Management at Apple Inc.: Leadership, Adaptability, and Strategies

This report offers an in-depth analysis of Apple Inc.'s management practices, tracing the evolution of its leadership styles from Steve Jobs' charismatic approach to Tim Cook's emphasis on teamwork, transparency, and marketing. It examines the senior management's role in change management, highlighting the importance of open communication and adaptation to customer needs and market dynamics. The report delves into Apple's strategic decisions regarding vendors, spokespersons, and cost-cutting measures, while also offering recommendations for improvement, such as reducing internal secrecy and fostering continuous innovation. The study underscores Apple's ability to adapt to changing market environments, making it a valuable resource for understanding effective leadership and strategic management within a global technology leader. This student report is available on Desklib, a platform providing AI-based study tools.

Running head: MANAGEMENT AT A COMPANY
Management at a company
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Table of contents
Introduction:....................................................................................................................................2
Changes in the management style of Apple:...................................................................................2
Senior management’s role in change management:........................................................................4
Management’s decision on the use of vendor’s and spokespersons:...............................................5
Recommendation as a manager:......................................................................................................5
Apple’s ability to adapt to changing needs of customers and market environment:.......................6
References………………………………………………………………………………………….
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Introduction:
Apple Inc is an American multinational organization that is involved in the development,
designing and selling consumer electronics and computer software. Steve Jobs, Ronald Wayne
and Steve Wozniak founded the company in the year 1976 ("Apple", 2017). Apple is the world’s
largest company in terms of information technology and the second largest smart phone
manufacturing company. Working in Apple has been a dream job for several individuals as a
result of an efficient management system and its brand value.
Changes in the management style of Apple:
Steve Jobs had kept the management of the company simple and he avoided too many
layers of senior level officers. People were appointed according to their talents and skills. Even
today, the employees of Apple are promoted on the basis of their skills and abilities rather than
on the basis of their tenure in the organization ("Apple", 2017). The credit for the success of the
company goes to the management style of the company that has enabled the company to survive
through several ups and downs.
Earlier, Apple Inc. had adopted charismatic style of leadership under the leadership of
Steve Jobs. Steve Jobs was a very humble person and the employees of Apple could easily
approach him in case of any issues. The employees were also free to forward their ideas that
could help the company in developing further. Steve Jobs has been known to be a simple man
with a simple lifestyle that enabled him to concentrate entirely upon his company ("Apple",
2017).

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There have been several changes in the management style of Apple in the recent time.
The first change is that, Tim Cook has emphasized more upon transparency within the
organization and has focused upon teamwork (Grant, 2016). Cook has been a very calm and
composed person that has made him more approachable than Steve Jobs. Cook has implemented
an open- door policy within the organization that has inspired the employees at Apple. Cook has
been emphasizing more upon the company’s products that have been successful in the market
however; Steve Jobs had emphasized more upon innovation and development of new products.
Tim cook has been a more flexible leader and has encouraged the employees to work together
towards the achievement of the organizational objectives (Clarke & Boersma, 2017). He has also
been result- oriented that has made Apple one of the most successful companies in the world.
The second change in the management style of Apple is that under the leadership of Tim
Cook, the company has emphasized more upon marketing strategies and cost- cutting strategies
than just focusing upon product innovation. Under the leadership of Tim Cook, the company
paid dividends to its shareholder for the first time (Schlegelmilch, 2016). The major change in
the management style was that the management was now more focused upon launching
marketing campaigns and saving the costs. The company now focuses more upon teamwork than
just upon the utilization of the individual talents. I believe the company is well- managed due to
which it has become one of the most successful companies in the world. People all over the
world desire to get an opportunity to work in the company. The excellent management system of
the company has helped the company to reach up to such heights ("Apple", 2017). The company
has a large number of satisfied and loyal employees that have become an asset to the company.

