Analyzing Apple's Business Performance: Social Media's Impact Study

This report analyzes the impact of social media on Apple's business performance. It begins with an introduction outlining the aims and objectives of the research, focusing on how social media enhances sales and attracts customers. The report includes a project management plan that addresses risks, scope, and costs, along with the use of Gantt charts and Work Breakdown Structures. It also details the implementation of both quantitative and qualitative research methods, including questionnaires and data analysis. The analysis examines the impact of digital technologies on Apple's operations, the role of social media channels, and the effectiveness of marketing strategies. Findings are presented through data visualizations and interpretations. Finally, the report provides recommendations based on the research and data analysis, offering insights into how Apple can further leverage social media to promote its services and products, and concludes with a self-reflection.

Managing Successful
Business Project

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
LO1..................................................................................................................................................1
Aims and objective of research project.......................................................................................1
Make an effective project management plan that involve relevant actions to achieve time
frames and objectives..................................................................................................................2
LO2..................................................................................................................................................5
Carry out small-scale research by implementing quantitative and qualitative research.............5
LO3..................................................................................................................................................7
Analyse research and data...........................................................................................................7
LO4................................................................................................................................................15
Recommendations as a outcomes of research & data analysis.................................................15
Self Reflection...........................................................................................................................15
CONCLUSION .............................................................................................................................16
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................17

INTRODUCTION
In the current era, numbers of peoples are involved within social media which help in
grabbing the attention of large numbers of potential customers towards their goods and services.
Businesses are adopting social media for enhancing sales and attracting higher numbers of
potential buyers as well (Ahmed Dine Rabeh, Jimenez-Jimenez and Martínez-Costa, 2013).
Social media will help them in competing their rivals by enhancing their enterprise by using
social networking sites. Apple was founded by Ronald Wayne, Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs.
This company is having approx 500 retails stores within the worldwide. Their products are Apple
watch, iPhone, iPod, iOS and many more. In this assignment it involve the aims and objectives
of the research along with this they also make a effective management plan for project in order to
achieve set objective and time frames. In this, it also conduct the small scale research by
applying quantitative and qualitative methods.
LO1
Aims and objective of research project
Social media are used by the company for advertisement and marketing of products and
services by using online websites and so on. It will help the company in increasing their sales by
adopting latest strategies of marketing like as social networking sites. It will aid in increasing
their profits and sales within the marketplace. Apple is enhancing their business at large area for
grabbing attention of large numbers of potential customers towards the organisation. They are
using various different ways of advertisements and marketing their goods and services for
making new buyers. Using these new strategies it will aid in increasing sales and profits. Along
with this it also help in maintaining of companies reputation and goodwill within the marketplace
(Chesbrough, 2010). Social media is used by large numbers of people know a days. Through
which companies can easily able to make awareness of their goods and services among their
potential customers at large number.
In this, company can select the different ways of advertising of their products by using
social networking sites which are Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, WeChat and many
more other. Social media is a computer-mediated technology that facilitate the sharing as well as
1

creation of information, career interests, ideas and many more expression forms through
networks and virtual communities (Crane and Matten, 2016).
In this research, they had selected the Apple organisation which is American
multinational technology organisation. This firm develops, designs and sells computer software,
consumer electronics and their online services. They are giving employment to approx 1,23,000
employees in 2017. Apple hardware goods involve Mac personal computer, iPad tablet, iPhone
smartphones, iPod portable media player and so on. Apple is using the software which involve
the iOS and macOS operating systems. Its applications are Safari browser, iTunes media player,
iWork and iLife productivity and creativity suites and many more.
Aim- “To determine the impact of social media channels on business performance and its
activities, like – marketing, HR, accounting etc. A case study on Apple”
Research Objectives
 To identify the importance of digital technology in business organisation.
 To ascertain the role of social media channels within Apple. To evaluate the influence of social media on Marketing activities
Research questions
 What are the importance of digital technology within business?
 What are the roles of social media channels within Apple?
 How social media sites will effect marketing activities?
Make an effective project management plan that involve relevant actions to achieve time frames
and objectives
A project management plan is approved and formal documents which are used to execute
and manage them effectively. It is important for supervisors to create, define, coordinate and
integrate all the project activities which disclose about how the project will controlled, executed
and monitor (Den Hertog, Van der Aa and De Jong, 2010). In this context, company is adopting
a social media for attracting large numbers of potential customers. Therefore, there are the
requirement of certain factors which are needed at the time of accomplishing a project
systematically. Some of aspects are as follows: Risk – It is the very main factor which has to be involved at the time of making a project
management plan. Project controllers have to emphasis on assessing various risks which
gave influence on project activities and its growth. In extrinsic surrounding, there are
2

