Assignment:
Case 1-Apple Inc. in 2011
Note: There is a 10% per day late submission penalty. No assignments will be accepted after grades & comments are posted.
Directions:
1. Read carefully the "A Word about the Cast Studies" in the Assignment Descriptions section (i.e., this section).
2. Read the Apple Case available in the Glo Bus portal!
3. Write a 5- to 6-page report on Apple based on the discussion below. Important note: answering the questions at the end of the case study is NOT the assignment.
4. Submit to Turnitin.com prior to submitting it to your Assignment folder. See Class Announcements for the Turnitin.com class ID and password. You may post multiple times to Turnitin.com up until the due date.
5. Put the Turnitin.com score on the first page of the paper.
6. Post the final version to your individual assignment folder under Case 1, Apple.
A key executive at Apple has learned of your considerable skills in strategic analysis and has hired you to develop a strategic plan that will enable Apple to improve its position in one of the following industries: computers, mobile phones, digital music players, or tablet computers. The plan should offer specific, actionable recommendations that will allow Apple to improve its position in one of the industries. Your recommendations should be well supported with arguments and justifications for each recommendation. Your 5- to 6-page report should include recommendations and whatever supporting charts, tables or exhibits you deem useful (these may be added as appendices). At a minimum, you must include Michael Porter's five forces analysis and an analysis of key success factors from Chapter 3 and a SWOT and competitive strength assessment from Chapter 4. You are welcome to use any of the other tools discussed in Chapters 3 and 4 along with selected financial statistics and ratios to bolster your recommendations.
Further note: You are expected to update the case and include relevant, CURRENT sources. You are expected to follow APA style throughout (including font choice, margins, and reference style).
Your paper will be graded as follows:
• Content: 60% (Five Forces model (10%), key success factors (10%), SWOT analysis (10%), competitive strength assessment (10%), and recommendations (20%))
• Organization: 10%
• Sources (currency): 10%
• Grammar/spelling/punctuation/writing: 10%
• APA format: 10%
You should also pay particular attention to recent developments.
Case Tips:
1. The update to the case should be part of the body of your paper, not a separate section at the end.
2. You should include an introduction and a conclusion.
3. The headings in your paper should be the sections that are required. Use headings!
4. You do not need to define all the required elements. I know what Porter's Five Forces are and what they measure. Don't waste space telling me about them.
5. Any graphics or tables you include should not be generic (e.g., a table of what SWOT is); they should be specific to Apple (and its competitors, if applicable).
Here is some feedback I gave in previous terms.
• Your paper should have an introduction talking about the Apple in general and the segment you are focusing on specifically. Your paper should have an effective conclusion and should not just end abruptly.
• Note that your recommendations should flow from the case you've made throughout the text. The recommendations should follow logically.
• Don't forget to address all of the 5 Forces.
• Finally, it says it above, but it bears mentioning again: You must update the case. What has happened since the case was written? Do some research!
Introduction To Cases
In this course we do an analysis of two cases based on what we have covered up to that point in the texts, material from preceding courses, and based upon whatever supporting and substantiating material you wish to introduce to assist in your analysis. Read them with an open mind and do not try to find a problem where there may not be one. Do not be pre-disposed to assume that something needs to be fixed. These are cases, and not problems to be solved. Read them from the perspective of the material in the text, and do your assessment in those terms and concepts. These cases are provided to illustrate the material, the themes and topics, of their associated chapters.
As a method for yourself try this approach:
First, read the case as a short story and get an understanding of what is being described;
Second, go back over the case from front to back and jot down short notes about chapter relevant items as they occur, and then
Last, assemble in a logical manner like topic references into a coherent story. Because they are little history stories, the cases do not come with the topics grouped, but the student has to collect and assemble.
Remember your paper should be composed with a good opening as an introduction, perhaps to state a hypothesis, and a good summary as closure. Remember to include a reference page, not counted as part of the page count requirement, for any direct citation material. In addition to citations to your text, you are encouraged to include other source citations to substantiate any assertions you make. Library and web research are encouraged to provide the most current perspectives as things may have changed since the case text was written. You are expected/required to update the case... what has happened since the case was written?
At a minimum, we look for:
1. Identification of key problems/strategic issues.
2. Use of appropriate analytical tools techniques, including the use of charts and tables where appropriate. You are expected to demonstrate that you can use the tools and techniques of strategic analysis presented in the chapters. Both breadth and depth of analysis will be evaluated.
3. Presenting realistic, workable, well-supported recommendations for action.
Your interpretation of the case should be reasonable and objective. Ensure balance by avoiding creating a one-sided argument that omits facts or issues not consistent with your conclusions. Also, try not to exaggerate or overdramatize; you want to be objective and neutral in your assessment. Avoid generalizations or phrases such as "I think," "I feel," and "I believe" and use terms like "My analysis shows," instead.
Post this narrative research paper, FIVE TO SIX double-spaced pages using APA format, not counting pages for References or Appendices (if you use them), as an attachment file into your Assignments Folder. That is not a lot of space, so you will have to marshal your points and evidence carefully. In the business world, having to be precise and succinct is valued, and that's part of the learning here - state your case, support your case, and be brief about it.
Bottom line: This case analysis gives you the opportunity to weave course concepts and materials as well as other sources and your perspectives into a constructive, critical analysis of the industry's strategy and leadership practices. Do not just answer the points, tell a story, apply your learning and use this opportunity to demonstrate the critical thinking skills you have honed in this program.
Resource: Read the "Guide to Case Analysis" posted in the "Student Edition" section of the text Web site (www.mhhe.com/thompson).