Strategic Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 13

Strategic Management - Essay Example This essay presents a discussion about a strategy for competing against Apple Inc, a well-established and successful firm with an established brand and a capability for in-house VLSI design. Apple Inc, which first incorporated on January 3, 1997, is a company built on ability in electronic design and a capacity for taking an entrepreneurial risk at a time when the market suggested a future for personal computers and electronic gadgetry (Linzmayer, 2004, Pp. 1 – 10). Its founders Stephen Gary Wozniak and Steven Paul Jobs had an interest in electronic design and they were able to impress Armas Clifford, a retired software designer with connections and capital, who stepped in to help them with US$ 92,000 of his own funds and a secured credit line worth US$ 250,000 from Bank of America. The capital meant a lot to the backyard operation that Jobs and Wozniak had been operating to make electronic gadgets for some time. With continued success, Apple Computers went public in 1980 when Job’s initial 45 % stake translated into 7.5 million shares, worth US$ 82.35 million when Apple Stock was at an all time low in 1982 or US$ 2255.85 million in the year 2000 when the company stock record high. Within the relatively recent past, Apple Inc recorded net sales of US$ 32, 479 million in the year 2008, with a net income of US$ 4, 834 million (Apple Inc, 2009, â€Å"Annual Report for 2008†). This result is an improvement on the result for the year 2007, when Apple recorded net sales of US$ 24,006 million and earnings of US$ 3,496 million. However, despite the fact that Apple has enjoyed success, it is important for this computer company to remain vigilant in difficult economic times when competition amongst computer manufacturers is intense and efforts to exploit its weaknesses are possible. Thus, it makes sense to examine the present market environment for Apple and to reflect on a

Basically Good, Bad, or Both Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Basically Good, Bad, or Both - Essay Example Human beings are a combination of both, good and evil because they are neutral and they have the free will and determination to adopt any. In order to be civilized humans have set boundaries and rules that determine good and evil. Aristotle argued that since man is a social animal and setting boundaries for good and evil is but natural because they are essential for humans remain civilized. Humans are neutral because they are equally capable and free to make a rational choice between good and evil. It is the society, upbringing and biological factors that affect a human's ability to think and decide. So it's these factors that are to be accredited blamed or for good or evil, respectively. It has been proved that the human mind is not a blank slate by Steven Pinker in his book "The Blank Slate" and the other factors like the surroundings, sociological and biological factors affect the mind's ability to think. Humans are not born good or born evil because they are capable of both as th ey grow up into adults. Education and guidance have an effect on the mind's capability to decide and choose between good and evil. ... Whereas, the developed world is a different scenario and people are usually educated and well- brought up even well-fed and well-provided with all the needs and wants and it's a fact that these people are sensitive and have made rational decisions to do good and avoid evil. Both the qualities of good and evil are present within us and we must make a choice. There are outside influences that affect the nature of the choice. The most controversial example is George W. Bush who is civilized and a good man in the eyes of many and especially his relatives but he is responsible for waging wars for oil and millions have been killed in his quest. He is a combination of good and evil. Bush is a good person to some people and maybe he himself believes that he is working in the best interests of his people and his country. But the fact remains that his actions were evil and millions of innocent lives have been lost. There is a reason for human nature to take this form and there are several theo ries to explain it. The philosophical naturalism believes that humans are superior beings and they are the result of evolution. Humanist philosophers argue that good and evil are simply labels and made up boundaries in order to civilize this world. It is the brain and the society at work that bring out this distinction. These influences affect our decisions to be good or to be evil. Man was born free and free will according to Thomism by Aquinas explains that a free will is the only essential proof of the existence of a soul. Aristotle supported this theory as well since according to his concept of hylomorphism the soul is significant and also universal and the soul makes every human being different. Therefore, when every one of us is different, every one of us has a