Ethical analysis refers to a logical approach to figuring out the correct moral judgments in a given situation. A logical analysis of the situation guided by codes of ethics helps an individual to select the best moral option. Ethical analysis helps an individual to have the actual picture of the situation before undertaking any action. Ethical analysis is beneficial in business operations since one is able to bring the business back into the track when coworkers or employees perform unethical activities. A good and successful enterprise is based on ethics. A company ethic refers to how an organization responds to either external or internal stimuli.  The organizational culture strongly interdepends with organizational ethics. Code of ethics in an organization refers to the doctrines used in the institution to guide in its strategies, decisions, and programs. An ethical organizational culture demand that all the staffs adhere to the code of ethics.

Ethical leadership refers to governance which is guided by great respect for ethical beliefs, dignity, morals, and rights for others. Ethical leadership is characterized by honesty, fairness, trust charisma and consideration. Leaders who embrace ethics do the right thing, in the right manner and at the right time. Consequently, their teams are loyal, committed, dedicated and ethical. Ethical leadership is essential since it assists in the creation of s confident environment with industrious interactions over three levels; personal level, team level, and the general organizational level.

Promotion the bond at each level results in various benefits such as; improved well-being of the individual. Creating a close rapport amongst the workers would ease communication and also motivate every individual to the worker. Secondly, help in increasing the energy of the team; a strong relationship between the employees and the management help in empowering the team members thus increasing the productive capacity of each team. Lastly, healthy interaction between each level would yield to a health organization. When people respect one another, the level of conflict significantly decline. As a result, the organization builds a strong reputation hence,high-quality products and services. Thispaper will focus on the ethical analysis of Apple.

Overview of Apple organization

Apple Inc. is an international technology corporation which develops, design and sells consumer electronics, computer software, and online services. It has its headquarters in Cupertino in California. The company was founded in April 1976 by Steve Wozniak, Steve Jobs, and Ronald Wayne.  The firm’s hardware include; iPad tablet computers, iPhone smartphones, Apple watch smart watch, iPod portable media player, Homepod intelligent speakers.  The company’s software includes; iOS and macOS operating system,iTunes media players, safari web browser, iLife, and iWork creativity and productivity suits. The firm also has online services such as iCloud, Apple music, Mac App Store and iOS App Store.

The evolution of Apple from computer to Electronics Company is extraordinary. Different companies have tried to copy Apple’s move but all in vain. The firm has invested in skilled employees who are committed to the production of valuable products and services. Customer loyalty is an added advantage to the company.Due to its strong and committed employees and customers, the firm has embraced the concept of evangelism. Just as religious evangelists who spread the gospel, Apple’s brand evangelistspread the good news about the company’s products. Suchevangelists are able to convince more customers and as a result, the volume of sales increases.

Apple Inc. also investsin employee training and development.Unusually, this reduces the turnover rate within the enterprise. Training the staff also help to increase productivity since the employees are able to understand the organizational culture. The company also promotes customers from within and therefore reducesrecruitment costs. The company offers a chance to the youthsthrough internship programs. It is during the internship that the company identifiesstrong and productive candidates who are their potential employees.

Apple is familiar due to its size and financial position. In 2018, the company raised a total of $265 billion making it the largest information technology company in the world.Notably, the company holds the third position in the manufacturing of mobile phones after Samsung and Huawei.The enterprise has over 123000 full-time employees. In the US, Apple Inc. was the first company to be valued over $ 1 trillion. In 2018, it operated in 24 countries and it maintained 504 retail stores. iTunes Stores is one of the largest music retailers globally. The company in 2018 had the highest brand loyalty hence ranked as the world’s most valuable brand. The firm, however, has had a lot of criticism concerning the labor practices and unethical business activities.

Apple’s ethics

The firm ensures that all the staffs and associates display appropriate behaviors in all circumstances.  The success of the enterprise is grounded on the commitment to the production of innovative, high-qualityproducts and services and signifyinghonesty in all business dealings. The corporation believes in the following four principles; confidentiality, honesty, compliance, and respect. Apple has also instituted a  business’ code of conductwhich applies to all their business interactions. The code of conducts does not only apply to the entities in the mother country but also those overseas. To ensure transparency, the employees are provided with Business Conduct Helpline which uses to report any harassment and mistreat from Apple’s Audit and Finance Committee.  In its website, the entity has availed its strategies of corporate governance, executive conflict of interests and a recommendation on reportingdoubtfulbehaviors.

