Quadrant Strategic Objective Measure Target for YearFinanc.docx

Quadrant Strategic Objective Measure Target for Year
Financial
Be profitable at the end
of the year profit margin Breakeven
Customer
Grow business by
focusing on gaining
customer and
outstanding customer Market share
5%
Operation
Build on to the Apple
name and expand brand
Marketing campaign
with a developed
plan in place 4 months

Learning and Growth
Employees have proper
training and knowledge
to expand brand Training hours 20 hours
Running Head: APPLE CORPORATION
APPLE CORPORATION
7
Daniel Price
Professor Keen
BUS/475
Week 4
Apple Corporation
Apple Corporation
Introduction
Apple Corporation is an American universal technology
company with its headquarters in Cupertino, California. It deals
with developing computer software and designing and selling

consumer electronics. It also offers online services. The
hardware products of Apple include smart phones, iPads, iPods
and personal computers. The consumer software includes the
iTunes media player, iOS operating system, OS X and the Safari
web browser. Its online services include the iOS App Store,
iCloud, Mac App Store and the iTunes store.
Apple Corporation was founded by a group of associates on 1st
April 1976 to design and sell personal computers. It was
however incorporated as Apple Computer Inc. on 3rd January
1977 only to be renamed thirty years later to Apple Inc due to
its focus on consumer electronics. It is the largest technology
firm in terms of total assets and revenue and the second mobile
manufacturer after Samsung. It has a net worth of over
700billion USD with over one hundred thousand employees and
over four hundred retail stores around the world. Apple Inc. has
over one billion products in the market as at May 2016.
However, the aim of this paper is to develop strategic objectives
in the measurement of attaining company's vision and mission
based on a balanced scorecard taking into account different
perspectives of the whole company. The balanced scorecard
contains the financial perspective, Customer value, Internal
Operations and Employee perspective.
Financial Perspective
Apple Corporation is the world’s largest technology company
based on total assets and revenue valued at over 700 USD as at
May 2016 (Ingram, 2008). It is also the world’s second largest
mobile phone manufacturer. Apple Corporation Inc entered the
top ten Fortune 500 list of publicly traded companies on May
2013. It announced a dividend of $0.57 in May 2016 after
earning revenue of $51.5 billion and a net profit of $11.1 billion
which was a 22% increase in revenue from the previous year.
Apple Inc has transferred 90% of its cash and marketable
securities outside the United States, which is about 234billion
USD due to tax purposes. In 2015, the company accumulated
over 80% of the total earnings made by the eight largest
universal smart phone manufacturers.

High tax rates in the United States pose big threat to the
profitability of Apple Corporation Inc. In order to avoid huge
tax burden, Apple has opened various retail shops all over the
world to take advantage of low tax rates in some regions.
However, this is in conflict with some tax regulations in the
United States causing ethical implications. A strategic objective
in financial perspective is to increase revenue and reduce costs
in order to increase the overall company profits (Ingram, 2008).
A metric to measure this strategic objective is the percentage
increase in revenue. The target for the metric of increase in
revenue is to increase revenue by 20% and reduce costs by at
least 10% yearly for the next four years. So as to achieve this,
Apple has to communicate this objective to all stakeholders
involved in production, distribution and retail in order to
improve its profitability. The company can communicate
through AGMs or circulating memos in the company.
Customer Value Perspective
Apple acquired Eight Inc in 1999 to help design its Apple retail
stores so as to customize them based on diverse customer needs.
Apple offers a variety of services to its customers such as
warranty, free electronic repairs, and updates (Lashinsky,
2011). Apple Inc has developed the ‘At home Apple Advisors’
which is a customer support program offering free advice and
answers to queries of all Apple products at the comfort of the
customer. It has helped in retaining customers by offering
customer service and value.
Due to a large number of smart phone manufacturers, the cost
of smart phones has greatly reduced making Apple products to
be very expensive (McCluskey, 2015). This has led to high
customer turnover. Apple Inc has undertaken to transfer its
manufacturing plants in countries with low trade regulation
expenses such as China. However, this has led to the increase in
counterfeit Apple products causing ethical implications thus
loss in customers. A strategic objective in customer perspective
is to increase the customer base. A metric to measure this
strategic objective is the percentage increase in sales. The target