several factors of risk which take place at the time of advertisement and marketing
through social media. For examples human errors, Malicious apps and attacks, Phishing
scams and so on. In order to control all these risks Apple company have to take some
corrective actions to protect their information. Project scope –In this factor, it aid in demonstrate the growth of project within upcoming
times. Every person is engage in project for making their organisation successful. It refers
that company scope must be wide. Various technologies of marketing is failed because of
not having appropriate knowledge (Eckerson, 2010). Hence, project scope is to seize
better opportunities within the market and ensure Apple competitiveness within
upcoming times.
 Cost – At the time of establishing a new project, organisation managers have to
determine its actual cost along with that also analyse that company will able to bear it or
not. It is necessary to measure the cost in order to operate marketing, research, operation,
production and many more. It also include the cost of providing training and adopting
new methods of advertisement. After analysing all these costs, supervisors have to start
making budgets according to their financial capabilities of a organisation. In current
scenario, the all over cost of project is €5.00 billion.
After analysing all the factors of project, it is necessary to find out project time frame, it
is applied to demonstrate how much time is needed to accomplish any project. In this, project
supervisor of Apple can use different tool like as Gantt chart and Work breakdown structure to
complete the project functions within the systematic way. Both tools are explained in brief
below: Gantt chart – In this, it supports to accomplish all the activities of projects within the
predetermined period of time. Mainly, it is a graphical representation which distinguish
all tasks or actions included within the projects (Gebauer, Edvardsson and Bjurko, 2010).
It is a overview of every day to day reports of project which provides support to project
supervisor to measure the project success and accomplish all the activities systematically.
 Work breakdown structure – This tool is implemented to collapse all the project work
into various segments within the given period of time. It makes the process easier of
recognising needed knowledge and skills to accomplish the project activities and tasks. It
explores the transparency and accountability to decrease complexities which take place at
3

the time of doing a project for making successful (How digital technology could benefit
your business, 2016).
4

LO2
Carry out small-scale research by implementing quantitative and qualitative research
Research is the process of accomplishing a systematic inquiry by collecting data (Jones
and Lubinski, 2012). It is a documentation of typical interpret and information by implementing
appropriate methodologies. Additionally, research is organise for evaluating validity of
interpretive model and then reach at best conclusion. Their are two kinds of research which are
as follows: Quantitative research –it is a structured way of assessing and gathering data which is
obtained from several sources. This method of research involve the use of mathematical
as well as statistical tools for achieving outcomes. Its aim is conclusive as the quantitative
research approach concentrate on determine the issue as well as show how prevalent to
achieve better results. In this, it is exploitative within nature which is based on collection
of behavioural and verbal data. Qualitative research – In this research it is a systematic approach of observation to
gather a non-numerical data. This research is a long request for the investigator as it
allows them to analyse the real mean of people actions, behaviour and interactions (Lai
and Ong, 2010). Mainly, it is used to identify relationship within two variables. This
research is studied to bring out the conclusion on the basis of their actions.
Questionnaire
Name:
Gender:
Email:
Q1. Does use of digital technologies helps Apple to improve their business operations?
A. Yes
B. No
Q2. Which department of organisation attains the maximum benefit from the implementation
of digital technology?
A. Human Resource Management
B. Management and Administration
C. Communication and Marketing
5

