is an American multinational technology company headquartered in Cupertino, California, that designs, develops, and sells consumer electronics, computer software, and online services. The company is considered one of the most valuable and successful companies in the world. The history of Apple can be traced back to 1976 when Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak co-founded the company in Jobs' garage.

In its early years, Apple focused on producing personal computers, starting with the Apple I in 1976. The company's first commercial success came with the release of the Apple II in 1977, which became one of the first successful personal computers on the market. This success allowed the company to expand its product line and develop new technologies, such as the Macintosh in 1984, which was one of the first commercially successful personal computers to feature a graphical user interface.

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, however, Apple faced a number of challenges. The company struggled to compete with the rising popularity of IBM-compatible personal computers, and its market share began to decline. In addition, the company faced internal conflicts and a revolving door of CEOs, leading to a loss of direction and a decline in innovation.

Apple's fortunes began to change in 1997 with the return of co-founder Steve Jobs as CEO. Jobs quickly set about turning the company around, streamlining its product line, and investing in research and development. Under Jobs' leadership, Apple released a number of breakthrough products, such as the iMac in 1998, the iTunes Music Store in 2003, and the iPhone in 2007. These products helped to establish Apple as a leader in the technology industry, and helped to revive the company's fortunes.

The iPhone, in particular, was a game-changer for the company. It represented a new category of device and created an entirely new market for smartphones. The iPhone was a huge success, and it quickly became one of the most popular and profitable products in the world. This success allowed Apple to expand its product line and release a number of other successful products, such as the iPad in 2010, and the Apple Watch in 2015.

Apple's success is also due to its strong branding and marketing strategies. The company has built a strong and loyal customer base, which has helped to establish the company's products as premium, high-quality products. Apple's branding and marketing efforts have also helped to differentiate the company's products from its competitors, allowing it to charge premium prices for its products.

In addition to its product line, Apple has also had success with its services segment, which includes the App Store, Apple Music, iCloud, and Apple Pay. These services have helped to diversify the company's revenue streams, and have become an increasingly important part of the company's overall business.

Overall, Apple has had a long and storied history, marked by periods of great success and innovation, as well as periods of decline and uncertainty. However, the company's strong leadership, focus on innovation, and ability to adapt to the changing technology landscape have been key factors in its success. The company has become one of the most valuable and successful companies in the world, and it continues to be a leader in the technology industry.

Explain how the following Internal Forces affect Apple: Suppliers, Distributors, Customers, Competitors. Then Explain what your group believes Managers can do to combat or deal with these forces:

EXAMPLE:

Suppliers: Apple relies heavily on a large number of suppliers to provide the components and materials needed to produce its products. The company's ability to access high-quality and cost-effective components is critical to its success. The company's reliance on a global supply chain can also make it vulnerable to disruptions caused by political and economic instability, as well as natural disasters. In addition, the company faces pressure from suppliers to lower costs and improve efficiency.

What can they do?:

Diversifying the supplier base: By diversifying the supplier base, managers can reduce the company's dependence on any one supplier and mitigate the risk of supply chain disruptions.

Negotiating favorable terms: By using its large purchasing power to negotiate favorable terms with suppliers, managers can improve the company's cost structure and strengthen its competitive position.

Investing in vertical integration: By investing in vertical integration, managers can reduce the company's dependence on external suppliers and control more of the production process.

Distributors:

What can they do?

Customers:

What can they do? Diver

Competitors:

What can they do?

Explain how the following External Forces affect Apple: Political/Legal, Economic, Sociocultural/Demographic, Technological, International/Global. Then Explain what your group believes Managers can do to combat or deal with these forces:

Political/Legal: The technology industry is heavily regulated and is subject to a wide range of laws and regulations at the federal, state, and international levels. These regulations can affect Apple in a number of ways, including limiting the company's ability to innovate, increasing compliance costs, and exposing the company to legal and reputational risks. For example, Apple has faced regulatory challenges related to data privacy and security, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in Europe, and has had to navigate legal disputes related to its intellectual property and antitrust laws.

What can they do?

Staying informed about relevant laws and regulations: By staying informed about relevant laws and regulations, managers can ensure that the company is in compliance and can anticipate potential challenges.

Developing a comprehensive risk management strategy: By developing a comprehensive risk management strategy, managers can identify potential risks and take steps to mitigate them.

Investing in effective lobbying and advocacy: By investing in effective lobbying and advocacy, managers can influence the political process and shape the regulatory environment in a way that is favorable to the company.

Economic:

What can they do? Af

fect its stock price and ability to raise capital.

Sociocultural/Demographic:

What can they do?

International/Global:

What can they do?