StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

Special Study Project Management Report - Essay Example

Cite this document
Summary
The focus of the paper "Special Study Project Management Report" is on how iPhone maker apple competes across the smartphone market, study the marketing strategies of and the perceptions of consumers about the Apple iPhone, the marketing of the iPhone, iconic products in the world…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER92.3% of users find it useful
Special Study Project Management Report
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "Special Study Project Management Report"

?Special Study Project Management Report of Research Project How iPhone Maker Apple Competes Across the Smartphone Market 2. Research Objectives To study the marketing strategies of and the perceptions of consumers about the Apple iPhone. 3. Research Background The Apple iPhone was launched in 2007, taking the wireless communication industry into a revolution of their products through the introduction of Smartphone technologies. The iPhone hit the market with an intense level of interest creating a fervent anticipation which promoted the phone to a high level of sales. The marketing of the iPhone was done in tandem with the branding that Apple had in place, providing a platform from which to launch the revolutionary product. There are many iconic products in the world, but few have had the power and impact that has been witnessed in the iPhone. The way in which Apple creates a mythology about its brands and the effect that this mythology has upon the perception of the products made by Apple is of great interest. Many companies would want to mimic or surpass this type of powerful branding. Therefore, studying the way in which the product has been marketed to the public is a powerful tool for understanding how such a phenomenon can occur. 4. Research Design Two types of data contribute to the further understanding of the topic of this research study. Primary and secondary researches were explored in order to more fully understand the objectives of the study as they have been framed by the research questions. Primary data was determined through the use of a questionnaire that would be distributed to appropriate participants. The secondary data was taken from resources that have information that would add perspective to the topic of this study. This data was taken from internet resources as well as books and journal articles. The secondary research was conducted through the lens of exploratory research, defined by Beri (2008) as creating a focus on ideas that pertain to the concepts within the study. In researching the previously established concepts that pertain to the topic, new ideas can be generated towards discovering new aspects to the study. The data was approached through the grounded theory for qualitative research. The research was coded for its commonalities from which memos will be created in order to organize the discovery into concepts that can be analyzed for their content. In comparing the contents of the research, a hypothesis will then be considered as it is revealed through the data. Although this methodology seems backwards, it provides for the emergence of themes, rather than forcing a preconceived idea and then seeking data to prove or disprove the concept (Strauss 1999, p. vii). 5. Research Resources Analysis The research methodology is essentially qualitative in nature. It does not involve a statistical analysis of the success rate of the marketing campaign of Apple for iPhone. The research is focused on the qualitative understanding of the marketing technique employed by Apple and the effectiveness of this technique expressed in terms of customer feedback and views, and the level of customer satisfaction. To this end, the resources utilized would be in the form of questionnaires sent via email, and filled out in person by customers selected randomly in a marketplace. The second part of the study involves a review of the existing research on the topic through the examination of published journals and articles. Through a cognitive analysis of results obtained from this two-pronged study, and comparison of the established and new research on the subject, a conclusion would be drawn about the marketing methodology and its effectiveness of Apple for iPhone. The questionnaires designed for this purpose will have to be open-ended so that they present flexibility to the volunteers to fully express their views. Questions that reflect preconceived ideas about the marketing strategy will be discarded. To this end, a list of all the possible questions will be prepared, from which only the suitable questions will be selected. This is important as this is a qualitative research, and so it should be based on unbiased resources that do not project the views or ideas of the researchers in order to minimize the chance of adulteration and error in the study. Another technique to minimize error in a qualitative research is to increase the number of data sets. Hence, this study will focus on questionnaires filled out by 50 volunteers, so that a wide range of opinions and ideas can be gathered. 6. Time Frame Two time frames should be appreciated with regard to this study. The complete study, including the process of data collection, its analysis, and the write up, spanned over a period of three months. Out of these three months, three weeks were dedicated to the actual collection of data through questionnaires sent via emails and filled out in person by volunteers in different public places. The latter time frame can be termed, for the purpose of further referencing, the resource collection period. This resource collection period was further divided into two phases: Week 1: in this week, a total of 50 emails were sent containing the questionnaires that were carefully prepared to minimize any chance of bias. In one week, 22 emails were returned which contained the answers to those questions. That left 28 questionnaires to be filled. Week 2 and 3: in the second phase of resource collection, the remaining 28 questionnaires were taken to marketplaces and other public places to be filled out in person by volunteers who were willing to take part in the study, and who affirmed that they owned and used Smart phones. Hence, the data collection lasted for 21 days. 7. Limitations of the Study The results of this investigation should be viewed with regard to the limitations of this study. The limitations concern with two factors of the investigation: the volunteer pool, and the time period of data collection. This study involves 50 questionnaires willed by 50 volunteers, whether online through email, or in person in several public places. As already discussed, this is a qualitative investigation, and it is imperative to involve a large pool of subjects to be investigated in order to minimize the chance of adulteration in the results. This investigation could have been improved by involving more volunteers, so that it could better depict the views of the customers of iPhone. Although 50 is an acceptable number of volunteers for this purpose, it does leave room for improvement. It was beyond the resources of this investigation to enlarge the source pool, due to time constraints, as discussed below. Although the total time period of this study was three months, which is quite adequate, given the nature and scope of this investigation, the actual time period allocated for the collection of data was only three weeks or 21 days. Data collection is the most important part of this investigation, as the objectives of this study depend upon the data in the form of views of the customers regarding the marketing policy of Apple for iPhone. Since this is not a theoretical study about the marketing techniques, rather a field analysis of the effectiveness of that technique, more time should have been allotted for the data collection, so that more volunteers could have been included in the study, improving the results. More time was needed for the processing of the increased volume data set, which was not afforded; hence, a compromise had to be made regarding the number of participants in the study. When using emails for data collection, a low turn over rate is expected; that is, there is a high probability that the participants will not reply to the emails, or that the emails would not contain usable information for the study. This was a potential problem with this investigation. It became an actual problem, when out of 50 emails, only 22 emails containing usable information were returned. To rectify this problem, the number of emails sent could have been increased. However, that led to another potential problem wit the investigation. The medium of emails for data collection is risky, as there is a chance for the participants to deem the sent emails as spam, and even take action against it. It is illegal to send spam through electronic media, so it is imperative to take the permission of the participants before sending out emails. This limits the number of online participants as it involves gathering email addresses through reliable and authentic sources and only with the permission of the participants. Hence, only 50 emails could be sent out for this investigation. 8. Learnt from the Study This study shows that the value of a product is as much about the perception that is created about the product as it is about the actual value of the product. Apple has used the power of its brand to create a product that does such a vast number of things that the functionality of the cell phone has been taken into a whole new level of experience. It created the demand for the product and provided functions that were both useful and interesting to implement into daily life. More than this, the product launch was done in such a way to create high levels of anticipation, another function of perception. The inference of the way in which Apple designed its entry into the wireless communications industry is that perception is at least as important as the actual product. The product needed to be great, but the perception of its meaning to society had to be even greater. Managerial implications that can be taken from this study is that creating high functioning products, services, and manufacturing details must be balanced with high levels of public perceptions about the company. Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“To Investigate How iPhone Maker Apple Competes across the Smartphone Essay”, n.d.)
Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/visual-arts-film-studies/1429576-to-investigate-how-iphone-maker-apple-competes
(To Investigate How IPhone Maker Apple Competes across the Smartphone Essay)
https://studentshare.org/visual-arts-film-studies/1429576-to-investigate-how-iphone-maker-apple-competes.
“To Investigate How IPhone Maker Apple Competes across the Smartphone Essay”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/visual-arts-film-studies/1429576-to-investigate-how-iphone-maker-apple-competes.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF Special Study Project Management Report

