Evaluation Paper on Apple: Social, Legal, and Ethical Considerations

Introduction

Apple is a worldwide company based in American, and it deals in computers, electronics, and online services. Apart from providing its services to customers, it ensures that good relations exist between it and its customers. As such, the apple company has established social, legal, and ethical considerations which keep it linked to its customers, and defines the boundaries that can determine its performance both in America and internationally. To improve its market plan, then the Apple Company has established marketing performance and monitoring aspects.

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Social Issues

Apple has been concerned with social issues since its beginning under Steve Jobs. Although he was not a known philanthropist, he gave out donations for charity. The Apple corporate social responsibility programs were made to benefit the American people and the world at large (Weinzimmer, 2016). In 2011, a "Global Volunteer Program" was established which involved the donation of charities to local American. It was the expanded to local communities globally. The employees of the company were responsible for the donation program which used more than USD 78 billion. Besides, Apple has established educational and developmental programs to its employees without charge. The program is meant to empower its workers to become competent and be ready to serve customers in a socially acceptable way. Gender equality is key in Apple and it avoids racism when awarding employment to the applicant.

Legal Issues

Apple has had many legal issues piling up both locally and internationally. Lately, the court ordered the company to pay the $506 to the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The university filed a lawsuit back in 2014 after the company infringed on a patent that was first granted in 1998 for improving the efficiency of processors. The jury in charge of the lawsuit found out that Apple processors, mainly A7, A8, and A8X had violated the patent. However, Apple stated that it was up to appeal the verdict. In addition, Qualcomm filed a patent infringement lawsuit urging the company to avoid importing iPhones made in China to sell them in the US. Still, rumors say that Apple is fighting towards withdrawing the lawsuit which may see Qualcomm losing large amounts of dollars.

Ethical Issues

Being a large and successful computer and electronics company, Apple faces a lot of criticism from media which has sometimes affected it in the technology market. As such it has been forced to lower the prices of its items. One of the legal issues that have faced Apple is a labor problem. In 2010, 91 children under 16 years were found employed in China working in the company of its suppliers. Apple reacted by aggressively searching for the company and returning them to their families (Patterson, 2018).

Monitoring and Controlling

Apple has been dominant in the technology market since it came into existence. Firstly, the dominance result from the company's positioning tactics in the market. Unlike other computer-based companies, it brands its products in a unique that has always attracted customers. All its products begin with "i" which brings about uniformity in its products, thus enhancing the marketability. Secondly, the company manufactures quality products in that all of them are integrated.to ensure that anyone can use it with ease (Gray, 2015). Besides, Apple products go for high costs which enable it to consistently design quality products, unlike other brands that lower prices but produce products of low quality. Finally, the company has established a broader market. Apart from the USA, it has suppliers all over the world, and so it can make profits by selling the products continuously.

Conclusion

Apple not only markets its products but also engages in the social practices of the business community likely giving out donations. Also, the company has legal and ethical issues affecting its performance which it struggles to manage them to maintain its stability. Lastly, the company applies unique mechanisms that make it dominate the technology such as unique brand names, quality products and has a wide market.

References

Curwen, P. (2016). Apple in a strategic bind: A regular column on the information industries. info, 18(5), 102-103.

Gray, J. M. (2015). How apple pay coincides with the consumer financial protection act: will Apple become a regulated entity. J. High Tech. L., 16, 170.

Margulis, C. S., & Galli, B. J. (2018). A case study of Apple v. Samsung and how big data analytics might have changed the outcome. International Journal of Qualitative Research in Services, 3(1), 21-35.

Patterson, P., Wilkins, L., & Painter, C. (2018). Media ethics: Issues and cases. Rowman & Littlefield.

Weinzimmer, L. G., & Esken, C. A. (2016). Risky business: Taking a stand on social issues. Business Horizons, 59(3), 331-337