1-4 Consulting Report- CSR
MBA-500 Building Business Leaders
6/14/25
Austin Masser
Introduction:
The contents of this consulting report will expand on the background, vision,
management practices and organizational functional areas of Apple Inc. The report will
take a deeper look into the company's overall Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
The report will show the success of the company in CSR, and be able to apply for use
for Ms. Hernandez’s beauty company. Apple Inc.’s mission statement is, “ to bring the
best user experience to customers through innovative hardware, software, and
services” (Pereira, 2025).
Functional Areas:
Apple Inc has four main functional areas. They are as follows; Hardware, this
area's purpose is to focus on design, development and manufacturing of physical
products. Software, this area designs and maintains operating systems such as IOS.
Services, includes maintaining Apple music, Apple tv, iCloud etc..Corporate functions,
including Marketing, Operations, Finance, HR, Legal etc.(Dike, 2024). All of the four
main functional areas work seamlessly together to provide an easy to use interface and
innovative products. Having multiple functional areas that work specifically on product
design such as software and hardware, make it so that each has an understanding of
what the consumer is facing while using any of their products.
Functional Area Analysis and Application.
After analyzing the company's greatest assets, it was found that the Iphone,
which earned a revenue of one hundred and forty two million dollars in 2019
(Environmental progress report). This is due to the simplistic branding, operating
system, and design. Apple CEO Tim Cook is quoted in saying, “We believe that we’re
on the face of the Earth to make great products, and that’s not changing. We’re
constantly focusing on innovating. We believe in the simple, not the complex” (Dormehl,
2024). This unique value sets Apple apart from its competitors in the technology space.
Applying this to the global beauty space would be simple. A simple aesthetic logo and
branding, ease of use, and quality products from quality ingredients, could set the
beauty company ahead of its competitors.
Applying three of the four main functional areas from Apple would be able to
streamline their manufacturing, design and corporate operations. Having a department
that focuses solely on the manufacturing of the products and the design/packaging. A
department that works on quality of product and ingredients, and finally a corporate
department that handles Marketing, HR, Operations, Legal etc..
Corporate Social Responsibility:
Apple Inc has three main areas where they focus their CSR. Climate change,
resources and smarter chemistry. In the area of climate change, Apple has taken an
approach to lower the amount of carbon in their manufacturing process, and efficient
energy in the corporate offices. Apple saw an 18% savings in electricity within its
6,400,00 square foot facility. Finally, 100 percent renewable electricity in the corporate
facility and supply chain, and emissions and carbon removal from facilities.
(Environmental progress report).
To continue, in the area of resources, Apple has taken initiative in three areas,
materials, water stewardship, and zero waste landfill. Apple plans to transition to all
recycled or renewable materials in their products and packaging. They also plan to
reduce freshwater use, and improve the quality of water we discharge. Lastly, Apple
plans to minimize overall waste generated and eliminate waste sent to landfills from
manufacturing facilities as well as corporate offices, data centers, and retail stores
(Environmental progress report).
Lastly, Apple is taking steps to make safer products. Safer materials make for
safer products and a better world. This belief has driven our efforts to remove harmful
chemicals from our products and from the processes of designing, making, using, and
recycling them (Environmental progress report).
CSR Application:
Some practical application and integration from Apple’s success in CSR, and
their ability to make an impact on the environment would be to use recyclable products
for packaging. Lowering the emissions from manufacturing facilities. Finding natural
materials to make products, and reduce the amount of chemicals within the beauty
products.
Conclusion:
To conclude, the beauty company can implement both functional area structures
and CSR practices from Apple’s company practices. The areas that the beauty
company can integrate these practices in are, the implementation of three of the four
functional areas, Corporate function, hardware as far as packaging and materials, and
softwares as far as product ingredients, and quality.
The beauty company can also implement CSR practices used by Apple.
Implementing the use of recyclable products, better materials and ingredients, and
lowering facility emissions.
Sources:
Dike, P. (2024, October 15). Inside Apple’s organisational structure [the full gist].
Talk Magnet. https://www.talkmagnet.com/blog/apple-organisational-structure/
Dormehl, L. (2024, September 23). Today in apple history: Apple lays out its core
company values. Cult of Mac. https://www.cultofmac.com/news/today-apple-
history-apple-lays-core-company-values
Environmental progress report. (n.d.).
https://www.apple.com/environment/pdf/Apple_Environmental_Progress_Report_2
020.pdf
Pereira, D. (2025, April 22). Apple Mission and Vision statement. Business Model
Analyst. https://businessmodelanalyst.com/apple-mission-and-vision-statement/
