Case Overview: Apple Inc. Performance in a Zero-Sum World Economy
During the semester, we have discussed supply chain and production issues as they impacted your company. In particular, we have witnessed for the first time ever—the impact of a major pandemic upon the supply chain of many companies and the subsequent disruption upon the economy.
This assignment is a bit different…you are asked to consider your personal values as they relate to Apple’s outsourcing decision. In particular, please review Apple’s current outsourcing relationship with Hon Hai (Foxconn) industries, one of the major manufacturers of your iPhone. Please see article links below for overview of the key ethical issues.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/willyshih/2020/03/06/why-it-will-be-hard-for-apple-to-reduce-its-dependence-on-china/?sh=523680146aba
https://www.businessinsider.com/apple-foxconn-breaking-chinese-labor-law-2019-9
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-honhai-results/apple-supplier-foxconns-profit-down-24-in-last-quarter-of-2019-idUSKBN21H0XJ
Overall Directions
Putting aside your professional perspective as a business major and as a strategy student, please use your own personal, professional, spiritual, or religious values to respond to the information presented in the Apple case. This assignment has (4) components and please use the grading rubric as your guide in writing your paper. Please carefully review the grading rubric, identify each section in BOLD prior to developing your response. As importantly, expand upon your response in each section.
Assessment Criteria
This assignment will be a highly personal response from you: we are most interested here in your values-based individual and personal reaction to the Apple case.
There are not any “right” or “wrong” answers to your response, but “better” responses will be clearer, more thoughtful, and more effectively expressed regarding both the “what” and the “why” of your reactions. In other words, “what” is your response to the Apple case and “why” do you feel/believe that way? Given this, the grading criteria for this assignment are as follows:
Grading Criteria
Your ability to effectively express and use your values in your assessment of the specific facts and information of the Apple case.
Appropriate paper length. The main body of the paper (excluding headers, document titles, etc.), should translate into 2-3 page document.
Clarity of your writing and expression.
Ability to use grading rubric to address key issues.
Tips for Successfully Writing the Assignment
Avoid summarizing the case, and please don’t include Apple article references in your response.
Avoid long narrative and illustrative stories–focus on the relationship between your values and the case information. Remember, this assignment is more about you reflecting upon your personal values and your own identity than it is about Apple as a company!
Rubric
– Students can identify at least one corporate strategy that influenced Apple’s contract with Foxconn as well as those factors that influenced Apple’s decision to implement this strategy.
– Students can identify at least two (2) ethical issues that are confronting the company at this time due to Foxconn relationship
– Student can develop at least (2) recommendations for the Board of Directors to consider to resolve the ethical issues facing the company. Recommendation should be feasible and supported with either external articles, text, class notes
– Student discussion of articles, professional guidelines, or books that have shaped their perspective and personal values related to this case. Please attach all articles with links at the end of the assignment..
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