Apple Case Study: Supply Chain, Design Thinking, & More

Do you know that Apple earns nearly one hundred thousand dollars per minute? This information may not be surprising because Apple is the world’s most valuable company. However, there are numerous challenges the corporation has faced on its way to success. You can learn many business lessons by doing the Apple case study, and we are here to help!

🍏 6 Fun Facts About Apple Inc

1. There has been a mystery surrounding the brand’s name. However, the word ‘Apple’ simply came from the founder, Steve Jobs’ favorite fruit.
2. Originally Apple had three co-founders: Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne. Ronald Wayne left the company only 12 days after its foundation. One of our free business essays discusses Apple and its leadership style.
3. Apple employs more than 154,000 people, which could be a good-sized town population! Millions more people make money from selling Apple products in local shops.
4. Apple’s first company logo was a drawing of the father of physics, Isaac Newton.
5. The creator of the iPod, Tony Fadel, initially offered the device to Real Networks and Philips, but they turned it down.
6. Apple created the digital color camera. The Apple QuickTake was introduced in 1994 and was one of the first consumer digital cameras.

👍 Best Ideas for an Apple Case Study

Numerous internal and external factors influence Apple company’s financial performance. When doing the Apple case study, choose the sphere that interests you the most and think of what can be improved. Here’s a list of topics that may pique your curiosity:

• The history of Apple company.
• Corporate values of Apple.
• Key Apple’s products and services.
• Importance of technology and innovation in Apple.
• Apple’s corporate identity.
• Apple’s online presence and e-marketing.
• Apple’s supply chain.
• Labor practices in Apple.
• Apple’s executive management.
• Apple’s strategic management.
• The role of Apple’s board of directors.
• Apple’s privacy policy.
• Marketing strategies in Apple.
• Apple’s financial figures over the years.
• Apple’s eco-initiatives.
• Criticism of Apple.
• Apple’s customer support.
• HR strategy in Apple.
• Apple’s crisis management strategy.
• Apple’s primary competitors.

📝 Apple Supply Chain Case

1. How does Apple organize its supply chain operations?
   Apple buys components and materials from various suppliers worldwide. Then the company gets them shipped to the assembling plant in China. From there, products go directly to retail stores and consumers who buy online.
2. Main advantages of Apple’s inventory management
   Apple’s strategy is to keep as little inventory on hand as possible. The company can’t afford to keep too many products in stock because a sudden move from a competitor or an innovation can dramatically decrease the value of products in inventory.
3. Apple’s use of multiple suppliers
   Apple has an extensive network of suppliers in its supply chain in 31 countries worldwide. It allows the company to successfully mitigate disruptions or delays and process large volumes of pre-orders.
4. What can other businesses learn from Apple’s supply chain strategy?
   The main advantage of Apple’s supply chain is the multiple suppliers strategy. Businesses should be encouraged to use alternative suppliers to reduce single-supplier risks and improve financial performance.

🍀 Sustainability of Apple

1. Apple lowers the use of carbon materials
   Since the creation of the iPhone in 2007, the company has sold over 1.5 billion units. To make the iPhone design more energy-efficient, the company developed an innovation. They created “Dave,” a recycling robot that recovers rare materials such as earth magnets from old phones.
2. Apple’s use of renewable energy
   Moving to renewable energy is a crucial component of Apple’s green policies. Apple’s headquarters in California is 100% powered by solar panels. It contributes to a positive effect on pollution globally and locally.
3. Apple is innovative in its materials
   Apple works closely with two aluminum suppliers to develop the first carbon-free aluminum process. They have already forged highly low-carbon aluminum used for parts and components in MacBook Pro.
4. Apple reduces the use of conflict materials
   A common source of “conflict minerals” is the Democratic Republic of Congo, an area with ongoing human rights violations. Apple has ceased relationships with mineral providers that fail to be certified as ethical and conflict-free.

