Apple Inc. Business Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Apple Inc. Business Analysis - Essay Example The organization’s current strengths are multi-varied. Perhaps Apple’s greatest current strength is its competitive advantages. From the earliest incarnations of Apple Computer the company sought to carve out a competitive advantage through horizontal and vertical integration that restricted external product licensing ("Apple computer, inc.," 2011). Today among Apple’s strongest products are the iPhone, iPod, iPad, and the Mac book. These elements have a strong presence in everyday recreation uses, artistic practices, and education. In addition, they are supported by Apple’s globally strong brand. Another prominent advantage is Apple’s attention to design elements. Building products from the ground up allows Apple to implement innovative design elements that create a loyal customer base. One considers the iMac released in 1998 with its eggshell design as prominently implementing this technique ("Apple computer, inc.," 2011). This design advantage al so extends into Apple’s image. Apple, Inc. increasingly cultivates an image that presents itself as the alternative choice to mainstream computer producers. This has allowed Apple to become a cultural force resulting in significant market advantage. The iPhone contains Apple’s unique operating system, allowing it significant quality advantage over competitors ("Apple -- iphone," 2011). Indeed, quality product design has become one of the driving forces of Apple’s success and has created a significant competitive barrier for outside manufacturers, such as Google (Gilbertson, 2010). One must also consider the iPhone’s competitive advantage in terms of its position in the Apple whole. In these regards, Apple has been able to leverage its competitive position in mp3 with iTunes and its compatibility with the Macintosh operating system as a means of encouraging user identification (Schramm, 2011). The Apple App Store also provides the organization with a uniqu e advantage over other smart phone suppliers. In addition, Apple’s implementation of Siri voice activation technology will surely drive an amount of future sales. Weaknesses While Apple, Inc. has a number of strengths one must consider their potential weaknesses. One of the largest questions of the organization is the extent that they can continue their current unprecedented streak of innovation and growth. Perhaps the greatest challenge in this realm of understanding considers that company founder Steve Jobs recently died; significant questions remain as to whether new CEO Tim Cook will be able to continue this past success. While the Apple App store is a highly important element in the iPhone’s success the Android Marketplace has begun developing a number of competitive applications as a means of threatening Apple’s smart phone sustainability (Wauters, 2011). In addition, Microsoft has developed a new smart phone design and will pose new challenges to Appleâ⠂¬â„¢s overarching market share. Still, the greatest weakness is that while Apple has leveraged market share through product innovation the open source models have been able to reengineer many of Apple’s innovations. While Apple has engaged in a series of patent lawsuits, notably a recent victory over HTC, the extent that this remains a viable strategy remains greatly questionable. Furthermore, Google’s position as a cornerstone of the Internet, coupled with the

Appraise four pieces of evidence available for implementation in your Essay

Appraise four pieces of evidence available for implementation in your area of interest - Essay Example 1048). The most common (30%) nosocomial infection is catheter-associated UTI, or CAUTI. The strongest factor in determining whether or not CAUTI will occur is the actual duration of catheterization. Other factors that can contribute to the development of CAUTI include age, diabetes mellitus, female sex, and elevated serum creatinine levels. Most patients with CAUTI do not show any symptoms, so treatment typically does not occur while the catheter is in place (Wazait, et.al., 2004). The recent surge in resistant antimicrobials has complicated the use of systemic antibiotics. Typically, no rationale based on evidence is in existence to support the use of prophylactic antibiotics to reduce the occurrence of CAUTI after catheters have been removed. "A recent national multidisciplinary survey of healthcare professionals (by the present authors) showed a vast diversity in the practice (unpublished data). The aim of the present pilot randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was to assess if a short course of ciprofloxacin starting at the time of catheter removal reduced the UTI rate after removal (Wazait, et.al., 2004, pg. 1048). It took a total of four months to recruit enough patients to take part in the study. These patients were taken from both medical and surgical wards in the authors' hospital. In order to qualify for the study, patients had to have been catheterized for 2-7 days. There were a number of exclusion criteria including the following: recent genitourinary surgery, the receipt of antibiotics within the preceding 48 hours, the inability to consent to the study, impaired renal function, pregnancy or breastfeeding, epilepsy, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency, a history showing disorders of quinolone-related tendon disorders, or quinolone allergies (Wazait, et.al., 2004). Age, sex, reason for catheterization, and comorbidity were among the background data collected from the patients participating in the study. Ethical committee approval on the local level was obtained for the study. Eligible patients provided written consent to take place in the study. "Patients were assigned randomly to receive a 48-h course of either ciprofloxacin (400 mg 12-hourly) or placebo tablets starting 2 h before catheter removal. Randomization was confirmed by a computer-generated list. The ciprofloxacin and placebo were packaged into identical containers by an independent pharmacy, and all staff involved at any stage of the double-blind trial were unaware of the medication given to the patients" (Wazait, et.al., 2004, pg. 1049). Just before the start of the medication, a catheter specimen of urine (CSU) was taken from each patient. "At the follow-up 7 and 14 days after catheter removal, patients completed a questionnaire for UTI symptoms, and mid-stream urine (MSU samples were collected. Patients who could not be seen in hospital were followed up by a home visit" (Wazait, et.al., 2004, pg. 1049). Standard collection and laboratory procedures to keep the samples pure and separate before, during, and after testing were followed in order to ensure accurate results (Wazait, et.al., 2004). Of the original 52 patients that were scheduled to take place in the trial, four had been excluded for one or more of the reasons listed above. 25 of the remaining 48 patients received ciprofloxacin, and 23 of them