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What is Product Life Cycle (PLC)?

Product Life Cycle (PLC) is a model that illustrates how a product progresses through stages during its time on the market. It serves as a tool for businesses to understand how their products evolve and how to manage them efficiently. This concept plays a role in making decisions regarding product development, marketing strategies, pricing strategies, and distribution channels. In today’s paced world of business and innovation, it is crucial to grasp the Product Life Cycle (PLC).

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Stages of Product Life Cycle (PLC)

Case study of product life cycle of apple, key takeaways from product life cycle (plc):.

The PLC is a concept in marketing and product management that helps businesses plan strategically and make informed decisions about their products.
This cycle represents the stages that a product goes through starting from its introduction to its decline in the market.
Understanding these stages allows companies to adapt their strategies effectively maximizing profits and ensuring long-term success for their products.

1. Introduction

The introduction stage signifies the entry of a product into the market. The initial stage is typically associated with an increase in sales since it involves introducing the product to consumers. During this phase, businesses incur expenses for marketing and research and development (R&D) as they strive to raise awareness and stimulate demand for their product. Companies need to invest in marketing and create distribution channels to ensure that their product is easily accessible to customers. The objective is to establish a presence in the market and generate interest. During this phase, pricing strategies often revolve around two approaches:

Penetration pricing, where a lower price is initially offered to gain market share,
Skimming pricing, where a higher price is charged at first to recover development costs.

The growth stage witnesses a surge in sales as consumers become more aware of the product’s existence and its advantages. This growth is fueled by word-of-mouth favourable reviews and effective marketing campaigns. In this phase, businesses strive to expand their market share by scaling up production and distribution. With the increasing demand, competition may intensify as new players try to capitalise on the opportunity. As the product gains recognition, pricing strategies might shift towards a competitive approach. Companies may also introduce variations or extensions of the product aimed at market segments.

3. Maturity

The maturity stage represents the peak of sales and market penetration for the product. Competition typically reaches its point during this period, and attention shifts from attracting customers to retaining existing ones. Price stability and product differentiation become a feature of this stage. Ongoing marketing endeavours aimed at maintaining both market share and brand loyalty. Companies frequently make investments in improving their products, adding features, and implementing marketing campaigns to ensure their products remain relevant and competitive. Furthermore, they may explore opportunities in markets.

In the decline phase, sales of the product start to decrease due to changing consumer preferences, market saturation, or the emergence of alternatives. Companies must decide whether to discontinue the product or continue selling, it with marketing efforts. As existing inventory price reductions or discounts may be necessary, some companies may choose to reinvent or rebrand the product or find markets to extend its life cycle. Ultimately, the decision to withdraw or revive the product depends on its profitability and how well it aligns with the company’s strategy.

Introduction Phase

During the phase from 2007 to 2008, Apple introduced the iPhone, which brought about a significant transformation in the smartphone industry. To generate awareness and create excitement surrounding their product, Apple invested heavily in marketing and promotional activities. The innovative design and user-friendly interface of the iPhone captured the interest of tech enthusiasts. Capitalising on this wave of enthusiasm, Apple implemented a pricing strategy that involved charging prices initially.

Growth Stage

In the years that followed from 2009 to 2012, the iPhone experienced growth. Apple expanded its range of offerings by introducing models like the iPhone 3G, 4, and 4S. The launch of the App Store in 2008 played a role in fueling this growth by creating an ecosystem that catered to both developers and users alike. To meet increasing demand, Apple focused on scaling up production and distribution, while establishing partnerships with telecom carriers worldwide. Product differentiation also played a role during this stage as Apple offered storage capacities and introduced new features such as improved cameras and faster processors.

Maturity Phase

By 2013, the iPhone had reached maturity as it faced competition from Android-based smartphones. The market became saturated with options for consumers to choose from. To keep its position in the market, Apple put a lot of emphasis on improving its products. Released a series of iPhones, including the 5, 6, 7, and 8 models. They also introduced the Plus and SE versions. Alongside this, Apple carried on with its marketing campaigns that aimed to build brand loyalty and make sure customers were satisfied. Moreover, they expanded into markets, which helped solidify their position as a leading smartphone company.

Declining Stage

In years (2019 onwards), the iPhone entered a stage of decline where it faced obstacles, like market saturation and the rise of competitors. To tackle these challenges, Apple has adjusted its pricing strategies and introduced the affordable iPhone SE. Additionally, the company has heavily invested in services, like Apple Music, Apple TV+, and Apple Arcade to diversify its revenue streams and keep customers engaged. By focusing on refreshing its products and building an ecosystem around its devices, Apple has been able to prolong the lifespan of the iPhone and minimize the impact of market decline.

The Product Life Cycle (PLC) is a framework that helps businesses navigate their product’s complex journey in the market. By understanding the four stages of introduction, growth, maturity, and decline, companies can make choices regarding product development, pricing, marketing, and distribution. Effectively managing a product throughout its life cycle can lead to success and a competitive advantage in today’s dynamic business environment.

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Circle of life: The rise, fall, and rebirth of every Apple product on the Internet

Apple Lisa in a landfil. (Photo source: Herald Journal. Lisa colorized by Amber Neely.)

Admittedly, there's a sometimes very long patch at the start of an Apple product's life in which it doesn't actually exist. There are rumors, and they get so loud or so often repeated that we all come to believe them despite our better judgment. Right now, that's some kind of Apple Glasses, and, of course, the Apple Car.

Then, of course, once a rumor is believed, we're off to the races. On any given day, you can read a commentary or a tweet or a newspaper article stating as fact that Apple is doing it. And also stating as fact that Apple must do it, or the company will die. And, sometimes in the very same piece, a statement of fact that Apple cannot do it, they're too late.

At some point between one and five years later, Apple announces it.

Available today

It used to be that Apple would do that "good morning" schtick, followed by how this is the best product they've ever made. And then they'd end the presentation with those great words, "available today."

That's long gone now, mostly because of how much bigger Apple is now than it was before. Unfortunately, it's created a new hiatus for commenters to fill, but as of the moment a new Apple product is unveiled, certain things must happen.

The new Apple product will not be anything at all like everyone said it would. It will definitely be late to the market, that's guaranteed, but it will also feature Apple's figurative trademark. This new product, whatever it is, will do something or utilize something or feature something that is so obvious — but only in retrospect — that everybody else will copy it.

Not that they'll admit this at first. Initially, rival manufacturers are required to mock Apple for it.

Apple's cancelled AirPower charging mat.

Everybody who dislikes Apple will hate the new product, actual use or release is unnecessary.

They'll find some Android or Microsoft device which once had something a bit like this new feature Apple has introduced, and they will scoff. They'll just simultaneously ignore that if it's on an Android phone, it was on just one of the thousands, and it never took off. If it's a Microsoft product, they'll ignore that it's still saddled with Windows, and that it never took off.

All of this will go on while we enter the interregnum between Apple's unveiling and Apple's actual shipping of the product. We always know when that will be, because Apple always tells us — and Apple always pushes it.

The new Mac Pro is currently in this part of the cycle, with a date sometime later this year. There have already been Windows PC builds or Hackintoshes that are claimed to be more powerful — except they always leave out bits that the builder deems as non-important.

