14 Cumulative Strategic Plan and Leadership Analysis: An Apple Inc.’s Case Student’s Name Institution Affiliation Course Instructor’s Name Date Introduction Apple Inc. is a real business example of a successful brand (Aljafar, 2017). The firm’s success stems from its ability to use its strengths to exploit business opportunities and overcome its weaknesses and threats. Strengths and weaknesses usually characterize corporations’ internal business environments. On the other hand, Hassan (2017) posits that opportunities and threats are aspects of external environments. Internal environments comprise factors that businesses have control over, whereas external environments are the opposite. The key question here is what is the current internal and external environments of Apple? Overview of the Apple Organization NAME Apple Inc. INDUSTRIES SERVED Computer hardware, Computer software, Consumer electronics, Digital distribution GEOGRAPHIC AREAS SERVED Worldwide HEADQUARTERS U.S. CURRENT CEO Tim Cook REVENUE $ 156.508 billion (2012) PROFIT $ 41.733 billion (2012) EMPLOYEES 72,8 Apple’s Mission, Vision, and Core Values Apple’s Mission Statement Apple’s mission statement is “to bringing the best user experience to its customers through its innovative hardware, software, and services. In this mission statement, Apple outlines its business operations’ scope besides how it exploits it to meet its customers’ needs and expectations. Among the core business components that emanate from the mission are best user experience, improving the lives of people, empowerment of the society, and top-quality products. Apple’s Vision Statement Apple vision statement states, “We believe that we are on the face of the earth to make great products and that’s not changing.” The statement highlights Apple’s determination to deliver top-quality goods and services for its customers. According to the statement, this is a long-term process. The vision also tables a detailed account of the perspective and mechanisms through, which the firm approaches its business operations to station itself as the leading force in the technology industry. Some of the core business components related to this vision includes Innovations, Integration of partners and excellence, and Market specialization. Apple’s Core Values Apple Inc.’s core values comprise “inclusion and diversity, education, accessibility, environment, supplier responsibility and privacy.” The values communicate the business aspects, which the organization considers essential to its general success as a leader in the technology and innovation sectors. Apple is keen on the doctrines, which have facilitated its modelling of the self as a quality-oriented firm in more than two decades now. To remain focused and loyal to these principles, Apple ensures that all its business set-ups are in synchrony and harmony with every piece of the values as highlighted in its statement of core values. Apple’s Internal Environment ...

1. 14
Cumulative Strategic Plan and Leadership Analysis: An Apple
Inc.’s Case
Student’s Name
Institution Affiliation
Course
Instructor’s Name
Date
Introduction
Apple Inc. is a real business example of a successful brand
(Aljafar, 2017). The firm’s success stems from its ability to use
its strengths to exploit business opportunities and overcome its
weaknesses and threats. Strengths and weaknesses usually
characterize corporations’ internal business environments. On
the other hand, Hassan (2017) posits that opportunities and
threats are aspects of external environments. Internal
environments comprise factors that businesses have control
over, whereas external environments are the opposite. The key
question here is what is the current internal and external
environments of Apple?
Overview of the Apple Organization
NAME
Apple Inc.
INDUSTRIES SERVED
Computer hardware, Computer software, Consumer electronics,
Digital distribution

2. GEOGRAPHIC AREAS SERVED
Worldwide
HEADQUARTERS
U.S.
CURRENT CEO
Tim Cook
REVENUE
$ 156.508 billion (2012)
PROFIT
$ 41.733 billion (2012)
EMPLOYEES
72,8
Apple’s Mission, Vision, and Core Values
Apple’s Mission Statement
Apple’s mission statement is “to bringing the best user
experience to its customers through its innovative hardware,
software, and services. In this mission statement, Apple outlines
its business operations’ scope besides how it exploits it to meet
its customers’ needs and expectations. Among the core business
components that emanate from the mission are best user
experience, improving the lives of people, empowerment of the
society, and top-quality products.
Apple’s Vision Statement
Apple vision statement states, “We believe that we are on the
face of the earth to make great products and that’s not
changing.” The statement highlights Apple’s determination to
deliver top-quality goods and services for its customers.

