STUDY CASE - APPLE - MERGING TECHNOLOGY, BUSINESS AND ENTERTAINMENT

1)      Explain how Apple achieved business success through the use of information, information technology and people.

·         Customer focus - Apple is driven by customer satisfaction and ensures customer are deeply involved in product development and application development.

·         Resources and capabilities - Apple invest in research and development to take advantage of new technologies, improve facilities and cloud infrastructures.

·         Strategic vision - Apple has a clear alignment of its vision, mission, and business leadership and goals.

·         Branding - Apple is the leader in brand loyalty as it has achieved cult status with its authentic product image.

·         Quality focus - Apple has an outstanding commitment to quality.

2)      Describe the types of information employees at an Apple store require and compare it to the types of information the executives at Apple's corporate headquarters require. Are there any links between these two types of information?

·         Employees - John Lin created a prototype of a remote control for the iPod and took his prototype to Macworld, where he found success.

·         Executives - Jeff Holden, CEO of Pelago Inc, when he created his social networking company he fully intended to follow the conventional wisdom for how to build a sizable, fast growing software company.