Project management of the I-Borrow

ANALYSIS OF THE i-BORROW PROJECT: A project management PERSPECTIVE   by   ###] [Prof name] University of [univ name] [Month DD], 2011 Executive Summary Over the period from 2008 to 2009, Canterbury Christ Church University embarked on a project designed to meet the particular needs of student body where laptop ownership was uncommon by establishing a lean project to provide loan of student laptops with the new library and student support building.... The project exemplifies project management principles throughout its planning and execution stage through thorough analysis of the target needs and available resources....
19 Pages (4750 words) Essay

Effective IT Project Management

This case study "Effective IT project management" discusses effective project management that is necessary for a company.... Therefore, it is important that directors of Apache Metals concentrate on project management to receive the funding.... Literature and research review Apache Metals seems to have been failing on its project management and it is only after failing miserably that the company began to take a keen interest in project management....
6 Pages (1500 words) Case Study

Analytical report based on an case study about IT project management

hellip; 10 Reflection on the dynamics and problematic nature of IT projects 12 Conclusion 14 References 16 Introduction This analytical report is based upon a study conducted for the innovative system installed in the bars of a newly constructed football stadium in Portugal known as Alvalade XXI in 2004.... First unit was operated by the front office responsible for interacting clients while back office unit was specified for inventory management whereas information of both system was recorded on an external database....
15 Pages (3750 words) Essay

Effective Management Strategies in the UAE

project management Name of the Student: Name of the University: Date: GASCO project management Survey Report 2013 Table of Contents Executive Summary 4 Background of the Problem 4 Main Research Objective 5 The Methodology 5 The Sample 6 Limitations 6 Findings 6 Recommendations 13 Appendices 14 Reference List 24 Executive Summary With the advent of globalization business across the world are getting connected in one way or the other.... In order to makes themselves stand apart from their competitors and gain competitive advantage; businesses are adopting various project management strategies....
6 Pages (1500 words) Essay

Strategic Management

The following report describes and analyses Jeyes business 's generic and distinctive marketing strategies, as well as providing accurate industry, competitor, market, and SWOT analysis'.... hellip; The main objective of this dissertation is to improve the company's supply chain or strategic management and the relations with its suppliers to reduce costs so that company will support its cost-saving competitive advantage....
17 Pages (4250 words) Essay

Analytical report based on an case study about IT project management

This analytical report is based upon a study conducted for the innovative system installed in the bars of a newly constructed football stadium in Portugal known as Alvalade XXI in 2004.... First unit was operated by the front office responsible for interacting clients while back office unit was specified for inventory management whereas information of both system was recorded on an external database....
15 Pages (3750 words) Essay

IPad - Project Management Environment Within the Organization

This paper "iPad - project management Environment Within the Organization" focuses on the aim that has been well listed in the iPad project which clearly states that the ultimate objective of the project is to develop a new product and also specifies the product placement between iPhone and MacBook.... One very positive aspect of this project report is the introduction of the company mission and the definition of the product.... Not only does it specify the differentiation aspect of the product, but also goes on to specify what precise component of the product will need to be focused on during the project....
8 Pages (2000 words) Assignment

Managing Project Closure

rdquo; (CIT Solutions Pty Ltd, 2009) Each stakeholder should clearly understand:Included in a project closure report are the items which include the title of the project, the number of the project, the effective date for project closure, the reasons for the closure.... In addition, Young states that the project manager should “ensure that change management is adhered to”.... The paper "Managing project Closure" focuses on the research project closure stages and the manner in which these have been planned for and managed in projects in the private and public sectors....
7 Pages (1750 words) Coursework
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us