3. According to the statement, this is a long-term process. The
vision also tables a detailed account of the perspective and
mechanisms through, which the firm approaches its business
operations to station itself as the leading force in the technology
industry. Some of the core business components related to this
vision includes Innovations, Integration of partners and
excellence, and Market specialization.
Apple’s Core Values
Apple Inc.’s core values comprise “inclusion and diversity,
education, accessibility, environment, supplier responsibility
and privacy.” The values communicate the business aspects,
which the organization considers essential to its general success
as a leader in the technology and innovation sectors. Apple is
keen on the doctrines, which have facilitated its modelling of
the self as a quality-oriented firm in more than two decades
now. To remain focused and loyal to these principles, Apple
ensures that all its business set-ups are in synchrony and
harmony with every piece of the values as highlighted in its
statement of core values.
Apple’s Internal Environment Analysis
SWOT analysis tools are critical options in exploring internal
organizational atmospheres. Therefore, what is a SWOT
analysis tool's projection of Apple’s internal business situation?
The term SWOT is an ellipsis of Strengths, Weaknesses,
Opportunities, and Threats. Strengths and weaknesses are
associated with internal organizational environments, while
opportunities and threats are factors of the external environs. In
this context, the limelight falls on only strengths and
weaknesses because it is an entire case of internal analysis.
(S) – Strengths
Apple’s strengths emanate from various factors. They include
its internal organizational environment and revenue and
financial performance. The internal organization environment
comprises fortes such as a strong brand image, a positive
corporate culture, and effective leadership. On the other hand,
financial performance encompasses such factors as apropos

4. financing strength.
A Strong Brand Image
Apple has a strong brand image and reputation: it is arguably
the world's best technology and most successful organization so
far. The company earned this status because of its quality
offerings. Apple arguably tops the list of corporations with the
most loyal customers (Khan, Alam & Alam, 2019). Besides,
many competitors admire and envy the firm. For decades, Apple
has been on top of the game, especially in the technology
sector. The Forbes Magazine once estimated Apple’s value as
twice that of Microsoft. Thus, the organization lingers the most
valuable firm on earth.
A Positive Corporate Culture
Another of Apple’s strengths is its corporate culture, which is
positive and progressive. Aljafar (2017) illustrates that Apple's
corporate culture affords workers enough respect and promotes
quality output by creating a conducive working environment.
Crucial to the culture includes top-notch excellence, creativity,
innovation, and moderate combativeness, among other values
(Aljafar, 2017). Apple has one of the most professional,
creative, and productive workforces across the globe.
Effective Leadership
The credit of Apple’s success so far goes to its founder and
CEO, Steve Jobs. Only through proper leadership can an
organization start from zero to hero. Thus, Jobs is no doubt an
able leader. The company also has a section of other competent
leaders such as Tim Cook and Arthur D. Levinson. Through
visionary ideas, Zhang (2019) details that the leaders have been
able to attract, hire, and retain top talents, motivate them
appropriately, keep them together, and strategize, among other
things. Without proper leadership in business, failure is
inevitable.
Significant Customer Loyalty
Apple enjoys substantial loyalty from its customers. The firm’s
clients rarely shift allegiance to other brands. The corporation’s
strong fan base ensures that it has good ambassadors who refer

5. its products to non-customers. The customers’ loyalty to Apple
emanates from its quality offerings. The corporation has also
been crucial in raising their social status (Khan, Alam & Alam,
2019). Today, people, both clients, and non-clients, associate
Apple’s commodities with high social status.
Top-notch Innovation
The world has never seen an outstanding innovator like Apple
before. The company maintains a portfolio of innovative
products. The Macintosh and the iPod, for instance,
revolutionized the computer and music industries, respectively,
according to Zhang (2018). Apple has continued with its
impressive innovation record adding the iPhone, Mac Air, and
iPad to its offerings’ collection.
Decisive Financial Strength
Apple has another significant strength in its fiscal position. The
latest data show that the firm holds cash and its equivalents of
about $50.5 billion and another $44.08 billion in marketable
securities, which it can convert into cash very quickly (Khan,
Alam & Alam, 2019). Hence, Apple has an ample cash chest.
The healthy financial situation places Apple in a position with
enough capabilities to finance its business operations and
research to develop its products and services.
(W) – Weaknesses
High Prices
Apple’s products are quality and durable, but they are very
costly. The organization employs a premium pricing strategy,
which places its offerings beyond the general people's reach.
Apple's iPhones are particularly always more expensive than
their counterparts from competitors. Only members of the upper
socioeconomic class can afford most of its products. The hiked
prices attract only clients from the middle and high classes or
income groups while shying away those from low or low-income
brackets from quickly acquiring Apple's consumer products
(Hassan, 2017). Since the high-end segments represent only a
handful of the international market, this internal strategic factor
is a weakness.

