ECO 2023 Principles of Microeconomics
Fall 2010 Term
Professor Ana C. Corrales
Harvard Business School Case Study #2: Apple
Please read the HBS Case Study “Apple Inc. in 2010.” Prepare and submit a case brief. You must
submit your assignment in person at the beginning of class on the due date to receive full-credit.
Please answer the following questions:
 Is Apple an industry leader? Please elaborate on why or why not.
 What is the difference between the products provided by Apple and its competitors?
 Based on the information provided in the case, what factors have contributed to Apple’s
success?
 Discuss the role of Research & Development, Innovation and Creative Destruction in the
Case Study
 What must Apple do to succeed in the 21st century?
Please use economic reasoning to explain your response. Support your recommendation with evidence
from the case.
Formatting Requests:
Please write your first and last name at the top of the first page of your document. Please limit your
response to three (3) pages. Please format your paragraph(s) in single spacing to conserve paper.
Please use 12 point Times New Roman font with 1 inch margins (or less) on all sides. Please do not
submit a cover page.
On Academic Dishonesty:
You must use your own words. Copying words from the article or the textbook without proper citation
is considered plagiarism and your assignment will automatically earn a zero (0). You will not be
allowed to resubmit your assignment if you commit academic dishonesty.
Please review the Academic Dishonesty section of your Students’ Rights & Responsibilities Handbook
(http://www.mdc.edu/policy/student_rights_and_responsibilities.pdf) if you have any questions as to
what constitutes academic dishonesty and the potential consequences of such actions.
Please return the hard copy of the HBS Case Study on the date of the in-class discussion. Failure
to return the hard copy will result in an automatic grade of a “D” in the course (not the
assignment).
Please note this assignment is worth 5% of your final grade in the course