Q3. Does application of use social media marketing channel helps in promotion of their
services and products?
A. Yes
B. No
Q4. What are the channels of social media that company is opting for promotion, marketing
and communication purpose?
A. Facebook
B. YouTube
C. Instagram
D. Twitter
Q5. What are the major benefits that are observed in Apple after execution of social media as
a communication channel or medium?
A. Obtain high competitive edge
B. Sales Enlargement
C. Consumer Satisfaction
D. Proper Employee Communication
Q6. What is the impact of social media on sales enhancement as per the observation of Apple
Sales?
A. More than aggregate
B. Aggregate
C. No Impact
Q7. What are the probable medium through which Apple can persuade their potential buyer
through social media?
A. Social media marketing
B. Social media updates
C. Both A & B
8. Which marketing method is more utilised by Apple for promoting, marketing and
communicating their service user?
A. Traditional Marketing
B. Modern Marketing
9. Recommend the expected ways through which Apple can further promote their services
6

and products within market using social media?
LO3
Analyse research and data
Data analysis
Theme 1: Digital technologies helps Apple to improve their business operations
Q1 Does use of digital technologies helps
Apple to improve their business operations?
Frequency
A. Yes 45
B. No 5
Interpretation: In this above bar graph, it shows that 45 respondents are agree that
digital technologies help apple in their enterprise operations and on other side 5 respondents are
7
A. Yes B. No
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
45
5
Column D

not agree that digital technology is not helpful to organisation within their business operations.
Therefore, maximum respondents are agree the digital technology is useful for the company.
8

Theme 2: Apple can opt the digital technologies
Q2. Which department of organisation
attains the maximum benefit from the
implementation of digital technology?
Frequency
A. Human Resource Management 10
B. Management and Administration 15
C. Communication and Marketing 25
Interpretation: In this above bar graph, it shows that in which operation Apple can opt the
digital technologies. 25 respondents say that in the marketing and communication, 15
respondents say that in management and administration and others remaining 10 respondents say
that in HRM operation can adopt the digital technologies. Marketing and communication will
provide advantages by using advance techniques for grabbing attention of potential customers.
9
A. Human Resource Management
B. Management and Administration
C. Communication and Marketing
0 5 10 15 20 25
10
15
25
Column I

Theme 3: Apple use social media marketing channel for promoting their services and products
Q3. Does application of use social media
marketing channel helps in promotion of
their services and products?
Frequency
A. Yes 35
B. No 15
Interpretation: As per above pie chart it shows that 35 respondents are saying yes to use social
media marketing channel for promoting their services and products and other 15 respondents are
saying no to social media. Therefore company will adopt the social media tool for promoting
their goods and services.
10
35
15
A. Yes
B. No

Theme 4: Channels of social media
Q4. What are the channels of social media
that company is opting for promotion,
marketing and communication purpose?
Frequency
A. Facebook 25
B. YouTube 10
C. Instagram 10
D. Twitter 5
Interpretation: As per above pie chart it shows that there are the channels of social media that
company is opting for promotion, marketing and communication purpose. In this 25 respondents
are saying yes to Facebook is better social media for promoting Apple goods and services, 10
11
25
10
10
5
A. Facebook
B. YouTube
C. Instagram
D. Twitter

respondents of both social networking sites which are You Tube and Instagram for enhancing
goods and services and remaining 5 respondents can say that twitter is best way for promoting.
12

Theme 5: Benefits that are observed in Apple after execution of social media
Q5. What are the major benefits that are
observed in Apple after execution of social
media as a communication channel or
medium?
Frequency
A. Obtain high competitive edge 15
B. Sales Enlargement 20
C. Consumer Satisfaction 10
D. Proper Employee Communication 5
Interpretation: As per above bar graph it shows that the major benefits that are observed in
Apple after execution of social media as a communication channel. 20 respondents are saying
that they are using social media for sales enlargement, 15 are saying for gaining higher
13
A. Obtain high competitive edge
B. Sales Enlargement
C. Consumer Satisfaction
D. Proper Employee Communication
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
15
20
10
5
Column D

competitive edge, 10 respondents is said it is used for customer satisfaction and 5 respondents is
saying for making effective relations with them.
14

