Case Problems and Solutions Essay: Apple and IBM

Case Problems and Solutions Essay Name Institutional Affiliation Case Problems and Solutions Essay Question 1 Apple's competitive advantage has been characterized by several factors. Apple introduced the Macintosh PC in the market that was easy to use, having an industrial design and technical elegance. Consumers bought Apple Macintosh PC since it was user-friendly. Apple did not share its essential software licenses with third parties, which reduced the emergence of clone makers. It relied on both horizontal and vertical integration, which strengthened its resolve to depend solely on its own proprietary designs. Further, the introduction of desktop publishing maintained Apple's competitive advantage in the market. The company offered customers with a complete set of a desktop, with inclusion of hardware, software and peripheral devices that allowed customers to plug and play. Apple was exemplary in typically designing its products from scratch. The company had a big share in the education sector, which widened its market base. Question 2 IBM is credited with the introduction of PCs in the market. There are many companies that have engaged in the development of PCs such as Dell, and Compaq by diversifying in building PC blocks loaned from Microsoft and Intel. The growth of the PC industry has been occasioned by the low prices and an expansion in the functionalities of the PCs. The PC industr...