Social Performance Of Organization Essays Examples

Apple Inc is a multinational corporation based in America and with headquarter located in Cupertino, California. The company designs, manufactures and sells the computer software, provide online services, sells consumer electronics and personal computer system. The Apple company was established in April 1976 by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak. The first three decades after the establishment of the company, it was named as Apple Computer Inc. but later on in January 2007, the word “computer” was removed and the company’s new name was Apple Inc. (Steve, 2014). The Apple Inc is one of its kind company that is not only well-established with a brand name but also provides diversified products that provide ample of choices to the customers in electronic items that are capable enough to simplify our daily lives. The most successful product of Apple Inc. in my opinion is their mobile and other mobile related devices that have WiFi connections available and any information can be accessed from any place in the world through wireless firewall also known as WiFi (Steve, 2014).

Nature, Products and Organizational Structure of Apple

The Apple Inc. has an organizational structure that clearly follows a top-down approach. The top-down approach makes each and every employee accountable for their actions within their departments, and they are responsible and answerable to the Apple products they design and develop. The identification and evaluation of the strategies and alternatives require that all the employees and senior management who were initially involved in the assembling of organizational vision and mission should be present. They should help in performing the external audit, as well as the internal audit of the business operations (David, 2013).
It is important that all the main stakeholders should attend the meetings that will help in providing any additional input to recommend steps to improve the performance of individual departments. With the implementation of these processes, Apple Inc. can ensure that it implements and incorporate the culture that is able to focus primarily on the company’s internal and external strengths and capabilities. This will in turn help to integrate the strategic decision-making process and help the company to achieve its overall goals and objectives. Any organization that is able to focus on the culture and the environment within itself, is able to prevent or reduce issues such as communication barriers and biases that can prove to be costly for the business (David, 2013).
Another counterproductive area that can endure the problems is the well-coordinated activity with the staff. The staff functions can hurdle in the ability to adapt to the change and uncertain environment within the business. When the top management emphasis on the significance of individual culture and the employee interaction is improved, and significant support is provided by the managerial staff, the tension and stress level is reduced within the workforce and productivity level increases (Michelle, 2013).
There is a variety of products offered by Apple that can provide innumerable services. The most popular product that the company offers is iPad, Mac computer system, iPod, and iPhone. All of these products have WiFi connections installed, and any information can be accessed from any place in the world through wireless firewall also known as Wifi. One of the most important factors that help Apple achieve its success is that each and every product it offers has something unique to offer that helps the company stay ahead of its competition. The Apple Inc. also provides world class support services to its customers that help in establishing a long-term relationship, reliability and develop credibility of the company within the mind of the customers. The warranties, exchange or product returns that are offered by the company are always honored according to their offerings or package (David, 2013).
The advertisement system is unique and multiple means of communication and interaction with the customers is used, for example, television advertisement, social media networks and strategically placed kiosk terminals that provide customers with the first hand information. Another major advantage of the company is that they offer many different stores that one can visit and try the offered products. This helps in igniting the excitement within the customers and generate interest in the upcoming products. Since the iPhone 6 has been launched, the customers are eagerly waiting for the product that can outperform the features of iPhone 6 and remains equally affordable as well.

Two Key Factors in the External Environment

The external environment of any organization consists of the factors that cannot be easily controlled as they are dominated by the economic and financial market factors and are constantly changing. The Apple Inc. has many external factors that do not work in the favor of the company and are not beneficial to the operations of the company’s business. One of the major external factor that can hinder the success of the company can be seen as its weakness. The company offers higher prices for the products it offers, whereas a customer can purchase an alternative / similar product at a lower cost that is able to perform similar functions. The argument offered by Apple is that you get what you pay for is quite rightly justified because of the quality of the products they offer and the ability to renovate the current products as the competition becomes intense (Neil, 2010).

Stakeholders and Organizations Financial Performance

There are five ways how the stakeholders can influence the financial performance of Apple Inc. The stakeholders can withhold the future investments and the financial assets of the company that can dramatically harm the financial performance of the company, if the investors shift their financial investments towards their competitors. The organizations are generally dependent upon their investors to purchase their shares, invest in portfolios and contribute towards the financial interest of the company. The stakeholders can also impact the financial performance of the company by increasing their involvement in how the profits of the company will be allocated when the company is performing well. This practice ensures that the stockholder will remain honest with his investment and ensure that the revenue created is enough to expand the investment portfolio in an appropriate manner (David, 2013).
The stakeholders can also influence the financial performance of the company by showing interest in the financial statements that are generally not published on a quarterly basis, but the stakeholders might want to review them. They might also get involved in the financial investment and decision-making of the company and mandating the Board of Directors that they will have a say or vote in the removal or the selection process of the member in the senior management (David, 2013).

Controversial Corporate Social Responsibility of Apple

An article was published in NewYork Times that the working conditions that Apple offers to its employees is harsh and not according to the International Labor Standards. The employees are forced to work overtime, even seven days a week without any holiday and work in crowded rooms. There have been reports that employees at certain assembly lines have to stand for so long that their legs swell, and they can barely walk properly. The workers that belong to under-age labor bracket have designed and developed Apple’s products and the hazardous waste and materials have been improperly disposed of by the suppliers of the company that can create environmental damage. The suppliers in China have been reported to provide false records to the external auditors. The suppliers of Apple company have violated their commitment to provide a safe working environment to the employees (Neil, 2012).

References

David Fred (2013) The Nature of Strategic Management, Pearson Education.
Michelle Pallis (Oct 2013) Boosting employee motivation: Lessons from Steve Jobs, http://training.premierit.com/blog/boosting-employee-motivation-lessons-steve-jobs
Neil Kokemuller, (2010) What Are The Internal and External Environmental Factors That Affect Business http://smallbusiness.chron.com/internal-external-environmental-factors-affect-business-69474.html
Neil Kokemuller (2012) In China Human Costs are Built into an Ipad, The New York Times, http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/26/business/ieconomy-apples-ipad-and-the-human-costs-for-workers-in-china.html?pagewanted=all&_r=1&