Global Strategic Innovation: Analysis of Apple and its Innovation Strategy

Running head: GLOBAL STRATEGIC INNOVATION
GLOBAL STRATEGIC INNOVATION: ANALYSIS OF APPLE AND ITS
INNOVATION STRATEGY
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author’s Note:

1GLOBAL STRATEGIC INNOVATION
Table of Contents
1.0 Introduction.....................................................................................................................2
2.0 External Environment.....................................................................................................2
3.0 Internal Processes.................................................................................................................3
3.1 Models for New Product and Service Development........................................................3
3.2 Culture, Structure, Rewards, Methods and Processes of Production...............................4
3.3 Research and Development..............................................................................................5
3.4 Alliances and Cooperation...............................................................................................6
4.0 Evaluation and Recommendations..................................................................................7
5.0 Conclusion.......................................................................................................................8
6.0 References............................................................................................................................9

2GLOBAL STRATEGIC INNOVATION
1.0 Introduction
Apple Inc. is considered to be one of the most innovative business enterprises of the
world and this innovative approach of the enterprise not only becomes apparent in the
products or services offered by the concerned enterprise but also the business model as well
as processes which are being used by it [17]. Furthermore, it is seen that the effective usage
of diverse innovative technologies had not only enabled the concerned enterprise to offer
high quality products or services to the customers but also effectively embrace the process of
product standardisation as well [16]. This in turn had enabled the enterprise under discussion
here to attain competitive advantage within the business market of its operation and this in
turn had helped to maintain a uniform rate of growth and higher amount of profitability as
well [14]. Thus, it can be said that the entities of innovation and creativity are important ones
from the perspective of the enterprise Apple and had helped to attain competitive advantage
and also its strategic business goals.
2.0 External Environment
Jun and Sang [2] are of the viewpoint that the landscape of the technology industry is a
constantly changing one and the different business enterprises related to the concerned
industry are actively taking the help of the recent technological innovations for the
improvement of the quality as well as the features of the products or services offered by
them. For example, unlike the earlier times presently it is seen that within a span of less than
one month the products or services launched by one company becomes obsolete and fall off
customer demand because of the upgraded better-quality same products or services offered by
other enterprises [4]. In the case of Apple itself it is seen that its competitors Microsoft,
Samsung, HP and others are constantly upgrading as well as improving the quality of the
products or services offered by them and this in turn had made it imperative for the concerned

3GLOBAL STRATEGIC INNOVATION
enterprise to take the help of the recent innovations for the improvement of the products or
services offered by it [15]. More importantly, the frequent fluctuations in the demand of the
customers, the developments in the fields of innovation and technology, price factors, quality
factors and others are the major actors which had necessitated the usage of the innovations
and technological advancements by the enterprise under discussion for the improvement as
well as the upgradation of the products or services offered by it [1].
3.0 Internal Processes
3.1 Models for New Product and Service Development
Figure 1: New Product and Service Development Framework used by Apple
Source: (Created by the Author)
Li and Reimers [3] are of the viewpoint that one of the unique features of the New
Product Development (NPD) process followed by the enterprise Apple is the fact that there is
an effective conglomeration of the technology, management competencies, research and
development activities and strategies alliances within the process followed by the enterprise
Apple
Technology
Strategic
Alliances
Research and
Development
Management
Competency