Development as a Strategic Manager: Analyzing Strategic Direction and Leadership Skills at Apple

This report analyzes the strategic direction and leadership skills at Apple, including critical evaluation of the strategic direction, required leadership skills, and relationship between existing, required, and future skills. It also discusses opportunities to support leadership development, personal development plan, implementation process, and impact of leadership style on achievement of objectives.

Development as a
Strategic Manager

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY ..................................................................................................................................3
TASK 1 ...........................................................................................................................................3
1.1. Critically analysing the strategic direction of the organisation............................................3
1.2. Critically evaluating the strategic skills required of the leader............................................4
1.3. Assessing relationship between existing, required and future skills....................................5
TASK 2 ...........................................................................................................................................5
2.1 Critically discussing opportunities to support leadership development................................5
2.2. Design a personal development plan....................................................................................6
2.3. Devising an implementation process to underpin the success of the development plan......8
TASK 3 ...........................................................................................................................................8
3.1. Critically evaluating the achievement of outcomes of the plan...........................................8
3.2. Evaluating the impact of leadership style and achievement of objectives...........................9
3.3. Critically reviewing and update leadership development plan...........................................9
TASK 4 .........................................................................................................................................10
4.1 Critically evaluating the impact of corporate commitment to employee welfare...............10
4.2. Discussing how an employee welfare environment can affect achievement of strategic
organisational objectives...........................................................................................................10
4.3. Determining the influence of corporate commitment to employee welfare on the
development of organisational values.......................................................................................11
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................11
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................13

INTRODUCTION
There are various forces which drives the company to achieve success in the future. The
strategic and operations manager plays a crucial role in helping the organisation attain multiple
goals and objectives in the market. This report aims to analyse about understanding the strategic
directions which is provided by the manager (Beuren, and Gomes, 2022). Apple is an American
multinational company which is been specialized in providing various software and electronics.
The most popular products for the organisation is their Iphones which is major source of
attraction. The organisation is headquartered in Cupertino, California, United States. The
company has started their operations in 1977. They had managed to provide the innovative
products to the customers to generate more revenues in the market. On the other hand, in this
report there will be evaluation about the strategic directions which is given by the manager to
help the organisation capitalise on various advantages. Along with that there will be discussion
about the importance the leaders in the workplace. They have the utmost responsibility to
improve the productivity of the company. For further instance, there is the significant influent of
the employee welfare in relation to the organisational values and ethics.
MAIN BODY
TASK 1
1.1. Critically analysing the strategic direction of the organisation
Strategic management is the process in which various decision which is been taken by the
manager in order to help the company to achieve success in the market (Cvjetković, and et.al
2021). Evaluating the strategic direction in relation to Apple is been described below:
Developing the Business strategy
 Vision – With the changing environmental conditions apple is innovating new products
to preserve the environment. They are changing their way of carrying out the operations
in the market.
 Mission - The main Vision of Apple is to provide the best user experience to the
customers.
 Values – The organisation provides the healthy working culture to the employees. Apple
is working aggressively to achieve the goals and objectives in the market.
Strategic Analysis Process ]

