Apple Inc.'s Business Turnaround Strategy: A Case Study

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CASE STUDY

Introduction
This assessment is developed as report on the case study of Apple for describing the needs that
are required for change within the organization in context of business operation. This assessment
includes a brief description of the impact on culture on the business environment of Apple along
with the discussion of leadership styles and techniques effectiveness within business operation
contrast of Apple. This assessment also includes a discussion regarding initiatives that would be
able to improve implementation strategy of Apple while operating its business. Moreover, the
effectiveness of different leadership style under different situation in contrast of Apple and its
business operation. This assessment generally aims to describe the business concept, business
situation impact on the business organisation culture and the necessary of leadership styles used
by team leaders of Apple for efficiently handling the business operation and situation for further
achieving business objectives.

Situation Evaluation
The case study of Apple in reference to leadership and innovation at Apple Inc. entering the
post-Jobs era as reflects the situation which states the development and success of Apple as an
innovative company under the leadership of Steve Jobs and Tim Cook. The case study generally
reflects the situation which demonstrates the steps and changes adopted by Apple CEO for
improving the business operation, performance and financial status of Apple from deteriorated
situation to leading Apple successful turnaround. The case study states the major changes that
were adopted and were necessary for Apple to adopt for enhancing its business along with the
development of new products in contrast to meet the changing trend and needs of customers in
market. The case study states the situation such as growing Apple ecosystem, deep
collaboration, corporate culture and leadership prevailing within business operation of Apple
(Fjeldstad, et. al., 2018).
Need For Change
Business organization such as Apple as stated in the case study acknowledges and focuses on
changes in reference through the situation of progressively deteriorated prevailing within the
business operation of Apple as change in technology and business operation of Apple enables the
organisation to embrace itself in competitive market and trading conditions. The business
organization, Apple seek change within its business operation and functions sectors as it enables
the organization to rebuild an innovative organization and leading Apple’s successful turnaround
(De, et. al., 2018). Changes are implemented in business organization as it supports organization
such as Apple to redefine its business objectives and performance goals, developing new and
effective business strategy, to implement a supportive structure of business, seek customer needs
along with current trends, identifying the change in global economy and the changes in means
growth opportunities for further successfully leading the business organization. The major
changes that were implemented within the business operation of Apple by Steve Jobs along with
their significance are stated below:
 Implementation of new projects and new products development as this change consist the
ability and capacity to offer efficient breakthrough potential among the competitive

market. Moreover, this change is significance as it improves the business structure and
efficiency to sustain economic condition of Apple.
 Implementation of change in marketing structure of Apple, encouraging the development
of creative Apple brand and application of employed stock-based incentives as it enhance
the economic condition of Apple and also enables to sustain and retain talented
employees within the business organization. This change is significant as this change
improves overall Apple marketing to sustain business development (Perry, 2016).
 Change in marketing strategy as Apple applied simplify product mix strategy within
Apple as it enables Apples as it further leads to development of desktop and portable
computers for both consumer and professional markets which enhance Apple market
approach. The significance of marketing strategy change within Apple enables to develop
new products in contrast of customer needs.
 Reinforcement of Apple ecosystem through changing and enhancing the Apple marketing
structure with the development of new Apple products such as iPod, iTunes, iPhone,
iCloud, Mac Book and other products which increase the market share of Apple. The
significance of Apple ecosystem change as enhances Apple financial status (Hebert, et.
al., 2017).
Impact on Culture
The prevailing situation in Apple also further impact the corporate culture of Apple as the
implementation of certain changes by the CEO, Steve Jobs and Tim Cook in the business
operation of Apple generally impacts the business culture of Apple. Apple’s culture usually
depends on business philosophy, values, beliefs and behaviors of employees which enable the
human resources of Apple to further support business strategic objectives. The business and
corporate culture of Apple is also based on business condition facilities that aim to fulfill Apple
corporate mission and vision statement (Kang, et. al., 2015).
The implementation of changes by Apple’s CEO such as Steve Jobs and Tim Cook along with
new approaches such as developing highly responsive operating systems, establishment of
standard specifications for Apple applications and software along with strict control over outside

