Overview You spent the last nine weeks learning about various aspects of an organization, its business functioning and the process of its strategic shift from a profit-only model to a triple bottom li

Consulting Report

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Consulting Report: Analysis of Apple Inc.'s Functional Areas and CSR Strategies

Introduction

In today's highly competitive business environment, companies must clearly understand their organizational structure and management style to achieve their strategic and operational goals. In this consulting report, an analysis of Apple Inc.'s functional areas and CSR strategies will get completed. It will determine how they can get applied to ABC Beauty, a global health and beauty company.

Functional Areas

Apple Inc. is a multinational technology company divided into various departments. They include the design, engineering, marketing, sales, operations, finance, and human resources. Apple's design department creates innovative, user-friendly products that meet customer needs. The design team collaborates with engineers and marketing professionals to ensure that the products are aesthetically appealing and meet the company's quality standards (Azim and Nahar, 2020). Apple's engineering department is responsible for developing and improving the company's hardware and software products. The team works closely with the design department to ensure the products are technically sound and meet customer requirements.

Apple's marketing department promotes the company's products and services to the target audience (Azim And Nahar, 2020). The team uses traditional and digital marketing strategies to create brand awareness and generate sales. The sales department sells the company's products and services to customers. The team works closely with the marketing department to create targeted sales campaigns that attract and retain customers.

Working Together to Achieve Strategic and Operational Goals

One explicit illustration of an Apple item where the organization's departments cooperated to accomplish their essential objectives is the Apple Watch. To produce a product that was not only visually appealing but also technologically advanced, the design department collaborated closely with the engineering department (Azim and Nahar, 2020). While the engineering team worked on expanding the watch's capabilities in terms of hardware and software, the design team's primary focus was developing a sleek and comfortable watch.

The promoting office made a designated crusade that zeroed in on the Apple Watch's special elements, for example, its wellness following and informing capacities. The sales team worked hard to ensure that the Apple Watch was distributed effectively and available to customers worldwide.

The operations department made certain that the Apple Watch was produced in a streamlined manner and that the supply chain was effectively managed. The finance department managed the project's budget to ensure it was completed with the available resources.

Competitive Advantage

Apple's success is due to its focus on innovation, quality, and user experience. Apple's products are known for their high quality, user-friendly design, and innovative features (Lockamy III, 2017). The company's marketing campaigns are also known for their creativity and emotional appeal, which helps to create brand loyalty among customers.

CSR Strategies

Apple's CSR strategies focus on promoting environmental sustainability, protecting human rights, and promoting ethical business practices. The company has set ambitious goals to reduce its carbon footprint, conserve natural resources, and use renewable energy sources. Apple's human rights policies ensure that workers in its supply chain are treated fairly and work in safe and healthy conditions (Azim and Nahar, 2020). The company also promotes ethical business practices by adhering to strict standards of conduct and transparency.

Application

ABC Beauty can apply Apple's CSR strategies by adopting environmentally sustainable practices, protecting human rights, and promoting ethical business practices. The company can reduce its carbon footprint by using renewable energy sources and minimizing waste. ABC Beauty can also ensure that its workers are treated fairly and work in safe and healthy conditions. The company can promote ethical business practices by adhering to strict standards of conduct and transparency.

References

Azim, M. I., & Nahar, S. (2020). How Green Is The Apple? Understanding Apple’s CSR Disclosure Practices. Azim, MI; Nahar, S, How Green Is The Apple? Understanding Apple’s CSR Disclosure Practices, Accountancy Business and the Public Interest, 2020, 19, pp. 309-329.

Lockamy III, A. (2017, July). An examination of external risk factors in Apple Inc.’s supply chain. In Supply Chain Forum: An International Journal (Vol. 18, No. 3, pp. 177-188). Taylor & Francis.

Tien, N. H. (2019). International distribution policy comparative analysis between samsung and apple. International journal of research in marketing management and sales, 2020(1), 2.