 Performing the analysis of the current strategies – This is the most important process
in order to understand the strategic directions for the organisation. Apple is using various
strategies which help them to achieve an effective growth in the market.
 Analysing the effectiveness of strategies – Apple is using multiple strategies which
includes using the competitive pricing strategy it helps to attract the audience.
 Formulating Plans – The management of Apple is adopting to the new ideas and
formulating various strategies to order to enhance the sales volume in the market
(DERMENGI, and COJOCARU, 2021). They can expand their business in multiple
regions.
 Implementing the most viable strategy – There are multiple strategies which is been
used by the company. Apple has been adopted to focus on the product design and
providing great functionality to the customers.
1.2. Critically evaluating the strategic skills required of the leader
The leaders has the most important work responsibilities and duties. The individual needs
to to carry out the operations in an effective manner and help the company to achieve growth in
the market (El-Amin, 2022). There are multiple strategic skills which needs to be inherent by the
individual it is been described below:
 Clear Vision – This is the major skill which is been required by the leaders. They need to
work in a collaborated manner with the management. The management and the leaders
needs to coordinate in order to achieve the goals and objectives in the market with a
given span of time. There are various challenges which might arise but the leaders needs
to be calm and composed in every possible situation.
 Perseverance – The leaders needs to achieve perseverance in the organisation. They
need to solve the complex problems by looking deeply in the uncertain situations. This
will help the company to achieve short and long term goals (Fuertes, and et.al 2020).
Apple leaders is skilled they can solve various problems in the given situations which
helps the company to attain the desired results in the market.
 Persuasive Communication Skills – The leaders has the most important job to provide
the necessary guidance to the employees. This can be only possible with the help of
communication skills. They need to boost the morale of the staff and help them to attain
the significant growth. Apple leaders asses the weak points and areas of the employees

and help them to achieve a growth by enhancing their skills and capabilities in the
workplace.
1.3. Assessing relationship between existing, required and future skills
There is a brief relationship between the existing and the required future skills of the
leaders The leaders needs to work with the organisational culture and overcome multiple
challenges which is been established in the workplace (Hans, 2022). The existing skill will help
the leaders to solve various problems which is been related to the past. With the changing future
trends the leaders needs to develop new skills and understand the true point of the organisational
culture.
Identification of the future skills
There are various skills which needs to asses by the leaders and it needs to accomplished
in an effective manner. There is always a further growth for improvement to reach the strategies
direction and goals. The skills is been mentioned below:
 Improving the communication skill – The leaders needs to change their way of
communication with the changing time period. This will help them in future to achieve
the strategies directions for the company (Kieran, MacMahon, and MacCurtain, 2020).
Apple leaders always asses the areas and gaps in which they are lacking. The main aim is
to attain the goals for the company and become more strategic in their directions.
 Enhancing the leadership traits – There are various leadership traits which could focus
on attaining the self growth. There are multiple interpersonal skill which needs to be
grown by the leader. It includes problem solving, intelligence etc. Apple leaders is using
new methods and implementing new strategies to achieve a growth in the market
(Koliada, and Kravchenko, 2018). They are enhancing their overall personality in order
to make the organisation more profitable in the market.
TASK 2
2.1 Critically discussing opportunities to support leadership development
Leadership skill development is the continuos process which help the individual to
capitalise on multiple opportunities which arises in the future. The organisation has the system to
carrying the operations strategically and deliver best results in the market. The opportunities to
support leadership is been described below:

 Investing In Interpersonal Skill Building – The leaders needs to attain various
interpersonal skills which helps the organisation to function in a better way. The
interpersonal skill help the leaders to grow at different stages. Apple leaders is been
inheriting the necessary soft skills in which they establish and effective communication
with various individual (Linder, and Sax, 2020). They help them achieve growth on the
workplace. This is one of the most viable opportunity to support the leadership.
 Gaining Leadership Support – The leadership support is been vital at every stage. The
leaders needs to indulge themselves in various training and growth programs which will
help them to become more effective in carrying out their work duties and responsibilities.
Apple leaders use multiple ways to help the form achieve desired objectives. They grow
their personality and knowledge by learning new things which is beneficial for their
future.
 Offering Strategy Projects – This is the main exposure to attain success in the market.
The leaders needs to indulge in various new projects which is been new and unique. This
will help them to understand about the viability of the situation and offering the new
areas of improvement which they can use in an efficient manner. Apple is implementing
new projects which helps the leaders to improve their weak areas and achieve new skills
in an effective manner.
 Providing Opportunities And Reward Results – This is the major way to support the
leaders. The organisation can provide them right opportunities and rewards which can
boost their self growth. Apple is using the program in which the leaders in been promoted
on the basis of their performance which they are carrying out in the given financial
period.
2.2. Design a personal development plan
Setting up the smart objectives
The personal development plan help the individual to attain various skills significantly.
Developing the key skills which includes Social intelligence, communication skill, and time
management skills.
 Specific – The main goal is to become a better leader which could help the organisation
achieves the goals and objectives in the market.

