One apple a day, CI comes with play
The founder and chief executive officer of Apple Inc, Steven Paul Jobs, always says:
“I skate to where the c is going to be, not where it has been.' And we've always tried to do that at Apple. Since the very very beginning. And we always will."
He believes creativity and innovation comes with being first, and being first always. People play with apple products, and they will chat, exchange ideas and finally come up with creative and innovative ideas.
That’s what we believe, One apple a day, CI comes with play
Globalization process and Apple Inc
Globalisation as an idea refers to “both the compression of the world and intensification of conscious of the world as a whole” (1)
To generalise the term globalisation, some have describe it as “Trend away from distinct national economic units and toward one huge global market.” (2), in other words an increasing acceleration in global interdependence between countries. The term globalisation is specifically used in terms of economic globalisation to describe the integration between countries in terms of it’s trade, capital flows, migrations etc. (3) Drivers of globalisation are a combination of economic, technological, sociocultural, political and biological factors (4)
A lot of have been said about the negatives affects of globalization; for example, how it is standardizing the worlds cultures. How are cultures affected by globalization? How does it affect business doing business overseas? Do they adapt to the cultural environment? Or do they use what works at home?
An author, Tyler Cowen (5) discussed globalization and culture in his article submitted to cato policy report. He brought up a number of points which support globalization's effects on culture. A lot of critics of globalization have said its changing the worlds culture through standardization, and also running thresholds over the worlds distinctive cultures and turning the world into one big tawdry strip mall. (5) Tyler argues that globalization has made the world a more creative culture, it has given different countries and different regions more diversity in choice. People are given more choices in relation to food, music, products, entertainment, etc.
Creativity is part of the innovation process, in a way that without creativity, innovation wouldn’t happen. “Innovation is the practical application of creative ideas” (6) which is why Apple Inc has done so successfully in terms of innovation, because it was able to create an environment in which has the capacity to create new ideas.
The culture of the organization plays a major role in inheriting creativity. A study done by (Hwang, 1982) suggests that “Chinese people see and interpret things in terms of wholes and context, which contrasts with an anglo-american tendancy to fragment, decompose, and de-contexturalize; studys have indicated that holistic cognitive style is more likely to inherit creativity only because of the way they perceive the world around them and interpret them. “
Apple inc is one of the most reputable company's for fostering excellence and individuality in it’s employees. To identify and recognise the best of its employees, they created an Apple fellows program for those who have excellence in technical or leadership contributions/skills to the company. Steve Jobs became CEO of Apple Inc again in 1997, he was quoted by Wayne Grinsky “Jobs has always aspired to position Apple and its products at the forefront of the information technology industry by foreseeing and setting trends, at least in terms of innovation and style” (8).
Jobs revolutionalise the way Apple Inc did business, he turned the business from a tall heiarachy structure to a flat structure; he created a business from something that seemed like a machine to something that is more organic and cultured; this is one of the major reasons for Apples success in inheriting creativity and innovation. Culture is a major factor in impacting the perception and interpretation of creative and innovative processes. “all people have a capacity to be creative, but whether and/or how this is actualised depends on the presense of facilitating cultural values and institutional practices” (5)
To generalise the term globalisation, some have describe it as “Trend away from distinct national economic units and toward one huge global market.” (2), in other words an increasing acceleration in global interdependence between countries. The term globalisation is specifically used in terms of economic globalisation to describe the integration between countries in terms of it’s trade, capital flows, migrations etc. (3) Drivers of globalisation are a combination of economic, technological, sociocultural, political and biological factors (4)
A lot of have been said about the negatives affects of globalization; for example, how it is standardizing the worlds cultures. How are cultures affected by globalization? How does it affect business doing business overseas? Do they adapt to the cultural environment? Or do they use what works at home?
An author, Tyler Cowen (5) discussed globalization and culture in his article submitted to cato policy report. He brought up a number of points which support globalization's effects on culture. A lot of critics of globalization have said its changing the worlds culture through standardization, and also running thresholds over the worlds distinctive cultures and turning the world into one big tawdry strip mall. (5) Tyler argues that globalization has made the world a more creative culture, it has given different countries and different regions more diversity in choice. People are given more choices in relation to food, music, products, entertainment, etc.
