Apple, Inc. Strategic Workforce Improvement Plan - BrainMass

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See the attached file. Apple, Inc. Strategic Workforce Improvement plan

External Market Analysis • Analyze HRM data trends and issues to identify appropriate strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of Apple, Inc. from a global perspective.

Apple is a Nasdaq 100 international company with its headquarters in Cupertino, CA. It currently has 72,800 employees, and has (as of 9/2012) 250 stores in the U.S., and 140 stores internationally. Its sector is Consumer Goods, and its industry is Electronic Equipment, and its major competitors are Google, Hewlett Packard, Microsoft and Blackberry, and among the four companies, it is the leader in market capital. revenue, operating margin, and net income.

Strengths -From the comparisons among these companies, it is easy to see that Apple's marketing plan to sell through its stores and through the internet is a sound one. The high operating margin and the net income shows that it is using its revenue efficiently. In contrast, Hewlett Packard with almost 4 times as many employees, is showing a negative net income and a negative quarterly revenue growth.

-Two other strengths are the brand familiarity that it enjoys, and the growing number of almost exclusive products that it offers, which is called a closed ecosystem. People who buy from Apple often commit to them and have a strong buying loyalty to the company.

Weaknesses -A major problem is the cost of Apple's products. Apple is cashing in on the loyalty that it engenders in its customers, but some who are less loyal can save substantially by buying a less expensive brand.

-Another problem is the persistent tendency for Apple to release products that do not have all of the bugs fixed. Eventually they do get fixed, at no extra cost, but the bad faith that it produces does not help the customer demand, and it has probably contributed to its depressed market share.

-The loss of Steve Jobs in 2012 and the cultural mystique that he represented was a serious setback for the company. Other changes in the executive personnel may cause some to feel that Apple is not the same company anymore. As it is, the gross operating revenue has been decreasing in recent quarters.

Opportunities -The iPad mini and the iPhone 5 are now in high demand, and often a few stars in a company's offering can turn its market share losses around. In fact, the general growth of the tablet and smartphone markets puts Apple at a great advantage.

-Mobile phone advertising is a new market, and Apple already has the hardware and the software for it, with its product called the iAd.

Threats The dollar has gotten stronger in recent quarters. Since Apple earns about half its revenue in other countries, this can mean a loss for them. Foxconn is the main manufacturer of Apple products and from 2010 to 2012, their paychecks have tripled. Apple currently has no recourse but to pay them what they demand.

Apple SWOT Analysis (2013) Retrieved from http://www.strategicmanagementinsight.com/swot-analyses/apple-swot-analysis.html

• Summarize relevant data trends and issues, using research findings among different cultural and organizational perspectives, for both global and domestic applications for Apple, Inc.

This year, Apple has acquired three new companies. In March 2013, it acquired a Silicon Valley startup, WiFiSlam, which uses WiFi technology to map the inside of buildings. Effective July 19, 2013, Apple Inc acquired Locationary Inc., a Toronto, Canada based company that uses Apple's i-operating systems to collect location data (like WPS). Effective July 20, 2013, Apple Inc acquired Hopstop.com Inc. which is an electronic local transit directions guide for buses, trains, subways, etc. It is not clear yet what exactly Apple will do with these acquisitions, but I am guessing that it either has to do with homeland security, or the recent surge in school security at the wake of the recent classroom massacres. This trend may take Apple into a new area of electronic equipment, that could help to make us all safer at home and abroad.

WiFiSlam.com Website Retrieved from http://www.WiFiSlam.com

Hopstop Inc Website Retrieved from http://www.hopstop.com/

With Its Acquisition of Locationary, Apple Zeroes in on Maps,Big Data, and Competition (7/19/2007) Retrieved from http://techcrunch.com/2013/07/19/with-its-acquisition-of-locationary-apple-zeros-in-on-maps-big-data-and-competi ng-with-google/

Competitive Advantage through Human Capital • Identify best practices for human capital acquisition, development, and retention.

Among the best practices for human capital acquisition, development and retention are:

To have a long term mapped out plan identifying: when employees are likely to be needed, where they are likely to be obtained, and what kind of training development employees are likely to need.

Training development should be ongoing, not just lasting the first two weeks. If a continuing training program is not yet in place, one should be developed, using the management as content sources, and if possible, the local community college faculty.

To do that, an HRM must engage the best existing employees, contact the supplier chain, and make full ...