25 Years Ago, Steve Jobs Saved Apple From Collapse It’s a lesson for every tech CEO today.
When Steve Jobs resigned from Apple in 1985, no one would have guessed he would eventually be known as a as once-in-a-lifetime business magnate.
You are viewing a single comment's thread from:
Let's dive deeper into the key strategies and decisions that Steve Jobs implemented during his second tenure at Apple, and how they contributed to the company's resurgence.
Streamlining the Product Line
One of Jobs' first moves was to simplify Apple's product line. He realized that the company had become too fragmented, with too many products and lines of business. This made it difficult to focus on innovation and customer satisfaction.
To address this issue, jobs decided to focus on just four core products: two desktop computers and two portable devices. One set was marketed for professionals, while the other catered to consumers. By concentrating on these core products, Jobs ensured that Apple remained true to its founding values and continued to innovate, rather than trying to compete in every market.
This strategy allowed Apple to:
Canceling Non-Core Products
Jobs was not afraid to take bold risks and cancel products that were not core to Apple's mission. In 1998, he canceled the Newton personal digital assistant, which was a struggling product line. He also canceled several other products that were not meeting their potential.
By canceling non-core products, Jobs was able to:
Redefining the Role of Microsoft
When Jobs returned to Apple, he knew that the company had a complex relationship with Microsoft. Microsoft was dominating the market share, and Apple's Macintosh computer was struggling to compete.
To address this issue, Jobs decided to form a partnership with Microsoft. He negotiated a deal that would give Microsoft a seat on Apple's board of directors and provide Microsoft with access to Apple's Macintosh computer source code.
This partnership had several key benefits for Apple:
Prioritizing Customer Experience
Jobs understood that short-term profit and cost targets could never replace the importance of customer satisfaction. He prioritized the creation of exceptional products that would delight users, rather than merely meeting profit expectations.
To achieve this goal, Jobs implemented several strategies, including:
By prioritizing customer experience, Jobs helped to create a customer-centric culture that would become a hallmark of Apple's success.
Rallying the Troops
When Jobs returned to Apple, he knew that the company had become fragmented and bureaucratic. He decided to take bold action to simplify the organization and eliminate the silos that had been created.
To achieve this goal, Jobs implemented several strategies, including:
By simplifying the organization and eliminating the silos, Jobs was able to:
Overall, Steve Jobs' strategies and decisions during his second tenure at Apple helped to create a more streamlined and customer-centric organization. By focusing on innovation, customer satisfaction, and collaboration, Jobs was able to turn Apple around and establish the company as a leader in the tech industry.
Article