for the metric of increase in sales is to increase sales by 15%
yearly for the next three years. In order to achieve this, Apple
has to improve its manufacturing standards to prevent the
emergence of counterfeit Apple products. Apple has to
communicate the standards to manufacturing managers in
meetings.
Employee Perspective
Apple Corporation Inc has employed over one hundred thousand
employees on permanent basis as at December 2015. There are
also those under contracts employed when need arises in the
numerous retail shops owned by Apple Inc (McCluskey, 2015).
Apple Inc outsources almost its entire manufacturing thus
reducing production overhead costs significantly. However,
Apple Inc came under sharp criticism in 2006 due to poor and
harsh working conditions in its factories and low wages. This
made Apple undertake yearly audit of their manufacturing units
to ensure workers rights and standards are met which
guaranteed employee satisfaction.
Apple Inc mainly employs workers on contractual basis and
outsourcing. Due to this, it is not easy to ensure employee
satisfaction in outsourced firms. The increasing cases of
outsourced companies mistreating their employees such as the
Foxconn Company have greatly tarnished Apple’s name thus
high employee turnover. A strategic objective in employee
perspective is improving employee satisfaction by using
technology in operations. A metric to measure this strategic
objective is the rate of employee retention. The target for the
metric of employee retention is to increase customer
satisfaction by incorporating technology in the production
process thus making work easier. Apple Corporation has to hold
meetings with their entire staff in order to communicate and get
to know their problems and be committed to improving their
satisfaction.
Internal Operation Perspective
Apple’s Corporation procurement and logistics department
enables it to launch products without maintaining large

inventories. This helps to increase their profit margins
compared to their competitors in the technology industry
(Lashinsky, 2011). Apple Inc. also has its research and
development center where new products are invented and
developed thus help in maintaining an edge over their
competitors and still prevent loss of intellectual property rights
of their inventions. Apple has been involved in the creation of
technologies that have shaped the entire technology industry
which in the end improves productivity.
There is risk of loss of intellectual property rights if the idea in
the research and development department leaks important
information. To prevent this, all workers involved in idea
generation and development should be issues a certain percent
of ownership in the right. A strategic objective in internal
operation perspective is to undertake internal function better
than competitors in order to realize high-profit margins.
References
Apple - Investor Relations. (2016). Investor.apple.com.
Retrieved from http://investor.apple.com
Apple Info - Apple. (2016). Apple.com. Retrieved, from
http://www.apple.com/about
Ingram, J. (2008). Apple Design: The work of the Apple

Industrial Design Group: Paul Kunkel. The Design
Journal, 1(1), 62-62.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2752/146069298790225226
Insanely great: the life and times of Macintosh, the computer
that changed everything. (2014). Choice Reviews
Online, 31(10), 31-5497-31-5497.
Inside Apple: how America's most admired--and secretive--
company really works. (2012). Choice Reviews Online, 49(11),
49-6372-49-6372.
Lashinsky, Adam (2011). How Apple works: Inside the world’s
largest startup http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/nar/25.22.4537
McCluskey, M. (2015). Using iPhones, iPads, and iPods: A
Practical Guide for Librarians. Australian Academic & Research
Libraries, 46(4), 316-316.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00048623.2015.1109017
Powerful new computer from Apple. (2010). Electronics And
Power, 26(6), 432. http://dx.doi.org/10.1049/ep.1980.0226
1
SWOT ANALYSIS
Daniel Price
Institutional Affiliation
SWOT Analysis
Professor Keen
Apple Company
May 30, 2016

SWOT Analysis
Apple Company
The ability to minimize the threats and capitalize on
opportunities depends on actions that the organization can take
in the face of environmental trends. These action capabilities
may be thought of as strengths with strategic significance.
Organization fitness for the future lies in enumerating its
strengths and evaluating the significance of those strengths. It
helps in determining areas of vulnerability within the new
division.
Internal analysis identifies organization resource allocation,
produce an enumeration of organization’s strengths and their
strategic significance. All assessments are relative and
incorporate environmental information. This approach tends to
develop line manager’s analysis and understanding perception
and use it to guide their strategic planning decisions (Sumner,
1999). They are also useful in gaining competition advantage
thus it’s important to nurture them well.
Potential internal strengths can be highlighted as follows;
economics forces which form the backbone of the organization.
This includes, Adequate financial resources i.e. when the firm
has enough resources it is usually easier to fund various
projects such as buying appropriate technology, Hiring proven
management team hence smooth running of the entire
organization. Financial resources are also used in funding
better advertisement campaigns hence organization remains
relevant to the market. This achieved from the insulated strong

