1. Perform a very thorough SWOT analysis on Apple. Use this information to speak to the future of Apple and the businesses they participate in or would like to participate in. What are the promising aspects of the future for Apple and what will be the key challenges? Would you buy their stock? You may have to look outside the case for information to help you answer these questions.

2. Provide an assessment of Apple’s portfolio of businesses and prospective businesses. What are the advantages of having this portfolio of businesses and how do the businesses complement each other? What areas would you invest in and emphasize in the future and why? What areas hold the most promise for Apple?

3. You may have to do some outside research to fully answer this question as well. What was the magic of Steve Jobs and how did he impact the company? What is so special about Apple’s culture and organization and how did Steve shape that? What areas of the company did he influence the most and why has it been so difficult when he was not there?

4. Assess Apple’s three or four MAJOR competitors and tell me how Apple stacks up. What has been all the controversy over Apple’s financial performance and stock price over the last 18 months or so?