Most of the company’s products are manufactured in countries where labor cost is relatively low. Outstandingly, this increases the chances of misconducts due to varying standards of labor and a reduced amount of direct oversight. Consequently, the suppliers are made to sign Suppliers Code of Conduct and they alsoundergo factory audit thus ensuring compliance. Though the company has been one of the most admired globally, in recent years, the company has experienced a number of ethical issues. Such issues would have a severeconsequenceon the corporation’s future success. The strong reputation created in the last fifteen years could be seriously damaged in case the misconducts are not addressed correctly.

The management should have a regularoversight on the quality of a product. Most of the customers believe that Apple products are reliable and valuable. A disaster in the quality of their products would cause serious loss and consumer mistrust thus affecting the progress of the company. Introduction of the iPhone 4 raised a lot of concerns from the consumers.The brand had reception problems resulting from antenna interference. The company quickly responded tominimize the problem. The company has been criticized due to its attempt to reduce the problem instead of fixing it completely.

Apple Inc. values consumer’s privacy. The cell phones are made in such a way that they have features which collect data on the location of the phone as disclosed by Google and Apple. The government agencies negatively reactedto the disclosure arguing that the phones are designed to infringe consumer’s privacy. In response to the government reaction, Apple announced that the users have the capacity to disable the feature on their cell phones. However, even after disabling the feature, the phone could still access data on the phone’s locality. As a result, Apple accredited this to a problem that it improved with new software. Both companies, Google and Apple have continuously defended their data collection mechanism though most government officials do not agree. The authority is concerned with the privacy of the citizens and looking forward to passing laws on mobile privacy. Markedly, this action would harmfully impact on Apple and other electroniccorporations.

Sustainability is also a key concern for the firm. Apple has embraced a policy of becoming a green company thus ensuring environmental management and conservation is given a priority. The company acknowledges that the majority of its discharges come from its commodities. In the year 2009, the firm highlighted that its processes contribute to 9.6 metric tons of metric gases emitted into the atmosphere. 97% of the emissions are linked to the life cycle of their products while 3% is released by their facilities.

Since the company keeps on upgrading its products, the consumers have greatly criticized obsolescence. Whenever a new technology is set in place, people are forced to adopt new technology and dump obsolete expertise. Continuous production of new products would lead to tossing aside of the older technology. To address the problem the company builds technology which can be recycled and long-lasting. The enterprise has also created a recycling program to encourage their customers to recycle their products. Consumers are encouraged to recycle their gadget at their stores. A discount is offered to those who recycle their old gadgets and buy new ones. The program is environmentally friendly which has been endorsed by most of their consumers. The company has also publicly declared to reduce the level of toxic chemicals within their products such as cathode-ray tubes. The firm has already eliminated the use of polyvinyl chloride and brominated flame retardants.

The firm has been severally accused of unfair treatment of their employees. The workers are subjected to high working hours and stiff supervision which is aimed at reducing the cost of operation while maximizing returns. An investigated carried out in 2011 indicated that Apple’s employees in China were supposed to sign an anti-suicide contracted. Notably, this was due to the high employees’ death rate. The Chinese law indicated that an individual was not expected to work for more than 36 hours of overtime per month nevertheless, Apple’s employees were found to work for 98 hours overtime. The employees are given one day off every two weeks. The company also introduced live in dormitories where workers were expected to reside within the company so that they can spend more time working. The rooms were less spacious, and more than five people were to occupy s room. This violated the workers’ right to privacy. The firm also introduced anti-suicide nets so that anyone caught in an attempt to commit suicide is brought back to work.

The concept of business ethics can be explained by various theories which are also applicable in the case of Apple Inc. the first is the theory of individualism; the theory states that; senior staff should do all they can in order to maximize their profit as well as that of their shareholders.  Apple management does not go contrary to this theory. However, the means they are using to maximize their profits are inappropriate and unethical. The company produces its products overseas where labor is less costly and labor laws are more flexible. Workers are therefore subjected to heavy tasks and low wages. For instance, in China workers are not permitted to strike and therefore subjected to a violationof their rights.

The second theory is known as the Kantian theory which states that; while making business decisions, one should act rationally, helps others in making rational decisions, respects others and does the right thing. Apple Inc. violated this model by disrespecting the employees and subjecting them to tough working conditions. The firm has been found to operate for selfish interests while exploiting the works who help in the day to day activities.

