Free Social Media And Business Critical Thinking Sample

Introduction

One of the most popular global organizations is Apple Inc. The organization topped the list of the World’s Most Valuable Brands . Founded in 1976, Apple reportedly employs 80,300 employees and ranked #15 as the among the World’s Biggest Public Companies . Replete information is provided in its official website where users could contact Apple through this link: https://www.apple.com/contact/ . Likewise, Apple’s Facebook account contains simple illustrations. Its cover photo contains the photo of the latest Apple product, iPhone 6, in front-side view showcasing a lavender flower in black background . Concurrently, in the space provided for profile picture, the logo of Apple in simple gray color is shown. The current discourse hereby aims to present an evaluation of Apple’s use of social media and the manner by which Apple uses the tool to deliver good news and bad news to its stakeholders.

Evaluation of Use of Social Media for Delivery of News

Apple uses social media for delivery of news to various stakeholders. Its official website enables opportunities for clients to contact Apple through feedback links categorized as follows: support, website, developer, product, and search feedback . Likewise, it has a portal entitled ‘Hot News’ which provides clients and other stakeholders to be apprised of recent reports pertaining to Apple’s products and organizational updates . The portal also presents recent press releases arranged according to the most recent dates.

Public/customer relations

News for public and customer relations are accessible through the ‘Hot News’ portal . Likewise, using the same portal, press releases contain information on Apple’s financial reports (quarterly reports) which discloses accurate information including risks and uncertainties . Customer support is accessible through the ‘Support’ portal which enables access to information on products, communities, and contacting support services . In addition, Apple has a ‘Public Relations’ portal which contains information on products and leadership .

Market research

Apple has been known to be an innovative organization and invests considerably in product research and development. However, minimal information is noted to be disclosed or publicly communicated about the organization’s thrust for market research.

Building an online community

The ability of Apple to build an online community is discerned to be average based on the number of likes in its Facebook page numbering 597,091 likes . Concurrently, despite lack of explicit information, an online community is surmised to be effectively built through enabling immediate access to various social media sites using the official website, as well as other social networking sites: Facebook, Twitter, Linked In, and YouTube .

Internal communication

Internal communication at Apple Inc. is based on a culture of secrecy . As revealed, “secrecy at Apple is not just the prevailing communications strategy; it is baked into the corporate culture. Employees working on top-secret projects must pass through a maze of security doors, swiping their badges again and again and finally entering a numeric code to reach their offices, according to one former employee who worked in such areas” (Stone & Vance, 2009, par. 8). From the information, it could be deduced that internal communication is structured in layers according to authorized protocols within the organizational hierarchy.

Potential Risks

Generally, Apple’s apparent use of social media could be classified as responsibly appropriate to serve their organizational goals. Since it is regarded as one of the most valuable brands globally, management is keen on preserving a positive corporate image. As such, the quality and quantity of information disclosed to the public is screened in terms of the ability to generate good reviews and prevent jeopardizing the remarkable image that it has established through the years. Through responsible use of social media, in conjunction with a secrecy culture in internal communication, the risk of exposing information on products being developed (or still to be launched) or practices that should be kept within the organization, had been minimized.

Recommendation

In retrospect, Apple uses an interplay of effectively designed and selected social media to disseminate and communicate chosen information that would preserve a positive corporate image. Their policy of keeping privileged information to authorized members of senior management enables the organization to apply effective strategies that facilitate reaching market leadership position. The hosts of awards, distinctions, and accolades received by Apple attest to the effective use of social media which assisted in catapulting the organization to be regarded as the World’s Most Valuable Brands.

Conclusion

The current discourse successfully presented an evaluation of Apple’s use of social media and the manner by which Apple uses the tool to deliver good news and bad news to its stakeholders. Through careful selection of social media tools, as well as opting to apply an internal communication based on structured authorized protocols, Apple has reached the apex of success through revolutionizing computer hardware and serving distinct needs of it varied stakeholders, including millions of clientele on a global sphere.

References

Apple. (2014, May). Retrieved January 13, 2015, from forbes.com: http://www.forbes.com/companies/apple/
Apple Inc. (2014, July 22). Apple Reports Third Quarter Results. Retrieved January 13, 2015, from apple.com: https://www.apple.com/pr/library/2014/07/22Apple-Reports-Third-Quarter-Results.html
Apple Inc. (2015). Apple Info. Retrieved January 13, 2015, from apple.com: https://www.apple.com/about/
Apple Inc. (2015). Contacting Apple. Retrieved January 13, 2015, from apple.com: https://www.apple.com/contact/
Apple Inc. (2015). Hot News. Retrieved January 13, 2015, from apple.com: https://www.apple.com/hotnews/
Apple Inc. (2015). Support. Retrieved January 13, 2015 , from apple.com: https://www.apple.com/support/
Facebook. (2015). Apple Inc. Retrieved January 13, 2015, from facebook.com: https://www.facebook.com/authorized.apple
Quinn, R. (2011, September 24). How Industry Giants Like Apple, Inc & Others Use Social Media. Retrieved January 13, 2015, from IPWatchdog: http://www.ipwatchdog.com/2011/09/24/how-industry-giants-like-apple-inc-others-use-social-media/id=19098/
Stone, B., & Vance, A. (2009, June 22). Apple’s Obsession With Secrecy Grows Stronger. Retrieved January 12, 2015, from New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/23/technology/23apple.html?_r=0