competitive pressures gained from advertisements .Other
financial resources includes funding agencies, grants and other
sources of income (Lummus & Vokurka, 1999).
Despite these Strengths an organization also faces various
weaknesses which disadvantage the firm from achieving its
objectives. They include the following; obsolete facilities, poor
track record in implementing strategies. Too narrow product
line, High overall unit cost to key competitors, lack of
managerial talent, unable to finance needed changes in strategy
hence weak image to the public.
In our case, internal strengths for Apple organization can be
highlighted as follows: Use of appropriate technology hence
superior technological skills. This helps in producing high
quality products. Appropriate technology allows room for
creativity and innovation (Product innovation skills) e.g. launch
of next generation smart phones and watches. This also creates
room for better manufacturing capabilities of Apple
Organization. It is also known all over the world due to its brisk
innovation. This ensure consumers wants are met thus
satisfaction and in return the organization is well thought by the
buyers hence ends up dominating it’s given production niche
(Jackson, Joshi & Erhardt, 2003).
Apple organization is headed by a team efficient management
who are proven in their fields. Before being one is employed in
the firm one must meet certain criteria’s and should also boast
of academic excellence in the related field. This ensures
prosperity of the organization. It’s to no one surprise they are
currently leaders in technology world. For every organization to
succeed there must be good leader in the mantle of the firm.
As for the resources, Apple organization has a wider pool of
capital. Various business magnates have invested heavily in its
shares thus organization research are usually well funded. These
resources have also been used to fund advertising campaigns to
various parts of the world.
Apple also boasts of a strong brand name, it has the most
precious and superior brand name in the market .Other internal

forces Apple uses include its strategic capabilities, processes
and systems.
An external enterprise environment consists of competitors and
other forces outside the industry that are not under the direct
control of organization or its industry. Yet this factors influence
the choice of direction and action, organization structure and
internal processes of the enterprise. Relationships, events and
conditions that make up the unique environment of any
organization are not static thus no organization faces the same
external conditions(Sumner, 1999).
In our case, am going to analyze Apple Inc. These factors are
classified into three subcategories:
Factors in; remote environment, industry and operating
environment. These factors form basis of opportunities and
threats that Apple organization faces.
Under Economic forces we have various factors; Income level
of consumer affect their marginal propensity to consume. Apple
products can only be afforded by those individuals with high
level of income as they have high purchasing power. Other
factors that fall under this category include Disposable income
and discretion income, inflation and Distribution of income
among consumers (Jackson, Joshi & Erhardt, 2003).
Technological forces also form base of external forces. This
includes application of new process when it comes to
production (use of flexible manufacturing systems). New raw
materials carbon fibers as any manufacturing company that does
not adopt new materials that are high performing would find
sales falling dramatically. Other issues in technological
environment include use of technology to improve quality of
their products, customer services and marketing research. Social
cultural forces are also key major players in external forces
(Sumner, 1999). They are factors that relate to values attitudes
and demographic characteristics of organizations customers.
Dynamic social forces can significantly influence the demand of
organization products and alter strategic decisions. Culture
incorporates set of values and ideas and attitude of

homogeneous group that are transmitted from one generation to
another. Some of the key areas that indicate the impact of
culture to the market include: Changing attitudes and values,
consciousness, Aesthetic values in terms of style and design.
According to Hay & Castilla, (2006). Political and legal
environment is formed by attitude of the government towards
business activity. This entails legal control of the business
activity and influence of business groups. Government comes
with regulations that affect business activities. From that scope
we can be able to deduce potential external opportunities Apple
organization enjoys. This includes ability to enter new markets,
diversity into related products, faster market growth, Ability to
serve new customer group and complacency among rival groups.
While it faces external threats which include the following;
Entry of lower cost foreign competitors, Rising sales of
substitute products, slower market growth, vulnerable to
recession ,adverse shifts in foreign exchange rates and trade
policies of foreign governments ,Growing bargaining power of
customers or suppliers, Changing buyer needs and tastes and
finally adverse demographic changes (Boyd, Dess & Rasheed,
1993). Supply chain of new division is aimed in create value
chain in the whole of Apple organization. Value is usually
created by focusing on benefits associated with the new product
or service that arise from the division created. The more
benefits they are the more customers will product as having
value.
In my case I would prefer to use various techniques to make
positive impact in the business as follows; Integrating new
technology into previous operations helps in reducing cost,
sustainability, higher quality products and corporate social
responsibility. I would also plan the implementation periods by
advocating use of phase approach. This will help the
organization to be stable and at the same time register growth.
The other issue I would address is ensuring I have the
competent management team. I would also develop appropriate
communication channel thus ensuring I achieve optimal results.