Creativity is part of the innovation process, in a way that without creativity, innovation wouldn’t happen. “Innovation is the practical application of creative ideas” (6) which is why Apple Inc has done so successfully in terms of innovation, because it was able to create an environment in which has the capacity to create new ideas.
The culture of the organization plays a major role in inheriting creativity. A study done by (Hwang, 1982) suggests that “Chinese people see and interpret things in terms of wholes and context, which contrasts with an anglo-american tendancy to fragment, decompose, and de-contexturalize; studys have indicated that holistic cognitive style is more likely to inherit creativity only because of the way they perceive the world around them and interpret them. “
Apple inc is one of the most reputable company's for fostering excellence and individuality in it’s employees. To identify and recognise the best of its employees, they created an Apple fellows program for those who have excellence in technical or leadership contributions/skills to the company. Steve Jobs became CEO of Apple Inc again in 1997, he was quoted by Wayne Grinsky “Jobs has always aspired to position Apple and its products at the forefront of the information technology industry by foreseeing and setting trends, at least in terms of innovation and style” (8).
Jobs revolutionalise the way Apple Inc did business, he turned the business from a tall heiarachy structure to a flat structure; he created a business from something that seemed like a machine to something that is more organic and cultured; this is one of the major reasons for Apples success in inheriting creativity and innovation. Culture is a major factor in impacting the perception and interpretation of creative and innovative processes. “all people have a capacity to be creative, but whether and/or how this is actualised depends on the presense of facilitating cultural values and institutional practices” (5)
Globalization process of Apple Inc can be expressed in two ways, horizontally and vertically.
At the beginning years of Apple Inc, it was called Apple Computer Inc. This name specifies their production and technology, which is mainly focusing on desktop computer and OS system.
However, technology is fast changing and fast moving. The Apple Inc noticed that desktop computer and OS system is not enough. The company would like to diversify their business in more computing aspects. Therefore, the first portable Mac computer was born.With years of development and business diversification, Apple Company diversifies their business into entertainment, mobile phone, television, computer and server service. That’s the whole horizontal line of globalization for Apple Company.
Apple Inc originated in America. When it comes to a multinational company, Apple Inc is moving their production line to different countries. For example: China and Europe. From now on, Apple Inc has over thousands Apple stores to sell their products, even in Hong Kong there are 38 Apple stores and reseller stores selling Apple products. Also, most countries have their own reseller department, service and support department and repair department. Online Apple store is available to provide technical support and product service as well. All of this constructs the whole vertical of globalization for Apple Inc.The big picture of globalization process for Apple Inc:
Creativity and Apple Inc
Mac book is one of best selling products in Apple Inc. It has powerful graphics processing technology which can be used in multimedia design and 3D processing. Also, it has large hard drive which provides plenty of space for users to store music, photos, videos, and more. Together with specific software for photographic design and multimedia software like the latest iLife ’09 and Mac OS X Leopard, which allow users to create as much as memorable and innovative pictures they like.
iPhone is intelligent multifunctional mobile phone which can allow internet access, GPRS application , portable entertainment and phone call. It is a powerful phone with thousands of software which can assist people daily life, provide entertainment and enhance the communication and information exchange.
With reference to the website David Pringle who is a Journalist and Mobile Industry Expert, he stated that innovative ideas and creative mind come from information exchange, this phenomenon is especially relevant in the 21st century. People exchange information and give inspiring messages and pictures through their digital devices, especially Mac book and iPhone, which allow people to exchange their ideas, create inspiring photos and pictures and share with everyone in everywhere they like. This can create a positive impact on creativity and innovation.
Culture and Apple Inc
The trend of iPhone in Hong Kong
With reference to the 3HK, there are over 100,000 Hong Kong citizen using iPhone. And there are many websites and forums created for iPhone users to share their experience, capability analysis and applications.
These forums and websites create a specific space for iPhone users to program or share some applications dedicated for Hong Kong users. For example: Hong Kong MTR Ride, Hong Kong Minibus guide and Hong Kong weather report and Open rice. This becomes a trend for people to use iPhone to assist their life, get more entertainment in their leisure time.International Landscape
Apple’s products are globalized all over the world. No matter you are in Africa, Asia or Europe. You can still pick your own Mac, iPhone or iPod in the following countries you like.
Creativity, innovation and globalization
The following reading can help clarifying and analyzing the impact between creativity, innovation and globalization.