Available eventually

The product will ship on or about the last possible day that it can to still count as being when they said. So "by the end of the year" means anywhere from mid-December to around the 31st.

People actually handle the product after the keynote presentation. It doesn't matter whether they did or not, though, because again, the news cycle script demands certain reactions.

It used to be that they were actually available today. We miss those days.

It's too expensive. That one is guaranteed, it is a total certainty that people will say Apple's new product, whatever it is, costs too much. To be fair, Apple really pushes it on the price, but also to be fair, it's usually the case that you couldn't make even a rough equivalent for what they're charging.

Partly because of the expense, critics will conclude that nobody but "Apple sheep" will buy it. This is generally coupled with cries that nobody will want it, and also Apple is far too late to the market.

At the same time, other manufacturers will be rushing rival versions to market. And, yes, for "other manufacturers," read "Samsung."

On that last day, at that last possible moment before you could say Apple is late, Apple ships the product. Apple shipped the iMac Pro and the 2013 Mac Pro like this, with days or hours left to go in the year.

We must love boxes

Instantaneously, you get unboxing videos by the metric ton. Every pixel of the product is detailed, compared and analysed. As part of this, there will be fans making YouTube videos about how great it is, haters making YouTube videos about how bad it is, and everyone making videos about how terrible everybody else's videos are.

We don't know it yet, but we're already in the waning days of the product. AirPods are in this stage, though chiefly because we can no longer remember a time before them.

What's next?

After release, discussion begins about next mystery Apple product. The new release has been out for an hour, and the hot takes flow, saying what Apple is definitely going to do next time.

Some people even mock up what a new Apple product might look like.

It doesn't matter that what Apple is actually going to do is iterate on this product, making it better and better with each version.

There may be a brief calamity as someone, somewhere, finds something wrong with the product and there two things can happen. Apple may fix the problem quietly. Or it might huff and puff about it, but it'll still get fixed in the end, if you just hang on in there.

And by now, this new product that we have waited for, built up, knocked down, criticized for being way too expensive, yet also then bought, will be the norm. It's part of the Apple product range.

You forget that it was ever new. You may even forget about it completely, especially if it doesn't happen to be a device that you personally will need.

Only, your actual needs go out of the window when the next thing happens. Apple replaces it with an upgraded version that is much better and yet at the same price. And your actual desires go out of the window when, eventually, Apple discontinues the product entirely.

Hall of fame

At that point, we go into the special endgame reserved only for Apple products, and even then, only some of them. There are plenty that are just forgotten instantly, but there are others that somehow regenerate into suddenly venerated objects .

We love this machine - now. If we had loved it more at the time, Apple might not have cancelled it.

You didn't buy one, not enough people bought one, or Apple would've continued it. But, now this discontinued product is a beloved classic of Apple design and it is a travesty that it's gone.

It is apparently so much of a tragedy that it gets one more stab at holding our attention — or rather, it gets several of the same type. This now beloved vintage classic becomes the subject of fond memories, written up on its fifth, tenth, fifteenth and twenty-first anniversaries.

Since this is what happens with absolutely every single Apple product of any description ever made, and as it happens in exactly this sequence every single time, it's only surprising we can keep track. Fortunately, that's what Wikipedia is for.

Once you've heard the same criticisms of a not-yet-released product enough times, you do start to think about all this. And it's startling how what we've described here tongue-in-cheek turns out to have really solid, repeated basis in fact. Yet there is also this — only Apple products go through such a specific cycle of prediction, anticipation, release, criticism, and reverence.

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How Apple Is Organized for Innovation

Joel M. Podolny
Morten T. Hansen

When Steve Jobs returned to Apple, in 1997, it had a conventional structure for a company of its size and scope. It was divided into business units, each with its own P&L responsibilities. Believing that conventional management had stifled innovation, Jobs laid off the general managers of all the business units (in a single day), put the entire company under one P&L, and combined the disparate functional departments of the business units into one functional organization. Although such a structure is common for small entrepreneurial firms, Apple—remarkably—retains it today, even though the company is nearly 40 times as large in terms of revenue and far more complex than it was in 1997. In this article the authors discuss the innovation benefits and leadership challenges of Apple’s distinctive and ever-evolving organizational model in the belief that it may be useful for other companies competing in rapidly changing environments.

It’s about experts leading experts.

Idea in Brief

The challenge.

Major companies competing in many industries struggle to stay abreast of rapidly changing technologies.

One Major Cause

They are typically organized into business units, each with its own set of functions. Thus the key decision makers—the unit leaders—lack a deep understanding of all the domains that answer to them.

The Apple Model

The company is organized around functions, and expertise aligns with decision rights. Leaders are cross-functionally collaborative and deeply knowledgeable about details.

Apple is well-known for its innovations in hardware, software, and services. Thanks to them, it grew from some 8,000 employees and $7 billion in revenue in 1997, the year Steve Jobs returned, to 137,000 employees and $260 billion in revenue in 2019. Much less well-known are the organizational design and the associated leadership model that have played a crucial role in the company’s innovation success.

Joel M. Podolny is the dean and vice president of Apple University in Cupertino, California. The former dean of the Yale School of Management, Podolny was a professor at Harvard Business School and the Stanford Graduate School of Business.
MH Morten T. Hansen is a professor at the University of California, Berkeley, and a faculty member at Apple University, Apple. He is the author of Great at Work and Collaboration and coauthor of Great by Choice . He was named one of the top management thinkers in the world by the Thinkers50 in 2019. MortentHansen

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Inside the Apple product development cycle

Today, Apple CEO Tim Cook will speak at an ‘innovation event’ at the company’s headquarters in Cupertino, California. The buzz surrounding the iconic technology and design company’s autumnal announcements is deserved, as the event often heralds the release of the sort of consumer electronic goods that change the way consumers behave for the next decade.

Not that all Apple keynotes (or innovation events as they’re called now) are created equal. Steve Jobs’ iconic announcement of the first iPhone (in which he explained to the audience what a smartphone was, and then trolled the audience with this picture) was epoch changing. In the 12 years, smartphone adoption has changed everything.

Whether or not today’s announcement will rival Jobs’ famous keynote remains to be seen (although the general consensus seems to be ‘probably not’). Nevertheless, a slew of sleek new Apple products can shape consumer buying habits for years to come, so it’s definitely worth tuning in.

The most likely topic of the event is predicted to be the launch of the iPhone 11, which is expected to have a more powerful processor, a better camera and improved facial recognition technology - among other things. While Apple keeps guards the secrets of its production process more closely than some countries guard their nuclear launch codes, and has bought more startups than you’ve had hot dinners, Gigabit has pulled together what we know about the process of turning a designer’s first sketch into the next piece of must have consumer gadgetry. As Apple prepares to unveil the new, more powerful and feature-packed iPhone, here’s what we know about how the company put it together.

The two year cycle

“This is a day I’ve been looking forward to for two and a half years,” said Jobs, walking out onto the stage in 2007. Obviously, designing and manufacturing a revolutionary smartphone from scratch is going to take longer than building its 22nd iteration with more than a decade of experience and infinitely greater resources - not to mention the iPhone One wasn’t finished at the time of the 2007 keynote - but it’s a decent ballpark figure, and matches up with the fact that from versions two through six, Apple’s development strategy centred around the ‘tick-tock’ method, where a tick year saw a new device, followed by an S (or otherwise enhanced) version around 12 months later.