This ensures management team is part of the change campaign.
Furthermore I would embrace buy ins concepts thus I would be
able to bring those individual who are not in management team
but I believe they have impact to the growth of the organization.
I will also ensure that am open to change according to
consumer’s choice and preference. Finally I would advocate use
of Radio frequency identification systems hence as it allows
easy transition.
REFERENCES
Jackson, S. E., Joshi, A., & Erhardt, N. L. (2003). Recent
research on team and organizational diversity: SWOT analysis
and implications. Journal of management, 29(6), 801-830.
Hay, G. J., & Castilla, G. (2006, July). Object-based image
analysis: strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats
(SWOT). In Proc. 1st Int. Conf. OBIA (pp. 4-5).
Boyd, B. K., Dess, G. G., & Rasheed, A. M. (1993). Divergence
between archival and perceptual measures of the environment:
Causes and consequences. Academy of Management Review,
18(2), 204-226.
Sumner, M. (1999, April). Critical success factors in enterprise
wide information management systems projects. In Proceedings
of the 1999 ACM SIGCPR conference on Computer personnel
research (pp. 297-303). ACM.
Lummus, R. R., & Vokurka, R. J. (1999). Defining supply chain
management: a historical perspective and practical guidelines.
Industrial Management & Data Systems, 99(1), 11-17.
Price is Right Bootcamp
Dan Price

May 24, 2016
Week 2
Professor Keen
BUS/475
Mission Statement
Our goal is to change the mindset and improve the lives of
today’s children, families, and communities across the nation so
that they will be better citizens of tomorrow.
Vision Statement
Our vision is to consistently decrease the national percentage of
troubled youth while building model citizens who will be
improve our economy and be an inspiration to others.
Proposal
Some of our school districts, in Texas, were nationally ranked
as one of the highest in the area. Over the past 10 years the
culture around our schools has changed and has continuously
decreased in school education rankings and ratings. Since the
culture has changed our society has lowered the standard
educationally and economically, especially in the school
districts that stood out from the others. Teenage crime rate has
improved some however our organization feels that we can
expedite this rate with our program. In 2014 over 878,000
juvenile arrests were made in the state of Texas (dps.texas.gov).
We feel that given the right opportunity and guidance we can
lower the crime rate by a minimum of 10% each year with our
step by step program in changing the average teen mentally and
physically. Each teen will learn self-discipline, pride in who
they are, team work, and patriotism of their community, state,
and government.
Strategic Plan Part 1: Breakdown of the Juvenile/Teenager
In our camps, young teens will have all technology and civilian
attire taken away and uniforms will be given to each individual.
The course will begin rigorous with workouts and strict policies
given to each student. Policies and regulations will be explained

and the expectation of the program will be enforced creating a
standard for each teen to comply with. By doing this each teen
will begin to have an increased sense of responsibility that
comes from a communal living atmosphere, self-discipline that
comes from truly caring about the effects of their actions, and
the positive attitude of empowerment that come from making
positive life goals and working toward them. These are the
things that can transform an entire family, and just some of the
benefits of a juvenile boot camp. Living in an environment with
other teens, creating relationships with their peers and with
counselors and teachers creates an interesting social dynamic
that our culture often can’t duplicate. In a boarding school boot
camp, in addition to relating to peers and adults through
organized activities and group projects, there are nightly group
conversations, similar to a big dinner table, only instead of
avoiding issues, in favor of small talk, teens are encouraged to
vent the emotions of the day and deal with each other’s
differing perspectives in a constructive manner. Teens are given
the communication tools they need to express themselves, and
to respond to the emotions of others (teenbootcamps.org)
Teens will also have community service to achieve. Teenagers
who volunteer gain benefits ranging from increased self-esteem
to acquiring valuable job skills. Along with that it teens will a
global view of society and a heart for "giving back" and helping
others. It exposes teens to diversity and multiculturalism and
provides an opportunity to apply academic learning to real
human needs. Lastly, the teens will build relationships and
"social connectedness" with peers, adults, and activists sharing
a cause and improves communication and critical thinking
skills. Career wise volunteering helps students find their
passions and interests that may lead to a career choice they may
have not considered in conjunction with developing lifelong
interpersonal and communication skills.
Beginning teens who are newly enrolled into the program will
volunteer for our first responders which are the local police,
ambulance and firefighters. They will assist where needed and

