Innovation Apple Inc.

Apple is a classic example for the modern business world of a company that bases a significant proportion of its strategy on innovation. Most all of its products are innovative by some measure while a few of their product offerings have been revolutionary. There are two events that have occurred recently that make an examination of Apple an especially interesting event. The first is that the co-founder and the commonly known Apple visionary, Steve Jobs, has recently stepped down as the company's chief executive and shortly after he passed away (Sherr, 2011). Another headline that was recently reported on the major media channels recently is that Apple had passed up Exxon Mobile to become the world's most valuable company in regards to its total net worth (Market Data Staff, 2011).

Apple's strategy of innovation is built into its product design. Apple doesn't manufacture the products it sells internally. Instead the company relies on outsourced strategic partners for production. These third party vendors are primarily located in China and often a plagued with less than satisfactory working conditions which have been reported to employee child labor and also be subject to other human rights violations. Never the less, the negative publicity hasn't seemed to affect Apple too significantly given the evidence of their financial success.

Most of Apple's breakthrough products were a result of a new technologies...

This strategy recognizes that the computer can be the central component for a wide array of various products. If Apple is going to continue with this strategy then it will require a great deal of creativity. The iPod, iPhone, and iPad were all natural extensions of the digital hub strategy. However, it is difficult to identify any other extensions of this strategy. This doesn't necessarily mean that other options do not exist and therefore must be considered a possibility. Apple has already capitalized on the major gadgets that are consistent with a digital hub strategy. They have music, videos, cell phones, and a tablet already covered. Therefore it is hard imagine what could come next for Apple. It may be the case that they must continue to develop the products that they already introduced without entering any new markets.
Netflix

Another example of innovation in the modern market is provided by Netflix. While Apple Inc. provides a case study for product design innovation, Netflix serves as an example of innovation through distribution channels and business process redesign. There model was so innovative that it acted to bring down one of the major competitors in the industry which was Blockbuster video. Netflix utilized the mail for movie deliveries instead of traditional brick and mortar retail locations. Consumers no longer had to drive anywhere to get their movies nor did they…