👩 Apple’s Human Resource Management

1. Apple’s human resources strategies
   The HR specialists of Apple always seem to hire diverse, independent, and talented employees. Most of the employees are provided with training once they join the company. Apple encourages workers to build self-reliance and practical skills to ensure they are mentally ready to jump from one big project to another.
2. Apple’s cultural values and employees’ growth
   Apple is one of the biggest job creators in the US, providing positions for designers, marketers, hardware and software engineers, scientists, etc. Apple offers considerable opportunities to its employees to climb the career ladder and develop free-thinking and creativity.
3. Employees’ rewarding system in Apple
   Apple runs Apple Fellow Program to recognize employees’ significant contributions to the company. Those employees are rewarded and later on designated as team leaders. The company also provides competitive wages, monthly benefits, and periodical grants that serve as a reward to the best employees.

🎨 Design Thinking and Innovation at Apple

1. Apple adopting design thinking
   Design thinking is a human-oriented approach to innovation that Apple applies. This principle is used to achieve innovation considering the consumer at all the development stages. Apple adopts design thinking by considering the form and function of its products.
2. Apple’s user-friendly products
   When it comes to understandability, Apple successfully integrated it into its products. Apple designs products that are easy to use so that new users rarely consult manuals or guides. Apple highlights that they build user-friendly products rather than complex, hard-to-use ones.
3. The simplicity behind Apple’s products
   One of defining characteristics of Apple’s design is simplicity. The company designs its products to look clean, simple, and straightforward. At the same time, Apple products are instantly recognizable at first glance and have now become status symbols.
4. Apple designs for the future
   When it comes to design, Apple is a pioneer. The company’s design team start working on a new design two years beforehand. So, when Apple introduces a new, cutting-edge design, competitors will not have a chance to copy it.

💻 Apple Crisis Management Case Study

1. FBI asked Apple for unlimited access to any iPhone user in 2015
   After the tragic San Bernardino terrorist attack in 2015, the US government demanded Apple release a new iOS, which would give them access to users’ private information. Apple refused this demand by writing a public letter. In this letter, the company highlighted that they always put the customer first.
2. Apple’s supply chain crisis in 2021
   At the beginning of October, most of China shuts down for the Golden Week holidays. Phone and iPad assembly was halted for several days due to supply chain constraints and restrictions on the use of power. Consequently, Apple was forced to scale back its total production goal for 2021. This crisis illustrates how external factors can influence even tech giants like Apple.
3. Apple’s plan to get through the COVID-19 crisis
   At the beginning of the pandemic, CEO Tim Cook stressed the company’s plan to keep its eyes on the road and its hands on the wheel. The goal was to keep investing in developing future products and services no matter what. For example, Apple has been working on how an Apple Watch can provide any warning of Covid-infections.

