Apple McKinsey 7S ModelApple McKinsey 7S model illustrates the ways in which seven elements of businesses can be aligned to increase effectiveness. According to this model, strategy, structure and systems represent hard elements, whereas shared values, skills, style and staff are soft elements. McKinsey 7S framework stresses the presence of strong links between elements in a way that a change in one element causes changes in others. As it is illustrated in figure below, shared values are positioned at the core of Apple McKinsey 7S framework, since shared values guide employee behaviour with implications in their performance.  Apple McKinsey 7S model Hard Elements in Apple McKinsey 7S Model   Strategy Apple pursues differentiation business strategy with a particular focus on the design and advanced features and capabilities of products. The company aims to benefit from the first mover advantage to a maximum extent as it was the case with introduction of iPod, the first device of its kind that stored thousands of songs with simple shuffle capabilities through songs and the development of Macintosh, the first computer to use a graphical user interface. Accordingly, Apple products and services are generally more expensive compared to the competition. Moreover, Apple business strategy involves the creation of a sort of closed ecosystem, where it’s various devices and software sync easily and work well with each other. Advantages the company gains from this strategy include high switching costs for customers and this provides the opportunities to leverage relationships with existing customers to offer other products and services. Furthermore, the multinational technology company has developed a strategy to reduce dependence of the business on the sale of iPhones. This strategy involves putting greater emphasis on services divisions of the business and more investments on research and development of new products and services. The iPhone maker has also specified…