Theme 6: Impact of social media on sales enhancement
Q6. What is the impact of social media on
sales enhancement as per the observation of
Apple Sales?
Frequency
A. More than aggregate 35
B. Aggregate 10
C. No Impact 5
Interpretation: As per above bar graph it is shown that the impact of social media on sales
enhancement as per the observation of Apple Sales. 35 respondents are are saying more than
aggregate, 10 are saying that it gave a aggregate impact of social media and remaining 5
respondents are saying there is no impact of social media.
15
A. More than aggregate B. Aggregate C. No Impact
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
35
10
5
Column G

Theme 7. Probable medium through which Apple can persuade their potential buyer
Q7. What are the probable medium through
which Apple can persuade their potential
buyer through social media?
Frequency
A. Social media marketing 15
B. Social media updates 10
C. Both A & B 25
Interpretation: As per above pie chart it has been shown that the probable medium by which
Apple can persuade their potential buyer through social media, in this 25 respondents say that by
using both mediums, 15 respondents say by using social media of marketing and other remaining
10 respondents say that social media updates will be best medium.
16
15
10
25 A. Social media marketing
B. Social media updates
C. Both A & B

Theme 8. Marketing method is more utilised by Apple
Q8. Which marketing method is more
utilised by Apple for promoting, marketing
and communicating their service user?
Frequency
A. Traditional Marketing 15
B. Modern Marketing 35
Interpretation: As per above graph it has been shown that the marketing method is more used
by Apple. Modern trends are mostly used by the company as 35 respondents say yes to modern
trends and remaining 15 respondents say traditional marketing is the best way for promoting
goods and services,
17
A. Traditional Marketing B. Modern Marketing
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
15 35 Column B

LO4
Recommendations as a outcomes of research & data analysis
As per thematic analysis, it is suggested to Apple that the company has to implementing a
social media tool for advertisement and marketing of products and services all over the globe. It
will help in achieving companies objectives and goals. Making a plan of developing a online
website of ab organisation for covering a large area at the same time. With this, it is necessary to
collect all the relevant information of social media before applying within the business activities.
It will help Apple in achieving best results in future within the marketplace. In addition,
organisation can use different social networking sites and they can develop their own online
website for attracting higher numbers of new customers towards their brand. In this, they can
improve their knowledge and skills of online working for enhancing their business within the
new market.
In this dynamic world, different types of changes take place for the growth and success of
organisations. They have suggested to project controllers to demonstrate all the threats for
knowing about new strategies and techniques of advertisement and marketing of their goods and
services. Apple company should analyse the new tools within the digital technologies. As firms
can also use search engine optimisation, payment of per click on advertisement, online business
websites, social media and many more. Twitter as well as Facebook are the important ways for
accomplishing advertisement as it is used by large numbers of peoples at the same time. In this,
firms should keep on adopting changes for maintaining their goodwill and reputation within the
markets. Along with this, it they have to compete with their competitors they have to make a
different way for doing advertisement to grab attention of peoples and retaining of existing
customers. I will also suggest that company should make proper strategy which can be
accomplish with the purpose of gaining competitive advantage all over the globe.
Self Reflection
This research will provide a lot of advantages to people for understanding about any
specific topic in a brief. At the time of accomplishing study, it get realised that social media is a
very important aspect of the study. This report help me in enhancing my knowledge as some of
terms which I analysed within the research which help me in learning new things. Overall
investigation aid me in enhancing my knowledge as well as my confidence level. After this
18

report I can able to increases my communication skills, leadership and so on. Therefore, when I
was fresher I face various problems. For overcoming with all this problems, my mentor and
professors aid me in framing a time for accomplishing all activities accordingly.
For overcoming of my all the confusion regarding the influence of social media. I had
taken help of various articles, books and journals. Hence, I mainly concentrate on accomplishing
my work in an effective and efficient way. In this, some of issues which I faced while
completing of project are lack of resources, cost, time and data. These are the main reasons that I
cannot reach to best outcomes. As I am having a nature of introvert due to that I cant able to deal
with persons effectively. It also gave impact on my communication skills as well.
CONCLUSION
As per above report it has been concluded that social media is playing a very main role
within the success and growth opportunity of business operations. In this research they conduct
an small scale research by using qualitative and quantitative methods. Additionally, company is
using social media for enhancing their sales and providing effective customer satisfaction to their
customers. They are using various tools of social networking which are Facebook, Twitter,
Instagram and so on. Along with this also conduct the data analysis and its interpretation for
drawing a effective results.
19

