Case Study, Apple Inc. in 2012: Crafting & Executing Strategy

Primer on Case Study Analysis(2).pdf; 19e_Section7_TN_Case14.pdf

Case Study

Directions

Read the Case Study, Apple Inc. in 2012 (Case #14) in Part Two of your
textbook (Thompson; Peteraf, Gamble, Strickland, Crafting & Executing
Strategy, The Quest for Competitive Advantage 19e).  Complete a written
Case Analysis of this company by using the required Case Study Format as
described in your text on page CA1 through CA11.

From the instructor:

Cases Analysis

I wanted to clarify expectations for the case analyses in this course.
Please read the following carefully as, moving forward, I will direct questions
regarding case analyses to this post.

1. You must thoroughly address ALL of the required “criteria”
listed in the attached case study scoring guides. For every case analysis you
submit, I carefully check to be sure that each one of these areas has been
thoroughly addressed. Miss a required criterion and you miss points. Period.
These criteria must include:

a) The historical perspective is described.

b) The current situation is described including
its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.

c) The central issues are described.

d) The alternatives and solution are described and
evaluated.

e) An implementation plan is developed.

2. A good way to ensure a better score on your case analyses is to include
headings for each of the required criteria listed in the attached case
study scoring guides. Also, carefully review the attached Primer on Case Study Analysis.

3. You may either write your case in outline format or in narrative (written
paper) format. However, again, ALL of the required criteria
listed in the attached case study scoring guides must be thoroughly addressed.
As a general rule, you should plan to write at least 3-5 pages for each case
(single-spaced if using outline format; double-spaced if using a narrative
format).

4. I do not require APA format for case analyses. However, I DO require that
you cite references using whatever method you are comfortable with.

5. The most common oversight I see in case analysis is that many students do
a good job recapping the case. However, their alternative solutions and
implementation plan are either severely lacking in depth or they simply skip
the alternative solutions and implementation plan altogether.

6. There are usually no “right” answers for case analyses. What we look for
is the quality and depth of your logical analysis.