Methods of Planning & Organizing the Operation Apple Inc. Case Study

Question: Describe about the Methods of Planning, and Organizing the Operations. Answer: Introduction Apple Inc. is one of the largest IT organizations in the world, which is renowned for implementing a unique marketing strategy, which has also helped in distinguishing it with the other competitors at the same time related to the hardware and software sector. The $ 120 billion company expertises in the production and manufacturing of new products and services including the iPads, iPhones, iPods, Apple TV, desktops, iOS operating system and many more (Inside Apple: how America's most admired--and secretive--company really works 2012). About the product The company has been launching the innovative iPhones in the market since the year 2007. The company has launched a series of iPhones with gradually enhanced features since then (Mojonnier 2012). However, the current competitive environment has seen many similar gadgets with more advanced features that could compete with the iPhones. Moreover, the cell phones are also available at a cheaper rate for the customers. This has been a major setback for Apple in terms of the market pricing of its mobile phones. Thus, the company needs to design another phone that should be comprising of the latest technologies and be enlisted within the competitive price range in the market (Mickalowski, Mickelson and Keltgen 2016). Importance of the process design of the new iPhone The processed designing in respective of the development of the products help in proper implementation of the process. The process designing helps in introducing the product enabling the managers of Apple to enlist each and every primary milestones for the implemention of the product development process of the new iPhone. The process designing for the phone would help the company in gaining a proper visualization about the proper implementation of the product development process for the iPhone. Aims and objectives of the production of new iPhone using process design The aim of the process design is to develop the new iPhone in the market such that to meet up with the requirements of the customers and the current market demand. The main objective of the product designing process for the development of the new iPhone for the company is to meet with the expectations of the market and the customers. Methods of planning and organizing efficient operations The product planning of the new iPhones can be comprised of four key stages including the project utilization, planning, implementation, and completion of the development project. The stages can be described as mentioned in the following paragraphs: Project Initialization The project initiation includes the steps, which deals in identification of the requirements for the development of the particular product. Defining the project This step incorporates the identification of the objectives and the requirements of the product development process. It also deals in establishing the activities for proper completion of the development of new iPhone (Anderson and Cochrann 2015). Understanding the needs of the customers The step includes the identification of the requirements of the customers in respective of the new iPhone including the features, pricing, and specifications that needs to be incorporated within the phone. Establishing the project initialization plan The step incorporates the development of the plan for scheduling the product development to be implemented. Developing the management procedure The step incorporates the identification of the roles of the product development team and the reporting procedure for develoing an appropriate management plan in order to develop a new iPhone (Gido and Clements 2014). Project planning The project planning for the development of the new product can be comprised of the stages that are described below as: Defining the project scope The project defining stage involves the analysis of the various criteria associated with the implementation of the product development process for the new iPhone. The stage deals in defining the aims of the development process, identifying the issues relates to the development process during the implementation, defining the results of the new iPhone development project and determining the requirements for the same that are needed to be implemented (Robichaud and Anantatmula 2012). Project Execution Execution of the project plan The step incorporates the execution of the product development process for developing an innovated iPhone as identified in the project initiation step, which enables the project to be following the scheduled time line. Monitoring the progress of the report The step includes the utilization of the various tools and technologies associated with the product development of the phone including the RAD, SDLC and agile software development (Rowe 2015). Managing and maintaining the changes The steps include the maintaining of the development process of the innovated iPhone so that the development project falls within the scheduled time line and managing the process in case any change in the plan is required. Project completion Conduction of reviews This step incorporates the reviewing on the outcomes of the product development process and documenting the completion of the innovated iPhone. Meeting with the objectives This is the ultimate step of the product development phase, which incorporates the analysis of the project outcome related to the production of innovated iPhones. The step also deals in checking whether the product being developed is meeting the objectives of the project (Turner and Kelly 2012). Models The business models deals with the planning, designing, implementing and achieving the planned results and objectives of the product development process for the iPhone. These models are implemented in order to guide the development process for the company. The various models can be described below as: SDLC There SDLC is the abbreviated form of System Development Life Cycle. The SDLC is a conceptual model, which utilizes the combination of more than two management technologies for proper implementation of the products development process for the iPhone (YANG and Bi 2014). The model puts an emphasis on the documentation of the entire development process. RAD The RAD is the abbreviated form of Rapid Application Development method, which is being utilized for faster development of the iPhone with the incorporation of the higher qualities at the same time (Rajput and Litoriya 2014). The model also utilizes the prototyping technique and the workshop method in order to achieve the project requirements. The model uses the technique to develop the time line for the completion of the product development process of the new iPhone. Waterfall The Waterfall model is the traditional method that incorporates the development of the projects. The method also incorporates the activities that are involved with the project development process with fixed linear timelines (Binder and