IBM and APPLE are two established companies that benefit from the demands of customers.
IBM and APPLE are two established companies that benefit from the demands of customers. Marketing managers make daily organizational decisions that affect customers and other stakeholders. Sometimes companies that are rivals will partner together to be sustainable in the long run. The milestone partnership aims to redefine the way work will get done, address key industry mobility challenges and spark actual mobile-led business change—grounded in four core capabilities: a new class of more than 100 industry-specific enterprise solutions, including native apps, developed exclusively from the ground up, for iPhone and iPad; unique IBM cloud services optimized for iOS, including device management, security, analytics, and mobile integration; new AppleCare® service and support offering tailored to the needs of the enterprise; and new packaged offerings from IBM for device activation, supply, and management.
Analyze the decisions that Marketing Managers implement for their organizations.
Read: 1-11d Case The Apple and IBM Partnership will provide if needed
Read: Ready your mobile workforce with Apple and IBMLinks to an external site.
Watch: Nightly Business Report: IBM and Apple form a business allianceLinks to an external site.
Assignment Instructions
Explore the alliance’s pros and cons from each party’s perspective.
Describe particular mobile moments that come up for a marketing manager or salesperson that could be supported by a MobileFirst application.
Sample Answer
Marketing managers wear many hats and make a multitude of decisions, all geared towards achieving their organization’s marketing goals. Let’s delve into some key areas where their decisions hold sway:
1. Market Analysis and Targeting:
- Market research: They conduct market research to understand customer needs, preferences, and buying behaviors. This helps them identify target markets and opportunities for growth.
- Segmentation and targeting: Based on research, they segment the market into distinct groups with similar characteristics and tailor marketing strategies accordingly.
- Competitor analysis: They constantly monitor competitor activity and strategies to assess their strengths and weaknesses, informing their own positioning and differentiation efforts.