solved a. Question 1 – (Ch.1) Analysis of the strategic planning

a. Question 1 – (Ch.1) Analysis of the strategic planning process
Description: The report appropriately utilizes a process theory to describe the strategic planning process at Apple.
b. Question 1 – (Ch.2) Analysis of external environment
Description: The report characterizes opportunities created by various elements of the firm’s general environment; it also characterizes opportunities observed via competitor profiling.
c. Question 1 – (Ch.3) Analysis of internal environment
Description: The report includes an analysis of Apple’s strengths and weaknesses, and any resource combinations or capabilities that may have been relevant.
d. Question 1 – (Ch.4) HR strategy
Description: The report adequately characterizes the firm’s HR strategy, including distinctive competences and interactions with other firm resources.
e. Question 1 – (Ch.5) Business-level strategy
Description: The report adequately categorizes the business-level strategy of Apple and outlines how its value chain was utilized to create such a strategy.
f. Question 1 – Corporate-level strategy
Description: The report accurately characterizes corporate-level strategies such as diversification, M&A, strategic alliances, vertical integration if they were deemed important to Apple’s success.
g. Writing and Communication Skills – Message, Grammar and Spelling
Description: The report has headings and subheadings to organize thoughts. It fully answers the questions using business core knowledge (5), is written in complete sentences (2), with appropriate English grammar (2) and spelling (1).
h. Writing and Communication Skills – Format Guidelines
Description: The report followed the guidelines provided. It is double-spaced (1), 1-inch margins (1), 6-10 pages long (7), 12-point-times New Roman (1).