Creativity and innovation - Five impacts from globalization
The article that we read is titled “Creativity and innovation - Five impacts from globalization.” We do agree that the argument of the author that globalization forces faster innovation.
Under globalization, smart companies realize they gain more resources and opportunities than before. They try to make use of their new resources and opportunities in different and efficient ways through the process of creation and innovation. For example: using some outsourced programmers around the world to process the company in 24-hours a day, which is never been thought of before.
Besides, greater flexibility of resources enables companies to produce globally but not limited to the same place. For example: products can be developed in U.S, manufactured in China and marketed in Japan.
Also, innovation becomes the key factors of being outstanding in competitive situation. By generating innovative ideas, brainstorming is happening all over the world. An idea in one country can be extended to other countries. Other countries may tweak the same idea to enable it in their countries. People in any corner of the world are brainstorming.
Cooking up some innovation
This article is talking about the ways to search innovation and creativity.
The author would like to search a place which is perfect for innovation. And he finally chose a totally unexpected place - the kitchen.
For the reason that those stuff happening in the kitchen is similar to the innovation. Both of them have experimentation with different ingredients, flavorings and cooking styles and make use of them to create somewhat differently. Moreover, as the kitchen is a place much less formal than a sitting room with foods and drinks, it invites people to join. The author thought that is the place that encourages people to mill around and chatting with others. It can be enhance the exchange of ideas.
We choose this reading because we admire the author’s way of thinking which is really creative and innovative. We like the idea of using kitchen as a working place, and it shows that creativity and innovation is highly related to the peoples’ pattern of thought, if they think in a different way, the outcomes will be different.
Culture of innovation and creativity
This article is about the culture of innovation and creativity. In this article we do agree with the author who conceives innovation as an essential part for future success in people life and for work in 21st century. Globalization is creating a small world where highly-educated people are common, technology and ways of doing things can be copied in any way to everywhere of the world. However, some things inside our brain would never be copied, which are creativity and innovation.
The author quotes the remark of the Stanford professor Richard Sutton that “weird” ideas work because they provide three key things:
Increase in organization’s knowledge enables people to see old problems in new ways, and find additional opportunity to break from the past. Therefore, more opportunities should be provided for students to involve and practice complex and deep thinking.
We agree with his point of view, as students studying in creativity and innovation courses, we know our creativity and innovation can only be expressed and developed through experimentation. During the process of creating, we try to see things in new ways, to leave the old method in the past, and to broaden our knowledge in order to create new ideas. It is useful, this is the way that new things being created.
Suggestions to improve innovation and creativity
Government:
- Reduce restrictions and simplify the regulations for company or citizen to introduce new products and ideas to the community.
- Encourage and reward valuable innovation activities for all people who are living and working locally, irrespective to their nationality, for example giving annual best innovation awards to few companies and citizens who did significant contribution in this aspect among the whole community.
- Employ more civil servants with creativity so that government can act like an originator to motivate the community to be creative too.
- Do more promotion in showing the government emphasizes on innovation and creativity, such as regular and successive advertisement on newspaper and television.
Organizations:
- Be more open-minded to listen and accept any new ideas from all the staffs, doesn’t matter which positions they are in.
- Encourage the workers to take the initiatives to suggest any new or creative ideas if they have any by letting them know that their own organization do value a lot on innovative ideas.
- Always tell the staff why their new ideas and suggestions were rejected if this is the case, don’t ban their ideas without telling them the reasons behind it.
- Hold workshops or seminars which are related to innovation and creativity so that staffs can be helped to get more insights and develop their talents.
- Diversify the background of different employees by employing more foreigners or oversea workers so it helps to enhance the interaction between workers
Multinationals:
- Be more flexible in company’s regulations, make necessary adjustments if possible in order to adapt to various local culture and enhance creativity.
- Given the condition that organization’s daily operation is not affected, apply job rotation if possible so that employees can do different kind of works to stimulate their creative and innovative possibilies.
- Invite outsiders to give speeches or seminars to internal staff which the guests and employees should have different in backgrounds, such as nationality and life experience. In this way employees can learn more and be inspired by different things.