REFERENCES
Books and Journal
Ahmed Dine Rabeh, H., Jimenez-Jimenez, D. and Martínez-Costa, M., 2013. Managing
knowledge for a successful competence exploration. Journal of Knowledge
Management. 7(2). pp.195-207.
Chesbrough, H., 2010. Business model innovation: opportunities and barriers. Long range
planning. 43(2). pp.354-363.
Crane, A. and Matten, D., 2016. Business ethics: Managing corporate citizenship and
sustainability in the age of globalization. Oxford University Press.
Den Hertog, P., Van der Aa, W. and De Jong, M. W., 2010. Capabilities for managing service
innovation: towards a conceptual framework. Journal of service Management. 21(4).
pp.490-514.
Eckerson, W. W., 2010. Performance dashboards: measuring, monitoring, and managing your
business. John Wiley & Sons.
Gebauer, H., Edvardsson, B. and Bjurko, M., 2010. The impact of service orientation in
corporate culture on business performance in manufacturing companies. Journal of
Service Management. 21(2). pp.237-259.
Incelli, E., 2013. Managing discourse in intercultural business email interactions: a case study of
a British and Italian business transaction. Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural
Development. 34(6). pp.515-532.
Jones, G. and Lubinski, C., 2012. Managing Political Risk in Global Business: Beiersdorf 1914–
1990. Enterprise & Society. 13(1). pp.85-119.
Kankaanranta, A. and Planken, B., 2010. BELF competence as business knowledge of
internationally operating business professionals. The Journal of Business
Communication (1973). 47(4). pp.380-407.
Lai, J.Y. and Ong, C.S., 2010. Assessing and managing employees for embracing change: A
multiple-item scale to measure employee readiness for e-business. Technovation. 30(1).
pp.76-85.
Lin, A. and Chen, N.C., 2012. Cloud computing as an innovation: Percepetion, attitude, and
adoption. International Journal of Information Management. 32(6). pp.533-540.
Shang, S.S., 2012. Dual strategy for managing user resistance with business integration systems.
Behaviour & Information Technology. 31(9). pp.909-925.
Smith, A.D., 2011. Successfully managing manufacturing supplier integration and procurement
issues: case studies in recessionary environments. International Journal of Procurement
Management. 4(2). pp.121-138.
Smith, W.K., Binns, A. and Tushman, M. L., 2010. Complex business models: Managing
strategic paradoxes simultaneously. Long range planning. 43(2). pp.448-461.
Trimi, S. and Berbegal-Mirabent, J., 2012. Business model innovation in entrepreneurship.
International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal. 8(4). pp.449-465.
Online
How digital technology could benefit your business. 2016. [Online]. Available
through:<http://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/digital-management/business-strategy/>.
20

21

LOGBOOK
Project Logbook for the chosen
organisation: Apple
Name of the learner: Name of the Supervisor:
Project Title: Managing Business Successful Date:
Update of weekly research/ tasks achieved
(Account for a minimum of six weeks with
dates)
 What have you completed?
 Did you fulfil Task requirements?
 Are you on track and within deadlines
set?
 Did you need to make any changes to
your project management plan?
Comments
To determine the impact of social
media channel for accomplishing
business activities. The project is relies
upon Apple.
Yes
Yes
Yes
Any risks and / or issues identified?
 Did you identify risks/issues with a lack
of skills required for undertaking
research tasks?
 Did you identify any additional
risks/issues that have an impact on the
project management plan?
No
No
Problems encountered
 What barriers did you face?
 How did you overcome them?
Due to lack of finance & time of
research needs are not satisfy in an
effective way.
My senior mentors and leaders which
give me effective guidance, they give
me direction whenever I required.
Hence, I can reach to final result.