Apple Case Study

Paper Summary:

The paper discusses Apple's highly loyal customer base, the company's ability to continually synchronize supply chain partners and providers to a consistent level of quality and on-time delivery performance, and the company's coordination of supply chains and operations systems as key strategic advantages that are formidable for any competitor to overtake.

Outline:
Executive Summary
Apple's Customer Base Is a Cult with Cash
Apple's Supply Chain Rules the DRAM World
Apple Computer's Operations Systems Deliver a Formidable Competitive Advantage by Optimizing Their Supply Chain

From the Paper:

"Despite the onslaught of cellular telephone companies that are looking to create entirely new business models based on music downloads and also capitalizes on convergence of voice, digital and audio content, Apple has several key strategic advantages that are formidable for any competitor to overtake. First, there is the existing customer base that Apple has built into nearly a cult following. Second, there is the command that Apple has of its supply chain and the components necessary for creating MP3s including being one of the largest consumers of Digital Random Access Memory (DRAM) and other components. Third, Apple's distributed order management and operations systems are better aligned with multi-channel management of their many distribution channels."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Alice Z Cuneo (2003, December). Apple transcends as lifestyle brand. Advertising Age, 74(50), S2,S6. Retrieved April 24, 2008, from ABI/INFORM Global database. (Document ID: 520146431).
• Morrison, Ann M. (1984, February). Apple Bites Back. Fortune, 109(4), 86. Retrieved April 24, 2008, from ABI/INFORM Global database. (Document ID: 7080762).
• Prudential Equity Group LLC (2006) - Apple Computer Company Report. October 12, 2006. Published by Prudential Equity Group LLC, Jesse Tortora, Analyst. Accessed via EBSCO Host Research Site.
• Deana Sobel (2007). A Bite out of Apple? iTunes, Interoperability, and France's Dadvsi Law. Berkeley Technology Law Journal, 22(1), 267-291. Retrieved April 22, 2008, from ABI/INFORM Global database. (Document ID: 1285969531).

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