The third theory is referred to as virtue theory which holds that; one should do something in a virtuous manner abiding by the following virtues; honesty, courage, justice, and temperance. The firm dishonored this theory first by a lack of courage to stoptheir actions since they were unethical and inhuman.The firm’s main aim is to dominate the consumer electronics industry.  The corporation feared that diverting funds to restore their market dignity would allow their competitors to overthrow them.

Secondly, the firm was dishonest to the consumers and shareholders about what was going on in the workplace. Workers signing for the anti-suicide contract are aclear indication that the management was aware of the challenges facing the employees. The workers’ expectation was unreasonable thus infringing the virtue of temperance. Lastly,Apple did not compensate or even apologize to the employees for the conditions they were subjected to. Thus the virtue of justice is infringed.

The company failed to understand that workers are not machines; they are human beings with feelings. They have right and just as other people they get tired. The organization should also value social values such as family life.Enclosing people within life in dormitories disconnect parents from their children and husbands from their wives. Too much work in progress may affect the quality of the products hence lowering the volume of sales. It may also lead to exploitation and discouraging the employees thus affecting their productivity.

Recommendations

Apple should also focus on the welfare of the society; poor wages to the employees would lead to damage to the company’s strong reputation. Consequently, this would affect consumer loyalty; hence, a reduced volume of sales. Corporate social responsibility is a key concern in the international market. Apple Inc. should, therefore, be concerned of their activities to ensure that the economic, social and environmental issues are addressed.

The company’s decision to get into a green company is highly appreciated. Different nations have set in place policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions into the surroundings.  The concept of recycling products will ensure that environmental hazards are reduced.The consumers are also encouraged to recycle their gadgets in the Apple stores where they will be given a discount to buy updated devices.

The company should also focus on the quality of the products as well as the welfare of the society. One of the company’s codes of ethics is respect.Total respect across the bond would increase the close rapport between all the workers.Certainly, this would increase the level of consultation in the firm among the junior and senior staffs. As a result, productivity per worker would significantly increase.

Transparency and accountability are paramount; hence, every staff should be held accountable for their actions which may ruin the future progress of the company. Managers should also be held responsible for any actions that are contrary to the codes of ethics of the firm. Suppliers who fail to comply with the set ethics should also be taken for disciplinary actions or replaced with other suppliers who will ensure that the firm’s brand remains competitive and valuable.

The government is mandated to protect citizens from mistreatment and violation. The Chinese government, for example, remained silent while the citizens were subjected to heavy work and low wages. The rate of suicide in the firm in 2011 was alarming thus; strict rules should be set in place to control the actions of foreign companies. Cheap labor attracts companies in countries where labor cost is low. However, this should not serve as an excuse for the citizens to be enslaved in their motherlands.

Conclusion

Ethical analysis refers to the critical evaluation of a situation before taking any action. Codes of ethics guide companies in their production process. The significant virtues which ensure that the rights of the employees, consumers, and shareholders are not violated include; honesty, transparency, andaccountability. Consumers are more attracted to firms which adhere to a code of ethics. Employees are also motivated to work in an environment where their contribution is felt and appreciated.

Apple Inc. is one of the greatest companies in the world. The company has a well-drafted code of ethics which ensure that the corporate social responsibilities are addressed. The firm is based on high quality, highly competitive and innovative products.The firm also values honesty and transparency. Apple has also set in place measures which ensure environmental friendly processes. The firm has instituted programs which encourage recycling of obsolete technology. The customers should return the outdated gadgets to the retail shops and enjoy a discount to purchase new ones.

Apple has faced a lot of critics following the mistreatment of their work. Notably, this is against the virtues of respect. The company should fix the problem to avoid loss of customer loyalty.Consumers are likely to lose confidence if they are aware of the suffering the workers are going through. The firm, however, invests in employee training which ensuring the production of high-quality commodities. As a result, the firm strongly competes with its rivals such as Samsung.

Apple is known for its size and a strong financial position. However, the firm maximizes its profit without considering the welfare of the society. The company also has a well-structured code of conducts and ethics which are not adhered to. The government and other stakeholders are concerned about the privacy of the citizens thus drafting laws to regulate mobile phone privacy. The policy is likely to affect Apple’s mechanism of data collection in the future.

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