Corporate Social Responsibility at Apple: Challenges and Solutions

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of Apple's corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives and challenges. It begins by examining Apple's supply chain management, highlighting the flexibility it offers while also addressing the decreased control over manufacturing practices due to offshore outsourcing. The report then delves into specific ethical issues, including human rights violations at Foxconn and Pegatron, focusing on poor working conditions, labor practices, and the violation of women's rights. It further explores the complexities of applying ethical standards across different countries, considering varying legal, political, social, and cultural environments. The role of media, including social media, in shaping CSR expectations is also discussed, along with strategies for influencing consumer behavior. Finally, the report outlines the steps Apple has taken to address its CSR challenges, such as monitoring offshore operations, bringing manufacturing units back to the United States, and focusing on automation to improve working conditions and enhance customer loyalty. The report is a valuable resource for understanding the multifaceted dimensions of CSR within a global corporation.

Running head: CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Corporate Social Responsibility
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author note:

1CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Answer 1:
Apple’s supply chain management has provided the company with flexibility for
meeting the fluctuating demand, as ninety percent parts of Apple’s iphone were being
manufactured overseas. Offshore outsourcing however, helped in reducing operation costs of
Apple, but it decreased the company’s control as well as monitoring over the manufacturing
practices and processes. Due to the absence of monitoring, the work procedures of suppliers
and employees were very difficult to look after. It also hampered the corporate social
responsibilities of the company. With different stakeholders and expectations, it became
difficult to manage the consumers’ demands and satisfaction. It also became hard to manage
the buyer and supplier relationship which hampered the company’s progress. Moreover,
challenges arose when differences in the organization’s procedures, questioned its objectives
(Fontaine, 2013).
Answer 2:
Apple was responsible for violating human rights. Foxconn was one of the oldest and
biggest suppliers of Apple, which came into limelight when a worker committed suicide due
to some issues related to the company. Later that incident, more eighteen workers attempted
to commit suicide and fourteen died. Poor working conditions and ill labor practices were the
main reasons for this. After the Foxconn incident, another supplier of the company, Pegatron
also faced crisis when they used juvenile workforce. Moreover, women rights were violated
which was assisted by excessive hours of working, poor working conditions and
environmental pollution (Josephs, 2012).

2CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Answer 3:
It is reasonable for the company to apply various ethical standards in different
countries to cut the costs. However, the company must correspond to the countries’ ethical
standards rather than doing whatever they like. The ethical standards of different countries
vary because of their different legal, political, social and cultural environments. In the
developing countries people mostly care about their welfare and to earn money for feeding
their family. Therefore, the company needs high ethical norms in developed countries like
United States, Japan and others. For example; they must offer higher rates to the employees.
However, in developing countries, with lower social norms and ethics, the company should
apply lower standards of ethics and meet the lowest levels of the country (Savitz, 2013).
Answer 4:
Media plays a key role in shaping Apple’s corporate social responsibility
expectations. Moreover, with the advent of social media it has become much easier. The
strategies of media and social media have helped in shaping as well as reshaping the
company’s CSR expectations. Through transparent and authentic conversations via media
and social media, it has become easier to understand the consumers’ behavior and attitude. It
has also become easier to influence them by maintaining a good relationship. Media and
social media help in promoting the good works of the company, which in turn proves
beneficial for the company’s success and growth. Moreover, online networking helps in
improving the image of the brand externally. It also boosts the company’s morale (Fontaine,
2013).

3CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Answer 5:
Apple took many steps regarding its corporate social responsibility challenges which
are face in the company’s supply chain. The company is even working on their issues in order
to improve their working conditions and procedures. It is engaging more in monitoring and
tracking activities, in order to keep a track on the offshore operations. To regain the control,
the company is focusing more on bringing its manufacturing units back to United States.
Furthermore, they are trying to stress on robotization and automation in future. They would
like to engage in more CSR activities in order to improve their customer base and attain their
loyalty (Kesavan, Bernacchi & Mascarenhas, 2013).

4CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
References
Fontaine, M. (2013). Corporate social responsibility and sustainability: the new bottom
line?. International Journal of Business and Social Science, 4(4).
Josephs, H. K. (2012). Production Chains and Workplace Law Violations: The Case of Apple
and Foxconn. Global Bus. L. Rev., 3, 211.
Kesavan, R., Bernacchi, M. D., & Mascarenhas, O. A. (2013). Word of mouse: CSR
communication and the social media. International Management Review, 9(1), 58.
Savitz, A. (2013). The triple bottom line: how today's best-run companies are achieving
economic, social and environmental success-and how you can too. John Wiley &
Sons.