Case 5: Apple And Its Suppliers: Corporate Social Responsibility Teaching Objectives This case offers students the opportunity to examine in depth the challenges Apple faces in managing offshore and outsourced operations, especially in terms of how these challenges affect corporate social responsibility (CSR) outcomes. Set against the backdrop of two major CSR failures, Apple is possible the world's best example for this purpose because of both the high expectations it faces and the plentiful financial and other resources it has available to tackle this problem. The lessons from this case study apply to a wide range of firms engaged in offshoring and outsourcing and to the management of CSR across institutional and organizational boundaries. Key Issues in this case The trade-off between being profitable and doing well for society at large The challenges of matching CSR practices to CSR expectations The challenges of managing and monitoring outside suppliers The hard realities of managing CSR across institutional boundaries The complexity of managing CSR issues across multiple level Additional Resources At the time of creation of this case, the BBC Panorama program's episode on Apple was available in full on the Internet. Fragments of the program and other videos on this topic were available from YouTube and similar websites. The video is mean to enlighten you and allow you to answer, "As an Apple customer, have you considered how your Apple product was produced?" Other issues include: The nature of competition in the smartphone and tablet industry The growth of China and other emerging countries as a manufacturing site, and the future of manufacturing in developed countries Inconsistencies in the identity of Apple The role of media (including social media) in debates around CSR The role of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and transnational organizations in dealing with CSR issues The effectiveness of self-regulation in dealing with CSR issues Assignment Questions 1.) Identify the multiple levels of analysis at play for Apple as it addresses the CSR challenges in its supply chain. 2.) Is Apple responsible for the alleged human rights violations that occurred? 3.) Would onshoring, insourcing, or a combination of the two represent a suitable response to Apple's problems? 4.) If Apple continues on the current path, what should it do differently? 5.) Is it reasonable for Apple to apply different ethical standards to different countries? 6.) Should firms such as Apple maximize their profits, or should they sacrifice some profits to do good? 7.) Have these CSR problems at Apple had a meaningful impact on the bottom line? 8.) What is the role of media, including social media, in shaping CSR expectations? 9.) Does Apple face an industry-specific issue, or do the same issues appear in other industries? 10.) If you were in the position of Jeff Williams, what, if anything, would you do differently? 11.)