Apple Inc. and the Macro Environment Essay

Economic Environment: More or less, every economic factor has an effect on the operations of Apple Inc. These may include; current economic situation (boom, recession, etc.), credit terms, inflation or deflation, strictness of interest rates, unemployment levels, stability of exchange rates, stock exchange trend, etc. Apple’s business can be affected by all these factors either positively or negatively. For example, during the inflation periods in the United States of America, the purchasing power of the people had decreased and as a result of this, the sales of Apple’s products had decreased with it. To make matters worse, The US dollar had also decreased in value, and so, Apple decided to purchase itself foreign currency to minimize the effect of inflation. This will allow for their revenue from international markets to increase. Socio-Cultural Environment: Social factors such as consumer preferences, life priorities, income groups, and perceptions about different brands have a huge impact on the sales of Apple’s products. People all over the world are well aware of its brand image. The social environment has a huge positive impact on Apple for their products are seen as an image for today’s modern individual’s life. People see it as highly reliable and innovative, however they are also seen as highly expensive and the software very limited for people who wish to use their iPhones for more than just phone calls and emails. This regrettably influences people to seek a competitor’s products for a lower price or with more features. Technological Environment: Apple currently has the spotlight as the market leader in innovation. However, what Apple fails to realize is that technology can become outdated  quite quickly (sometimes over-night) and yet Apple casually cruises through the years releasing new models of products with very little hardware or software changes compared to the previous models. Their refusal to continuously bring innovative products will result in other market leaders stealing their throne. For example, Google’s Open Source Operating System, Android, has resulted in the migration of many Apple users to Android smartphones due to the reduced costs and in some cases such as with the Sony Xperia or the HTC One, their hardware specifications far exceeded that of the latest iPhone model. Political & Legal Environment: Apple has to duly adhere to all the rules and regulations for each company that they do business with such as tranquil rules and regulations, tax rates, tariffs. Etc. If they do not keep an eye on the changing government behaviors and patterns, it may be rather difficult for Apple with regards to marketing and the selling of their products and in severe cases, their products may be banned altogether. Apple also has to ensure that there is no copyright infringement in their products, or that of competitors. There have been many cases where Apple and Samsung confront each other in a legal battle over copyrighted material/ideas/names such as the rounded launch buttons in Apple’s home screen. Physical Environment: Apple is always finding ways to reduce their carbon footprint and as a result, they have a positive reputation with regards to their care for the environment. Apple has very few disagreements with environmentalists because the manufacturing process of their products usually follows all of the laws and regulations regarding the environment. Furthermore, Apple also encourages its users to dispose of harmful products such as used batteries  and fluorescent backlighting systems properly at their nearest iStore. Apple’s packaging is usually made of either plastic or glass, which is easily recycled and only a few products are distributed in cardboard boxes. Apple’s data centers are also 100% powered by renewable resources! International Environment: Globalization describes the mobility of goods, services, labour, technology and capital throughout the world. Apple has increased dramatically as an international business and have harnessed globalization and used it to their advantage. For example, by using their most famous piece of Apple software, iTunes. A large variety of songs are available on iTunes and because the business has offered this on the Internet and as software has increased their sales internationally as it has become accessible internationally. The products that Apple provides are sold internationally. Stores exist all over the world, allowing the business to become an international company. Not only does the use of stores help Apple to become an international company but the use of the Internet also allows this to occur. However, by going international with their products, they have also broadened their spectrum for competition. Not every country is as passionate about Apple’s products as America is and this as a result, could have a negative effect on their sales. However due to their strong brand image and good reputation, many people around the world seek the glorious Apple Logo for their brilliant, bright, innovative products.

