Reference no: EM132212099

Our second critical thinking exercise deals with external analysis for an organization. The topic for CTE 2 is “Apple, Inc.”. In the electronics/telecommunications industry, Apple has played a dominant role since more than a decade. However, a popular perception is that the issue of “stagnancy in innovation” in its products and services has plagued Apple over the last few years. And while it has been an undisputed market leader in the U.S., the same cannot be said for Apple at the global level of smartphone industry. This week, as the company’s CEO, Tim Cook takes the stage on Sept. 12 to announce its new products and features at the Apple’s annual convention in California, let’s examine the Strategic Group in which Apple is embedded and the PESTEL factors that affect its performance (see this week’s chapter and study notes to understand Strategic Groups and PESTEL). Find all the information that you can about the Strategic Group in which Apple exists and the PESTEL factors affecting Apple’s performance. Finally, answer the following questions: 1) Identify at least one factor from each of the six PESTEL factors affecting Apple, and explain how each factor affects or is likely to affect Apple. For example, if you think that “lifestyle changes” of people is one of the Sociocultural factors likely to affect Apple, please explain how in detail. 2) Create a list of all other players (companies) in Apple’s strategic group, and explain why you chose to consider them a part of this strategic group. For example, you may consider Samsung to be a part of Apple’s strategic group because they both compete directly, in the same markets, and target the same type of customer segments. Support your claims using examples and evidences. 3) Explain how each of the six factors identified by you in step 1) affects or is likely to affect each of the companies in your list from step 2), and whether that is beneficial or detrimental for Apple. For example, is “lifestyle changes” a relevant Sociocultural factor for Samsung? How? Is that good news or bad news for Apple? Taken together, these three answers will provide evidence of your level of critical thinking in the areas of external analysis. There is a minimum limit of 500-words to your response. Your responses will be graded based on the following criteria: Logic and reasoning in arguments Supplementary evidence and supporting examples Detailed and clear explanation Insightfulness Creativity/novelty in the information provided Please make sure to support your answers with examples, evidence, and detailed, well-articulated explanation. Answers that do the "bare minimum" (e.g., one or two sentences total) or "state the obvious" (e.g. "a business must be aware of global changes because they are important for success") will not earn any points.