Schilli 2014) . This provision of the fixed linear timelines within the business model helps in the development of the new iPhone in phases. Agile Software Development The method is implemented for the projects, which requires the agility in their respective requirements. The main feature of the agile development method lies in its less restrictive project control, agile requirements, real time development, and shorter delivery deadlines (Panzarino 2012). These models help the business managers to manage and implement the development of the new and innovated iPhones in an efficient way. Methods of project evaluation and scheduling of the resources of Apple Method for evaluating the project The method for the evaluation of the product development process can be comprised of the following phases: Monitoring: Themonitoring phase involves the reviewing the implementation of the iPhone development project and to check whether the project is meeting up with the scheduled time line being estimated prior to the implementation process (Johnsen 2015). Assessing: In terms of the technical usage, the assessment phase involves measuring the performance of employees or the development team for proper implementation of the product development process. Predicting the outcome: This phase helps the managers of the company to predict the outcome of the product development process of the latest iPhone by analyzing the process through the extensive analysis of the project management tools and technologies (Stankevi it and Bartkus 2012). Methods for scheduling of the resources Work Breakdown Structure: Work breakdown structure helps in the breaking down of the activities involved in product development process of the latest iPhone into a number of manageable but smaller deliverables such that to execute the project within the scheduled time line (Chikhale and Mansouri 2015). PERT: PERT is the abbreviated form of Program Evaluation Review Technique, which is used for defining, and controlling various task related to the execution of the product development phases of the new iPhone. With the help of a network diagram, the technique helps in displaying the inter relationships of the project activities in a sequential order for the project to be implemented (Chen and Lieberman 2013). Stages of the product design Figure: Stages of the product design for Apple iPhone Source: (Kellingley 2016) The stages of the product designing for the development of iPhones can be composited of the following: Step 1: Generating This step deals in generating the ideologies for the development process of the latest iPhone by analysing the basic internal and external SWOT analysis with the evaluation of the marketing trends. It also helps in developing an appropriate method by evaluating the risks level of the development process as well. Step 2: Screening This step involves dealing with the consideration of the new innovations as implemented by the competitors into account, the amount of market share they are attaining, and the benefits that there are providing to their customers. This would provide the company to gain a competitive advantage over its competitors and would help in assuming that all the other competitors are grounded as per se. Step 3: Research and Development This step requires researching on the market after selecting the appropriate design for the development of the new iPhone. This process helps the company to identify the specific features of the product that are required to be developed in order to meet the expectations of this potential market. The companys RD sector helps in developing the product by generating the prototypes of the innovated iPhone that are to be modified through various design and manufacturing stages such that to develop the finished product that the customers are expecting (Lusensky 2014). Step 4: Analysing the process The analysis of the design and plan for the development of the new iPhone is incorporated in this step of the designing process. This step helps in determining the demand for the product and estimating all the costs being associated with the product development process of the latest iPhone. This step also helps in estimating the operational costs and the development costs in order to determine the profit margin as well (De Flander 2014). Step 5: Testing This step helps in providing the company with valuable information about last minute improvements that are necessary for the eradication of any risks associated with the product development process of the new iPhone to be developed in the process. The testing process is implemented through the arrangement of the private test groups including the beta versions more (Inside Apple: how America's most admired--and secretive--company really works 2012). Step 7: Development The development phase of the product designing process incorporates the technical aspectsfor enhancing the quality of the products post the beta testing. The product development process helps in the development of the product. Step 8: Launching and pricing The development of the innovated iPhone is completed by the launching of the product in the market and introducing with the introductory pricing of the new iPhone. Problems in controlling activities and controlling quality of the new iPhone Improper planning and scheduling of the activities inovolved with the production of new iPhone Inability to schedule the available resources in the process Inability to reorganize the product development execution in case of any change in the strategy is required Impact of performance objectives on the design It helps in improving the planning and scheduling of the activities involved in the product development process of the new iPhone It also helps in estimating the forecast of the available resources in the process It helps in identifying the planning the patterns of the product development process of the iPhone and hence, simplifying the product development process It enables the managers to reorganize the project execution if any change in the strategy is required (Shenhar 2015). Conclusion The project helps in producing a report, which incorporates the evaluation of the methods of planning, and organizing the operations involved with the development of new and innovative iPhones for the Apple Inc. It also helps in analysing the problems of controlling the quality of activities involved with the product designing of the phone. The report deals in illustrating the project evaluation and the scheduling of the resources for the company in order to develop new product. The report also incorporates the illustration of the detailed importance of process design on the product and incorporates the analysis of the design concept and the impact of performance objectives on the design. References Anderson, D., Sweeney, D., Williams, T., Camm, J., and Cochran, J. 2015.An introduction to management science: quantitative approaches to decision making. Cengage Learning. Binder, J., Aillaud, L.I. and Schilli, L., 2014. 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