Strategic Planning Post 1 & 2

Post 1:
Many people never thought that Apple Computer Inc. was in a desperate financial need at one point. Gilbert F. Amelio, Apple's chairman and chief executive, gave a public strategy speech. He addressed an audience of 4,000 Apple software developers, customers and analysts assembled at the San Jose Convention Center in California stating that Apple will comeback from its financial need. He also mentioned that it would take several small steps in the journey for Apple to come back up. Rebuilding the company would mean refocusing on clearer, and less diverse group of products. Such products included the Macintosh computer line, an information appliance business for products priced at less than $1,000, its printers and monitors, and a new organization devoted to alternative platforms. While trying to keep its promise, Apple's stock fell 18.8 cents, closing at $27.063 in NASDAQ trading. The company announced that it would begin a $20 million program to support the outside developers who create software for Apple's products. Gilbert F. Amelio announced that "it would either go on to fulfill its destiny of "changing the world" or "decline into irrelevancy."


Post 2:
Apple has also set a set of goals they plan to reach for the 2010-215 period. Apple's strategic plan intends to guide research and development investments. To get where they want to get, Apple has listed the issues they need to resolve."

1. Developing apple and pear product quality in order to meet and exceed consumer preferences, maximize returns and avoid damaging inconsistencies that will erode the industry’s market share

2. Working more actively with industry supply chains to increase their efficiency and competitiveness

3. Preparing for imports and seeking to grow export markets.

4. Taking a proactive approach to environmental and social issues.

5. Building on the momentum for productivity improvement to achieve international competitiveness

6. Reinforcing consumer preference for apples and repositioning pear products through innovative marketing approaches."

Developing a national plan provides a mechanism to develop a unity of purpose across the industry in responding to the challenges and opportunities ahead.