Source:
(1)http://www.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=eVMmonrrZDkC&oi=fnd&pg=PP11&dq=globalization&ots=KV7m3U6jtg&sig=tcMYt290G454Qz8sWyTJ_Zavg1c#v=onepage&q=&f=false
(2)http://www.google.com.hk/url?&q=http://enbv.narod.ru/text/Econom/ib/str/261.html&ei=Sj7ASqKJG8bUkAW6_dBW&sa=X&oi=define&ct=&cd=1&usg=AFQjCNHuaai8enjsxE35mNUfA90QsoL2Yw
(3) Bhagwati, Jagdish (2004). In Defense of Globalization. Oxford, New York: Oxford University Press.
(4) Sheila L. Croucher. Globalization and Belonging: The Politics of Identity in a Changing World. Rowman & Littlefield. (2004). p.10
(5) Cowen, Tyler (2003) Globalisation and culture. Cato Policy Report. P.8
(6) Westwood, R., Low R. D (2003) The multicultural muse: culture, creativity and innovation. International journal of cross cultural management, 3, p. 235
(7) Hwang, C.H.(1982)”Studies in chinese personality: A critical review” Bulletin of educational
(8) http://blog.seattlepi.com/microsoft/library/applekeynote.html
Thank u for giving us a good blog which provide a comprehensive view of how apple.inc embedded into globalization process. For one thing, I really love the picture that illustrates the concept of horizontal and vertical integration. It helps me to have a better understanding on how apple engaged in that integration.
ReplyDeleteAdditionally, I do agree that Apple's products have changed people's lifestyle nowadays. It definitely has a great impact on local culture. Let’s take Hong Kong as an example, It is easy for you to identify someone in the sheet are using I phone for multipurpose like enjoying music, playing games, watching movie.etc.
Beside iphone and mac book, I would also like to mention ITunes, software that uses to connect I phone and computer, is also a great invention of apple.inc. It illustrates how a creative idea transformed into innovation. In the past, most of the mobile phone’s applications are built in; user can hardly add other applications in their phone. ITunes, however, provide a platform for users to download or design their favorite applications by their own. The ideas of iTunes definitely helps apple engaged into the globalization process.
Apple’s products, however, seem do not gain great success in developing countries like Thailand and Iran. It‘s success seems only influence developed countries like U.S, United Kingdom, and Japan etc.
May be your group can provide some suggestions that can help apple.inc open new market in these developing countries so that it can be more engaged in globalization.
Thank you for introducing Apple Inc. and analyzing its globalization and creativity processes. I appreciate that you have posted up creative pictures to illustrate Apple Inc.’s globalization process. It makes your blog more user-friendly and understandable. The followings are my comments on your blog.
ReplyDeleteFirstly, I think it is right to point out that success of Apple Inc. is closely related to its creative idea. It understands the importance of communication nowadays, and inserts creative idea on making a channel of communicating---iphone. Its touch pad screen and multifunctional characteristics provide users with greater convenience and efficiency which suit for fast path of the world.
Secondly, I wonder if the idea of using kitchen as a working place can be applied to every business. We Chinese view kitchen as a dirty and messy place that we don’t want to stay for a long time. Moreover, different people have different hobbies. Some may dislike cooking find it hard to brainstorm and stimulate creative thinking in kitchen. However, it brings an important idea that creative idea is inspired more easily under a comfortable and relaxing environment. Moreover, teamwork can help stimulate creativity as people have different background, characters and thinking style that make it easier to foster inspiration.
Finally, I agree with you that good communication between management and operating staff is important. To lead employees to think creatively, companies should encourage them to try new things and have high tolerance for allowing them to make mistakes. The clear rewarding system can motivate employees to make more creative innovation.
Thank for your reading~
Thank you for your sharing. I really enjoy reading your post.
ReplyDeleteActually, I am a technophilia and also a user of Apple’s product. Yes, I agree with Matthewc1h that Apple’s products have changed our lifestyle today. Tracing back to the past that the internet was underdeveloped and the technologies were not as advanced as today, intercultural communication is barely possible. But now, with user-friendly design as well as easy and simple manipulation of Apple’s products, it shortens the distance among people from all over the world. It makes something impossible be possible and develops a “global village”.
It’s true that technology is fast-changing and –moving. That’s why Apple Inc puts much emphasis on creativity and innovation. Without these two elements, any IT companies would be out of business.
