Ethical Decision Making
1.With developments in the ethical policies and germination of organizations like Better Work, the idea of an ethical brand being a strong brand is upon the rise. For a senior executive of a company such as Apple, the main concern lies in the layers of invisibility in the highly-contrived supply chain. Being under the radar of Amnesty International might not only cause alienation of a loyal customer base, but it would also speak volumes about the morals of the company to their own employees. To rectify any such practices of ethical uncertainty occurring in the company- knowingly or not- the senior management should consider the following factors:
First, a structured method of fact finding is of great importance in such a case. This would involve unveiling the smallest details about their end to end process and making sure they are not being cornered with the wrong facts.
They should consider the conditions in which the procurement or production is happening and scale those against the acceptable metrics. They should analyze the government regulations in that country and determine plans of implementation even when it involves adding costs. The company should also consider the industry best practice in that area of the supply chain. Adding costs might look seem like a major setback but with growing awareness among customers, cult like following such as Apple’s is not going to deplete.
Identifying the stakeholders is vital. The executives should consider seeking the opinions of the major groups being affected which might include the employees, investors and the middlemen. Exchanging of thoughts and expectations will help plan a structured response
The executives should consider evaluating consequences. This will include collaborating with experts and analyzing such trends and practices in the industry. It also involves seeking guidance from organizations that monitor the working conditions in such developing countries