Apple & Its Suppliers Corporate Social Responsibility Case Study Answer

1. How did they Respond to the Harm? Consider Aspects of Response, Refrain and Remedy (Evaluating the Speed of Response, Establishment and Enforcement of Policies). To Answer this, You May Wish to Consider the Concepts of Onshoring, Inshoring or a Combination.

Answer 5

In the case study on Apple and CSR, Apple addressed the harm brought on by their supply chain operations in a number of ways, including:

Response

Apple's response to the damage its supply chain methods brought was initially tardy, but it eventually got better (Lee et al. 2016). In 2010, the corporation issued its first supplier responsibility report in response to criticism of its supply chain management procedures (Lee et al. 2016). Ever since the business has continued to deliver annual reports and has put several measures in place to address the problems outlined in these reports.

Refrain

Apple has chosen not to work with vendors who disobey its code of conduct. The organization has produced a supplier code of conduct outlining the requirements suppliers must fulfill to work with Apple (Lund et al. 2020). The code addresses topics like ethical corporate operations, respect for the environment, and labor and human rights. In order to make sure that its suppliers are adhering to the code of conduct, Apple has also established a supplier audit program (Lee et al. 2016).

Remedy

To repair the harm that its supply chain policies have caused, Apple has implemented a variety of remedies (Lee et al. 2016). By revealing more information about its supply chain practices and allowing neutral third parties to evaluate its suppliers, for instance, the company has increased openness. In order to enhance working conditions and lessen the environmental effect, Apple has also collaborated with suppliers (Chopra and Sodhi 2004). To enhance working conditions and lessen the environmental effect, the corporation has also made modifications to its supply chain, such as onshoring certain manufacturing to the United States (Lee et al. 2016).

When it came to judging reaction time, Apple's early response to the harm brought on by its supply chain practices was slow (Hsu et al. 2013). But recently, the company has taken considerable steps to address these issues, including creating a code of conduct for suppliers, implementing a program for supplier audits, and closely collaborating with suppliers to improve working conditions and decrease their detrimental environmental consequences. To ensure that its suppliers follow the rules outlined in this code of conduct, Apple also established a supplier code of conduct and a supplier audit program (Lee et al. 2016). The business has also collaborated with suppliers to enhance working conditions and lessen their negative environmental effects. Moreover, Apple has moved certain manufacturing domestically, either entirely, partially, or both, in order to enhance labor conditions and lessen its impact on the environment. Nonetheless, the business seems to not be pursuing inshoring as a main strategy and is still dependent on a worldwide supply network (Lee et al. 2016).

2. Consider Which Dimension of Responsibility Apple Operates within (which concept -Business as Usual, Business as Bystander, Business as Innovator or Business as activist). Give Reasons to Support your Opinion.

Answer 6

When it comes to its attitude towards responsibility, Apple falls under the category of "business as an innovator" in the framework of the given CSR case study (Lee et al. 2016). Apple is well renowned for its cutting-edge products and services and places a high value on social responsibility and sustainability (El Hilali and El Manouar 2019). For instance, Apple has established targets to lessen its carbon footprint and developed procedures to ensure that its suppliers follow strict ethical and environmental standards. Moreover, Apple has created goods and services that promote sustainability, including its recycling initiative and its work with renewable energy sources (Lee et al. 2016).

Apple has been under fire for using tax evasion strategies to reduce its tax obligations and for how it treats the workers in its supply chain, including claims of unfavorable working conditions and low pay. It is impossible to exaggerate the strategic value of business ethics for modern firms (Lee et al. 2016). Acting morally may help a company's reputation, build trust with stakeholders and consumers, and promote long-term financial success (Uğurluay and Kirikkaleli 2022) On the other hand, unethical behavior can harm a company's reputation, erode consumer confidence, and ultimately harm its financial situation. When it comes to moral considerations impacting management decision-making, both employed and independent professionals must consider how their actions may influence stakeholders and society as a whole (Pope and Kim 2022).

In conclusion, even though Apple approaches responsibility from the perspective of business as an inventor, the company still needs to address moral issues including unethical labor practices and tax evasion. It is impossible to emphasize the strategic significance of business ethics, and both employed and self-employed professionals must take into account the potential effects of their activities on stakeholders and the larger community (Lee et al. 2016).

3. How Can Apple Recover From this Ethical Disaster? Do you believe that Apple is now Trustworthy After Considering How they Mnaged the Harm? If you were in the Position of Jeff Williams what, if Anything, Would you do Differently?

Answer 7

Recognizing its error and accepting responsibility for the suffering caused is the first step Apple must take to get past this ethical catastrophe. Apple must be open and honest about the actions it is doing to resolve the problem and stop it from happening again (Lee et al. 2016). Stronger supply chain management and ensuring that all suppliers follow ethical standards are other ways the business can show its dedication to moral behavior. Additionally, Apple can interact with its customers and stakeholders using a variety of channels, like as social media, official pronouncements, and community involvement initiatives, in order to foster trust. To solve social and environmental issues, the company can collaborate with advocacy groups and moral organizations (Lee et al. 2016).

Despite the fact that I don't have any specific beliefs, I can tell from Apple's actions that it has tried to solve ethical issues in its supply chain management (Lee et al. 2016). Yet, in the end, it is up to each person to make their own decision in light of their own views and perspectives.

If I were Jeff Williams, I would place a higher priority on openness and moral behavior when managing Apple's supply chain (Lee et al. 2016). I would closely collaborate with suppliers to make sure they follow ethical guidelines and put in place a monitoring system to keep tabs on their compliance. Also, I would foster an ethical workplace culture and teach staff members in making moral decisions (Coppi et al. 2021).

Modern businesses must prioritize ethical practices in order to gain the trust of their stakeholders and customers, build a positive reputation, and minimize any legal and financial risks when it comes to the strategic importance of corporate ethics (Lee et al. 2016). The organization's culture should promote ethical decision-making, and all staff members should get training on recognizing and addressing ethical dilemmas. Professionals in the workplace and independent contractors should think about a variety of things while making moral decisions, including the influence on stakeholders, legal and regulatory requirements, and personal values.

References

Chopra, S. and Sodhi, M.S., 2004. Managing risk to avoid supply-chain breakdown. MIT Sloan management review.

Coppi, G., Moreno Jimenez, R. and Kyriazi, S., 2021. Explicability of humanitarian AI: a matter of principles. Journal of International Humanitarian Action, 6 , pp.1-22.

El Hilali, W. and El Manouar, A., 2019. Smart companies: digital transformation as the new engine for reaching sustainability. In Innovations in Smart Cities Applications Edition 2: The Proceedings of the Third International Conference on Smart City Applications , pp. 132-143. Springer International Publishing.

Hsu, C.C., Choon Tan, K., Hanim Mohamad Zailani, S. and Jayaraman, V., 2013. Supply chain drivers that foster the development of green initiatives in an emerging economy. International Journal of Operations & Production Management, 33 (6), pp.656-688.

Lee, S.H., Mol, M.J. and Mellahi, K., 2016. Apple and its suppliers: Corporate social responsibility.

Lund, S., Manyika, J., Woetzel, J., Barriball, E. and Krishnan, M., 2020. Risk, resilience, and rebalancing in global value chains.

Pope, S. and Kim, J., 2022. Where, When, and Who: Corporate Social Responsibility and Brand Value: A Global Panel Study. Business & Society, 61 (6), pp.1631-1683.

Uğurluay, K. and Kirikkaleli, D., 2022. Sustainable Technology in High-Income Economies: The Role of Innovation. Sustainability, 14 (6), p.3320.

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