This pattern has shifted somewhat in recent years, and it would seem that a new iPhone makes its way to stores every year. This could still mean Apple is operating two asynchronous two year development cycles, but again, it’s a very secretive company.

Design first

According to a book Inside Apple: How America’s most Admired and Secretive Company Really Works by Adam Lashinsky, the technique that keeps Apple’s reputation for impeccable design and user centricity is remarkably simple: treat the designers like royalty and don’t let the finance department anywhere near them. At the time of writing, Apple’s chief designer was Jony Ive ( these days he makes solid diamond rings with Marc Newson ) who, along with his design team, reportedly “do not report to finance, manufacturing, etc. They are given free rein to set their own budgets and are given the ability to ignore manufacturing practicalities.”

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Apple Products: A Discussion of the Product Life Cycle

This publication details the life cycles of Apple's mobile products. Its aim is to present their influence on the life cycle of the entire brand.

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Apple’s Product Development Process – Inside the World’s Greatest Design Organization

Apple’s Product Development Process may be one of the most successful design processes ever implemented. With a valuation that exceeds $2 trillion, there’s a lot that designers can learn from Apple and introduce into their own design environments.

Apple is a notoriously secretive business. In Steve Jobs’ time at the company it would have been near impossible to find out about the internal workings of the business. This isn’t surprising when a business’s market advantage is its design approach. It’s worth keeping it under wraps.

However, Adam Lashinsky, the author of Inside Apple: How America’s most Admired and Secretive Company Really Works has been given a look at the process. While there are still aspects of the way that Apple works that are shrouded in secrecy , you can get a good idea of the overall high level process through this book. And in this article, we’ve distilled the key takeaways from the book.

Apple’s Product Development Process

Design is at the forefront.

Author/Copyright holder: GiuliaPiccoliTrapletti . Copyright terms and licence: CC BY-SA 4.0

How do you give designers the freedom to design and ensure that the products they produce fulfil their visions? Well at Apple they put design at the forefront.

Jony Ive, the British designer who was the Chief Design Officer (CDO) at Apple, and his design team do not report to finance, manufacturing, etc. They are given free rein to set their own budgets and are given the ability to ignore manufacturing practicalities.

At the heart of the design department is the Industrial Design Studio where only a select few Apple employees have access.

It’s a simple concept that allows for the creation of incredible products.

Design Teams are Separated From the Larger Company

When a design team works on a new product they are then cut off from the rest of the Apple business. They may even implement physical controls to prevent the team from interacting with other Apple employees during the day.

The team is also removed from the traditional Apple hierarchy at this point. They create their own reporting structures and report directly to the executive team. This leaves them free to focus on design rather than day-to-day minutiae.

A Documented Development Process

Author/Copyright holder: Ed Uthman . Copyright terms and licence: CC BY-SA 2.5

The Apple New Product Process (ANPP) information is given to a product development team when they begin work. It details every stage of the design process and it goes into elaborate detail. The idea is to define what stages the product creation team will go through, who will be responsible for delivering the final product, who works on which stage and where they work and also when the product is expected to be completed.

Monday is Review Day

The Apple Executive Team holds a regular Monday meeting to examine every single product that the company has in design phase at that point in time. This isn’t as daunting as it may sound; one of the keys to Apple’s success is that they don’t work on hundreds of new products at once. Instead, resources are concentrated on a handful of projects that are expected to bear fruit rather than being diluted over many lesser projects.

If a product cannot be reviewed at one meeting – it’s automatically at the top of the agenda for the next meeting. In practice, this should mean that every single Apple product is inspected by the executive team at least once a fortnight. This keeps delays in decision making to a minimum and enables the company to be very lean with its approach to design.

The EPM and the GSM

The EPM is the engineering program manager and the GSM is the global supply manager. Together they are known within Apple as the “EPM Mafia”. It’s their job to take over when a product moves from design to production.

As you might expect, these people are usually going to be found in China, Apple does very little of its own manufacturing. Instead it relies on contract outsourcing companies like Foxconn (one of the largest employers in the world) to do this for them. This removes much of the headache of manufacturing for Apple whilst keeping production costs as low as possible. There is a significant market advantage to this approach and its one that many other electronics manufacturers are emulating now.

The EPM Mafia may sound scary (and they probably are to the suppliers) but their real job is simply to ensure that products are delivered to market in the right way, at the right time and at the right cost. They may disagree at points but their guiding principle is to act in the interests of the product at all times.

Iteration Is Key

Like any good design company , the design process at Apple is not over when manufacturing begins. In fact, Apple iterates the design throughout manufacturing. The product is built, it’s tested and reviewed, then the design team improves on it and it’s built all over again. These cycles take 4-6 weeks at a time and may be run many times over a product’s development lifecycle.

Author/Copyright holder: CyberDoc LLC . Copyright terms and licence: Fair Use.

When production is complete the EPM will take possession of some or all of the test devices and then take them back to Apple’s headquarters at Cupertino.

This is a very costly approach but it’s one of the reasons that Apple has a reputation for quality. The more you invest in design, the more likely you are to build incredible market changing products. It’s the process that the iPod, the iPhone and the iPad went through.

The Packaging Room

This is a very-high security area in Apple and it’s where prototypes are unboxed. As you might expect, the security is to prevent leaks to the outside world. If you ever do see a leaked prototype for an Apple product – it won’t have come from here. It’s more likely to have vanished from a production line in China.

A Launch Plan

Author/Copyright holder: Manutaus. Copyright terms and licence: CC BY-SA 3.0

The final step in Apple’s product development is product launch. When the product is considered to be as good as it can be – it enters an action plan known as “the Rules of the Road”. This explains all the responsibilities and actions that must be taken prior to a commercial launch of the product.

It must be a nerve-wracking experience to be privy to the “Rules of the Road” because if you lose it or leak it… you’re immediately fired. This is explained in the document itself.

The Take Away

Apple’s process is complex, expensive and demanding. If you compare it to most business theories – it shouldn’t work. However, to date it has out-performed even the wildest of expectations.

You may not be able to emulate all of their processes within the space of your own workplace but there’s no reason that you can’t develop written processes for design phases and launch phases of your projects, for example. And, of course, there is no reason at all for you in not iterating!

The more you know about successful design processes, the more you can take some of the best aspects of them and use them to enhance your own products.

Find out all the details of the design process in: Inside Apple: How America's Most Admired--and Secretive--Company Really Works by Adam Lashinsky ISBN 97814555512157, Published January 25, 2012

And take an insight into Apple’s greatest designer’s mind in : JonyIve: The Genius Behind Apple's Greatest Products by Leander Kahney ISBN 159184617X, Published November 14, 2013

Hero Image: Author/Copyright holder: Sreejithk2000. Copyright terms and licence: Public Domain.

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The Product Life Cycle (PLC): Apple Inc. Case Presentation

Presentation theme and goals.

The concept of the Product life cycle (PLC) and its importance.
Importance of the PLC for marketing managers.
Consequences of the lack of understanding of PLC.
Explanation of Apple Inc.’s target market strategy.
Relation of brand equity to customer perception.
Stages of the PLC and its implications for iPhone.