6. Product Limitations
Although they are quality, Apple’s products come with various
issues. The primary concern is that they are incompatible with
their counterparts from rival brands. Accordingly, Hassan
(2017) argues that it is difficult to share files and software.
Apple's product limitations are a weakness because they breed
inconveniences, influencing consumers against acquiring and
using them.
Narrow Distribution Channels
Apple has a very narrow distribution channel. The enterprise
distributes its offerings by itself. The company does not use
third parties to deal out its commodities and services most of
the time. Apple's core distribution channels are its stores and
website. Apple's narrow distribution channel emanates from its
exclusivity policy (Khan, Alam & Alam, 2019). The approach is
a weakness because it limits market reach; hence, hindering
Apple's products' ready availability to its customers in all areas.
Apple’s External Environment Analysis
PESTEL analysis is one of the frontline tools that companies
use to understand their business environments (Hassan, 2017).
Currently, a leader in the technology industry, Apple anticipates
retaining the position and staying ahead of its competitors and
its external environment is going to influence its failure or
success through threats and opportunities, respectively.
Therefore, what is a PESTEL tool’s projection of Apple’s
internal business situation?
The PESTEL/PESTLE analysis tool examines external business
environments in terms of political, economic, sociocultural,
technological, ecological, and legal aspects pertaining to an
organization and its operations (Hassan, 2017). The tool forms
the framework of Apple Inc.’s external business environment
analysis. Thus, the model facilitates the understanding of
Apple’s external environment factors, which can trigger its
failure (threats) or success (opportunities)
(P) - Political Factors
Political factors comprise the government and governmental

7. agencies' influence on corporations majorly. Crucial political
factors for Apple include (i) enhanced trade policies, (ii)
political stability in developed nations, and (iii) trade disputes.
The elements are a mixture of both opportunities and threats.
Today, many nations are adopting policies that favor
international trade. The development comes as an opportunity
for Apple to grow its market share as it expands its operations
into new markets. More countries are also experiencing political
stability currently. Given that such situations come with
reduced political problems, which interfere with business
operations, the increased political solidity is an opportunity for
Apple to grow towards profitability and stability. However,
trade disputes are also rampant today. The bad business blood
between the US and China, for example, is a threat to Apple’s
operations and success.
(E) - Economic Factors
Economic factors entail the market and industry conditions,
which influence business operations. For Apple, these
components include (i) stable economies in developed nations,
(ii) rapid growth in developing economies, and (iii) increasing
disposable income among target consumers. All the identified
Apple’s economic factors present it with success opportunities.
Economic stability in nations such as United Kingdom, France,
Germany, South Africa, and the Netherlands creates
opportunities for Apple’s expansion (Meyer, 2019). The rapidly
growing economies would present opportunities for new sales;
hence, profits. According to Aljafar (2017), Asian countries are
appropriate examples in this context. On the other hand, higher
disposable incomes improve the saleability of Apple’s relatively
high-priced technology products meaning that Apple would
have an opportunity to make more revenues.
(S) - Social/Cultural Factors
Sociocultural factors refer to the external social forces, which
influence consumers' behaviors and expectations. Apple's
macro-environment includes (i) the increasing use and access of
mobile devices, (ii) the rising dependence on digital organisms,

8. and (iii) the international anti-Apple sentiments. While the first
and second factors are success ingredients, the last one is a risk.
The increasing use and access of mobile devices come as an
opportunity for Apple to grow its revenues. The rationale is that
the trend results in the rise in mobile gadgets' demands,
including smartphones and tablets. The augmenting dependence
on digital systems is another sociocultural trend, which presents
Apple with opportunities to make more proceeds by selling its
products in large volumes (Aljafar, 2017). However, California
Polytechnic State University (2017) illustrates that the anti -
Apple sentimentalities threaten the company by mounting
pressure on it, questioning its business operations. Apple’s
lawsuits against third-party repair service providers, which
handle iPhone and MacBook repairs, for example, tainted its
image.
(T) – Technological Factors
Technology and technological trends affect businesses in
various ways. Such technology factors within Apple’s
jurisdictions include (i) the expanding demand for cloud
computing, (ii) increasing business-technology integrations, and
(iii) other firms growing tech capacities. The cloud computing
and business-technology integration trends emerge as
opportunities while the last factor steps out as a peril.
The expanding demands of cloud computing arise as an
expansion opportunity for Apple. Zhang (2018) posits that the
trend would necessitate Apple’s expansion of its cloud
infrastructure, which would maximize its profitability. The
same applies to an increase in technological integration in
businesses. The trend means that more organizations would
purchase its tech products; hence, boosting its sales (Meyer,
2019). Unfortunately, other company’s technological
advancement threatens Apple’s profitability because it would
mean more competition.
(E) - Ecological Factors
Ecological factors highlight environmental trends and their