developers, delivery of computers with high performance and the implementation of practices of
developing new products further impact the corporate culture of Apple as the corporate culture
also includes the consideration of practices such as deep collaboration, cross pollination and
concurrent engineering.
Moreover, the changes in business operation and structure of Apple impact the culture of Apple
as the corporate culture of Apple includes the consideration of secrecy, start-up mentality, focus
on intense work, creativity and perfectionism as it leads to high-level of innovation that further
enhance involves creativity and mindset for developing conventions and standards. The situation
that was developed by Steve Jobs and Tim Cook for enhancing Apple’s business operation has
efficient and effective impact on Apple corporate culture as it supports the company’s industry
leadership, empowers Apple along with its human resources and also enables success and
competitive advantage within business (Imran, et. al., 2016).
Effectiveness of the Leadership Styles and Techniques
The leadership styles and techniques used by the team leader of Apple such as Steve Jobs and
Tim Cook generally reflect certain effectiveness on both the business operation system and
employees attitudes within Apple. Under the leadership of Tim Cook, Apple was able to success
financial status and he generally leads a managerial style of leadership within Apple as for
emphasis on advancing cooperation among Apples. While Steve Jobs applies autocratic style of
leadership within the business operation context as it enables him to efficiently apply turnaround
strategy for uplifting and improving he business structure and level of Apple. Both Steve Jobs
and Tim Cook also plays an efficient and strategic role in leading change within Apple as this
role includes the function of advisers, sense making and adjustment within the business
organization (Li, et. al., 2016).
Tim Cook generally leads as transformational leader and this leadership is effective as it enables
to emphasis the development of business vision along with analysis and identification of values,
beliefs and encouraging employees within Apple to achieve certain business objectives. While
Steve Jobs leads as transactional leader as this leadership style as this leadership style is effective
for implementing changes within business operation of Apple, target financial incentives and

monitoring functions with in Apple. The leadership style of Steve Jobs is effective as it push
innovations along with mastering details which enables Apple to sustain an efficient position in
competitive market. While the effectiveness of Tim Cook leadership style and techniques such as
maintain low profile within Apple enables to focus on effective management of transition within
business operation (Laudon, et. al., 2016).
The overall effectiveness of both Steve Jobs and Tim Cook leadership style is effective within
the business operation of Apple is that is plays an important role in developing organizational
capability and readiness as it further enhance participation, collaboration, persuasion and
direction of Apple business operation. Moreover, the leadership of Steve Jobs and Tim Cook
were also effective as it enhance effective implementation of change along with evolution,
adaption, revolution and reconstruction as it leads to efficient transformation, realignment and
turnaround of Apple. Moreover, turnaround strategy, Kotter’s eight steps for change and
changing operational process are effective leadership techniques in reference to Apple business
operation.
Change Effectiveness
The change that was applied by both Steve Jobs and Tim Cook is effective and successful as it
enables Apple to seek and reach new profit and sales records under their leadership and the
change implied within the business marketing strategy and structure of Apple. The changes
applied within Apple business organization are successful and this concept is justified with
Apple financial data of 2011-2015 as the data represent the net sales of 2015 as $233,715 in
reference to the net sales of $108,249 in 2011. Moreover, the growing Apple ecosystem,
innovation of electronics and entertainments generally support the success of the implementation
of change within the business operation of Apple and the applied change also enables the
company to enhance its products approach and efficient position in competitive market further
justify the success of the change in Apple (Noe, et. al., 2017).
Initiatives to Improve Implementation of Strategy
The two initiatives that would be appropriate for Apple to adopt for efficiently and effectively
implement strategy within the business operation and structure of Apple and the two initiatives to
improve implementation of strategy for Apple are stated below:

Programs and Strategic Initiative: The program and strategic initiative is suitable for Apple as
it states both project and strategic initiatives which clarifies company project portfolio, strategic
initiatives, programs and activities that are associated with the implementation of strategy within
business operation. This initiative would improve Apple implementation of marketing strategy
along with product mix strategy for enhancing new product developments and also to improve
the company’s business performance. This initiative also improves the implementation strategy
of change within Apple as it enables to analyze the current state, transition of change and seek
future state after the application of change (Tansim, 2018).
Covering Bases Initiatives: This initiative consist the ability to improve the implementation of
strategy within Apple as it ensures successful implementation of strategy through analyzing the
role of strategy executive, department manager and other associated employees. Moreover, this
initiative generally consider and evaluate the strategy and its plan before implementation which
further improves implementation process of Apple as it develops implementation plan for the
strategy, enhance communication within the company, motivate company’s engage people and
support plan execution for effective implementation of strategy within Apple.
Leadership style under Different Situations
The leadership style of Steve Jobs and Tim Cook also sustains efficient ability to effective deal
and handle different situations within business operation of Apple. The leadership styles of
managerial, autocratic, transactional and transformational leadership of Apple leaders are
regarded as effective leadership styles as these leadership styles aims to deal different situation
within business as this leadership consist the ability to thoroughly analyze business situation and
the root cause of the prevailing unrest situation for further developing effective and appropriate
solutions for the situation. Thus, these leadership styles are efficient for handling different
business situations (Kavadias, et. al., 2016).

Conclusion
This assessment is generally developed as a report on Apple case study which aims to explain the
situation prevailing within Apple business organization in reference of leadership and business
turnaround strategy within business operation of Apple for accomplishing business objectives.
This assessment aims to demonstrate the significance and need for change within business
organization in relation to Apple and the changes applied for improving business operation.
Moreover, this assessment includes a brief explanation of different situation and their impact on
business culture of Apple along with the discussion of leadership style and techniques
effectiveness within Apple in reference with the Apple CEO, Steve Jobs and Tim Cook
leadership styles. The last part of the assessment reflects certain justification which support the
success of the changes implemented within Apple along with the description of initiatives that
would be effective to apply for improving the implementation of strategy.

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