This presentation entails the concept of the Product Life Cycle and its importance in today’s modern business environment. The primary purpose of this presentation is to discuss the significance of the PLC for marketing managers for preparing marketing strategies. The target market strategy of Apple Inc. is also analyzed for understanding the PLC. The negative consequences of the lack of understanding of this concept are mentioned in this presentation. Furthermore, it covers the importance of brand equity for creating a positive product image by giving an example of Apple’s iPhone.

The PLC Concept

Development and dismissal of a product.
Every product goes through this life cycle.
uIntroduction, growth, maturity, and decline (Vallabhaneni, 2015).
The concept relates to marketing and advertising.

The concept of life cycle explains that every product moves in four phases over time. However, the duration of each stage depends on the market conditions and the nature of the product. The PLC concept explains that each product has a life starting from its introduction and development to the time when it leaves the market. Therefore, decision-makers use this concept to decide when and how the product needs to be advertised and marketed in a particular market.

Importance of PLC for Marketing Managers

Marketing managers prepare advertising strategies based on the PLC (Vallabhaneni, 2015).
Allocation of resources to avoid failure.
Special focus on the PLC to achieve a competitive advantage.
Advertising decisions relevant to the market condition.
Creating and maintaining demand for the product.
Mitigate risks and competition.

Marketing managers also play a key role in increasing the sales of a product. A manager can review the current stage of the product in the market and prepare the advertising strategy according to it. The analysis reduces the deployment of valuable resources of a company when the timing is not appropriate. The concept of the PLC is useful to reduce the threat of competition in the market and enables the company to gain a competitive advantage.

Importance of PLC for Marketing Managers

Negative Consequences in the Absence of the PLC Monitoring

Lack of understanding and adoption of the PLC:

Sales may decline.
Cost may increase.
Leaders may miss opportunities.
Advertising strategy may not generate the expected outcomes (Pride & Ferrell, 2015).
Lack of control over production and sales.
Productivity and efficiency may decline eventually.

The sales strategy has a direct link with the position of a product in the target market. It is possible that the company may not achieve the intended market share due to lack of advertising at the right time. The increasing advertising cost will reduce the profit due to its low impact on the sales of the product. The production cost will be higher that will reduce the efficiency of the business and its product.

Negative Consequences in the Absence of the PLC Monitoring

Apple Inc. and Its Products/Services

Apple Inc. is an American technology company.
Its headquarters is in Cupertino, California.
Main products are iPhone, iPod, and iPad, etc.
Services include Apple Store, App Store, and iTunes.
A large size company in terms of revenues.
Engaged in computer hardware, software, and smartphone industries (Patel, 2019).

Apple Inc. is an American multinational corporation that is headquartered in Cupertino. The brand is well-known in the global market for its hardware and software products and services. It is a large size company that mainly generates its revenues from the sales of iPhones. iPhone has high brand recognition and reputation in the global market due to its technologically advanced features. The company operates in the worldwide business environment through effective marketing and advertising strategies.

Target Market – iPhone

Apple’s primary target market is the US.
It sells iPhones globally.
Individuals who can use smartphones.
Individuals with high income.
Individuals who prefer technologically advanced features.

The primary market of Apple is the US where it generates the highest number of sales. It also sells iPhones in other markets as well through its website and stores. The target customers include individuals who prefer using smartphones and have a high disposal income for buying expensive phones.

Target Market Strategy of Apple Inc.

Strong brand personality.
User-friendly applications and devices.
Community connection and rethinking processes.
Identification of customer needs and preferences (Patel, 2019)
Unique value proposition and avoidance of price wars.
Rapid adoption of advanced technology.

The target market strategy of Apple Inc. is straight forward that aims to achieve a high level of user satisfaction. The marketing managers continuously focus on innovation, customer needs, and product development to retain the market share. Apple Inc. does not need to engage in price competition as it has a unique brand value due to its innovative products and after-sales services. The continuous product development and improvement with new features reflect the goal-oriented strategy of Apple Inc. that differentiates it from its competitors in the global market.

Role of Brand Equity in Creating Positive Image

Achieved through effective communication (Pride & Ferrell, 2015).
Redesigning and improvement of a product.
User-bonding is essential for iPhone’s sales.
Expressing the meaning of the brand.
Customer perception also has a high value.

A company can achieve high brand equity by enhancing the value of a brand. One way is to share information with customers to improve their understanding of the brand which creates a positive perception about the product and the company. The coherent bonding of users with iPhone is essential to achieve the goal of brand equity which means that customers are willing to buy the product even at high prices. Effective communication strategies are also necessary for fulfilling the goal of advertising. The design and features of smartphone devices should be attractive to users.

Four Stages of the PLC

Every product has four stages in the PLC.
The duration of the PLC varies for all products (Pride & Ferrell, 2015).
The introduction stage refers to the launch of a product.
The growth stage generates growing sales.
The maturity stage focuses on maintaining the market share.
The decline stage means less demand for the product.

The PLC has four stages that every product goes through. The initial stage is the introduction stage in which a company launches its product in the market. The growth stage begins when product sales expand in the target market. In the maturity stage, the product continues to sell in the market, but the company faces difficulties in maintaining its market share. However, every product experiences a decline in its demand as it becomes outdated or market saturates.

Implication of the PLC Stages on the Price and Product of Apple Inc.

iPhone has a premium price in the introduction stage (Patel, 2019).
iPhone has a strong brand image and reputation.
iPhone models become outdated in the maturity stage.
A new model replaces the existing model in the decline stage.
The PLC of an iPhone is short.

iPhone has a strong brand reputation in the global market that allows the company to charge a high price at the time of launching its new model. The product reaches the maturity stage early due to the rapid changes in technology and the launch of new products by competitors. The company is forced to introduce a new model to avoid market share loss. The PLC of an iPhone model is just one year and is replaced by a new model.

Implication of the PLC Stages on the Price and Product of Apple Inc.

Implication of the PLC Stages on Competition and Profitability of iPhone

iPhone has high brand equity (Patel, 2019).
iPhone has a low threat of competition at each stage.
It generates a high profit in the introduction stage.
It does not get involved in the price war at any stage.
Apple boosts sales of iPhone frequently after launching it.
The launch of a new model adds value to the business.

iPhone is a popular brand that adopts effective marketing strategies at the time of launching its new model in the market. However, it does not have the threat of pricing or product competition due to its unique characteristics. Although its sales decrease in the decline stage, the product earns a high profit until its maturity stage. The product has high brand equity that differentiates it from competitors and it does not engage in the price war.

Implication of the PLC Stages on Competition and Profitability of iPhone

Patel, N. (2019). 7 key strategies that you must learn from Apple’s marketing. Web.

Pride, W. M., & Ferrell, O. C. (2015). Marketing 2016 (18th ed.). Mason, OH: Cengage Learning.

Vallabhaneni, S. R. (2015). Wiley CIAExcel exam review 2016: Part 3, internal audit knowledge elements (7th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.

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IvyPanda. (2022, July 6). The Product Life Cycle (PLC): Apple Inc. Case. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-product-life-cycle-plc-apple-inc-case/

"The Product Life Cycle (PLC): Apple Inc. Case." IvyPanda , 6 July 2022, ivypanda.com/essays/the-product-life-cycle-plc-apple-inc-case/.