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Senior management’s role in change management:
Tim Cook has made several changes in the senior management that included the
promotion of executives and expanding the roles of several senior officers. The changes were
brought in leadership of the marketing division and hardware division. The senior management
plays a pivotal role in the changes brought in the company (Boone & Kurtz, 2013). The
executives of the company are responsible for any changes brought in the company in terms of
policies, financial budgeting, and many more. The senior management in Apple offer proper
guidance to the lower level managers and employees when any change is implemented within an
organization. It is also responsible for the career planning and development of the employees.
The senior management helps in the team development during the period of change
implementation.
The company has ensured that the decisions taken by the senior management is conveyed
to the employees and their opinions on the changes are asked. This has build trust among the
employees and they are able to easily adapt to the changes. The senior management has played a
vital role in handling the confusions and helping the employees adapt the changes. The senior
management in Apple has been very active in handing the grievances of the employees and
taking actions for solving the issues (Kanagal, 2015). The changes brought in the company had
positive impacts upon the company as it has further improved the efficiency of the operations
that has resulted in the development of the company.
Management’s decision on the use of vendor’s and spokespersons:
The company has ensured that it is able to keep its day to day functioning and strategies
secret without bringing them to the notice of the general public. The company encourages an

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atmosphere of secrets within the organization that has enabled the employees to perform
enthusiastically. The company has also ensured that only the CEO of the company provides any
important information regarding the company to the public through press conference. The
remaining news is provided by the company in the form of press release (Bridges & Bridges,
2017). This has ensured that there exists only a strong figure, which is responsible for providing
the important information regarding the company so that there is no scope of confusion. The
company has several vendors and suppliers as the company has outsourced its manufacturing
process. In case of any problems arising from the side of the vendors or suppliers, the company
speaks on their behalf. The company also ensures that there is no harm to the goodwill and
reputation of the company and there is no misleading and conflicting press release.
Recommendation as a manager:
In order to improve the performance of the company, Apple must reduce the amount of
secrecy it maintains within the organization. The employees within the organization are unaware
about the projects done by the other employees and the ideas they come up with. However, in
case the secrecy is reduced, the employees shall be aware of the work done by the other
employees and there shall be lower possibility of duplication of work (Lewis, 2014).
The company must be involved in continuous innovation and expansion of its product
line in order to remain ahead of its competitors. In order to provide better benefits to the
customers, the company must focus upon cutting its costs so that the end products of the
company are available at a comparatively lower price in the market (Ashkenas et al., 2015).

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Apple’s ability to adapt to changing needs of customers and market environment:
Apple has the capability of adapting to the changing requirements of the market and the
customers. The company has been frequently coming up with updated gadgets as per the changes
in the market and the competitor’s products. The company has always positioned itself above its
competitors and this has been possible only by meeting the needs and expectations of the
customers (Heracleous, 2013). Open communication channels are essential for implementing
change within an organization because in order to successfully implement any change, the
management is required to communicate the changes to the employees who are to be mostly
affected by the change. Open communication is very important to avoid any confusion within an
organization and to maintain the smooth functioning of the organization. Therefore, the
organizations must ensure that there is open communication within an organization and all the
employees are communicated regarding the changes.

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References:
Apple. (2017). Apple. Retrieved 18 August 2017, from https://www.apple.com/
Ashkenas, R., Ulrich, D., Jick, T., & Kerr, S. (2015). The boundaryless organization: Breaking
the chains of organizational structure. John Wiley & Sons.
Boone, L. E., & Kurtz, D. L. (2013). Contemporary marketing. Cengage learning.
Bridges, W., & Bridges, S. (2017). Managing transitions: Making the most of change. Da Capo
Press.
Clarke, T., & Boersma, M. (2017). The governance of global value chains: unresolved human
rights, environmental and ethical dilemmas in the apple supply chain. Journal of Business
Ethics, 143(1), 111-131.
Grant, R. M. (2016). Contemporary strategy analysis: Text and cases edition. John Wiley &
Sons.
Heracleous, L. (2013). Quantum strategy at Apple Inc. Organizational Dynamics, 42(2), 92-99.
Kanagal, N. B. (2015). Innovation and product innovation in marketing strategy. Journal of
Management and marketing research, 18, 1-25.

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Lewis, T. G. (2014). Booms. In Book of Extremes (pp. 51-67). Springer International Publishing.
Schlegelmilch, B. B. (2016). The Future of Global Marketing Strategy. In Global Marketing
Strategy (pp. 221-249). Springer International Publishing.