All cases must be submitted using APA format. Failure to attempt APA format will result in a letter grade deduction from the case grade. Case analyses will not be accepted late. You will receive a zero for cases turned in late. Each written case study should be a minimum of 1,000 words. If formatted appropriately, this is equivalent to approximately 4 double-spaced pages excluding title page, table of contents, and references.
1. Explain Apple’s success over the past decade relative to its main competitors. Think about which industries it has disrupted and how.
2. Is Apple’s success attributable to industry effects, firm effects, or a combination of both? Explain.
3. What are the greatest challenges Apple is facing? Detail them by internal weaknesses and external threats. How can Apple transform internal weaknesses into strengths, and external threats into opportunities?
4. Apply the three-step process for developing a good strategy outlined above (diagnose the competitive challenge, derive a guiding policy, and implement a set of coherent actions) to Apple’s situation today. Which recommendations would you have for Apple to outperform its competitors in the future? Be specific.