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How Does the Product Life Cycle Affect Development of the MacBook?

Here's what the Product Life Cycle is, and how it influences Apple's development of its MacBook line.

Watching each iteration of devices like the iPhone or MacBook Pro is fascinating. How different features form, how their prices are calculated, and how companies like Apple take feedback from their clients is a complex and ever-changing process.

The term "Product Life Cycle" can be used as a framework to help users understand not only how these iterations form, but why. This model takes market forces, user interest, and technological advancement into account, logically balancing them all.

Mac computers are especially influenced by this life cycle. Hence, they are an interesting case study. Let's look at the Product Life Cycle as it pertains to Apple's MacBook range to learn more.

What Is the Product Life Cycle?

The Product Life Cycle is effectively the amount of time between a product being introduced to the market—even as a preview or teaser—and that same product being discontinued. There are four key stages: introduction , growth , maturity , and decline . There's no set time for products to enter, stay in, or leave each of these stages.

Introduction is typically focused on consumer awareness through advertising and marketing, making them aware of the new product and its advantages. Growth follows if the product is a success, with this stage characterized by demand and increased production.

Maturity , as the most sales-heavy stage, is where the cost of production and marketing fall, meaning that more units can come out. Finally, decline occurs when competitors step into the market, technological advancements make a product obsolete, or consumers lose interest.

One of the most important factors to consider is that newer, more sales-worthy, or more advanced products will push older ones out of the maturity stage and into decline quickly. Apple's machine-like efficiency means that this cycle repeats rapidly, especially with devices like the MacBook Pro that are core offerings.

What Does the Product Life Cycle Mean for Mac Devices?

Mac products have an average life cycle of around 3.5 years, with new models being released every 1.5 years or so, according to model release dates. As mentioned above, this is due to Apple's awareness of what the market and its futures will look like, and is contingent on sales and individual device uptake.

As you may have noticed, few distinct Mac models have come onto the market since the line's launch in 2006. While Macs have a relatively short average life cycle time, there are several influencing factors that can explain why the reality of these devices is quite different. This average life cycle probably takes into account models like the original MacBook that are now completely discontinued. It also likely factors in desktop devices like the iMac, which we've avoided here to keep the scope reasonable.

One reason that only a few new Mac models have come onto the market is so these products don't have to compete with each other internally. You can take the 12 primary generations of iPhone (as well as the Mini, Pro, Pro Max, XS, XR, X, Plus, and regular offshoots) as a great example of intermingling and competition between models.

Another reason is that, especially for the MacBook Pro, sales volumes have stayed consistent. This means that the device has had an extended maturity phase. That's bolstered by the fact that the Pro model has been accepted so well that it is now seen as a "go-to" laptop.

Along the same lines, this also means that advertising costs are minimal. Apple has also been smart to redesign models like the MacBook Pro , without having to reset and send out a completely new generation of devices.

Basically, market forces and user demand both affect Apple's products heavily. While it isn't explicitly discussed, the Product Life Cycle shows us how these changes can influence progression. The graph above displays this nicely.

What Will Happen With MacBooks in the Future?

Effectively, the Product Life Cycle underlines Apple's need to be a constant innovator and provider of products at an exceptional standard. Its MacBook range has, in a lot of ways, already proven itself. Thus, the company's hasn't really had to iterate rapidly, fend off competition, or change strategy.

Read more: Is There a Right Time to Buy a New Mac, iPhone, or iPad?

Compared to devices like the iPhone, which will change rapidly by nature of the tech inside and its role as a small computer, Macs have firmly grounded themselves as robust, innovative, and functional devices. This not a reason to say that Apple has stopped thinking about how to optimize its devices, nor a perfect prediction of future consumer needs and wants.

Speaking retrospectively, the safest conclusion to come to is that the Mac laptop range is not as much at the whim of the Product Life Cycle, compared to something like the iPhone. It's subject to the ebbs and flows of the market, technological developments, and the will of its consumers, but far less than other pieces of tech available.

Apple's MacBook devices are an interesting case study to use with this framework in mind. Their pattern of development is still influenced or even explained by the Product Life Cycle, but nowhere near as strenuously as other products. It can help us to gain somewhat more of an insight into how products like these grow or decline, but cannot be used as a one-size-fits-all explanation as to why.

For more, you should understand planned obsolescence and how this can influence product release decisions.

The Product Life Cycle Shows Why MacBooks Iterate

While the various elements of the cycle help give us more of a complete picture, the truth is that the forces driving technological advancement are often hidden, unexpected, or come about rapidly. Sometimes, we cannot keep track of all the ups and down.

This is why many people see Apple, and Mac products, as innovative. Unlike the average person, they better keep track of the state of the tech world.

Interactive design on the product life cycle costs: a case study

Original Article
Published: 07 February 2024
Volume 18 , pages 837–846, ( 2024 )

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Khaled Benfriha ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-5560-021X 1 ,
Oussama Adjoul 2 ,
Abdel-Hakim Bouzid 3 &
Peter Wardle 4

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The aim of this paper is to make designers aware of the interactions that exist between decisions made during the design phase and their consequences on Life Cycle Costs (LCC) in the context of a predetermined business model. Based on the value analysis, LCC and computational method, the proposed methodology can serve as a practical guide to explain the different design strategies according to the business model requirements. Profitability requires the engineer to identify a balanced product architecture by varying parameters such as component reliability, operational availability, accessibility solutions and maintenance plans. A case study is presented, without calculation details, to compare two design solutions in terms of total cost. An industrial system consisting of three components in series is used. This method allows designers to adapt solutions to the economic model in which they will operate. This time-consuming and costly method is not recommended for all industrial products, but is relevant for technologically complex and long-lived products such as trains, wind turbines or manufacturing equipment.

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Module 10: Product Marketing

Product life cycle, what you’ll learn to do: discuss the product life cycle and its implications for marketing.

We just considered the case of Apple launching a new product (the Apple Watch). A particular set of marketing strategies and tactics was needed to define a product that did not exist, to create it, and introduce it to the world. If we were instead focused on marketing the iPhone, which was introduced in 2007, would the strategies and tactics be different? The answer is yes.

In this section we will look at how marketing approaches for a product change over time. Nabisco introduced Wheat Thins crackers in 1947, yet the brand continues to be strong (it generated $344.8 million in revenue in 2015). The cracker even has more than 250,000 Twitter followers. In contrast, other products like children’s toys and trendy clothing are designed for a single sales season and have to be quickly replaced with the next model, in order to draw sales. While the length of time is different, there are common patterns across the product life cycle that we will discuss in this section.

Outcome: Product Life Cycle. Provided by : Lumen Learning. License : CC BY: Attribution

The Only Course You'll Need To Understand Marketing Like Never Before

How to Get Started with Marketing and Design Your Career in 5 Steps

Understanding Product Life Cycle of Apple iPhone [E-Book] In this article, with the example of the Apple iPhone, I will explain its product life cycle. The various stages have certain characteristics and I shall be sharing them here. Along with that, I will also share some marketing strategies that you can use in every stage through my e-book.

This PDF will tell you about how companies can benefit by understanding the product life cycle and how can they price accordingly . The product life cycle of an Apple iPhone is also used as an example in the article.

