Apple with a Multinational Presence (Coursework Sample)

Apple with a Multinational Presence
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Apple with a Multinational Presence
Introduction
Apple Inc. is an American-based multinational company, which develops and sells computer software, personal computers, and consumer electronics. Steve Jobs, Ronald Wayne, and Steve Wozniak are the founders of Apple Inc. The company is rated the world’s second largest corporation in information and technology industry after the Samsung Company. It is equally among the leading manufacturers of mobile phones throughout the world. The company has a strong brand recognition that has made it popular globally. Even through Apple Inc. has made a great reputation among its customers within the United States of America and the rest of the world, it is equally given that it faces massive challenges in its operations.
The Cultural Issues Affecting Apple Inc. Outside the United States of America
Apple Inc. is facing massive cultural challenges. Unlike the American culture, which has largely embraced technological applications, the culture of other nations in different continents is different. For instance, the culture in the majority of Asian and African Countries has not taken technological applications very seriously. Many of the members of African and Asian countries are not reliant on internet applications in their daily professional, educational, and personal lives. Because of such culture, Apple Company is experiencing lower sales of its products in such countries (Burbridge, 2013).
In addition, a number of cultures in the societies in Africa and Asia have not embraced education with seriousness. In such cultures, traditional practices have outweighed modernization and civilization. Many of the products of Apple Inc. use modern technological applications. The gadgets and software the company produces are only useful for literate persons. Hence, the culture of illiteracy in many nations outside the United States of America has affected the potential client base for Apple Inc.
The Ethical Perspective of Apple Inc. across the Globe
In many parts of the world, Apple Inc. is known as an ethical organization that has built a good reputation among its customers for years. The company has produced products that are of high quality and tremendous levels of innovation for a long time. Moreover, in many of the regions in which it operates, Apple Inc. has developed good relations with its customers and employees. In some countries such as the United States of America, Apple Corporation gives wages that are compliant with the company’s regulations as well as the requirements of the International Labor Organization (ILO). The company has equally upheld professional ethics in the executions of its operations to its customers, shareholders, employees, and the relevant authorities.
However, it is undeniable that the company has experienced criticism over the past few years based on unethical practices. According to Doward (2014), Apple is becoming a poster for worker abuse in the Chinese markets. Critics of the company are drawing attention from the existing contrast between the amount of billions Apple Company is making and the overwhelming plight of worker abuse in China. Doward (2014) further suggests that the business partners of Apple Inc. in the Chinese markets have embraced operational cultures that are horrific and detrimental to their employees. The companies have provided unfavorable work conditions for their employees including child labor, punitive withholding of wages, unpaid overtime wages, rampant environmental abuse, and unsafe handling of equipment and chemicals used in the production.
Despite Apple Inc. expanding its operations and enjoying commendable success in Asia, increased violence and complaints from employees in companies that manufacture iPhones and other products that are of high technology remains a big concern. As DePamphilis (2013) explains, the reports of harsh working conditions, the occurrence of explosions at two plants manufacturing Apple gadgets, and employee suicides have been among the most recent issues affecting the company in China. The company is taking advantage of the poor laws on minimum wage in many nations to exploit its workers outside the United States.
Furthermore, managers of the Foxconn Company (a partner company to Apple Inc.); have constantly subjected their junior employees to harsh public ridicule, which would be unthinkable in workplaces within Western Countries. With Apple Inc. being a multinational company that has operations in many countries of the world, it is certain that it practices discriminative treatment of employees, which is unethical (Beugelsdijk, Brakman, Garretsen & Marrewijk, 2013). For instance, China and other African countries do not have strict laws and regulations governing employees’ wages and benefits. Therefore, Apple Inc. has often taken advantage of that to overexploit its employees in such countries. They offer wages that are inappropriate to their employees. They do not pay them for overtime and subjects them to poor work conditions. It is unethical of the Company to treat its employees with discrimination.
The Ethical and Corporate Responsibility Issue That Apple Inc. Must Deal With Because Of Being Global
Because Apple Inc. is a global corporation, the main ethical issue it ought to deal with in order to maintain its good reputation is the establishment of good workplace conditions for its employees throughout the world. In the process of expansion, Apple Inc. managed to form numerous business partners such as the Foxconn Company and many more, which had different systems of operations. All such companies become a part of Apple Inc., as they produce products for the company. Because of that, it is necessary that the management of the company employs schemes that would ensure fair, just and ethical t...