Norms of Apple Essay Example

Norms of Apple Essay Diversity and Cultural Norms of Apple October 7, 2010 Diversity and Cultural of Apple As our society continues to evolve, technology has created an outbreak of shortcuts for humans to make use of each day. As our ancestors has left us with such creations as electricity, the telephone, transportation and much more, geniuses of today’s world has taken society to another level. The technology that we use today allows us to do so much although we are physically doing nothing. Gadgets such as computers, cell phones, iPods, and navigation systems are just a few nhancements civilization has adapted too, and Apple Computers is one of the companies that have been a success in creating this enormous outbreak of technology. Apple Computers was established on April 1, 1976 in Cupertino, California by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne and incorporated on January 3, 1977. Apple is credited with the creations of a lot of the technology enhanced gadgets which we use on a daily basis in the work place and in our personal lives. Apple is accredited with such products as Apple Computers, computer software, ipad, the iphone and many forms of electronic products. Because technology is an enhancement to all cultures, race, creed and gender, Apple products are offered in not only in the United States but in Africa, Middle East, India, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, The Caribbean and Canada. As Apple’s products are being marketed to almost all nations, their trademark never changed. Apple simply figured out how and what it takes to satisfy their target market. Some people may have never realized on their cell phones and computers that they have an option to change the language and the time zone. These are added features set in each system to accommodate the many cultures in which Apple serves. As a convenience to all of Apple’s customers, no matter what country they may reside in, Apple has many retailers available to purchase Apple products and a 24 hour technical support. Apple products can be purchased at major retailers like Sears, Wal-Mart and Price Club. Also products can be ordered via internet or by phone. Apple’s Technical support staff is knowledgeable in all areas about Apple’s products and has been labeled as geniuses. We will write a custom essay sample on Norms of Apple specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Norms of Apple specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Norms of Apple specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer From the Genius Bar Apple’s Technical support is known for the â€Å"use their impressive knowledge to answer technical questions, troubleshoot problems, and perform repairs right in your neighborhood store. † (2010) The Genius Bar is also a common place to receive free advice, insight, and friendly hands-on technical support. As Apple continues to break technology barriers the company has recognized areas in which they can improve. Understanding the challenges amp; maximizing the benefits of diversity, Apple must set forth an action plan. The first course of action involves creating, facilitating, and implementing strategies for embracing, promoting, and celebrating diversity. In order to achieve desired results, Apple will focus inward on the internal organizational culture. Simple actions such as recognizing foreign holidays will give employees a better awareness of the importance and influence that other cultures have on society. For instance, during the American Christmas holiday season, the internal organization at Apple can also incorporate the celebrating of Kwanzaa and Hanukah. Email blasts to employees with daily facts about each holiday will ensure that Apple is providing the necessary tools to educate employees on diversity. Opposed to only having an annual Christmas party, a celebration of Kwanzaa and Hanukah will also showcase that the organization is aware and accepting of other diverse cultures. Another action plan in creating, facilitating, and implementing strategies to maximize the benefits of diversity is to hold diversity workshops. Within these workshops, employees will learn about cultural differences between America and the rest of the world. The intended purpose of these orkshops is to demonstrate that by having a worldly view and awareness of the differences in global societies; one will only better themselves as a prepared professional in an organization that seeks to globalize its business. This will be attained through a series of videos, testimonials, and case studies about other organizations that have benefited from embracing, promoti ng, and celebrating diversity. Also included within these workshops will be lessons on cultural etiquette. Some people may not be attentive to cultural differences, such as how to properly greet people, which distinguish the American standards from others. This particular aspect of the workshops will be emphasized because of the importance of international business. It would be terrible for Apple’s reputation to be known as rude or arrogant for not conceding to foreign cultural etiquette when conducting international business. Another course of action to maximize the benefits of diversity within Apple is to form project management groups made up of a diverse selection of employees. These groups of employees will be diverse in sex, age, ethnicity, and cultural background. By having a wide range of people from various demographics working together, Apple will have a solid foundational structure in a diverse workforce. After having completed the diversity workshops, employees will then take their newly attained cultural knowledge into the field. Working with diverse project management groups at this point in time will be easier to manage if had the workshops not been implemented. More specifically, as the project management groups will be formed of leaders and excelling employees of the organization, Apple will internally strengthen its embracement of diversity. These project managers possess the leadership skills that other employees, those who are not managers or those who are performing and/or in the phase of improving, look up to for inspiration. New ideas and strategies from these project groups could result to the following: precise marketing plans for products targeted for specific demographics, creating new alliances with other foreign organizations, and charitable events to raise funds for developing countries. The opportunities to maximize off diversity will also separate Apple from other companies that do not excel in this area. This will place the company in the