9. influences on organizations. For Apple, they consist of (ii)
business sustainability and (ii) energy efficiency trends. Both
are opportunities for Apple's growth.
Apple is one of the world's organizations that operates
sustainably. However, it still has room to ensure that its
operations are also environmental-friendly thereby
strengthening its corporate image, according to the California
Polytechnic State University (2017). Apple also can enhance its
operational cost efficiencies by adopting newer and more
efficient technologies while supplying useful commodities to
increasingly environmentally aware consumers.
a) Apple’s Current Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility
Position
Apple has a reputation as one of the most ethical and social
responsible organizations across the world. The company is
dedicated to the highest standards of environmental and social
responsibility and ethical conduct. For a case in point, Aljafar
(2017) argues that the company’s suppliers have a legal and
ethical duty to ensure safe working conditions, act legally and
justly, treat workers respectfully and with dignity, and engage
in activities and act in ways, which are environmental-friendly.
Moreover, Apple specifies that its suppliers observe the
principles and requirements of the Apple Supplier Code of
Conduct (“Code”) besides all the pertinent laws and regulations
(Aljafar, 2017). The responsibility stretches beyond the
compliance with germane laws by drawing upon globally
accepted standards to progress social and ecological
responsibility. In occasions of conflicts between legal
requirements and standards, the stricter standard applies, in
accordance to the applicable law (Ceil, 2018). The Code
outlines Apple’s expectations for Supplier conduct regarding
labour and human rights, health and safety, environmental
protection, ethics, and management practices.
Though Apple’s current ethics and corporate social
responsibility position is a strong one, still offers the
organizations opportunities for growth and success. If Apple

10. can continue to ensure high standards of CSR, the organization
will continue enjoying a good reputation both locally and
internationally. As such, it will continue attracting investors,
workers, and customers, which will only solidify its quest for
greatness.
(L) – Legal Factors
Legal factors entail the laws and regulations’ impacts on
businesses. Apple’s legal strategic factors encompass (i) the
stiffening privacy regulations, and (ii) Apple’s policies and
practices’ legal challenges. Unfortunately, both elements form
the recipe for failure.
Concerned with privacy in the digital domain, many countries
have beefed up regulations for Apple and other tech companies.
According to Meyer (2019), this trend threatens Apple's growth,
especially when compliance requirements to such restrictions
are costly. The regulations also limit Apple's practices; hence,
its expansion. Additionally, legal challenges against Apple also
risk its business. For instance, the firm’s third-party repair
operations’ criticism and legal battles in Australia, the
European Union, and the United States duly tainted Apple’s
corporate image.
Apple Inc.’s external analysis reveals a mixture of both growth
opportunities and threats to the firm. A PESTLE analytical tool
comes in handy in driving a proper understanding of these
factors and Apple’s external business situation in general. The
model illustrates that some of Apple Inc.’s political, economic,
sociocultural, technological, ecological, and legal aspects set its
success path while others breed failure. Overall, Apple's
external environment is favourable for its feat.
Conclusion
Apple remains a leader in the technology sector and the most
profitable, sustainable, and reputable organization in the
world’s history. All these breakthroughs are because of its
ability to capitalize on its strengths and opportunities including
a strong brand, a positive corporate culture and new markets,
effective leadership, and customer loyalty. Nonetheless, the

11. company has a few weaknesses and threats, including high
prices, product limitations, narrow distribution channels, and
stiff competition, which, if it will leave them unchecked,
significantly risks their success.
References
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California Polytechnic State University, (2017, March). Getti ng
to the Core: A Case Study on the Company Culture of Apple
Inc. Arocha B., J.
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=
1074&context=rptasp
Ceil, C., (July 3, 2018). Corporate Social Responsibility at
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Hassan, R. (2017). Apple Inc. - An Analysis: PESTEL analysis,
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https://www.scirp.org/pdf/OJBM_2017122515255786.pdf
Discuss some tax planning strategies that can maximize the
benefit of itemized deductions. You should list at least one
strategy for each of the following categories:
· Medical Expenses
· Charitable Contributions
· Interest on Mortgage Indebtedness
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