IT company is a good example to explain globalization, especially when it comes to its production, retailing and delivery process. However, Apple Inc gives us a new definition to globalization. It tells us technology can be something unique and diversified. For example, Mac OS is a patent of Apple Inc. It provides end-users with a special experience on computer. Mac OS is more personalized. It seems to promote the ownership of a device. Also, since Mac OS is very unique, it makes itself more defensive from virus and other harmful invaders. Hence, it makes Microsoft no longer be the only one which monopolizes the market by giving us one more choice!
In your post, you suggest Apple Inc should be flexible and make necessary adjustments to adapt to various local cultures. However, I think technology is different from food. Catering companies should customize their food according to the local needs while IT companies aims at promoting interaction among people (It’s one of the aims). It invents something that would make a convenience to people, let them enjoy their lives and communicate with the rest of the world. They are in different approaches. So, IT elites are just brainstorming for an idea of improving the humans’ life. So, they are not doing something adapt to various local cultures but doing something meet the general needs.
Last but not least, it would be better for you to mention about the impact of Apple’s products on local culture and the individuals. It would help us understand more about if Apple Inc does something which could improve intercultural communication.
Apple Inc is such a legend in computer industry. As I know, before the rise of Microsoft, Apple and IBM is the main computer producer in the industry. Apple was the market leader in 70s to 80s, when personal computer (PC) is still not popular. However, after Microsoft brought in PC to the market, Apple started to fall behind in the market. The swell of Microsoft really had beaten Apple Inc badly.
ReplyDeleteBut after Steven Jobs take over the Apple, he started to make changes to Apple. I believe the changes in Apple Inc is extremely essential and hard for Apple Inc, as Apple was such a big company and its dignity in the past, it was hard for them to admit their failure and adapt the new changes made by Steven Jobs. However, the launch of “i-pod” and “Macbook” series showing Apple has successful transformed from a traditional computer company into a creative and fashionable company.
Nowadays, because of Apple, we have changed our daily general practice. Now we use mobile to google rather than sitting in front of a PC. Now, we use mobile not only as a communication tool, but also as an accessories on our image. Now we use mobile to watch news, rather than buy a news paper. So now we need “I-phone” as our mobile.
Talking about yours’ blog, I really love the articles about how to be creative and innovative, especially the article called “cooking up some innovation”. I think cooking is an industry which actually required highly innovative mind. As customers always want to try new cuisine, which requires cooks to use as much as their imagination to create different kind of dishes in the menu. And I think kitchen is a really good place for us to practice and enhance our creativity. Although someone may say it is hard to train an individual to be creative, somehow, we have to create an environment for us to try creating and experience the creating process, and then we can at least get used to the process of being creative. Kitchen is a good and handy place to do so.
Apple is a really creative company, and I hope its creative can better-off everyone.
Thank you for introducing apple company. the article shows us how apple is creative and innovate. in fact, the product of apple is unique, for example, mac, i-phone, etc, the software and design is welcomed by many professionals.
ReplyDeleteIn Hong Kong, people love buying apple products, since it is white in colour and mac book, some people buy it because of the colour an its unique frameware. the same situation can be applied on i phone, it is one of the most hot product in Hong Kong. it shows how creativity and innovative helps apple grow.
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ReplyDeleteAn impressive title as a summary on Apple’s company mission and values. And in fact, the title gave me insights about characteristics of globalization.
ReplyDeleteI. “1 apple a day” – it shows Apple products are nowadays so approachable and convenient that it has penetrated deeply in local cultures, though I do not see much localization in terms of the product design.
For example, in Hong Kong, as you have mentioned, there are over 100,000 iPhone users. While they start to share applications and set up forums like Open Rice for easier information exchange, iPhone is imperceptibly shaping our cultures – a homogenized channel to communicate. When there are more and more people around the globe using iPhone, a commonality about lifestyles exist across geographic borders.
This is not difficult to conceive when you are talking about most people enjoy music through iPod, and Macbook is shaping a new commonly embraced laptop fashion in circles of adolescents.
II. Whereas Apple products create a common stlye of living globally, the impeded globalization process, on the other hand, creates diversity. As globaliztion brings markets over the world closer and competition fiercer, “creativity imperative” has become a hot topic in the business world. And as the words imply, products are to be unique so as to prove its value to consumers. Brand loyalty and equity would then be enhanced in this way when customers get “addicted” to the products’ uniqueness, for example personalization and stronger security configurations against virus and hackers as suggested by Small Potatoes above.