learn from our public authority figures while gaining knowledge
of life lessons. Today’s society most teens shy away from our
authority when the best thing to do is introduce themselves to
authority and allow for a bond to be made in time of trouble or
being in need the chemistry has already been established.
Education Package
In addition to the bootcamp program parents will have the
option of upgrading to a education package where the teen can
be a part of the program all day gaining a solid education from
the private sector of our educational service in which we will
have certified teachers working with a small group of students.
Maximum capacity of each classroom will be 15 students per
teacher. This gives the teacher more time to focus on the need
of each child where if need be one on one attention can be given
to help students succeed. The educational department has an
annual fee of $6,000 per student which covers uniform, books,
administration fee, lunch, and uniforms to include physical
fitness attire. Students will be required to pass a aptitude test in
math, reading comprehension, and English subjects in order to
become a part of the school’s enrollment. If there’s more than
one teen in a family then a discount will be assessed given the
number of siblings.
Goal of Program:
“The Price is Right Bootcamp” will be government funded
along with various sponsors that will help to assist in financial
aspect of this program. Any other funding will be fees or
possible donations from the community. Our long term goal is
to have bootcamps work side to side with public schools
nationwide. We want to build better communities and it starts
off with changing the mindset of the younger generations while
effectively communicating and educating parents to reinforce
what is being instilled in each child once they have successfully
achieved their program.
Success Program:
For those teens that are on track and are successfully
completing the course, those individuals will qualify to be a

part of the drill and ceremony competitions where they will
compete against other bootcamp programs in the area. Drill and
Ceremony is a long lasting military tradition that has been hand
down to bootcamps and JROTC programs across the country.
This is time for all teenagers to shine and put there best foot
forward as they will learn how to march as a unit, give proper
commands, lead a squadron, and incorporate some of their own
drill positions into the competition. Along with drill and
ceremony there will be an obstacle course that each member of
the D&C team will participate in. Each event will be calculated
and the team with the highest score wins the competition.
Strategic Plan 2: SWOT Analysis
· Change the cultural of today youth that are headed down the
wrong path.
· Government funded and local sponsorships which cuts the cost
from consumer.
· Volunteers of the community which helps teens become well
rounded responsible citizens and allows for business to get
support and training on real world work experience.
Weakness
· Government funded so some rules may have be applied in
order to get funding.
· Parents may want to have more communication or have certain
rules applied for their kids.
· Some teens may have mental or medical issues that may
require special attention.
Opportunities
· Work side to side with public schools, parents can be
contacted to have troubled students enrolled.
· Program will be for all teens
· Better assistance for first responders as they will have prior
knowledge to teens and their history
Threats
· Other bootcamp programs copying our formula.
· Legal woes from possible teen issues
· Theft or other issues than can arise from community service

programs.
· Possible injuries to students.
Conclusion
Overall, the goal is to build young model citizens who will be
capable of leading upcoming generations and better
communities and families. We want to decrease the rate of
problem teens and transform them to being new leaders with
goals and ambition to consistently push to be better. We want to
partner with the schools to make sure what we are instilling in
each teen shows improvement in the classroom, while aligning
ourselves with their mission and vision statements. We want to
make sure that the community’s culture has changed to where
there is a sense of pride for the community and family. Possible
job opportunities can arise by from having our community
service program. Teens can have more scholarship opportunities
or become part of a company that has tuition reimbursement
programs that will allow for our youth to have the option of
furthering their education after completion of the program
and/or high school. Lastly, this program allows for better
candidates to get into the our governments military if they
choose to do so.

References
Retrieved from dps.texas.gov 2014
http://dps.texas.gov/administration/crime_records/pages/crimest
atistics.htm
Retrieved from teenbootcamps.org 2016
http://www.teenbootcamps.org/boot-camps/what-are-some-of-
the-benefits-of-juvenile-boot-camps.html
Retrieved from teenlife.com 2016
https://www.teenlife.com/blogs/why-community-service-work-
beneficial-teenagers

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