Year 12 IB Extended Essays 2018

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When contrasting Apple and SpaceX, we refer back to the time of Steve Job’s management and leadership. This is because Jobs was a key contributor towards Apple’s success. Jobs and Musk are both visionaries, although their approach to management are similar there are differences, one being harshness. Jobs was known for his straightforwardness and jarring confrontations. He manipulated people through a technique known as “Jobs’ Reality Distortion Field” 29 which made difficult task appear to be easy. This seems to be the key aspect which both of them are experts at; the ability of influencing people to believe that something thought to be impossible, is possible. A great example is provided below, when analysing differences between SpaceX and ULA. A strategy both companies employ is to focus less on competition, and more on innovation which is a profound strategy for companies to dominate their market. This strategy is also endorsed by Peter Thiel (The billionaire, Founder of Palantir, and Co-Founder of PayPal) in his book “Zero to One” 30 .

29 Emma Fierberg and Alana Kakoyiannis, "Steve Jobs' Former Publicist On How He Used His 'Reality Distortion Field' To Control Apple's Image", Business Insider Australia, Last modified 2017, https://www.businessinsider.com.au/steve- jobs-former-publicist-andy-cunningham-reality-distortion-field-apple-2017-11?r=US&IR=T. Web. 3 June. 30 Peter A Thiel and Blake Masters, Zero To One , 1st ed. repr., Crown Business, 2014.