deadline is absolute all files must be under 30%

MGM355-1404A-01

Class Discussion 2 Phase 1

Colorado Technical University

Instructor:

8/17/2014

How do the changing technology and the falling barriers to trade and investment reflect the success of this company?

I chose to research Apple Inc. to discuss the strategies they used in innovation to achieve all the success they have in revolutionizing the use of technology in their products. This has only helped the Organization reach the level of globalization that they have making them a world renown name. Over the last decade Apple has made steady gains in the markets. In the early 2000’s Apple began acquiring other companies and technology for the enhancement of current products and for breaking new ones. Over the past decade Apple has introduce the iPod, iTunes, iTunes radio, iPhone’s generation 1 through 5, and countless MacBook’s to name a few. Investments in the London owned company of Burberry and Japan based companies has helped the company break trade barriers (www.operating-system.org, 2004). Their professional geared product has fascinated the world around and heled in the falling of previous barriers to trade. They now have 425 retails stores in 14 different countries (www.operating-system.org, 2004).

How does the company show corporate social responsibility in terms of labor conditions, human rights, fair trade, and the environment?

Apple takes its responsibility on being a world brand very seriously. The organization has once been criticized on the behavior of its contracted laborer’s practices as well as its business and environmental practices (Indvik, 2011). An agency by the name of Greenpeace campaigned against Apple Inc. at one point because of various environmental issues with the company. The accusations that were made we on Apple Inc.’s global end-of-life take-back plan in addition to the non-recyclable hardware components and toxins within iPhone hardware. Greenpeace has campaigned against Apple's since 2003 on its use of certain chemicals in their products. The chemicals that Greenpeace was referring to specifically were Apple Inc.’s inclusion of PVC and BFRs in their devices (www.operating-system.org, 2004). In 2007 Steve Jobs quickly responded by releasing a report announcing Apple’s plains to eliminate its use PVC and BFRs by the end of 2008. In 2008 Apple Inc. became the first laptop manufacturer to eliminate the use of PVC and BFR’s altogether (Indvik, 2011).

Apple is also known for strictly enforcing accountability. For an example Scott Forstall iOS senior vice president refused to sign Apple's official apology for the errors which occurred in the redesigned Maps app. Due to his refusal to sign the apology letter he was forced to resign from his position (Tim, 2014). In The 1990’s Apple Inc. prided itself on being made in America. Yet in the early 2000’s to currently Apple has been outsourcing more and more of its manufacturing to its facilities located outside the country. The only positions that are currently held in the United States are its corporate officers and its customer support/services department (Tim, 2014). Due to all of the facilities Apple has located overseas it has been said that it offers them more flexibility diligence, and they have a larger pool of industrial skills with foreign workers that out produced their American counterparts (Tim, 2014).

With all this being said Apple Inc. is not without its faults. There is still a lot going on that it does not want its larger public knowing about. Yet, slowly Apple Inc. dirty little secrets start to surface (McDonell, 2010). Productions are no longer based in the United Stated because production here they say is not feasible enough to reach the market demand. Employee’s in rural areas in China suffer from work related medical condition from the adhesive which they apply to the back of the Apple logo before they apply it to the devices (McDonell, 2010). One employee responds “I am back at work but my symptoms are still with me. My legs still hurt. This will accompany me for the rest of my life. It’s very painful (McDonell, 2010).”

What actions can a multinational corporation take that would make globalization a positive development for the global economy?

Organization needs to know their customers in order to effectively meet their needs. A company needs to establish a plan of communication and set it in action within their company. This communications plan should be all inclusive that means both nationally and abroad so that everyone within the company is on one accord. Cultural diversity is important in the organization this would make globalization ore positive. It also helps prevent the organization from falling into a group mentality. Keeping up with current market analysis will also help the company maintain its global status? I then that the world is progressing at a phenomenal rate economically I believe any organization that wants to make it in the long hall needs to create friendlier and more environmentally safe working environment’s for its employees.

References

Indvik, L. (2011, 05 09). mashable.com. Retrieved from mashable.com: http://mashable.com/2011/05/09/apple-google-brandz-study/

McDonell, S. (2010, 10 26). www.abc.net.au. Retrieved from www.abc.net.au: http://www.abc.net.au/foreign/content/2010/s3044840.htm

Tim. (2014, 06 28). apple.com. Retrieved from apple.com: http://www.apple.com/diversity/

www.operating-system.org. (2004, 04 03). Operating-System. Retrieved from www.operating-system.org: http://www.operating-system.org/betriebssystem/_english/fa-apple.htm