III. Globalization with the aid of the Internet and other technological advances founded the global village. People are less distant while having convenient ways to communicate on the vast information highway. Ironically, however, it keeps us distant at the same time. People are so indulged in the convenient technologies that most of them would rather stay before computer monitors or stick to their iPhone (to fit the context of this blog) than have a face-to-face chat – Facebook, MSN, mobile conferencing via 3G, etc.
Additional information:
HKSAR Government, specifically Intellectual Property Department is doing promotion on the importance of knowledge captial, and creativity and innovation to buisness.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pszrqz0wsAY
Thanks for reading
Thanks for sharing. Apple really did a good job in creativity and innovation, and make impact on our culture in Hong Kong. Because the phenomenon here shows that almost 3 out of ten people in the train take out his/her I phone and do their personal things such as youtubing , facebooking and watching movie.
ReplyDeleteAlso, the article you introduced “Cooking up some innovation” give us a sense that how creativity and innovation are made through globalization. Because if there are more than enough sources provide us to mixed up or induce us coming up with new ideas. Also, if those source come from different country, the ideas would be more diversify as some of product technique didn’t acquire and excel at some countries. For instance. Japan is excel at robot but Korea doesn’t
Moreover, your suggestion to improve the creativity and innovation which indicate the government and the organization should promote more on these two aspects. This is absolutely a good idea because it’s a responsibility of human which put the consistent effort to rev up the progress on creativity in order to enhance the quality of life.
While most of the people are crazy for the creative and success of Apple, I want to state a point that let all of you think deeply. Is Apple really promoting creativity and innovation?
ReplyDeleteThere are many lawsuits against Apple that the designs of its products are copying from others' patented technology. For example, Creative Technology claims that the menu-interface systems of IPod is one of the patented technology owned by Creative Technology. Apple finally had to pay up to US$100 million to settle this case. Another example is about the ITunes interface which is patented by a Hong Kong music technology company.
Regardless who is right and who is wrong in the patented technology, surely, for the products of Apple, they are the outcome of creativity and innovation. However, has Apple made use of it globalize power to promote creativity? This is worth discussing.
Firstly, researches found that "computer systems that directly support professional design practice act to inhibit creative outcomes and have an adverse effect on quality improvement in creating novel, innovative designs." This is directly refers to the Macintosh (Mac) of Apple. This idea criticizes that the use of Mac in the designing industry, which is popular nowadays, is good or not. And the result is, the people actually are limited with the platform or software of Mac that cannot have breakthrough.
Moreover, Google is suing Apple for rejecting the application Google Voice IPhone designed by Google. Apple uses the reason of duplicating with the Apple's own application and rejects the adding-in of this application. This is totally a protectionism and kills the room for creativity and improvement. This is only tip of the iceberg, Apple has actually limited the diversity of applications in the IPhone and IPod Touch.
Furthermore, IPod and IPhone can only adding music, videos, or another applications by the use of ITunes interface. This also limits the possibility of more creative uses of the IPod or IPhone.
After all, I have some comments about your blog on the improvements part. The organizational improvements your group mentioned seems too general, some or most of them have been done by apple already. Can you think of some improvements that specifically for Apple.
From identifying and positioning themselves as "Apple Computer Inc." to "Apple Inc.",we may discover that Apple has overcome "Market Myopia": From the moment that they address themselves as "Apple Inc.", they attends to customers' information and technological needs, rather than overemphasizing customers' wants for computers.
ReplyDeleteWhat enables Apple Inc. overcome "Market Myopia", innovating in fields other than computers and globalizing their brand by promoting their latest innovations (e.g. I-phone) to every corner of the world?
From an organizational behavior perspective, one possible explanation maybe the personality of the organization's dominant leader. In Apple's case, that leader is Steve Jobs. The most defining personality of Jobs will be, high openess, in terms of the Big Five Model. Since organization culture flows from the top management to below, if personality of Jobs is high in openess, Apple Inc. will form a culture of highly creative and innovative.
In Apple Inc.'s case, we find an openess personality of the top management and a creative organization culture constitute the key to success for a globalized brand, which strategizes in differentiates itself to the largest degree. Apple Inc. may provide us some managerial implications in what organization culture to maintain, what employees to select when we adopt a differentiation strategy in the global context. It will be even better if you say something on how human resources management helps Apple Inc. to maintain a creative and innovative culture and its competitive advantages of being creative facing global challenges.