Before I tell you about the product life cycle of an Apple iPhone , let me tell you a bit about what is a Product.

Being a marketer, you may know what a Product is.

Also Read: Product Life Cycle of Apple iPod

‘Product’ is the most crucial part of the marketing mix. It is the first P of the marketing mix. To understand what a product is, one must realize the fact that a product is a mortal.

A product is born, it lives its life, does wonders (hopefully) and eventually dies (unless there is a product extension). This entire journey is called the product life cycle.

In this article, I explain to you the concept of the Product Life cycle , in detail, with the help of the example of an Apple iPhone .

Also, for each of the stages, there are certain Marketing strategies which you can use as a marketer.

I have again taken the example the product life cycle of an Apple iPhone and written a short e-Book . This e-Book talks about the various marketing and pricing strategies which you can use at each stage of the Product Life Cycle.

Product Life Cycle of Apple iPhone

Often you would have seen new products coming into the market. These products gradually evolve, receive their share of market acceptance and then eventually vanish from the market.

Sure, many products, which are decades and decades-old may still not have vanished from the market. These are some long-living legends that are unique. However, even these products, as they are today, are not the same as they were years back.

There is a continuous evolution happening, a product lives its life, develops, grows old and naturally doesn’t remain the same forever.

Also Read: Deciphering Porter’s Five Forces with the help of Apple iPod

Product Life Cycle (PLC) is a sequence of stages through which products pass. It outlines the typical journey traversed by a product in its lifetime right since the time it is introduced in the market to the time phases out.

The Product Life Cycle Model was introduced in the 1950s but remains relevant even today, even though people have started producing their own variations of this model.

Essentially, each stage in the product life cycle is a function of two things – Time on the X-axis , and Sales on the Y-axis .

Introduction Stage of an Apple iPhone

This is the stage wherein a product is introduced to the market. Usually, the prices are kept as low as possible to capture the maximum market share .

However, this is only in the case of mass products.

In the case of high-end products like the Apple iPhone , the strategy is different.

In the Introduction Stage of the Product Life Cycle of Apple iPhone, the price is kept high so as to maintain the exclusivity of ownership.

iPhone users wouldn’t prefer everyone owning an iPhone, that’s why the price is so kept so as to attract only a premium segment of the audience.

During the introduction phase, advertising, sales & marketing costs are usually high . Coupled with low prices, this results in a period of negative profitability/loss for the company .

The first part is true for the iPhone as well.

In order to hold Keynote conferences, create advertising and marketing campaigns, it has to spend a lot of money. And therefore in the Introduction stage of the product life cycle of Apple iPhone, the company doesn’t make profits right from the first day.

iPhones in the Introduction stage, as of November 2018 are – iPhone XS and XR

Growth Stage of Apple iPhone

By the time a product enters the growth phase, the audience has already started building a certain affinity towards it.

This is the time when product quality is maintained well so as to not let the audience down.

As far as marketing is concerned, firms start spending more money on marketing now in order to both reach out to a wider audience as well as to become a top-of-the-mind brand among the primary target group.

Because of the product, its reviews, and marketing activities, the sales are expected to pick up sharply in the growth stage .

In the case of Apple iPhone, every subsequent launch gets in some more sales and adds to the overall sales volume.

Here, we are considering the iPhone as a whole, but if we were to delve deeper, we will realize that every iPhone model is at a different stage of the product life cycle of Apple iPhones.

The one in the growth stage will be the predecessor of the latest model, i.e. iPhone 8, 7 and its variants. The latest one will be closest to the introduction, the middle ones closer to maturity, and the earliest ones closest to decline.

iPhones in the Growth stage, as of November 2018 – iPhone X

Maturity Stage of Apple iPhone

During this phase, the rate of increase in sales may decline but the overall sales are maintained at a certain level.

By this time, many competing products enter the market. Some of them may be genuinely good products, whereas some of them will be a replica of your own product.

Currently, the mid-generation of iPhones such as the iPhone 8 will be in the maturity stage where sales have stabilized more or less.

iPhone in the Maturity stage, as of November 2018 – iPhone 8

Decline Stage of Apple iPhone

By this time, the audience moves on to better things in life. They are no longer interested in your product because they offer nothing new as compared to other products that are currently in the introduction or growth phase.

A product in the decline phase has become technologically obsolete .

Most common Product Life Cycle management tactics implemented by brands to make the most out of their product during decline include lowering prices , removing after-sales support to reduce marketing and personnel costs, or discontinuing the product.

iPhones in the Decline stage, as of November 2018 – iPhone 6, 7 and 7 Plus

E-Book on Product Life Cycle and Marketing Strategies

While we discussed the situation of each iPhone model in the product life cycle of Apple iPhone , the graph above gives a feel of the product life cycle of the iPhone as a product.

As I mentioned above, different companies will use different marketing strategies . And if you ask me, a crucial marketing strategy is in the pricing of the product across the stages .

Also Read: How to Price your products – The Fundamentals

I have written all about it in my e-book on Pricing and Marketing Strategies across Product Life Cycle Stages. I have explained it with Apple iPhone as an example at places . You can download it from here.

You can download this e-book and learn more about how to price your product in different stages of the product life cycle.

Once you do download the e-book, do let me know how you liked the theories and examples. This e-book has ready to implement strategies .

Proof – How Google Search Trends correlates with iPhone’s Product Life Cycle!

My research for this article brought me to an interesting infographic on Linkedin. Here’s an overall trajectory of iPhone as a whole, right from its first variant up to the launch of iPhone 6 in 2015 as seen on Google Search:

As we can see, the searches have kept increasing from iPhone 2G up to iPhone 6. If we extend this data to the current iPhone X, the searches will be at its peak, which will also be the highest point of the maturity stage.

It’s only a matter of time before a new technology emerges that’s fancier than the iPhone, and as prestigious to own, thereby substituting the iPhone.

Also Read: But really, what is Marketing?

Who knows, it might simply be a product by Apple itself, who might want to take stock of the situation and innovate before iPhone starts entering the decline phase.

And I am sure if Apple really gets to innovating, it can stand out . As Seth Godin says in the Purple Cow , “In a crowded marketplace, fitting in is failing. In a busy marketplace, not standing out is the same as being invisible”

What is Value Based Pricing – The Best Way to Price Anything Value Based Picing is undoubtedly the best way to price your product. In this article, I begin by telling you what is Value Based Pricing and then I give you a step-by-step guide on how to calculate the value based price of your product.

Luxury Marketing and Luxury Marketing Strategies What is luxury marketing? What are the strategies of marketing luxury products? Stuck with an academic project that demands you to understand luxury marketing? Read on to understand all that is to know about luxury marketing with some interesting examples.

But really, what does Marketing mean? For a start, Marketing is not the same as Advertising. In this article, I give a step-by-step description of what is Marketing. What is its definition and what are the things you should know as a Marketing enthusiast.

Understanding Product in Marketing Mix The 7Ps of marketing was one of the first marketing concepts taught to us at B-school. But, you'll be surprised to know that the importance of product in marketing mix can never be underestimated since it is a challenging concept to master even for experienced marketers. Read on to learn in depth about product in marketing mix along with lots of real-life examples of various ideas around the 'Product' concept.

