Business-Level and Corporate-Level Strategies

Business level and corporate level business strategies Name Institution Apple Inc. (Apple) is a multinational corporation that is engaged in design, manufacturing and selling of mobile communications, personal computers, media devices, and computer software and also offers services to its customers. The company is well known for its products search as iPhone, Mac, iPod, iPad, Apple TV. The services and software application offered include the Mac OS X and iOS operating systems, iCloud a range of accessories. It also offers digital content and applications via the App Store, iTunes Store, iBookstore, and Mac App Store. Apple is the world largest publicly traded corporation by market capitalization. As of September 2012, it had an estimated value of US$626 billion. According to the Forbes magazine (2012), apple is ranked number one in the world’s most powerful brands. The company sells its products and services worldwide through direct sales, online stores and retail stores. So far the company is best known for its products which are the most popular and consumers have been responsive over the years. The brand name ‘Apple’ itself is enough for someone to relate it to its popularly known products like the iPhone and iPad. It offers diverse services that have helped increase their sales over the years. It has programs that help address the importance of education through the online stores. The educational materials are distributed for students and teachers to share and discuss on them. Apple has unique business-level strategies that they have put into practice for their continued success over the years. Differentiation is one of the key strategies that have made it produce unique products as compared to their competitors. One of the best innovations that have had good customer responsiveness is the invention of textbooks with iBooks 2 for iPad. The iBook textbook is an entirely new kind of textbooks since it is dynamic, engaging and interactive. It is an exciting educational product that is already being used by many institutions since its release in January 2012. The iBook will work on the iPads that people already have and it has great features like interactive 3D objects, full screen books, diagrams, videos and photos. Truly this is a great invention since no more carrying of heavy backpacks filled with textbooks. It is easy to carry around and a free download of the iBooks author is available from the Mac Store. It has simplified the education in the modern technology world. Apple has been able to identify a market niche and identify potential customers for their brands. They have been able to target their customers for each brand that they make. The iPod for example is a popular device to teenagers. It has many features, games and applications that keep the consumers always on the lookout for a new thing. The app stores offer cool applications and games that are affordable to its targeted market consumers. However, some of their products have premium prices but consumers always pay for them. Other products like the iPhone, software and operating systems have targeted all age groups. Their products are used in corporate firms, schools and in homes as well. Apple applies corporate level strategies that improve long-term performance. Education and development is officered to the employees from the management levels to the subordinates. The workers are taught new skills through the Supplier Employee Edu...