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ReplyDeleteThank you for your sharing!!Apple is really suiting the theme that a globalization company which can show creative and innovation. Your view on Creativity innovation and globalization for example you said that “People in any corner of the world are brainstorming” is great that you can show their relationship and interaction. Also, suggestions to improve innovation and creativity all are very detail that can cover government, organization, multinationals and all are reasonable.
ReplyDeleteWhen talking about apple’s success and its creative, we must talk about gifted and talented CEO - Steve Jobs, he is a powerful person in business and very important person in Apple. So, I really want to introduce an article to you --- “Do you know what Steve Jobs think about creativity inspiration from creative something.” http://www.creativesomething.net/post/36334435
It quote that Steve Jobs said that Creativity is just connecting things. Creative people able to connect experiences they’ve had and synthesize new things.
I totally agree with him. Connect experiences that include your failure, your observation, the things you learn from other, and thinking anytime. Then add your imagination, you can synthesize new things.
So, be creative! Gain experiences in your life and find ways to connect those experiences!!
Thank you for sharing of the blog. I love your blog very much, because I am also one of the fans of Apple. I like to use the product of Apple like Mac book or Iphone as I think its product is fashionable, fast at speed and have a good outlook.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with MatthewC1H that Apple has a big impact in our local culture. It is not difficult to see people even a child use Iphone on the street. I show that Iphone is very popular in Hong Kong.
Besides, I want to point out that Iphone also affect Hong Kong people’ behaviour. Before Iphone was introduced to Hong Kong, not many people use their mobile phone to access to the internet. However, after Iphone was introduced to Hong Kong, many people use it to access to the Internet. Mobile phone companies like 3shop or Smarttone also provide some special plans for Iphone users to access to the Internet. Therefore, Iphone really change our daily life and behaviour.
On the other hands, I think Apple do a good job in globalization. Remember that when 3G Iphone first issued in Hong Kong, it draw many people attention. Some people even line up outsides retail shop for a whole night in order to buy Iphone. I think Iphone is very successful not only in their home country-American, but also in different countries especially in Hong Kong.
By the way, I think you can talk more about how Apple’s product like Iphone affect local culture in your blog. Also, I think you can add some video from YouTube about Iphone. I think it can make your blog more interesting and video is clearer and easier to let reader has better understanding of Iphone in term of function or trait.
Thank for sharing about Apple.
ReplyDeleteApple is a legend. There is a little people known about it in past, but it become an icon of fashion now.
Apple used to sell Mac computer mainly. They always cannot win this area. But one revolutionary product, iPod Nano published, the story was changed. The iPod become very popular all over the world. It involves other products of Apple become popular. IPod is an innovation.
Another myth of Apple must be the iPhone. The publication of iPhone once again, was being hot in all over the world.
These two products win, because they carry some very new technique.
Thank you for your sharing.
ReplyDeleteApple, as you state, is a famous innovative company. What I assume is Apple's Creativity and Innovation make it to be the technology leader of industry. In the past, every time apple products being released, there must be a new technology. When Macbookpro release, it must be using the newest graphic card or the fastest CPU. When MacbookAir release, it’s inch really impressive. But when IPhone release, I start feeling Apple is changing. IPhone like selling Apple brands only. Not only the technology that IPhone has used is not the newest, but also users start complaining the function of IPhone. No 3G (In IPhone) and the quality of the camera. Maybe IPhone is an exception.
Why apple become superior than others brands? I think the reason is because apple always use the newest technology that make a dynamic difference to others. I think that if Apple wants to keep being the leader, the only way is to keep their products to be hi-tech. If not, it just like apple’s selling point only to be the icon and then take over by other brands.
The application of IPhone may very innovative, but they are developed by other parties. But what if Apple no longer attractive to customers, would those parties willing to development application software to IPhone? Could you remember a news related to IPhone before? Casino ban Customers from using IPhone because software provides an application to predict the probability. That is a really innovative application, even it may damage the profit of Casino. In conclude, if IPhone was not producing by Apple but other manufacturers, would you buy it?
But I think IPhone is an exception because other’s apple products are still very hi-tech.