The Lazy Man’s Guide to Marketing Metrics [Infographic] How do you measure the implications of your marketing decisions? There are marketers who hate numbers. But, it is important to realize that marketing metrics ease decision making and prove their success. In this article, I share with you an infographic listing the important marketing metrics.

EPRG Framework – International Business and Market Development “It has been said that arguing against Globalization is like arguing against the laws of gravity”- Kofi Annan. Internationalization of a business is not a recent trend, it started well before World War II. It started with large economies like USA and Germany but today it has become a primary course of action for even small businesses in developing economies. Global businesses need truly global leaders and therefore through this article lets understand what goes into making these leaders.

About the Author: Darpan Saxena

What is product life cycle‪?‬ Entrepreneur Hub

What is product life cycle? We always hear about the product life cycle in manufacturing and marketing. But What is the product life cycle? The product life cycle is the duration of the product from an idea to the end of the product’s life. Which include designing cycle, manufacturing cycle, and sale cycle. Since there is a cycle, then there is a time limit for the product you are planning to manufacture. The product’s life cycle is 100% and if you divide the time percentage between 3 cycles, it will be 33.33% for each cycle. So, if you want to extend your sales cycle, what do you need to do? You need to shorten your manufacturing cycle or designing cycle. Let’s take this example, you have an idea for a product and your product’s life cycle is 12 months. So each cycle is 4 months. Let's say you shorten your design cycle from 4 months to 2 months. Then you add 2 months from your designing cycle to your sale cycle which will be 6 months Now you have more time to sell your product.! But what if you can shorten your manufacturing cycle to 2 months? Now you’ll have: Design cycle 2 months Manufacturing cycle 2 months Sale cycle 8 months The sale cycle has increased to almost 66.6% which means you have 66.6% of your product lifetime on sale cycle. I am sure now you understand the benefits of a shorter design and manufacturing cycle will benefit your company. Keep in mind that the opposite is true. Which means if your designing cycle and manufacturing cycle take more than 4 months for product cycle then you will end up with less sale time for your product. Of course, products are different from each other but this is an example of an easy and simple product. In the next podcast ,I will go over specific benefits of the product short cycle. See you next podcast. #podcast #manufacturing #cycle #marketing #product #consultation --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/azizal/support

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Early Examples of EU Digital Product Passports in Action

As the world's circularity rate plummets to a mere 7.2% , the severity of unsustainable business practices looms large. A staggering 90% of product materials end up as waste, wreaking havoc on our environment. In a bid to address this pressing sustainability crisis, the European Union (EU) is pushing for the adoption of Digital Product Passports (DPPs) for most goods imported into and within the EU by 2030. Industries with high environmental impact, like batteries and textiles, will be mandated to use DPPs by 2026/2027.

A DPP is a digital copy of a physical product that contains various sustainability- and quality-related information throughout a product’s supply chain journey. This includes everything from material sources and workplace conditions to product recyclability and repairability. While DPPs are still in the pilot stage, a few early case studies have already showcased the potential of this technology.

Tesla and Audi Battery Passports

The battery industry is the prime target for DPP use, especially as EV sales are expected to increase significantly in the coming years . Questions arise about the origins of battery materials/components and battery recycling , necessitating a battery Lifecycle Assessment (LCA) that primes automakers for a Battery Digital Passport.

To address these EV challenges, the Global Battery Alliance (GBA) revealed its Battery Passport Proofs of Concept (PoC) for Tesla and Audi at the World Economic Forum in Davos in early 2023. The Battery Passports provide Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) information, including partial carbon footprint reporting, materials sourcing locations, and human rights performance.

For instance, the DPP was able to trace 100% of the cobalt used in Tesla’s EV batteries back to the Kamoto Copper Company in the Democratic Republic of Congo. While this only represents 1% of the battery materials for Tesla’s Chinese-made EV batteries, the ultimate goal is to source all materials in the future. In two similar pilot studies, Audi's Battery Passports accounted for 10% and 13.6% of total battery materials, respectively, from Hungarian and Chinese-made cells. Audi’s two Battery Passport case studies yielded a higher materials traceability percentage due to the GBA tracing lithium sourcing in addition to cobalt. These examples highlight the potential of DPPs to enhance supply chain transparency, reduce environmental impact, and improve consumer trust.

Figure 1: DPP for EV Batteries—Audi Showcasing Battery Information, Materials, ESG Specifications, and Related Data

(Source: Global Battery Alliance)

Results of a digital product passport for Audi EV batteries

By 2027, ABI Research forecasts that 5.22 million Battery Digital Transports will ship in Western Europe, the same number of Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) expected to be sold that year. While batteries are the biggest focus for DPPs, other industries are also being evaluated.

Edenica Building Leverages Materials Passports

Accounting for roughly 40% of raw materials consumption worldwide, the construction industry is another high priority for European DPP utilization. While not an EU member, the United Kingdom is home to a notable DPP example. The 12-story Edenica building development in London is setting a precedent for Materials Passports for commercial real estate companies across Europe. In collaboration with the engineering and environmental consultancy firm Waterman Group, solution provider Circuland has piloted a Materials Passport for the property. The DPP tracks geometry, location, material information, and other key data for structural components (floor slabs, steel frame, concrete floor, etc.). Historical data on construction materials helps real estate operators reuse resources during and after the end of their usage. With the Edenica building expected to last more than 120 years, documenting materials and components with a digital product passport will ensure significant rates of product reuse.

Chart 1: Total Number of New Buildings in the EU as Digital Passport Regulations Evolve

(Source: ABI Research)

A chart forecasting the number of new buildings in the EU as digital passports roll out

Burton Snowboards Leverages a Digital Product Passport Platform from Avery Dennison

Companies that use textiles in manufacturing will be on the shortlist of businesses required to use DPPs by 2027. To help retailers prepare for the upcoming EU legislation, Avery Dennison recently launched a DPP-as-a-Service (DPPaaS) platform. Outdoors-focused apparel company Burton Snowboards is the first customer of Avery Dennison's DPPaaS platform. Burton Snowboards is provided with the hardware, software, digital ID technology, physical labels, and consultancy required to track the sustainability of products. The cloud-based atma.io platform centralizes supply chain data that helps Burton Snowboards understand where it can eliminate waste and how it can promote greater circularity. Customers in Burton Snowboards’ Innsbruck, Austria store, for example, will one day be able to scan a QR code on a shelfed product to reveal insight into its supply chain journey and how it can be reused. Resultingly, the DPP solution empowers the company to put its sustainability commitments in the spotlight and expand its customer base.

Figure 2: Demonstration of DPPaaS for Burton Snowboards

(Source: Avery Dennison)

Each company highlighted in this article has gained a competitive advantage early. Not only are they well-suited for the upcoming digital product passport mandates set by the EU, but their supply chain digitalization journeys are accelerating faster than those of other brands in their industry. These companies can demonstrate to their consumers and investors how they tackle climate change. Through End-to-End (E2E) supply chain visibility and sustainability reporting, stakeholders can hold these companies accountable for their green claims.

For a far more detailed analysis of how DPPs are influencing EU businesses, download ABI Research’s Digital Product Passports: Tech-Driven Sustainability and Traceability for EV Batteries, Construction Materials, and Pilot Use Cases report.