Air lines industry Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

Air lines industry - Research Paper Example Introduction Air travel in the US is a complex industry, whereas its flow aspect – the airlines – is liberalized economically. The airline industry is prone to many guidelines. Moreover, the reimbursement aspects, work regulations and capital of the airline industry still reflect approximately fifty years of political power and protection (Smith & Cox, 2008). The airline industry needs lasting decision-making since it is highly capital demanding. For instance, decisions such as hire, building airport infrastructure, developing route systems or buying aircraft have multi-decade inferences and require large capital investments. Consequently, accounting data in the airline industry is not likely to be the solitary forecaster of future growth opportunities. The 1978 deregulation of the industry eliminated the shields that protected airlines from ecological ambiguity and market rivalry, for example economic recessions and fuel price increases. Hence, following deregulation, it might be difficult to see the clear connection between the firm’s stock proceeds and managers' actions in the airline industry. Moreover, these factors advocate that non-financial approaches might have significant information concerning managerial actions, not enclosed in financial measures. This necessitates including them unreservedly or explicitly in compensation deals which decreases the risk borne by airline managers (Srinivasan, et al, 1998). The decade of the 1980s was a chaotic era for the commercial aviation division in the United States. The deregulation of the American commercial aviation sector in 1978 had totally modified the features of civil aviation in the nation. Prior to deregulation, the federal government had noteworthy influence over routes and fares. Conversely, following deregulation, liberated rivalry steered in a new period in passenger air travel. Airlines discarded smaller cities, assumed ‘hub’ cities, competed with new less signific ant airlines that had entered the market and possibly most essential, decreased passenger fares noticeably. The resultant effects of deregulation, however, proved to be more spectacular for the airlines (Siddiqi, 2009). Ultimate problems affect the industry despite considerable gains of economic liberalization. A number of these problems are transitional, the enormous modifications needed by the end of a half century of severe directive. The regulated airline cartels obtained returns on capital that were supposed to be sensible. Nevertheless, these returns factored in high costs that would frequently not exist in a competitive market. For instance, the airlines’ unionized personnel, founded and reinforced under regulation, gained liberal salaries and unproductive work policies compared with expectation in a competitive market (Smith & Cox, 2008). Major Financial problems The returns of the airlines have not been proportionate with the incomes. For instance, the twelve main U. S. airlines moved from a net profit of $72.5 million in 1955 modest as compared to their $ 1.5 billion of working incomes through a sequence of less gainful years, which comprised a general loss for 1961. At the end of 1962, with net profits of roughly $40 million on revenues of $3.0 billion, the carriers were considerably behind their 1958 and 1959 situations, which effected mainly from non-jet operations (Kerley, 1967). Dempsey (2008) indicates that

Investing in Energy assignment 03 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Investing in Energy assignment 03 - Essay Example In a way I am an extension of my family’s ideals. My father built a stable life for us as best he could but things changed. I am now studying Finance with the help of my country’s support and trying to build a new kind of life where I am exposed to an entirely new set of ideals and beliefs every day. Where my family has been conservative and traditional, I believe that my generation is slightly more liberal minded and tries to think outside the box. I was born after great revolutions had already come and gone around the world. Growing up I saw the international media twist and turn; presidents were called to account for their offenses, countries were asked to shut down their nuclear programs, ties were strengthened with America and then protests broke out over those ties in the later years. I believe that the linear forces in my life i.e. the life style my parents tried to secure for me, my social status within society, education etc. helped me find my path. I could alw ays see money turning the world around which was what first attracted me to the field of finance. In terms of non-linear forces, I changed with the ever-changing world around me. I was introduced to new pop culture icons, politics and events taking place both within my country and globally. My peers brought about significant influences into my life.

