Apple, Inc.: Steve Jobs's Strategic Leadership

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Excerpts

After the failure of the Lisa, Jobs concentrated on developing a cheaper machine with a different OS. The result was the Apple Macintosh (Mac) with a new Mac OS. To develop the Mac, Jobs hired brilliant and young designers and engineers from the industry. Calling the Mac development team 'pirates', Jobs instilled a spirit of entrepreneurship and rebellion in them... The 'Next' Step In the time he was away from Apple, Jobs took on new challenges. In September 1985, he, along with some former Apple executives, founded a new company called NeXT Computers Inc. (NeXT) to build an advanced computer for higher education and scientific research.

Jobs funded the company by selling US$70 million of his Apple stock. Despite the considerable investment he had made in it and eight long years of struggle, NeXT remained a loss making company for Jobs...

When Jobs became Apple's interim CEO, the company was in a death spiral. Jobs felt that Apple's problems stemmed from the company's illogical agenda which included launching a plethora of products without a clearly defined purpose. He set out to address the issues by redefining the company's strategy including developing few products and concentrating on Apple's key markets...

According to industry experts, Jobs was a visionary leader who had the ability to perceive opportunities, see the invisible, and think differently. He was driven, ambitious, and demanding. Some analysts said that Jobs was a resilient and persistent leader who successfully overcame setbacks and challenge...

In January 2011, when Jobs took unexpected medical leave for the third time since 2003, there was a growing clamor among the company's shareholders that the Apple board should adopt and disclose a CEO succession planning policy. The secrecy Apple maintained on Jobs's health problems had become a subject of concern for the shareholders and led them to criticize the company's lack of transparency and raise questions on who would succeed Jobs...

Exhibit I: Stock Price Chart of Apple (2003-2011)
Exhibit II: Steve Jobs: A Timeline
Exhibit III: Seven Principles of Innovation Inspired by Steve Jobs
Exhibit IV: Apple's Organizational Chart
Exhibit V: Apple's Selected Financial Data
Exhibit VI: Apple Net Sales by Operating Segment and by Product

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