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Product Life Cycle (PLC)
Case Study of Product Life Cycle of Apple Introduction Phase. During the phase from 2007 to 2008, Apple introduced the iPhone, which brought about a significant transformation in the smartphone industry. To generate awareness and create excitement surrounding their product, Apple invested heavily in marketing and promotional activities. The ...
PDF Apple products: A discussion of the product life cycle
The purpose of the study was to determine the influence of the life cycles of three of Apple's flagship products in shaping Apple's life cycle: MacBooks, iPads, and iPhones.1 Research focuses on ...
Circle of life: The rise, fall, and rebirth of every Apple product on
So "by the end of the year" means anywhere from mid-December to around the 31st. People actually handle the product after the keynote presentation. It doesn't matter whether they did or not ...
Apple Products: A Discussion of the Product Life Cycle
Apple tablets have a varied life cycle length starting fro m. half a year (of the imperfect iPad 3) up to 3 year s (iPad 2). New m odels are re leased a round onc e every ye ar. iPad. sales had ...
PDF Apple Products: A Discussion of the Product Life Cycle
Hofer (1975) [8] considers product life cycle to be the fundamental variable in choosing the right business strategy Similarly, Biggadike in 1981 [9] placed the product life cycle concept in his work amongst the five major contributions of marketing. He theorizes that . product life cycle most importantly "enables marketers
How Apple Is Organized for Innovation
Apple is well-known for its innovations in hardware, software, and services. Thanks to them, it grew from some 8,000 employees and $7 billion in revenue in 1997, the year Steve Jobs returned, to ...
Inside the Apple product development cycle
As Apple prepares to unveil the new, more powerful and feature-packed iPhone, here's what we know about how the company put it together. The two year cycle. "This is a day I've been looking forward to for two and a half years," said Jobs, walking out onto the stage in 2007.
Apple products: A discussion of the product life cycle
michalnitka18@gmai l.com. Abstract — This publication details the life cycles of Apple's. mobile products. Its aim is to present their influence on the. life cycle of the entire brand ...
Apple Products: A Discussion of the Product Life Cycle
Apple Products: A Discussion of the Product Life Cycle. Więcek-Janka Ewa, P. Milosz, +1 author. Nitka Michal. Published 1 June 2017. Business. This publication details the life cycles of Apple's mobile products. Its aim is to present their influence on the life cycle of the entire brand.
Apple Products: A Discussion of the Product Life Cycle
This publication details the life cycles of Apple's mobile products. Its aim is to present their influence on the life cycle of the entire brand. ... Nitka Michal PY - 2017/06 DA - 2017/06 TI - Apple Products: A Discussion of the Product Life Cycle BT - Proceedings of the 2017 International Conference on Management Science and Management ...
The Apple Case Study
Published Aug 1, 2014. + Follow. July 22, 2014—Apple® announced financial results for its fiscal 2014 third quarter ended June 28, 2014. The Company posted quarterly revenue of $37.4 billion ...
Apple's Product Development Process
1,354 shares. Apple's Product Development Process may be one of the most successful design processes ever implemented. With a valuation that exceeds $2 trillion, there's a lot that designers can learn from Apple and introduce into their own design environments. Apple is a notoriously secretive business. In Steve Jobs' time at the company ...
Product Life Cycle Explained
Watch this video if you want to understand the product life cycle and how it impacts businesses.SUBSCRIBE: https://www.youtube.com/c/TwoTeachers?sub_confirma...
The Product Life Cycle (PLC): Apple Inc. Case Presentation
This presentation entails the concept of the Product Life Cycle and its importance in today's modern business environment. The primary purpose of this presentation is to discuss the significance of the PLC for marketing managers for preparing marketing strategies. The target market strategy of Apple Inc. is also analyzed for understanding the ...
How Does the Product Life Cycle Affect Development of the MacBook?
The Product Life Cycle is effectively the amount of time between a product being introduced to the market—even as a preview or teaser—and that same product being discontinued. There are four key stages: introduction, growth, maturity, and decline. There's no set time for products to enter, stay in, or leave each of these stages.
Interactive design on the product life cycle costs: a case study
An example of a large, high-margin, high-volume company is Apple. Apple sells close to 100 million units a year at a significant margin. This is a rare business model that has driven the share price "off the charts". ... et al. Interactive design on the product life cycle costs: a case study. Int J Interact Des Manuf 18, 837-846 (2024). https ...
PDF Apple Lifecycle Management
The Apple platform adoption lifecycle includes four ongoing activities for each time a beta is released: preparing your environment, evaluating key areas of Apple's platforms, submitting feedback and getting ready for your rollout. When you implement a modern approach to life cycle management,
PDF Product Environmental Report
Product life cycle. Recover Use Make Package and Ship Source Materials Aluminum We use 100 percent certified recycled aluminum for the case of Apple Watch Series 6. This case delivers the same performance and reliability Apple is known for—without mining any new bauxite (aluminum ore) from the earth. Tungsten We use 100 percent recycled tungsten
Product Life Cycle
In this session, Akhilesh Sir will be discussing Product Life Cycle | Apple Case Study for Unacademy CA.👉🏼 Akhilesh Sir's Unacademy Profile Link: https://u...
Outcome: Product Life Cycle
What you'll learn to do: discuss the product life cycle and its implications for marketing. We just considered the case of Apple launching a new product (the Apple Watch). A particular set of marketing strategies and tactics was needed to define a product that did not exist, to create it, and introduce it to the world.
Product Life Cycle
What you'll learn to do: discuss the product life cycle and its implications for marketing. We just considered the case of Apple launching a new product (the Apple Watch). A particular set of marketing strategies and tactics was needed to define a product that did not exist, to create it, and introduce it to the world.
Product Life Cycle of Apple iPhone [E-Book]
This entire journey is called the product life cycle. In this article, I explain to you the concept of the Product Life cycle, in detail, with the help of the example of an Apple iPhone. Bonus: Download an e-book on the marketing strategies used by Apple and other companies across the Product Life Cycle. Also, for each of the stages, there are ...
Evaluation of the environmental impacts of apple production using Life
DOI: 10.1016/J.AGEE.2005.10.023 Corpus ID: 84196896; Evaluation of the environmental impacts of apple production using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA): Case study in New Zealand
‎Entrepreneur Hub: What is product life cycle? on Apple Podcasts
The product life cycle is the duration of the product from an idea to the end of the product's life. Which include designing cycle, manufacturing cycle, and sale cycle. Since there is a cycle, then there is a time limit for the product you are planning to manufacture. The product's life cycle is 100% and if you divide the time percentage ...
Early Examples of EU Digital Product Passports in Action
In two similar pilot studies, Audi's Battery Passports accounted for 10% and 13.6% of total battery materials, respectively, from Hungarian and Chinese-made cells. Audi's two Battery Passport case studies yielded a higher materials traceability percentage due to the GBA tracing lithium sourcing in addition to cobalt.

Product Life Cycle (PLC) | Stages and Case Study of Apple

People/Roles involved in Product Management

What is Product Life Cycle (PLC)?

Stages of Product Life Cycle (PLC)

1. Introduction

3. Maturity

Introduction Phase

Growth Stage

Maturity Phase

Declining Stage

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