Report: Samsung vs Apple - Innovation Capabilities Comparison

This report provides a comparative analysis of the innovation capabilities of Samsung and Apple, two leading brands in the electronics industry. It begins with an introduction highlighting the vision statements of both companies, focusing on their dedication to innovation, technology, and creative solutions. The core of the report examines the factors driving innovation, including the ability to identify opportunities and adapt to market changes. It discusses the historical rivalry between Samsung and Apple, particularly since the launch of Samsung's Galaxy smartphone, and assesses their respective strengths in design, marketing, and technological advancement. The report analyzes both companies through the lenses of organizational structure, knowledge creation, and adaptability, concluding that while Samsung exhibits greater flexibility in adaptation, Apple maintains its position as a leader in innovation. The report references key sources to support its findings, offering a comprehensive overview of the innovation strategies of these two tech giants.

Running Head: SAMSUNG VS APPLE 0
Innovation Capabilities
Student Details
4/7/2019

Samsung vs Apple 1
Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................2
Innovation Capabilities..............................................................................................................2
Conclusion..................................................................................................................................4

Samsung vs Apple 2
Introduction
Samsung and Apple are the two most valuable brands in the electronics industry.
Vision of Samsung is “Inspire the World, Create the Future” and it is dedicating the company
to collaborate its focus on its core competences: innovative products, new technology, and
creative solutions. Whereas on the other side Apple’s vision statement is quite detailed which
mainly focus on innovation and overall quality (Johnson, Li, Phan, Singer, & Trinh, 2012). In
this write up innovation capabilities of both of Apple Inc. and Samsung are discussed.
Innovation Capabilities
Main factors that are responsible for the innovation’s driven include ones’ ability to
see connections, to identify opportunities, and take benefits from them. Innovation is always
not about opening of new markets whereas it also has ability of providing unique ways to
serve the mature and established ones (Innovation in Practice, 2009). Success of these two
organizations is undoubtedly has derived from their technologically advancement and
innovation.
The technology war between these two biggest companies around the world results in
developing more innovative products. The rivalry on innovative technology between these
two organizations started around eight years back in 2010 when Samsung launched its first
Galaxy Smartphone. Launching of Galaxy S4 in 2013, Samsung opened competition against
Apple and the media and consumer buzz declared Samsung as the most serious competitor
for Apple (Johnson, Li, Phan, Singer, & Trinh, 2012). Founder of Apple, Steve Jobs is
considered as one of the biggest innovator of century and Apple is still holding superiority in
technology even after his death.

Samsung vs Apple 3
Apple is considered as a biggest innovator in electronics industry and has popularity
among employees for its beautiful designs and new applications whereas on the other side
Samsung is popular among people for being a follower. However, there are no doubts that
Apple is still leading in innovative skills but marketing has been overtaken by Samsung.
After death of Steve Jobs it was assumed that where Apple will head in innovation because
from the very initially Apple was using the innovation archetype of visionary leader (Cult
Branding, 2019).
Innovation is described as a process of learning. And learning is considered as a
collective process. An innovative organization is developed from three different but
interdependent perspectives:
1. Relationship between innovativeness and Organizational structural forms;
2. Innovation is a process of learning and creation of knowledge;
3. Capacity of an organization to change and adaptation.
Burns and Stalker suggested two types of organizations: mechanistic and organic. The
former is more rigid and hierarchical and latter is more flexible to environmental sets (Tidd,
Bessant, & Pavitt, 2005). While seeing the Apple and Samsung, it can be concluded that
Apple is mechanistic organization where it follows the rules of innovation described by Steve
Jobs while Samsung is organic organization which changes its innovation and technology
according to the needs of the market.
Secondly innovation is a process of continuous learning and knowledge creation (Tidd,
Bessant, & Pavitt, 2005). Apple and Samsung, both organizations are considered as being
innovative. This is because Apple continuously learns from innovative ideas and technology.
Apple employees are considered as visionary as they do not follow just knowledge rather
they create knowledge. While Samsung on the other hand is also an innovative organization

Samsung vs Apple 4
but it innovates after getting knowledge from external sources and create their products after
completely analysing the market conditions (Lam, 2011). Hence, it can be said that as users
like the products that Apple develops and Samsung develops products which people like.
Third perspective that decides the innovation capability of an organization is its ability to
change and adapt. While considering an organization’s ability of changing and adaptation,
Samsung is more flexible in adaptation of changes (Prange & Schlegelmilch, 2010). This is
because Samsung is more active on social media and in interacting with consumers; hence
they keep their knowledge updated about the market conditions and needs of the consumers.
Therefore, they develop products according to their needs. While on the other hand, Apple is
less interactive with people and therefore, they do not know much about the existing market
conditions, hence, changes are less welcomed at Apple.
If results are derived from the discussion then it can be assumed that innovative
capabilities of Samsung are more as compared to Apples’. But it is well known to everyone
that Apple is far ahead in innovation than Samsung because apple works on vision which
makes it to develop future products.
Conclusion
Therefore, from the above discussion it can be concluded that although Samsung is
leading in the three perspectives as defined above but still Apple has remained its position of
being the most innovative and technological advanced organization in electronics industry.

Samsung vs Apple 5
References
Cult Branding. (2019). The Archetype of Apple. Retrieved from
http://cultbranding.com/ceo/apple-archetype/
Innovation in Practice. (2009). Innovation Archetypes. Retrieved from
https://www.innovationinpractice.com/innovation_in_practice/2009/05/innovation-
archetypes.html
Johnson, K., Li, Y., Phan, H., Singer, J., & Trinh, H. (2012). The Innovative Success that is
Apple, Inc. Retrieved from https://mds.marshall.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?
article=1420&context=etd
Lam, A. (2011). Innovative Organizations: Structure, Learning and Adaptation. Retrieved
from
https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/40f9/6a8deddd30315b40d4dce9fd01ba0ba170c1.pdf
Prange, C., & Schlegelmilch, B. B. (2010). Heading for the Next Innovation Archetype?
Journal of Business Strategy, 31(1), 46-55.
Tidd, J., Bessant, J., & Pavitt, K. (2005). Managing Innovation: Integrated Technological,
Market and Organizational Change. UK: John Wiley and Sons Ltd.
.