Global Corporation: Apple Inc.
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I have chosen to do research and analysis on Apple Inc. to understand and address ethical concerns associated with the company. Apple is a world famous for-profit company involved in designing innovative technology products and providing corresponding services ranging from devices, such as iPhones, iPads, MacBooks, Apple Watches, and multiple software and services including iOS, macOS, iCloud, and the App Store. I have selected Apple due to its far-reaching influence in the tech industry, its global impact, and the controversies it has faced regarding various ethical considerations.
Apple Inc. has faced numerous ethical issues, particularly in its supply chain and labor contexts. The article by Syed, (2021) which poses several ethical issues and criticisms barring Apple’s good standing, looks into issues ranging from labour rights abuses to tax avoidance strategies. The thoroughgoing due diligence that has characterized the interrogation of Apple’s plan in the international dimension is an addiction of the ethical problems that are underlying its global operations.
One notable issue there is a problem with labor practices at its supply chain, especially those operated by its suppliers, which are predominantly in China. Reports of unfavorable working conditions, long shifts, inadequate compensation and in some cases underage work have affected the reputation of Apple and made people wonder about company’s ethical policy and worker’s rights.
Apple has been involved in lots of debates about its tax avoidance over the years. That is, through the use of subsidiaries in countries with favorable tax laws, Apple is able to dodge paying corporate taxes to the country in which it operates. This tactic has become subject of criticism from regulators, and it has drawn allegations of ethically abusive tactics with appeals of the authorities for greater transparency and corporate accountability in Apple’s tax matters.
Apple has been accused for its poor environmental stand, hazardous materials such as mercury, cadmium are associated with it, electronic waste disposal is a problem with which it is involved Such allegations of environmental misconduct have prompted dozens of officials from environmental advocacy groups to call for immediate steps towards disclosure of information and compliance by the company.
Picking Apple Inc. as the company to focus on makes it possible for me to explore ethical problems within a worldwide known big corporation. Apple Inc.’s dominating role in the market as well as its complex supply chain particularly suits for analyzing the corporate governance and the moral considerations. It provides a real-life setting for studies on the ethics of a multinational company, giving good lessons for business ethics education and practice. Through an investigation of the ethical dilemmas that Apple faces, one can be enlightened about the wider corporate responsibility and accountability problems in today’s business environment and analyzing Apple, it is possible to have a holistic view of what corporate governance issues are or how ethical decisions should be made when the company structure is complex.
Reference
Syed Abdul Rehman Bukhari. (2021, October).
Ethical Issues of Apple Inc.
https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.31326.15681
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Syed-Abdul-Bukhari/publication/355041464_Ethical_Issues_of_Apple_Inc/links/615aab2ea6fae644fbd0b336/Ethical-Issues-of-Apple-Inc.pdf
