Leadership Styles and Apple's Success

This assignment requires you to analyze the leadership styles of Steve Jobs and Tim Cook at Apple Inc. You need to explore their individual approaches, comparing and contrasting how they shaped Apple's culture, fostered innovation, and ultimately contributed to the company's success. The analysis should draw upon relevant scholarly sources and examples from Apple's history.

Running head: LEADERSHIP AND ETHICS
Leadership and Ethics
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author note

1LEADERSHIP AND ETHICS
Introduction
The assignment helps in analyzing the different kind of ethical issues that has been faced
by a respective company Apple Inc. The different ethical dilemmas have to be identified in such
a manner with the implications of different theoretical concepts related to ethics. The different
managerial ethics has to be identified in an effective manner to solve them effectually.
The main aim and purpose of the assignment is to examine and critically analyze the
different theoretical concepts that will influence the different managerial practices in Apple. The
different techniques have to be analyzed by the leaders or the higher officials in the respective
organization to solve such ethical issues.
The structure of the assignment includes analysis of different ethical dilemmas that is
faced by the respective company. The different theoretical concepts have to be used in such a
manner that will help in influencing the managerial practices in Aldi. Lastly, the organizational
decisions have to be analyzed critically that are ended ethically.
Background of Apple
Apple Inc is a multinational company of America that is famous for designing along with
developing computer software systems. The different hardware equipments of the respective
company are iPhone, iPad and Mac Line (Rushe, 2015). After Samsung, it is the second largest
IT Company in the entire world. As Tim Cook took over the business of Apple who is the new
CEO of 2012, he had faced with ethical dilemma with Chinese organization Foxconn. The
workers of respective company endangered suicide as the means of defending their privileges
along with working conditions (Windsor, 2016).
Reports of Ethical Dilemma
The article of Telegraph reported that more than 150 employees of Foxconn, threatened
to commit mass suicide by leaping from roof due to the harsh working conditions of the
company (Demirtas & Akdogan, 2015). On the other hand, employees were convinced in an
effective manner to call off threat and understand the different conditions. However, there were
different risks that were involved in the situation of ethical dilemma, Tim Cook focused on
different products and profit of the respective company (Rego, Sousa, Marques & e Cunha,
2014). As there is huge amount of demand of the different products and services of Apple in the
competitive market, it is essential for the company to fulfill the different requirements of the
customers. Furthermore, the working hours were increased to a huge extent in order to deliver
the different products and services and this affected the manufacturers in Foxconn, China
(Collinson & Tourish, 2015).
There are different organizations in the country that have tendency of highlighting their
progress that is in opposition to the different merits of Corporate Social Responsibility. The
social economic considerations are essential in nature to be considered largely that oppose the
financial crisis (Steiber & Alänge, 2016). Furthermore, Apple is successful company that has
different influences on matters over Foxconn. However, Cook has assured the company in
achieving the standards of the CSR across the supply chain. The article that has been published
in the year 2012 in the month of January noticed stillness of Apple Company and this highlighted
the investigations in the New York Times (Sherif, Pitre & Kamara, 2016).

2LEADERSHIP AND ETHICS
The situation of Foxconn did not change overnight, 15 employees who attempted suicide,
and more than 15 died. The labor organizations complained of long working hours, low wages
along with inhuman treatment as the different factors of the protest. It is essential for the
different leaders to follow ethical practices in the organizations in order to understand the
different requirements of the employees in the organization (Denning & Dew, 2015). Apple Inc
presented their annual report with the different financial analysis for first quarter of the financial
quarter (Engelen, Gupta, Strenger & Brettel, 2015). The figures helped in analyzing the
expectations of the different stakeholders with forecasting the payment of dividends and
forecasting of revenues (Renko, El Tarabishy, Carsrud, & Brännback, 2015).
This kind of news helped in benefitting the shareholders of the respective company;
however, it did not benefit the employees of the respective company. There were different
dilemmas related to leadership and other unethical matters in such a manner that this created
issues in the economic success of the company (Muenjohn & Armstrong, 2015). The Apple
Company gained financial success largely however there have been different issues in handling
the handling the different ethical matters of the company along with employees. The welfare of
the employees was not taken into consideration and the different negative influences that have
been done by media influenced the perceptions of the respective company (Shapiro &
Stefkovich, 2016).
The New York Times noted the respective organization working on different initiatives
that helped in quelling pressure (Jensen & Puri 2016). In regards to the particular issue, first time
the company published the report on 158 suppliers who represents a major portion of the supply
chain (Jiraporn, Jiraporn, Kitsabunnarat-Chatjuthamard & Tong, 2016). The organization tried to
become member of the labor legislations committee as this helped them in understanding the
issues faced by the employees in the organization. The different challenges that have been faced
by Foxconn helped Apple in understanding the different issues, tried to resolve such issues, and
excelled in it (Mendenhall et al., 2017).
Ethical Dilemma in Apple
It was commendable in nature that Mr. Cook handled the matters in an effectual manner
and quelled the challenges in a positive approach. The protest that has been done by the
employees was aborted as well (Klenke, 2016). This kind of financial results helped them in
excelling in different social matters rather than the financial matters. In this kind of grievances,
the company should provide a chance to the employees to analyze the grievances in an effective
manner (Ki, Kim & Ledingham, 2015). This kind of weekly meetings would provide fair chance
to the employees to air their different kind of issues. The team of managers will help in
benefitting from different officials in meeting, and a last result that will be generated will be for
the interest of the employees (Jia, Hall & Zhu, 2015).
Apple Inc claims that they have tried to improve the working conditions at Foxconn that
has been done on the demand of employers. The association of the labor laws that is the
nonprofit organization in United States has stated that the Apple Inc Company has tried in
fulfilling the different needs of the employees in the organization. This helped them in improving
the working conditions at Chengdu and Shenzhen that is known for selling different iPad and
iPhone products. However, the story of employees in the organization is different in nature as

