Corporate Social Responsibility Of Apple Company
Apple is classified as an American international business that designs/produces electronics and computer software products. Apple has established a well-recognized reputation in their industry that is seen by majority of the population across the globe. Their success is reached from pleasing stakeholders, which result in, corporate social responsibilities affecting their level of performance in terms of customer attitude and revenue.
A policy on sustainable material sourcing is used by Apple to address stakeholder environmental concerns. The four major stakeholder groups include customers, employees, investors, and employees of suppliers and distributors. Economic forces pertain to the income, expenditures, and resources that affect the cost of running a business/household. The two aspects of economic forces include; a macroeconomic view of the marketplace and a microeconomic perspective of consumer income. In an inflationary economy, the cost to produce/buy products and services escalates as prices increase. From a marketing perspective, if prices rise faster than consumer income, the number of items consumers can buy decreases. Apple focuses on the unique value of their device compared to price. This depicts a large portion of Apple’s marketing approach, as they never compete with their pricing margins with their competitors. Thus, the main economic factors may include taxation policies, economic development, exchange rate, inflation, living standards, and average income. Majority of their components for their products are from foreign suppliers.
Apple’s main objective is to provide their customers an experience like no other with their applications, refreshing features, and appearance of their product. Whether Apple is offering an iPhone/iPad/Mac their products ensure we are getting the highest quality for every dollar spent. Generally speaking, Apple earns a higher gross with its top-of-the-line features and specifications. Regardless of the product, the company must sustain its price in a means to gather market share. Apple offers a variety of products/services at different price margins depending on one’s need/want. Quick growth of developing countries and balanced economies of developed countries both face as opportunities for Apple to expand their business to larger extremes. Technological forces refer to inventions from applied science or engineering research. A few of the technological factors affecting Apple’s business include; competitors do not encounter difficulties in recreating their products, Apple’s operating systems restrict what is possible on each device, and the increasing numbers of cybercriminals could affect Apple’s reputation for its protection/security. During 2012, it was bought to attention the company was configuring problems, as their devices were not able to recognize Wi-Fi/wireless networks, it dropped connections and speed. In 2012, customers were exposed to hackers who interfered in their online interactions causing security flaws and allowing users to track/monitor confidential information. However, Apple takes benefit of its creativeness and originality, thus investing massive amounts in research and development, which allows Apple to be the highest, ranked in contemporary products.
Social forces include the demographic characteristics and values of the population. Increasing use of mobile access and social media are opportunities that allow consumers to enjoy their hands-on mobile devices and request greater products from their corporation for users all around. Technology businesses/corporations are expanding on an increasing pace; in return, Apple gains a strong opportunity to expand marketing strategies for businesses and educational groups for countries with a stable income and large target audiences. The effective luxurious products have grown due to the high purchasing power across the globe in different markets. Furthermore, with the use of iTunes, an essential music app, it has characterized and shaped individual’s lifestyles making music the largest social influence for Apple users. Motivation is affected by the behavior of buyers consisting of basic, security, and social needs encouraging them to gain satisfaction for their product. Apple provides intrinsic and extrinsic remuneration for those employees that do their job effectively. Intrinsic bonus allows employees to be motivated as they find their comfort/enjoyment in it with a sense of gratification. Apple urges their employees to fall in love with their products and software, thus giving them more revenue.
Apple challenges their employees by allowing them to recognize their maximum potential while gaining performance and improvement from each. Extrinsic motivation includes money, awards, and appreciation in a means to gain integrity and reliability from their employees. Perception is a step procedure where the individual chooses, establishes, and understands information for a judgment/decision. Apple is recognized as a superior brand thus buyers are encouraged to purchase products in the market and get associated with the best class of technology in society. Apple has a brand philosophy to “Think Different” representing intelligence creativity and innovation. For consumers, Apple is about “creativeness” thus affecting our decision-making process and benefiting Apple’s bottom line through our perception of the lifestyle brand and how it fits with the human reproductive strategy. Learning relies on skills, education, and objective through practice/experience and can be either conditional or cognitive.
Apple evolves amongst three sessions: stay simple, cater to the customer, and think to the future. Attitudes/beliefs include responding to a product, thus influencing the purchasing power. Each individual can affect others intention/decision to buy an Apple product depending on the overall analysis/research towards it. Apple’s target market includes young children, college/university students, business owners, and adults. Age group includes 22-55 both males/females, and medium-to-high-income individuals, Demographic segmentation of Apple is profitable, as products are made based on age, lifestyle, and profession of consumers. Geographical segmentation illustrates Apple as being recognized across the globe. Apple’s products are available from online retail stores.
Apple grows by expanding most in retail stores that are managed/regulated by the company itself and through third parties, which allow them to expand their market growth and gain exceptional amounts of customers. Behaviors of customers include attitudes, product information, and usage. Apple has a massive platform for advertisements, providing a strong brand image fascinating many consumers with original and convenient products. The psychographic segment is determined by customer’s lifestyle, personality, and likes/dislikes. The different segments allow Apple to be the largest technology corporation to make the most revenue!
Apple utilizes company strengths/opportunities to overcome weaknesses/threats in the industry environment. Strengths include; strong brand image, high-profit margins. Weaknesses include; restricted distribution network, overpriced products. Opportunities include higher profit based on more demand for newer products. Some recommendations consist of: increasing the pace of manufacturing products, evolving partnership contracts to increase market production further increasing revenue and effective product/price differentiation to make product range more attractive in emerging markets.