 Measurable – The goal can be measured with the help of improved performance. There
need to increased amount of productivity which needs to established in the workplace to
measure the success.
 Attainable – The goal could be attain when the organisation can perform better in the
market.
 Relevant – The goals is relevant as it helps to develop various skills and help the
company to achieve success in the future.
 Time Bound – The goal needs to be achieved with the given time period of 5 to 6
months.
Preparing the Personal development plan
Skills Importance Resources used Time taken
Social intelligence This is the skill which
could help the
individual to become
aware about the
situations in a better
way (Mara, 2020).
In order to develop
this skill there needs to
experience which
could be gain the
uncertain situations.
2 Months
Communication skill This is the skill which
is been used to
develop an effective
communication with
the staff members.
There are multiple
instructions which can
be provided in a
significant manner.
It could be developing
by establishing a
communication
channels with carious
individuals which have
different cultures and
backgrounds.
3 Months
Time management
skills.
This is the skill which
is been used in order
to manage the work
duties and
This skill could be
developed with the
help of preparing a
schedule which is been
1 Month

responsibilities in the
workplace.
used in order to
complete the tasks
prior to time.
2.3. Devising an implementation process to underpin the success of the development plan
The implementation process needs to clear and concise with the way of carrying out the
objectives. The process is been described below:
 Defining the goals – The goals needs to be defined by the leaders. This will help the plan
to become more effective and the leader can achieve success.
 Conducting research – There need to a proper research conducted in the organisational
goals which needs to be attained by the leaders.
 Mapping out various risks – The risks could also been evaluated which helps them to
individual to carry out the tasks significantly.
 Scheduling the milestones – There are short term goals which needs to be established by
the leaders. This is the best way to achieve the goals for the organisation.
 Assigning the tasks and responsibilities – The leaders needs to give duties and give
necessary instructions to the employees. They can finish the tasks prior to time.
TASK 3
3.1. Critically evaluating the achievement of outcomes of the plan
Planing is the process which helps the individual to carry out the desired results and goals
in the market (McLain, and Barletta, 2021). The outcome of the plan is been measured below:
 Building a Articulated plan – The plan needs to prepared in an excellent manner. This
will help the organisation to carry the necessary targets in the market. Apple management
had been set the objectives of providing the better products which is been attained with
the help of particular strategy.
 Focusing on Strategic Differentiation – The plan needs to match with the vision and
goals which the company wants to achieve in the market. Apple is getting the desired
outcomes due to the flexibility in their planning and strategies which helps them to attain
sales in the market.

 Aligning the Organization – There are better ideas which needs to be implemented in
the strategic plan. Apple has adapted the right strategy in various regions to attract the
audience. Every year they re making the progress to provide something new to the
consumers.
 Agility and Organizational Transformation – The plan needs to be truly strategic and
it needs to be aligned with the better outcomes and results.
3.2. Evaluating the impact of leadership style and achievement of objectives
Leadership has the direct affect on the organisational goals and objectives. The leaders
helps the firm to achieve success and growth in the market. They also help the firm to carry out
the operations in a systematic manner (Mičieta, and et.al 2020). There are various factors in
which there is an impact it is been described below:
 Employee Morale – The leaders can boost the morale of the employees in an effective
manner. The main focus is to guide them towards the right path in order to achieve
success in the market. Apple leaders focuses on improving the employee skills and
growth in the organisation.
 Productivity – The productivity could also increased by the leaders with the help of right
opportunities which is been provided to the staff. Apple leaders use multiple techniques
and methods to ensure that their employees become more productive in every manner.
 Decision Making – The leaders needs to take the right decision and creates an effective
situation for the employees. Apple management have the right vision which helps the
workplace to function in a better way. They are confident that they are able to achieve
success in the market.
Apple management uses the democratic leadership styles which will help the employees
to become more productive (Parcells, 2020). There are new advantages which can be taken by
them in the market. In the democratic style of leadership the staff is free to work in a right
manner. There are various advantages which will help the company to become more beneficial
and provide better products and services to the customers.
3.3. Critically reviewing and update leadership development plan
There are various ways to review the leadership program which is as follows:
 Establishing a set of clear and defined leadership competencies – This is one of the
most important process to track the leadership plan. The senior leaders can evaluate the