What are the key issues faced by first year undergraduates Essay

What are the key issues faced by first year undergraduates - Essay Example Therefore, the issues that this easy intend to discussed are in terms of personal challenges, academic challenges, environmental challenges and social challenges. Every issue will present basic idea with a practical example. Moreover, the essay will further detail these issues that students in first year face as well as the reasons why these issues have become an obstacle for their retention and integration in the university. To begin with, Personal challenges that first year students face at the University might cover several challenges but let us talk about loneliness. Loneliness is usually an emotional feeling that arises when someone feels that she/he has been left out by friends, usually in an entirely new environment. In addition, this is a quite common problem faced by most students in their first year at Universities when they leave their families so as to seek abroad studies in higher institution of learning. A practical and a classic example is when these first year student s feel Home and lovesick which normally happens when they are missing their family or someone so special to them in life, who is far away from them. Fortunately, this sort of emotional feeling can only last for few weeks or months after which they recover from it, as they will meet more friends in due time. Besides Personal challenges, there are environmental challenges first year student face that that threaten their retention and integration into the university system. Learning in a totally new environment is not that easy as one may think, as it demands adaptation to that new Environment which is not an easy task for everyone. The mode of learning and teaching methods may be different from those that these first year students at the University may have used while still in high schools. For instance, the using the library catalogue is a new idea to most students in first year. Additionally, there can be sluggish learning progression in a too crowded and noisy environment for the s tudent in first year at the University. A productive and a successful learning outcome requires a conducive and private environment and therefore most students in first year at the University find difficulties in learning in crowded environment, since it associate with numerous negative impacts; for example, lose interest in learning processes and lose of concentration. However, after a couple of semesters, the students in first year at the University need to have been adapted and familiarized with the system if at all they are eager to learn and not pull out from the university. The third issue is educational challenges these student in first year at the University face. This issue is always of concern as well to a good number of first year students. Academic side in institutions of higher learning are highly professional than High Schools contrary to what the majority of first year students may expect, therefore, a good number of them are never serious enough with their time manag ement. First year students are devoid of efficient time management skill which simply explains how a person plan and allocate her/his daily activities in accordance to time available. At times, first year students lose opportunities to obtain additional marks in their final assessment simply because they never planned well for their time at the university (Gibney, Murpy & O’sullivan, 2011). For example, they might fail to attend or be late to attend to labs and tutorial, which implies they will lose marks. Moreover, procrastination is always a toxic attitude towards time management. This attitude is referring to the behavior of keeping tasks like homework and assignment to be done in a later date. Consequently, this attitude of University`s first

Principles of Operations Management Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Principles of Operations Management - Assignment Example Receipt of raw materials and dispatch of products From the requirements projected it is learned that this firm has a receipt of raw materials and dispatch of produced goods in quite reasonable quality. This demands the following. a) Receipt area should be near to the road, b) Receipt area has sufficient vehicle parking area. c) Receipt area has sufficient space for material handling equipments and men to work. d) Dispatch area should again be near to road e) In order to avoid difficulties in traffic management ,both receipt and dispatch area is required to be at both axis. Re-Layout of shop floor Generally when considering a re lay out the following should be kept in the mind. a)saving space by utilizing unused areas, b)save resources by reducing distances between similar machineries and related process, c) arrange the equipments/machineries/steps in progressive manner, d) save man and machine efforts by placing more of raw/incomplete products in a given sequence to achieve shorter distance, e)further developments :- always think 10 years in advance and anticipate the automation and use of robots for all production activities. Justification of layout of sections 1. Saw Sawing is given 90 sqm according to the requirement. It need to be near the entrance to facilitate easy movements of raw materials to the shop. Since here the receipt of raw materials is involved there will be lot of movements of personnel consignment carriers had own supervisors and workers. Hence it is located next to the walkway .IT is placed near to the road at the approach to facilitate sufficient parking space to the vehicles. safety of the workers is very important at this sect. 2. Press 1 This is a process required immediately after sawing. Hence need to be next or near to sawing area to

Researching reporting dashboard features for marketing automation Research Paper

Researching reporting dashboard features for marketing automation tools - Research Paper Example The dashboard tool offers six views into one’s business data with basis on user type and needs. Marketing executives can also see summary business intelligence dashboard representing data visually through customizable widgets. In addition, analysts are able to do deep dives for data to attain answers to complex problems through their OLAP interface. It makes insight sharing an easy process; moreover, it is accessible by in-house or third party applications. Neolane’s marketing analytics technology is organized around three major steps. These are understanding, execution, and monitoring with marketers gaining insight into needs of the customer, followed by measurement through interactive, graphical, and personalized dashboards (Aquino 1). The marketer can analyze and monitor market performance through these dashboards to ascertain efficiency and optimize on their ROI, as well as aid in quickly and effectively piloting marketing activity. Measurements that marketers can carry out using Neolane’s technology include transaction data, marketing data, key performance indicators, and execution data. Moreover, the users can create contact lists using specific measurements like lists of young men between 25 and 35 years (Aquino 1). Software provider Aprimo’s latest version of their Relationships manager has several new features that include streamlined dashboards and reporting, enhanced user interface, and integration with M arketing Operations in enabling faster turnaround