3LEADERSHIP AND ETHICS
they still complain the culture of work and the company is bothered about accomplishing the
targets of the company (D’Innocenzo, Mathieu & Kukenberger 2016).
Furthermore, the employees complain that the company does not motivate them in an
effective manner. The workers in the respective company even complained about the long hours
of working that did not help them to enjoy the different activities and other fun activities. The
workers commented that their workplace is well equipped and there are good tennis courts,
swimming pools, TVs along with interest clubs. However, the workers are not able to enjoy such
facilities, as their working hours are tiring in nature and due to improper maintenance. It was
reported that there was an activity wherein employees complain about Foxconn, as they never
publish the different problems that is faced in factories (Northouse, 2015).
The workers in the respective company even complained about ineffective medical
facilities on premises and there were suicide scandal that had occurred that had injured more than
260 workers. Furthermore, it is seen that as Apple is a multinational company, it has huge
responsibility towards the market along with customers. The business chains of the respective
company Apple has been spread all across the world and they have gained loyalty and trust
factor from the individuals. Therefore, it is seen that this is the sole responsibility of the company
to understand the different requirements of the customers along with employees in delivering the
responsibilities in an effective manner. The different business chains are spread across the entire
world with high quality production and quality. The respective company needs to maintain high
quality and standards of integrity and not only the motive of generating profit and revenues. The
next section helps in understanding along with analyzing the theoretical concepts from the
managerial ethics:
Different Ethical Theories
The different kind of ethical theories are helpful in nature despite the fact that judging the
moral satisfied of the act. The two kind of ethical theories are Teleological and Deontological.
These kinds of theories help in deriving conclusions that will be in respect to the kind of scenario
under consideration. The teleological approach helps in focusing on the outcomes of the actions
along with the importance.
According to Jia, Hall and Zhu, (2015), Utilitarianism refers to the different ethical
choices that will provide good benefits to bigger number of employees. In the particular
perspective, one has the belief that the end will justify the means. For instance- it is fair to save
the lives of thousands of individuals by killing one individual as the Utilitarianism concept helps
in understanding that it is ethical in nature and this will benefit huge number of persons. In short,
it can be analyzed and explained that act is performed in such a manner when the different
utilities it is produced is high in nature performed by agents.
According to Sherif et al., (2017), the deontological theory deals with duty of performing
well for the entire society with proper intention and this is not justified with the means of
consequences. In addition to good outcome, there is different kind of factors that helps in
determining the proper rights of the particular action. These kinds of actions can be non-
consequential in nature; however, it helps in increasing the principles of different individuals. In
the present scenario, Apple has made different significant contribution in field of technological
and the retail chains and this has large impact on the society. However, there have been different

4LEADERSHIP AND ETHICS
issues relating to the ethics in the respective company. Tim Cook performed the different
functions for the company that is profitable in nature. However, this kind of performance
affected the employees; however, they cared for the workers in the organization. This helped
them in making such decisions and coming out from the ethical dilemma in the future. The case
is dealing with different kind of ethical issues and the respective author is dealing with different
ethical approaches that are referred to as consequentiality, deontological approach, and virtue
ethics.
Two ethical approaches
The particular case can be termed as deontological approach. The company Apple Inc
took care of different working hours that are excessive in nature, child labor and issues related to
safety issues with suppliers. On the other hand, with increasing exposure of media that is in
regards to the ethical behavior, the respective organization is concerned about impact of negative
publicity on different shares along with profits. The different audits and policies eventually were
raised that included the working hours along with pressure on suppliers to accomplish the
different objectives.
According to Jensen and Puri (2016), the act has to be ethical in nature in order to create
ethical relations. In the present case scenario, Apple Company was not ethical with the workers
along with suppliers; however, there has been immediate relationship with them. The laborers
from Asian countries were used in the respective company, as they were cheaper in nature. The
major and ultimate goal and concern of the company was to not lose business by reducing the
cost and meet the production targets within specified deadline. Sherif et al., commented that an
act has to be universally acceptable in nature and in the recent study it has been that Apple
Company discriminated the own company and supplier employees.
It has even reported that involvement of the suppliers in the child labor issues and it can
be commented that act of Apple Inc is not accepted universally. Therefore, it can be inferred that
management of Apple Company maintained the theory of utilitarianism; however, they failed in
implementation of the deontological approach. The entire profit -making motive of the respective
company is dependent on the different workers. The CEO of the company has to be concerned
relating to the health and level of satisfaction of the employees and if it is not followed then the
company will create issues on the brand image.
When the company is following consequentiality approach, the situation will be in
control, as the CEO of the company requires being more inclined towards the satisfaction of the
requirements of the employees in the company. When the employees are satisfied with the needs,
the productivity will increase and this will reduce the absenteeism among the employees.
However, when there is low satisfaction of the needs of the employees, it will increase the
absenteeism and willingness to perform the tasks. This kind of dilemma in the ethics is not good
and this will affect the reputation of the company in a negative manner.
According to Chen, Eberly, Chiang, Farh and Cheng (2014), with such kind of treatment
to the workers will not lead to sustainable development and if there is no such change in the
behavior of Foxconn towards the employees, there will be increase in the media attention. The
consumers of the company are concerned relating to social behavior of company and not the
profit-making motive. Furthermore, the consumers realize the work of manufacturers at cost of