I think Apple not only should listen to her staff but also adopt the new technology. Apple in order to keep herself in front of the industry, I think it should actively search for new technology from university or laboratories. Therefore, Apple can lead the innovation trend. On the other hand, it also gives confidence to university or private organization to research. I agree Apple can enhance creativity internally, but I think there would be more efficient to do it on both side.
Hi i.SEE, thanks for your sharing on Apple Inc. When I think of creativity and innovation, the first thing come into my mind would be the iPhone by Apple Inc. It’s really changed our perception on mobile phone. Now, they mobile phone is much more high-tech and multifunctional.
ReplyDeleteYou said “Government should reduce restrictions and simplify the regulations for company or citizen to introduce new products and ideas to the community.” This point is great. Hong Kong government should take this in her consideration. The law and regulations are sometimes too restricted for the new innovations. For example, there is a kind of electric wheel chairs (shown by the below website) which is not allowed in Hong Kong. The users have to have the driving license of motorbike for using it. The original idea of this wheel chair is to help the disables to move more freely with technology. I wonder how the disables have the driving license of motorbike.
[img]http://www.electric-wheel-chair-lift.com/image-files/wheelchair-g10.jpg[img]
From you blog, you raised a point that the organizations should be more open-minded to listen and accept any new ideas from all the staff no matter of that level in the company. I totally agreed on this point. It is a kind of collective intelligence which cannot be achieved if the company only focused. Many multinational companies are doing knowledge management. No matter of their position in the company, all staff is possible to give a new insight to the company as they are having different background like education, family, nationality. The junior staff sometimes can point out some points which the senior executive cannot think of. Just like what we are doing in the blog, we can learn together by sharing the information we got. Our professor may gain a lot of new knowledge from us (students) instead of the traditional way of teaching and learning.
quote by 3430ihk "organizations should be more open-minded to listen and accept any new ideas from all the staff no matter of that level in the company". I agree that voices should be heard from all levels. But in terms of the organisation should be more open-minded, i dont think it's about the organisation being more opened minded at all if they'r trying to inherit creativity and innovation. I think it's got more to do with the power destribution, like where the decision making power is. It's not about the whole organisation having a voice, because every department has differant functions and differant cultures so it wouldnt really apply. I think to inherit creativity in an organisation, project teams or something similar is the best choice; and giving the project team the decision making power will allow them to feel a sense of freedom, less structure and regulations that will constrain their creativity.
ReplyDeleteHi isee
ReplyDeleteApple is what a good topic for innovation.
Innovation influences our life a lot. It is very important to have good innovative ideas.
Innovation is like an investment. It requires money and time. More importantly, the benefits from the innovation are not guaranteed. This is the major reason why innovation is large suppressed in the real world. Not all the innovative ideas can end up with the result like Iphone, which is one successful example from the failure of many projects. So, I think government can do something to try to solve this problem.
Government can provide subsidies to the innovators, not just an award; money is sometime more practical to encourage these innovating behaviors. Since the innovators needs time to innovate the ideas and products. But during the time of innovating, they do not receive money, it is hard for them to make a living, so monetary award is a good idea.
In the multi national companies, research funding is always subjected to the profit of the year. That is if the more handsome the profit is, the more research funding. It will hinder the innovation process in these companies if there is insufficient fund when the profit is low. So it is suggested that these companies should set a more stable funding to the innovations, or according to the innovative ideas to allocate the fund.
3430arstvie
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ReplyDeleteClear and consistent idea-
ReplyDeleteYou have improved from the previous blog. This time, you gave a relevant and rich content with better organization. You briefly introduced the innovation component of Apple, then its masterpiece such as iPhone and the applications. These were the concrete example how the Apple’s creativity and innovation run a fruitful business, which you linked to their company aims accordingly. This was appropriate to make your ideas clear.
Also, you have demonstrated your understanding and observation by finding groups at online forum, who met regularly for updating their iPhone application. I liked this because it made me feel that creativity and Innovation realized in our daily lives.
In addition, I liked some of your interesting ideas such as “Cooking up some innovation”, together with colourful pictures. That was lovely and helped readers to understand your concept.
Last but not the least; you gave your own suggestion at the end. It showed your round-up as well as your own opinion. That was constructive.
Good support of ideas-
I found you had quoted a lot of sources where you obtained information. That was good in writing academic paper or when you published some information online. Keep going on with this good practice.
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