Leadership and Management Analysis of Apple: Strengths, Weaknesses, and Approaches

Management and
Operations
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Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
Part 1................................................................................................................................................3
Specific situations in the history of Apple, where various managerial skills and leadership
qualities...................................................................................................................................3
Analyse specific strengths and weaknesses of the respective leaders in various situations...4
Different theories and models of approach by leaders...........................................................5
PART 2............................................................................................................................................6
Identify two theoretical approaches........................................................................................6
Identify potential factors in the business environment at Apple that may impact on the realistic
possibility of carrying out your recommended approaches....................................................7
Analyse how those factors might impact on the decisions managers/leaders........................8
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................9
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................10
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Introduction
Management and operations are the two major functional units of every business
organisation that is very crucial to ensure appropriate functioning. Present report is based on
making a case study analysis of the Apple that is based on apple being called as big tech
company that has annual revenues ranging approx US$260 billion as per data of 2019. The report
is divided in two parts (Hassi, 2019). The first part is based on analysis of the role of leader and
managers functions in various management contexts. The second part is based on justification of
improvements that are required for the purpose of addressing the operational challenge at apple.
Part 1
Specific situations in the history of Apple, where various managerial skills and leadership
qualities
Leadership qualities of Steve jobs:
Invent & simplify: Steve jobs invented i pod in year 2001, it was a game changer as there was
creation of tyres in the portable device market and digital downloadable in the market.
In year 2007: it leads to development of mobile device operating system.
Magic mouse 2009: it was released in year 2009 that was a first consumer mouse to have multi
capabilities.
Hiring and developing best talent: Steve jobs as a leader has worked towards hiring of smart
people who can direct company to do what they are willing to do.
Having a clear vision: Steve jobs always posses a clear vision and as an innovative game
changer. He was willing to work towards the way personal computers can change the world.
Focus: Steve jobs rejoined apple in year 1990 where he worked towards scarping of useless
products and developing few products that he thought are good (Bush, Bel and Middlewood,
2019).
Customer obsession: job has been a leader who is obsessed with the customer experience. He is
willing to get closer with every customer.
Delivering of results: as per data of year 2019, apple has been reported has been the second
valuable brand across world. In year 2018 apple revue has been 265.6 billion.
Steve jobs have been a leader who is working on five devised principles that includes:
 Doing the passion
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 Simplification of everything
 Unleashing the creativity
 Creating an insanely great experience for customers
 Becoming a storyteller in chief
 Managerial skills:
Apart from the above mentioned leadership skills there are some managerial skills that have been
used by Steve jobs. Apple has been set by application of a top down management style where
employees have been selected based on expertise and not on experience (Bhanot, 2018). Steve
jobs have preferred controlling in each function in place of well rounded managers.
Steve jobs focused on promotion of functioning of various departments by keeping them separate
and each executive had to be kept perfect instead of concentrating on others.
Negative management strategy: Steve jobs have been known for strategy as fear. In apple from
top to bottom that is knowing failure under jobs is a severe getting off best. It is a negative
management strategy that is working in Apple only for one reason that it is one of the desirable
jobs in world based on hardware, software and designs.
Difference between management style of jobs and Tim cook:
Cook is working towards achievement of excellence by making stress more transparent and
promotion of teamwork in apple. Cook is calmer demeanour.
Whereas jobs was known for being passionate, leader and albeit abrasive who demanded high
amount of excellence and perfection.
Tim cooks leadership style: Tim cook has been using a bold visionary style where is is described
as thoughtful and charismatic for his employees (Connolly and Pyper, 2020). He has been
focussing more on employee relationship with fostering of business success.
Analyse specific strengths and weaknesses of the respective leaders in various situations
Managing change: In apple Steve jobs there has been management and leading of change by
working towards ground breaking innovations.
Strength: The main strength of steve jobs in this management of change as been the visionary
approach he ad towards various business functions.
Weakness: one of the weaknesses of Steve jobs is too much requirement for excellence that has
lead to creation of a negative leadership strategy for overall workforce n some instances.
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