Most organizations succeed in their operations when their management implements strategies that are commensurate with objectives and goals that have been stipulated within the organization’s constitution. Steve Jobs was appointed the Chief Executive officer of Apple Company and he adapted personal and business strategies that helped the company to succeed in its operations.
Business Strategies
Differentiation strategy
It is a strategy adopted by many company’s so as to try to increase the competitive edge of its products by trying to increase the perceived value of its goods and services relative to the perceived value of goods and services produced by its competitors. A firm can differentiate its products by modifying the features of the products so as to influence the perception of the customer on the said product.
Steve Jobs changed the software and hardware industry by introducing the windows interface and the mouse technology for standard applications in all the software that facilitated quicker service delivery to the customers. During the time when he was carrying his activities, he added Mac to the software so as to create awareness about its existence, customized the products of Apple to suit his target markets, and simplified the company’s product chart by implementing the market segmentation.
According to Ellison, he had that Steve Jobs had a unique way of producing different quality products made him be a renowned person, as he remembered today for his good work, unlike his competitors whose products have ceased to exist. He worked in the Apple Company that progressed and become one of the most successful companies in the world because since he had a rare vision and sense of producing quality goods for his customers.
He introduced the Macintosh interface that allowed people to easily interact with computers as they used the mouse to click on objects that appeared on the monitor. He also developed software that enabled the management to avoid following all the lines of command while producing the computers. He also modified the Apple II computer which had a built-in circuitry that allowed it to interface with the color video monitor. He engineered them and made them easy to use, intuitive, and compatible with machines thus allowing more people to have access to them. The package of this software was iTunes, iPhoto, iMovie, iDvd, and Apple works (Ellison, 2004).
Strategic alliance
This is a strategy states that employees should work together so that they can achieve a given goal without having to lose their individuality in an organization. It also states that one should have the intention of maximizing profits and minimization the costs involved in running the operations of the company (Schrage, p. 30).
Steve Jobs trained the young programmers on how to make the product that were been produced within the company and this enabled them to gain the relevant skills and knowledge that would result in the production of quality products for the company. William Campbell, Gareth Chang. Millard Drexler, Lawrence J Ellison, Arthur D Levinson, and Jerome York were amongst the chief Executive Officers who played a part in strategizing the future of the company. Together with all these directors, they signed a five-year contract agreement with Microsoft Company so that the two companies could work together in producing the Mac platform technologies. Microsoft world agreed to develop all the versions of Microsoft Office, Internet Browser, and any other tools needed for the Mac platform since they had the expertise and necessary expertise that would ensure that the operations of the company would be carried out effectively.
Focus strategy
This is a strategy that addresses the issue of dividing the entire market and focusing on only a few segments allows companies to provide only differentiated products to the specific market segment. The Company manufactured over twelve different types of computers and it became very difficult for consumers to make a choice of exactly which model they could choose from.
It was reported that Steve Jobs was diagnosed with cancer, but this did not deter him from striving to achieve his objective of running the affairs of his company. It was also noted that Steve Jobs was a fearless person, undertook risks and this smart way of dealing with issues made his company attain greater heights of prosperity. Apple through Steve Jobs was able to customize the different models that they had so that they could meet the different demands of the market.
The management came up with two models only namely the consumer and professional models instead of having so many models in the market The professional ones had the prefixPower while the consumers’ one had the prefixInternet.This in return allowed the company to develop the products as well as grow the company. The management of Apple Company stated that they would prepare a research and development budget that would be used to enable it to find out ways of competing effectively with their competitors so that they would remain in business for a long time hence generate more income for the company (Thayer 2007).
Personal strategies
Pursuing a passion
According to Thayer, he stated that Steve Jobs was important for a person who was focused on his dreams since he was honest with this work and colleagues as this enabled him to achieve the goals and objectives he had set. Wilson stated that Steve Jobs was passionate about his work. From his working days at his fathers’ garage, he believed that the only way that one could be satisfied was to do what one believed to be great. He believed that he had to create things for him to be successful. Despite his failures at Apple III and also being fired from the workplace he never gave up on his dreams.
Doing meaningful things when one has the time
This personal strategy states that it is important for people to fully utilize their time as it can bring about changes within their organization. For instance, Steve Jobs stated that one should not waste time on other people’s issues, but he would be focused on the development issues that would bring about changes in an organization. He addressed the issue of nurturing one’s courage by carefully following intuition and heart desires so that one may have a well-enriched life in the future (Thayer 2007).
One shouldn’t be afraid of beginning a project from the beginning
Steve Jobs advocated for the idea of been focused no matter the situation one was in. For instance, he was sacked from his job, but this did not deter him from utilizing the passion he had for his computer career. He started from scratch to develop a project that would earn him an income. After a period of five years, he had established companies that were known as Next and Pixar. Later on, he joined the Apple Company where he continued with his activities, where he fully utilized his full potential that contributed to the success of the company.
One should live each day as if it was their last one
This strategy states that one should live their life to the fullest. Steve Jobs was diagnosed with cancer and was informed that he would live for a short period, but this not so as he lived a long time with the disease. It is from this traumatic situation that he realized that it was important for each person to appreciate each time that one lived since one can die any time before they have realized their dreams. Even though no one can escape death there are some fears that are associated with death that makes one always remain positive and fully utilize their time when they are living on earth (Rodger 2002).
The ways in which Steve Job used business and Personal Strategies to be successful
Steve Jobs developed different kinds of machines such as the Macintosh that became the customers’ favorite machine in the world. His personality and ambition made the company be successful, but this achievement was not appreciated by the other executive members of the company that lead to his been fired from the company. Even though he had been neglected by the mother who preferred to give birth to a baby girl, he did not despise himself but focused on how he would be successful in the future.
His leadership skills
These are the skills that are used by the management so as to motivate their employees to achieve the goals and objectives that have been set by the organization. Steve was also a very visionary leader who was open-minded and tried to put twists into old techniques so as to come up with new ideas. He was also very innovative and most of the time he spent time meeting suppliers so as to get new ideas from them on how to run the affairs of the company.
It is therefore important for the management of organizations to put in place strategies that can bring about changes within their organizations. It was observed that Steve Jobs’s personal and business strategies brought about change within the Apple Company.
Work Cited
Brashares, Ann. Steve Jobs: Think Different. Brookfield, CT: Twenty-first Century Books, 2001.
Ellison, E.Todd Personality as a Brand Differentiation Edge, 2004. Web.
Gilbert, Jennifer, “Steve Case,” Advertising Age, 2000, p. 134.
Rodger Rafter. Apple’s Business Model and Strategy. The Motley Fool. 2002. Web.
Thayer Helen Steve Jobs & 4 Strategies to stay hungry & quirky. 2007. Thayer Helen. Web.
Wilson, Suzan. Steve Jobs: Wizard of Apple Computer. Berkeley Heights, NJ: Enslow, 2001.