Donna Dubinsky and Apple Computer, Inc.
Report of Findings and Recommendations
Prepared By:
Robin Armstrong
Table of Contents
Background and Scope 3
Current Scenario 4
Situation Analysis 6
Conclusions and Recommendations 8
Background and Scope
This report has been prepared for Professor XXX. This report summarizes the complete review of Donna Dubinsky’s career at Apple Computer as the Director of Distribution and Sales Administration and the proposed distribution system. In addition, Donna Dubinsky’s response and handling of the proposed distribution system will be assessed.
This review concludes that despite Donna Dubinsky’s stellar education as a Yale graduate and a Harvard MBA she completely
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“You wanted to agree so you found a ground to agree on…But you know what? I never really believed it.”
In April 1985, Donna Dubinsky attended the “Leadership Experience” seminar. Ms. Dubinsky thought that Ms. Coleman used this seminar to “lobby for her cause.” Ms. Dubinsky began to see her own disillusionment as part of a larger problem where the executives were “confused, demoralized, and critical of the company.” She ended the seminar with the realization that proposed distribution strategy was “so radical that it would shut the company down.” So the next day she met with Bill Campbell who was Roy Weaver’s manager and presented him with an ultimatum. Ms. Dubinsky wanted thirty (30) days to develop her own distribution strategy proposal or she would leave Apple.
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Situation Analysis
The following situations are analyzed.
Donna Dubinsky versus Proposed Distribution System
Since Donna Dubinsky and Roy Weaver did not address Mr. Jobs questions regarding the 1985 Distribution Business Plan, he assigned Debi Coleman to develop a new Distribution Strategy Proposal based on the “just-in-time” concept. Ms. Dubinsky was not proactive in presenting her issues and concerns regarding the “just-in-time” concept. It is assumed that she considered the idea not feasible and that it would not gain momentum; however, the exact opposite occurred.
Unbeknownst to Donna Dubinsky, around the same time, Roy Weaver’s
Apple Computers is a well-established and highly profitable company that has several leading technology- and computer-based products on the market, and that retains a highly loyal consumer base in its niche personal computing market (Yahoo Finance, 2012; Hoovers, 2012). Though the company faltered for some time in its history, it has again reached the pinnacle of innovation and progress in the computing and technology industries, and its product rollouts constitute some of the most anticipated and avidly watched events each year by early adopters and investors alike (Yahoo Finance, 2012; Hoovers, 2012). Despite the recent passing of Steve Jobs, one of the company's founders and the company's CEO and public face during the company's resurgence over the past decade-and-a-half, most projections for the company are optimistic in both the short and long terms (Yahoo Finance, 2012).
During my time as a computing services technician at Mount Allison University I gained some valuable experience in the IT field. One thing that stands out immediately is the experience of working and maintaining Apple devices. We received some introduction to Apple hardware and a short program on Apple operating systems with Mr. Murray, but did not work with Apples on a regular basis. I regularly worked on Apples in the PC lab.
The management wants to have a Just-in-Time Distribution. For me, this is a good plan since they will be able to get a better forecast demand coming from the distributors. The goal is to let the supply chain players participate in this new approach in supplying products to the customers.
Sales delivered strong results, and Dubinsky was a recognized positive contributor to it. Dubinsky’s group performed well on key metrics including dealer satisfaction,supporting new product launches without delay, and scaling up operations as the Company grew. Her group had no complaints from other Apple divisions about costs, or from dealer customers about inventory availability,demonstrating strong logistics performance. She was playing for a winning team.
Issue 03: The weak area of Apple Inc. is the fact that most of its products are all available in the market. Consumers around the world have many options to popular hardware and software devices and operating systems. Since PCs are the one that are
Apple is a global company represented in many parts of the world, but born in the United States by computer wizards by the names of Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak who founded the company back in 1976 (Capon, 2008). The organization deals with the design and sale of computer hardware, software and offers tech support to its customers. Examples of the hardware the company manufactures and sells include mobile phones, personal computers, iPads, tablets and iTunes with associated brands, like the MacBook and iPhones that represent Apple’s driving force towards its success. It is recognized as a brand leader in consumer electronics by the world in terms of quality and customer satisfaction and despite the wide product range, Apple manages each product in a distinct way that is a single business unit (Mittan, 2010).
Since 1976 Apple’s innovation has helped the company become a market leader in computer and mobile electronics. Through this time the company has faced a number of challenges either it be an internal power struggles or criticism from the media for certain aspects of their business model. This report covers five different issues that the company is facing or may face in the future.
One of the major challenges facing Apple was to get the appropriate replacement of the company’s visionary Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Steve Jobs who died on October 2011. The CEO was responsible for turning Apple into what it is today. Apple is in this case challenged to purse the strategies employed by Steve, that propelled the company to new heights, and which saw the company become a
Apple Inc. is established in California on April 1, 1976 and incorporated on January 3, 1977. Apple Inc. focuses on designing and manufacturing consumer electronics and software products. Which should be mentioned is that the company's best-known products are Macook, iPod, iPhone, and iPad.
Introduction The intention of presenting this report is to give a full strategic appraisal and evaluation of Apple Inc. In 1976, the company was founded in a garage in Santa Clara, California. The American multinational corporation mainly involves in designing and marketing consumer electronics, computer software and as well as personal computers. Differentiation is the current strategy position of Apple Inc. There are five main firms in the PC industry and among them; the world’s leading brand is Dell. Apple’s major target is to sustain their present strategic position and to take over the market position as a leader. The key stakeholders include Steve Jobs, employees, lenders and the government.
Revenues are recognized in a net basis and only commissions they retain from each sale are reflected under the company’s financial statements.
Nowadays, Apple has positioned itself to be an innovator in the personal computer industry and Apple has developed by offering modern products compared to its competitors. According to Apple’s mission statement last year, “Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OS X, iLife, iWork and professional software. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store. Apple has reinvented the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App store, and is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices with iPad.” (Business Management,
It is important to understand the background of the board members of Apple Computers to understand the impact they have on the company. Tim Cook, William V. Campbell Millard Drexler, Albert Gore Jr and Andrea Jung are all crucial board members that impact Apple Computers daily operations.
* Apple has the customer base mainly in the United States that is devoted to the company and its brands.
Apple Inc. has launched its iPhone in January 2007 (telegraph) as a new product in the market with latest technology and it was the first multi touch smartphone adding the feature of iPod and received an overwhelmed response by selling 270000 units. It had created a new record for a new company like apple, iPhone had laid a stepping stone for the success of Apple and till this time iPhone is the best seller product of Apple Inc. during first quarter of 2016 apple has sold over 74 million iPhones worldwide. (statista, 2016).