Corporate Responsibility and Marketing Strategies

Assignment #1

Corporate Responsibility and Marketing Strategies

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BUS 508 – Contemporary Business

Corporate Responsibility and Marketing Strategies

Introduction

“An organization that wants to prosper over the long term is well advised to consider business ethics, the standards of conduct and moral values governing actions and decisions in the work environment” (Boone & Kurtz, 2013, p. 32). Businesses have a responsibility to follow laws and guidelines set forth to protect the public, the consumers, employees, and the environment. Some businesses have plants in the United States, while others choose to build their products in other countries. Today with a growing concern for the environment and our planet, businesses must find a way to balance profitability and their ethical and social responsibility.

History of Apple

The first Apple computer was created on April 1, 1976 by Steve Wozniak. When Wozniak showed it to Jobs, Jobs suggested that they sell it. Apple Inc. was created by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne. Ronald Wayne was with the company for a few months, so Wozniak and Jobs are credited for being the primary cofounders of Apple. Apple had its share of successes and failures. One of those failures was the Apple Lisa, which was introduced in 1983 with a price tag of $10,000. Once the iMac was created and hit the market, the company continued with successful products, iPod, Mac OS X, iTunes, iPhone, and iPad (“The apple revolution”). Apple has continued to fight for share of the computer business with competition from Bill Gates and Microsoft.

Apple’s Ethical and Social Responsibility

In the early 1980’s Apple experienced a period of decline. John Sculley became Chief Executive Officer of Apple in 1983 and organized a coup against Steve Jobs. Jobs had the reputation of being uncontrollable so in 1985 the Board of Directors fired him. Without Jobs, Apple released many failed products and set unrealistic...