IT Doesn’t matter Essay Example for Free

IT Doesn’t matter Essay â€Å"If a company needs evidence of the kind of money that might be saved, it need only look at Microsoft’s profit margin† Excerpts from a company’s strategy document †¢ the company will ensure that it will have at least 2 plug points in each room with AC connection. †¢ The switches will be white in color and will make a ‘click’ sound on pressing †¢ Press to hear the click sound Disclaimer †¢ We all agree to the fact that IT plays a crucial role in running an organisation. †¢ All that we are driving at is that the existence of IT does not grant a competitive advantage to a company, anymore In other words, IT lets you remain in the race, Winning is a totally different ball game altogether The (lost) Edge †¢ Can IT provide an edge for you? †¢ You only gain an edge over rivals by having or doing something that they can’t have or do. †¢ By now, the core functions of IT – data storage, data processing, and data transport – have become available and affordable to all. †¢ And hence they are becoming costs of doing business that must be paid by all but provide distinction to none Risk Advantage †¢ When a resource becomes essential to competition but inconsequential to strategy, the risks it creates become more important than the advantages it provides †¢ Lets classify technologies into †¢ Proprietary technologies †¢ Infrastructural technologies. †¢ Proprietary technologies can be owned, actually or effectively, by a single company. †¢ Infrastructural technologies, in contrast, offer far more value when shared IT has all the hallmarks of an infrastructural technology. †¢ Its mix of characteristics guarantees particularly rapid commoditization. †¢ IT is, first of all, a transport mechanism–it carries digital information just as railroads carry goods and power grids carry electricity. †¢ And like any transport mechanism, it is far more valuable when shared than when used in isolation Hence the technology’s potential for differentiating one company from the pack – its strategic potential – declines as it becomes accessible and affordable to all. Mainframe timesharing local area networks Ethernet networks Internet †¢ Each stage in the above progression has led to Greater standardization of the technology and hence greater homogenization of its functionality. †¢ The benefits of customization would be overwhelmed by the costs of isolation. †¢ Because most business activities and processes have come to be embedded in software, they become replicable †¢ Both the cost savings and the interoperability benefits make the sacrifice of distinctiveness unavoidable The arrival of the Internet has accelerated the commoditization of IT by providing a perfect delivery channel for generic applications Signs that the IT has reached Saturation †¢ First, IT’s power is outstripping most of the business needs it fulfills. Second, the price of essential IT functionality has dropped to the point where it is more or less affordable to all. Third, the capacity of the universal distribution network (the Internet) has caught up with demand – indeed, we already have considerably more fiber-optic capacity than we need. Fourth, IT vendors are rushing to position themselves as commodity suppliers or even as utilities. Finally, and most definitively, the investment bubble has burst, which historically has been a clear indication that an infrastructural technology is reaching the end of its buildout. Do the Right Thing†¦ †¢   The operational risks associated with IT are many – technical glitches, obsolescence, service outages, unreliable vendors or partners, security breaches, even terrorism–and some have become magnified as companies have moved from tightly controlled, proprietary systems to open, shared ones. IT may be a commodity, and its costs may fall rapidly enough to ensure that any new capabilities are quickly shared, but the very fact that it is entwined with so many business functions means that it will continue to consume a large portion of corporate spending. IT buyers should throw their weight around, to negotiate contracts that ensure the long term usefulness of their PC investments and impose hard limits on upgrade costs. And if vendors balk, companies should be willing to explore cheaper solutions, including open-source applications and bare-bones network PCs. Most of the major business technology vendors, from Microsoft to IBM, are trying to position themselves as IT utilities, companies that will control the provision of a diverse range of business applications over what is now called, â€Å"the grid. † The upshot is ever greater homogenization of IT capabilities, as more companies replace customized applications with generic ones. Wal-Mart and Dell Computer are exceptions to this though. In2002, the consulting firm Alinean compared the IT expenditures and the financial results of 7,500 large U. S. companies †¢ The 25 companies that delivered the highest economic returns, spent on average just 0. 8% of their revenues on IT, while the typical company spent 3. 7%. †¢ Larry Ellison, one of the great technology salesmen, admitted in a recent interview that â€Å"most companies spend too much [on IT] and get very little in return. † †¢ The key to success, for the vast majority of companies, is no longer to seek advantage aggressively but to manage costs and risks meticulously. Thank You