This article provides discussion and key points as to how Apple has developed a competitive market advantage within its industry. The article is a useful entry point into exploring the idea of 'competitive advantage' within studies of business, economics and enterprise..
Structure and features
Bizfluent is an established small business website. It publishes articles and advice to mentor new entrepreneurs and offers a richer understanding of business and entrepreneurial practice. The articles are written by business owners or writers. They provide a good level of detail for an overview of a specific business topic.
The 'What is Apple's competitive advantage in its industry?' article provides:
- searchable content with ideas and advice about business and enterprise
- short well-written articles by people in the industry
- well-referenced information about the authors.
For teachers
This short article allows teachers to raise and develop some key ideas about competitive advantage, using a topic that many students will find familiar. Students can debate and discuss the ideas in the article to the principles of competitive advantage, identifying links to the following principles:
- access to natural resources that are restricted to competitors
- highly experienced and skilled labour
- a unique geographic location
- access to new technology
- ability to manufacture products at the lowest cost
- brand image recognition.
Students can identify or acknowledge any possible biases or limitations that may exist in the article. They can search for more specific details and ideas to shape an investigation or study on competitive advantage. Students can choose to explore the criticism of Apple’s practices, specifically reducing the costs of production through the exploitation of Chinese workers.