Research Apple

Apple "A population is thus an aggregate of creatures, things, cases and so on," ("Populations and Samples," n.d.). The population samples for this research will consist of product developers and engineers, market researchers, Apple employees, and consumers. Using a broad population base like this allows for the most thorough insight possible into how Apple can improve their innovation strategies. The product researchers, engineers, and developers are the people who are most in tune with what can be done, and what is within the pragmatic realm of possibility.

For example, if product developers were asked what they would design if money were not an issue, they could help determine some new directions for Apple. Product researchers, engineers, and developers will be contacted directly by our research team. Our research team will phone or email a list of product researchers and developers working for different companies all over the world. The initial search will be conducted via LinkedIn, which will list people with the job titles we shortlist including product developer.

Market researchers are also critical for this population sample, because they are in tune with target markets, trends, and different market segments. It is important to know, for instance, whether Apple wants to market unique products to different market segments. If so, which market segments would be receiving which products, and why? These are questions that market researchers can help Apple on their path toward greater innovation.

Market researchers will also provide the means by which to understand what drives consumer demand and what consumers are demanding from their mobile, computer, and smartphone devices. The research team will access the market researchers in a similar way as the product developers, via LinkedIn. Likewise, the market researchers will be chosen by their job titles and accessed electronically or by telephone. The researchers may need to disqualify some of the initial set of participants for reasons such as not having worked in their field for more than two years.

We need to maintain the internal validity of the study, which means only selecting professionals who are well-versed in either product development or market research. Apple employees are another core component of the research population sample. Only Apple employees have worked with the company for more than two years will be selected for the research, because they will know intimately what is wrong with the company's innovation strategy and be able to make some concrete suggestions of what to do from a leadership and management perspective.

For example, Apple might need to restructure its company to provide more space and leeway for the product innovators and designers to work more directly with the marketing department. Perhaps the problem is related to human resources, and hiring the wrong people who are not interested or able to participate in the innovation process. The innovation process requires creativity, and some employees have it, while others do not.

It will be relatively easy to choose and access Apple employees, as we will gain access to the Apple database of employees and contact people directly via email and telephone. We will select all employees who wish to participate in an interview-based research, and who have been working with the Apple company for two years or more. Finally, consumers are ultimately who will be buying the Apple products of the future. It is important to consult with consumers directly and ask what they would like to see from.