🔝 Apple Case Studies – 50 Best Examples

1. HP Company and Apple: financial statement analysis.
   This essay analyzes two US companies in the computer hardware and software industry, the Hewlett Packard Company and Apple Inc.
2. Financial research report Apple, Inc.
   The purpose of this economic research report is to evaluate the financial records of Apple for investment purposes.
3. Income statement: Apple and Samsung.
   Check out this comparative analysis of the two IT giants in five dimensions: net income, net sales, operating expenses, income tax, and selling and administrative expenses.
4. Apple Inc.: the cost accounting.
   The paper aims to analyze the cost accounting model of Apple Inc. In simple words, cost accounting calculates a company’s total cost of production.
5. Apple’s success in the customer electronics industry.
   This essay explores Apple’s strategic management and planning that help the company maintain leadership.
6. The sustainability of Apple’s success.
   Apple’s market presence stretches beyond American borders. This essay will teach you the peculiarities of Apple’s strategic decision-making.
7. The case deal with Apple’s successes.
   This study explores Apple’s key competitive advantages, such as product differentiation and efficient distribution channels.
8. Apple, Inc. financial performance analysis.
   This is a financial performance analysis for Apple, which provides insights for creditors and investors on a company’s financial health.
9. Apple company system strategy analysis.
   This essay investigates Apple’s most important information systems: office automation, enterprise resource planning, and data warehouse systems.
10. A case study in managerial accounting: Apple Inc.
    Every organization aims to maximize revenue while minimizing costs. This article explores how Apple uses budgeting tools to estimate the total charges in various business processes.
11. Analysis of Apple’s marketing mix.
    This paper studies the development and significance of each element of Apple’s marketing mix to determine its relevance to the company’s mission.
12. Cash flow management at Apple Inc.
    The essay analyzes the financial statements of Apple, including non-cash items, to accurately reflect on an organization’s financial health.
13. The human resource plan of Apple Inc.
    This writing describes the latest cultural change at Apple Inc. and how such an initiative has transformed its performance and profitability.
14. Management accounting at Apple.
    Learn more about the use of accounting information by Apple’s managers within an organization to guide them in making concrete decisions.
15. Apple iPhone: demand and supply.
    This paper aims to analyze the law of supply and demand on the example of the Apple iPhone, a product that has changed the technology market.
16. The process of hiring employees at Apple.
    This essay analyzes recruitment and selection processes, such as job advertisement and interviewing at Apple, Inc.
17. Apple’s performance & customer satisfaction with iPhones.
    Curren’s study follows how Apple succeeds in the competitive business environment by maintaining a pool of loyal customers by delivering quality products and services.
18. Apple Inc.: smartphone industry.
    This report focuses on Apple’s primary segment of sales and marketing, which are the iPhones, a globally recognized product and brand.
19. Apple’s competitive positioning.
    The purpose of this paper is to critically evaluate the company’s existing competitive positioning and suggest how it can be improved.
20. Performance management at Apple Inc.
    This passage discusses linkages between employee performance, HR practices, and organizational performance at Apple Inc.
21. Apple Inc.’s strategies throughout its history.
    This essay is dedicated to Apple’s innovative and effective ways of doing business in different company eras.
22. Apple and Dell companies: inventory management.
    This study focuses on the methods employed by Apple’s managers to maintain the optimum level of stock for the company.
23. Apple’s customers and their behavior.
    This essay aims to understand the decision-making process of Apple’s buyers, taking into consideration psychological and economic factors.
24. Apple company: innovation action plan.
    This sample discusses the innovation opportunities and challenges that are facing the company.
25. The financial ratio of Apple and Samsung.
    For this report, two competitor firms have been selected to review and analyze their financial performance.
26. Analysis of Apple’s website: fundamental aspects.
27. Strategic management at Apple Inc.
28. Apple’s production management.
29. Apple’s music streaming future service strategies.
30. Ipad by Apple Inc.
31. Contemporary developments in business and management of Apple.
32. Apple stores retail mix analysis.
33. Marketing communication used by Apple.
34. Apple iPod product’s marketing audit & management.
35. Apple and Microsoft companies’ marketing approaches.
36. Apple company managing innovation & entrepreneurship.
37. Branding in Apple incorporation.
38. Apple Inc. managing technology and innovation.
39. Apple Inc.’s development since the 1980s.
40. Apple Inc: why it has success?
41. Apple incorporation’s managerial economics.
42. Apple Inc.’s modeling decision-making.
43. Apple Inc.’s analysis and implications for practice.
44. Apple company in the Chinese market.
45. Apple Inc.’s products and customer dissatisfaction.
46. Apple Inc.’s marketing communication scenarios.
47. Apple company’s corporate communications.
48. Apple company communication system strategies.
49. Apple Inc.’s supply chain and recommendations.
50. Apple Inc.’s new steps toward competitiveness.

🔗References

1. Operations and Supply Chain
2. The Case for Making Multiple Suppliers Part of Your Supply Chain Strategy
3. Environment – Apple – apple
4. Apple’s Supply Chain: The 9 Major Companies
5. Apple and Amazon further climate commitments as sustainability race heats up