International Business: Knowledge Management Analysis of Apple Inc.

This report delves into the knowledge management (KM) practices of Apple Inc., examining how the company leverages its resources to achieve organizational objectives. The analysis covers the core components of KM: people, technology, and process, emphasizing Apple's multi-disciplin...Read More

Running head: KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT FOR APPLE
Knowledge Management for Apple
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Culture
Process
Technology
People
Running head: KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT FOR APPLE
Knowledge Management –
Knowledge Management (KM) is all about get a clearer grip of the facts and information
that is already known to perform in order to accomplish the utmost impact as well as to improve
the outcomes (Hsiao 2017). The success of the company, Apple Inc., comes from the ability and
proficiency of several areas of the business that includes, but is not limited to, Operations,
Supply Chain Management, and Knowledge Management (Hsiao 2017). Knowledge
management in simpler terms means the explicit and an orderly management of practices that
enables the collective knowledge resources as well as an individual to be created, identified,
shared, stored, and lastly to be used to obtain positive outcomes (Jung and Sung Park 2013). KM
comprise the conversion of the intangible and the tacit knowledge into an explicit form of
knowledge, that is, knowledge that can be stored as well as shared with other individuals (Hsiao
2017). The below diagram shows the relationship between this tacit and explicit knowledge and
how the company, Apple Inc., uses it to ensure effective and efficient results.
Figure 1: Knowledge Management Approach

Running head: KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT FOR APPLE
The knowledge management activities of Apple Inc. more often than not involves
capturing and then organizing the explicit knowledge which the organizations have generated, so
as to maximize the effectiveness and efficiency of the organisation (Teece 2018). The three key
components of KM are as follows – people, technology and process (Jung and Sung Park 2013).
The Apple Inc. focusses equally on technological solutions, people and the processes (Hsiao
2017). As, without people they will not have a market or a customer base to sell their product to,
and with the processes in place, it gets difficult to have an end product that would be delivered to
the customers (Teece 2018). This approach obtained by Apple Inc. is a multi – disciplined
approach in order to achieve the organizational objectives by utilizing the available resources
effectively and judiciously (Sultan 2013).
The knowledge management team of the company comprises of document and content
management; content entry and maintenance; writing, editing, and proofing; technology, web –
design, and user experience; and client relations and marketing (Jung and Sung Park 2013). In
addition to this, in order to apply KM, the company makes proper use of collaborative strategy,
and is flexible, that is, it adjusts according to the environmental conditions as well as the
advancements in the needs and wants of the customers (Sultan 2013). The tools used for KM are
Data Warehouse - Multiple petabyte Teradata and to get better understanding of the needs of
their customers (Jung and Sung Park 2013). It also uses company intranet and the expert system
for futuristic sounding (Sultan 2013). The knowledge management of the company also focusses
on the objectives of the organisation, for instance, improved performance, innovation,
competitive advantage, advancement, invention, integration and sharing of the lessons that have
been learned during the process to be able to continuously improve the performance of its

Running head: KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT FOR APPLE
employees as well as the organisation (Sultan 2013). Although, these efforts coincide with
learnings of the employee in the organisation and perhaps might be eminent as well.

Running head: KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT FOR APPLE
References –
Hsiao, K.L., 2017. What drives smartwatch adoption intention? Comparing Apple and non-
Apple watches. Library Hi Tech, 35(1), pp.186-206.
Jun, S. and Sung Park, S., 2013. Examining technological innovation of Apple using patent
analysis. Industrial Management & Data Systems, 113(6), pp.890-907.
Sultan, N., 2013. Knowledge management in the age of cloud computing and Web 2.0:
Experiencing the power of disruptive innovations. International journal of information
management, 33(1), pp.160-165.
Teece, D.J., 2018. Strategies for managing knowledge assets: the role of firm structure and
industrial context. Long range planning, 33(1), pp.35-54.