forefront of worldwide organizations that embrace, promote, and celebrate cultural differences; that of which will create a substantial competitive advantage over other companies. September 2010 and the Apple have mass produced the products that are available to us such as iPad, and iPhone4. iPad will be available to a lot more countries later this year and Apple will announce availability and local pricing for these additional countries at a later date, but this month it going to be available to China. To introduce Apple’s products to developing countries to help enhance their use of technology has started in September. September 13th, Apple announced that the Wi-Fi models of its magical iPadâ„ ¢ will be available to China’s consumers on September 17th. It will be at the Apple Retail Store, and some Apple Authorized Resellers. iPad will provide the users with the capability to browse the web, read and send e-mails, share the photos, music, play games, read eBooks, watch HD videos and a lot more. In China, the iPad Wi-Fi models will be available for a suggested retail price of CNY3988 for 16GB, CNY4788 for 32GB and CNY5588 for 64GB. 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 is reinventing the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App Store, and has recently introduced its magical iPad which is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices. September 19th, Apple ® announced that iPhone ® 4 will be available to customers in China beginning Saturday, September 25th at Apple Retail Stores including the new Apple Store ® Hong Kong Plaza in Shanghai and the new Apple Store Xidan Joy City in Beijing opening on the same day. iPhone 4 will also be available on Saturday at China Unicom retail stores. iPhone 4 comes with iOS 4, the newest version of the world’s most advanced mobile operating system, which includes over 100 new features. The revolutionary App Store? provides access to more than 250,000 apps including the new iMovie ® app built just for iPhone 4. Phone 4 will be sold in China through Apple’s retail stores for a suggested retail price of CNY4,999 for the 16GB model and CNY5,999 for 32GB model without a contract. 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 iTune s online store. Apple is reinventing the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App Store, and has recently introduced its magical iPad which is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices. To introduce any product into the country that is not necessary are able to provide the funding to upgrade or bring in any form of technology becomes very tricky for the companies. One has to do a very extensive research if the prices of the products are able to be afforded by the consumers. One of the things that maybe done are the product to be assembled in the country in question. That will not only have the product assessable to the people, as well it creates jobs. As within any organizational structure, it is important that there exist rules to resolve conflict. Proper conflict resolution skills will be the key to sustaining a diverse business culture. With diversity amongst the workforce, there will be many occasions where employees may not agree on ideas or the method of approach each takes to complete assignments or collaborate. Thus, along with the diversity workshops, there will be a training seminar on how to go about conflict resolution. This training seminar will highlight the appropriate course of action to take, who to notify for assistance, and how to move forward without the issue being a prolonged distraction. Again, in order for Apple to sustain a cohesive and fully-functional diverse workforce, conflict resolution skills and action plans are a main priority. Today, success is more than creating new products. It is about reinventing business processes and building entirely new markets that meet untapped customer needs. Most important, as the Internet and globalization broaden the pool of new ideas, its about selecting and executing the right ideas and bringing them to market in record that will justify the approach of the action plan. According to our survey takers, the number one obstacle is slow development times. Fast-changing consumer demands, global outsourcing, and open-source software make speed to market paramount today. Yet companies often cant organize themselves to move faster, says George Stalk Jr. , a senior vice-president with BCG, who has studied time-based competition for 25 years. Fast cycle times require taking bets even when huge payoffs arent a certainty. Some organizations are nearly immobilized by the notion that [they] cant do anything unless it moves the needle, says Stalk. In addition, he says, speed requires coordination from the hub: Fast innovators organize the corporate center to drive growth. They do not wait for â€Å"it to come up through the business units (Bloomsberg, 2006). As multicultural businesses gain more buying power and their lifestyles become more affluent, multicultural markets are growing in economic muscle. This in turn attracts more corporations, as they compete for market share in multicultural communities. At the top of the list are the masters of many genres of innovation. Apple Computer Incorporated once again the creative expert. To launch the iPod, says innovation consultant Larry Keeley of Doblin Incorporated, Apple used no fewer than seven types of innovation. They included networking (an agreement among music companies to sell their songs online), business model (songs being sold for a buck each online), and branding. Consumers love the ease and believe of the iPod, but it is the simplicity of the iTunes software platform that turned a great MP3 player into a revenue-gushing phenomenon (Bloomsberg, 2006). Apple Computer Incorporated and Twitter is a unique innovative relationship. At Twitter, software engineers use Mac systems running the most recent version of Mac OS X. Twitter was established using software tools like Ruby on Rails, which is provided as part of Mac OS X. Engineers can tap into other tools such as TextMate, a friendly yet, powerful code editor available only for the Mac (Mac. com). Apple Computer Incorporated has entered new method of According to Bloomsberg Business Week- mobile advertising market. Few speculate that the advertising market will have a new characteristic and appearance. Apple’s iAds will debut at the end of 2010 (Cnet. com) References Wal-Mart Sores. (2001). Wal-Mart Corporation. Retrieved from http://walmartstores. com/AboutUs/297. aspx (2010). Apple. Retrieved from http://www. apple. com/ (2010). Apple Support. Retrieved from http://www. apple. com/support/