5LEADERSHIP AND ETHICS
their own life that has increased value than the different strategies prepared by them. It is quite
essential in nature that Apple Company will lose the valuable clients and there will be no such
sustainable development of the company relating to the managerial system.
According to Jensen and Puri (2016), the system of management at Foxconn is
machinelike and not sustainable in nature. The main motive of Foxconn is to make machine as
the central power as this is vital in their business. The company believes that strong leadership is
essential in nature, as this will make the policies precise and accurate in nature. Ho et al., (2016)
analyzed those views of Foxconn wherein they feel leadership has to be decisive and there is
ethical issues and dilemma related to it as well.
Chen, Eberly, Chiang, Farh and Cheng (2014) suggested that in order to overcome such
issues in the company they must adopt post bureaucracy that involved shared responsibility. This
includes trust between the managers and workers and there will be empowerment. The entire
concept underlies the whole responsibility instead of the hierarchy and it is suggested that the
organization has to be morally superior in nature to the different employees. The different ethical
dilemma has been analyzed in the article that helped in analyzing the issues and solves the issues
with proper implementation of different strategies. The work that is performed by Tim Cook was
commendable in nature as this helped in understanding the different priorities and solves the
issues in an effective manner.
Ki, Kim and Ledingham (2015) agrees with the views of Ho, Li, Tam and Tong (2016)
and they feel that this strategy will help in understanding requirements of the employees. The
workers of the organization have to be trained that they can perform multiple tasks and handle
different issues in an effective manner. The workers are well protected under labor law of China
and the ID cards and the company duly signs other contracts (Weinzimmer & Esken, 2016). The
different kind of requests from family members is not granted and this kind of behavior is not
universally acceptable. Such actions can create ethical dilemma that is faced by Apple Company.
Chatterji and Toffel, (2016) commented that construct has to be made of three different
components that include capacity to trust the individuals, perception of intentions and
competence. The different ethics related to the workplace are of same kind of route. If the
organization follows different code of ethics and conducts, such kind of ethics has to be
implemented by the leader in an effective manner. When the company faces such issues and they
fail to adopt such strategies, this will be affecting the company in a negative manner (Chan, Pun
& Selden 2013). A good and effective leader needs to analyze the issues by exhibition of the
ethical behavior in a powerful manner. Ethics refer to the different virtues along with motives of
the individuals along with moral development that will affect the choices of the leaders. The
leaders of the different organizations require understanding the different ethical behavior in an
effective manner. The best leader lives daily life and exhibit the different values accordance to
actions and styles and this will help in building trust.
Conclusion
The entire essay has helped in analyzing the organization from multi perspective view
that helped in concluding that Foxconn is good at increasing the input along with profit and this
helped them in generating products. In relation with the different allegations from the workers
and ethical dilemmas, it can be concluded that organization has treated the different employees

6LEADERSHIP AND ETHICS
as slave and do not provide them with the rights they deserve. According to the theory of
scientific and administrative management along with bureaucracy, Foxconn has managed the
different workers as this helped them in maximizing profit. The different progress has been
highlighted in nature that helped them in generation of the Corporate Social Responsibility in an
effective manner.
Therefore, it is the incidence of pressure on CEO of the company wherein he was new to
the respective field tried his best in ensuring well being of individuals in the company. However,
he failed in generating success to the company and this failed to maintain ethics in the business.
The business world needs to analyze proper decision-making capabilities that will help in overall
development of the team. The leader of the respective company needs to focus on the entire
development and satisfaction of the different employees. The entire essay has used domination
and machine metaphor in order to develop view on the management of the company about
different workers.
The author has discussed theoretical concepts in the ethics that is administrative in nature.
Furthermore, there has been critical analysis of the theoretical concepts influenced the different
managerial practices by performing through literature review and supported the different
arguments. There have been different recommendations for the leaders in order to ensure
organizational success and this made it ethical in nature. The literature review helped in
focusing on different key concepts such as theories on leadership and importance of the business
ethics has to be analyzed. The different consequences of the ethical dilemma in the respective
company were identified and solved in an effective manner.

7LEADERSHIP AND ETHICS
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