01 Worksheet 1

1. Do you think Apple should be responsible for ethical lapses made by

individuals further down its supply chain? Why or why not?

Yes, Apple should be responsible, if not legally binding regarding to

the ethical lapses made by the Individuals further down the supply chain.
Apple hired its employees and therefore has agreed to take responsibility
for its employee’s actions that could reflect positively or negatively on the
company. They have the power to research anyone whom they conduct
business with. Especially when it can compromise their ethics and affect
how customers view them. Apple has got profits, the money, Apple is
definitely able to hire people as supervisors for checking out ethical lapses
that are being done down its supply chain. As apple is big purchaser of the
raw materials, the company will definitely have a say in correcting the
lapses that are being made. No supplier would like to discontinue its
business with Apple. Even if there are middlemen involved, apple can
appoint people to find out from where the middlemen are getting the raw
materials from. Everything is possible because Apple has the market
power and has the money to do it.

2. Should Apple continue to work with the suppliers in an effort to

change practices, or should they stop working with every supplier, even
the conscientious ones, to make sure no “bad apples” are getting through?
Explain your reasoning.

If Apple is aware of which suppliers are being unethical, they should

make them change their practices and Apple should continue to work with
the suppliers to change the practices. On the other hand, in case they
refuse to change the way they run their business, it would only be fair to
stop working with the suppliers they know are wrongdoing but I think
there’s no supplier would like to discontinue its business with Apple
because Apple is large enough they can help the government place control
on these regulations. Apple is more capable of helping than anyone else.

3. Do you think consumers should be expected to consider the ethical

track record of companies when making purchases? Why or why not?

This study source was downloaded by 100000855065892 from CourseHero.com on 10-22-2022 02:10:33 GMT -05:00

https://www.coursehero.com/file/71306074/01-Worksheet-1docx/
 Yes, Apple Inc. should entirely seize to continue their relationship
with such suppliers. Although, the company wants to stay engaged so as
to make changes to the manner of working of those suppliers, but, at the
same time the company when asked about it, Apple Inc. came up with the
response that "it can only control or monitor its supplier's activities to a
certain extent". This statement shows that though Apple Inc. wants to
make a change, it is not ready to take complete responsibility to eradicate
the practice. Thus, in this scenario, it would rather be better to not
associate themselves to such a poor social practice.

4. Can you think of other products or brands that rely on ethically

questionable business practices? Do you think consumers are turned off
by their track record or are they largely indifferent to it? Explain.

The manufacturing of bags by Louis Vuitton is largely criticized by

many activists as well as a lot of its customers, because of the use of real
animal skin, fur, etc. Yes, such unethical business practices turn off the
customers from buying such goods. In an article (referenced below) from
Mintel press office, 56% of Americans would rather stay from such brands
than buy any of their products. People do not want to associate
themselves to brands that do not take into consideration the harm that they
are posing to the society by either performing or ignoring the unethical
practices that take place to get the finished products in the market.

5. Would knowing that a product was produced under ethically

questionable conditions affect your decision to purchase it? Explain with
examples.

Yes, the knowledge of the fact that certain products are a result of
unethical practices would definitely affect my decision to buy a product.
For example, I would rather not buy a bag from Louis Vuitton, knowing the
cruelty to animals that take place to bring the product to market. I would
also refrain from buying products such as coffee from countries like Brazil,
Cambodia, etc. that are a result of child or forced labor.

6. If you were part of a third-party regulating body, how would you deal
with ethically questionable business practices of multinational
corporations like Apple? Would you feel obligated to do something, or do

This study source was downloaded by 100000855065892 from CourseHero.com on 10-22-2022 02:10:33 GMT -05:00

https://www.coursehero.com/file/71306074/01-Worksheet-1docx/
 you think the solution rests with the companies themselves? Explain your
reasoning.

If I were a member of a regulating body (third-party), I would highly

penalize the MNCs that rather prefer to use means of production that involve
unethical practices to save money than shunning such suppliers away. Yes, I
would feel obligated, up to a certain extent, to take strict actions and come with
stricter rules and regulations to stop such malpractices. MNCs work with the aim
of earning profits as high as they can. In order to do so, they turn blind eye to
what their suppliers or third-party manufacturers are doing to get them the
finished product. Only if such companies are pointed out by activists or media,
do they consider showing their concern. Such practices can be stopped only if
countries would come up with strict laws and high amounts of penalties on such
companies, that while getting involved with such suppliers, they consider the
costs and the punitive actions that they will have to bear. Also, once such issues
are highlighted by the news channels, a lot of customers get disheartened and
lose their trust and loyalty in the company.

This study source was downloaded by 100000855065892 from CourseHero.com on 10-22-2022 02:10:33 GMT -05:00

https://www.coursehero.com/file/71306074/01-Worksheet-1docx/
Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)