Question

            Apple products maybe huge in china, but they're also made in China and the process produces an awful lot of pollution, according to domestic environment protection groups. As many as 27 different Apple suppliers have been accused of releasing pollution and carcinogens and yesterday apple finally sat down to talk it out with its critics.

            The meeting, which lasted three and a half hours and took place in Apple’s Beijing offices, was attended by nine representatives for five different domestic environment groups, and five Apple team representatives.
            Li Li, a representative for one of the environmental groups, told Sina Tech that she was pleased Apple look the time to sit down with them, but that the company is still pushing the responsibility for pollution problems onto its suppliers and its attitude wasn’t sincere.

            Apple admitted that of the 27 suppliers accused of polluting in the environmentalists’ report, 15 were indeed Apple suppliers, Li Li said. (Apple does not publicly list its suppliers) in keeping with form, Apple would not tell the groups which 15 names were correct, according to Li

            Apple said they had already spoken to 11 supply firms and asked them to reform, and they’re in the process of initiating communications with the other four.

            Apple really concerns the influences of this event on China’s market. Apple is not sure whether their fans in China will change their attitude to its products.

Question 1. Specific the management dilemma, the management questions and the research questions of this research.

Answer 1

Management dilemma:

(i) Effect of this event on Apple's brand image in China after admitting its association with suppliers, who've flouted enivronmental norms.

(ii) Whether continuing with the previous suppliers would be an ethical option or not?

(iii) Whether Apple should name the 15 suppliers or not (considering a dilemma between confidentiality and business ethics).

Management questions:

(i) How would people perceive the continuation of alliance with those 15 suppliers, who had earlier violated the norms.

(ii) How to penetrate the sentiment that Apple vouches for Environmental sustainability?

(iii) How to change/ communicate the idea of CSR of Apple to prevent damage to its brand image?

Research questions:

(i) What was the exact number of suppliers involved in violation of environmental norms?

(ii) Why was the number shown by Apple different from the ones highlighted originally?

(iii) Why was Apple entirely pushing the responsibility on its suppliers?

(iv) Why wasn't Apple ready to change/withdraw from the suppliers that had flouted the norms?

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