skills which is been developed by the individual. On the other hand, Apple leaders can
focus on the right strategies and define new leadership competencies which helps them to
attain the overall growth.
 Creating a process to measure the growth and success – The organisation can achieve
success in the future and the leaders needs to evaluate the points in which they are
lacking. The leaders of Apple can use the new techniques which will have them to focus
on the critical areas.
TASK 4
4.1 Critically evaluating the impact of corporate commitment to employee welfare
Promoting all the staff members will help the organisation to achieve success in the
future. This is the main objective which tends to improve the loyalty and retention of the staff in
an effective manner. This will lead the organisation to achieve the higher production of goods
and services in the market (Shavkun, and Dybchinska, 2019). The corporate commitment will
benefit both the organisation as well as the staff.
In relation to Apple the organisation provides the right benefits to the employees. The
staff of Apple faces the job satisfaction due to the organisation benefits. The organisation
provide the healthy working environment in which the staff can see their success and improve
the areas in an effective manner. Through this they are able to retain the employees and maintain
the well being of the workplace. The leaders also communicate with the staff and solve their
complex problems.
The organisational objectives could also been achieved in a strategic manner. By
providing the right benefits to the employees. Apple has manager to achieve a positive behaviour
of the employees. This will also help to improve the productivity of the workplace. This is the
positive impact of the corporate commitment towards the employees.
4.2. Discussing how an employee welfare environment can affect achievement of strategic
organisational objectives
With the help of employee welfare the organisation can achieve the desired goals in the
following ways which is been as follows:
 Employee welfare improves the morale of the employees – This is one of the most
crucial advantage for the employees welfare. By giving them right opportunities they can

work in an effective manner to help the form achieves its targets in the market. Apple has
the right growth structure and the employees welfare is been used to retain most of the
employees and help the organisation to perform in a proper manner.
 Employees welfare helps the organisation to achieve success and multiple targets –
There are various ways which could help the organisation to attain more profits in the
market. With the help of employee welfare there is a positive image which can be
established. Through this the employee can become more productive. The employees of
apple works in the uniformed manner to get the best results for the organisation.
4.3. Determining the influence of corporate commitment to employee welfare on the
development of organisational values
The organisation needs to ensure whether to improve the employee welfare in a strategic
manner.
 Conduct regular surveys – The organisation which follow the general ethics and values
will take the help of surveys to understand the employee satisfaction (Utton, 2021). In
relation to Apple there are various codes of conduct which is been established. This will
help them to achieve success and provide the benefits to the employees.
 Ensure you comply with any government guidelines – The organisation needs to
provide the different benefits which includes the heath and safety measures. Apple
follows all the mandatory benefits which is in terms of safety and security. The person
can use the monetary amount in the case of the emergency.
 Train your employees – The organisation also needs to provide the necessary trainings
to the employees in regards to the safety and security measures.
CONCLUSION
From the above report, it has been concluded that There are various techniques which is
been used by the leaders to improve the productivity of the organisation. The main focus of this
report is to understand the true concept of the employee welfare which will help the company to
retain the employees and create a positive image in the mindset of the staff. For further instance,
there are various advantages which is been taken by the firm in the market if they follow a
strategic process while making the plan which has necessary factors.

REFERENCES
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