In your responses to your colleagues, reflect on the analyses provided by your fellow students. State why you agree or disagree and why.
Respond 2 classmates discussion
speak in first person. Speak as you are talking to each classmate directly
Davia Response:
I do agree with Tim Cook’s argument concerning his ethical compass and ethical leadership. I completely agree that your ethical compass comes from parents and those with who you surround yourself. Having positive influences in your life will usually yield positive ethics whereas having negative influences can yield negative ethics. Tim discusses ethics as leaving things better than you found them. I think this really sums up ethics, because you do not have to choose to do the right thing, but you do. Usually, in return, you leave a positive impact on the world and those around you. Your ethical compass is embedded within you Cook describes. Your parents or guardians begin to instill these characteristics in you as a child and as an adult to act accordingly. I also do not think this means that if you were not brought up in a great household you cannot have a good ethical compass. I do this believe in life lessons, social norms, cultural practices, and religious influences.
Mari Response:
According to the video, Tim Cook has gained his ethical compass from his parents and who he surrounds himself with (Duke University The Fuqua School of Business, 2013). He also discusses that professional ethics encompasses moral and environmental factors that contribute to his Apple. These include how employees are treated, the carbon footprint on products, and what is being supported. Within the short videoclip, Cook states two times that his ethics means “leaving things better than the way you found them” (Duke University The Fuqua School of Business, 2013). In an article published in the same year as the video was produced, employees at Apple identified that unsafe work and labor environments existed in factories in China and that Cook allegedly turned a blind eye to the fact this was occurring (Dilger, 2013). However, Cook disseminated a statement regarding the fact that Apple takes precautions to educate and empower employees to speak up if unsafe environments are occurring. Cook also acknowledged that more issues may arise but that employees can track progress by visiting the Apple Supplier Responsibility website. This statement recognizes the need for fair labor and work environments, but also provides transparency that Apple Executives are working diligently to monitor the situations.
When I was first reading this article, I felt as though Cook had to make a companywide statement to save his face when he was called out that unsafe work environments were happening in China. After watching the video clip and reading the article again, I feel as though Cook is genuine in his company statement and cares about the ethics and safety of the employees working for Apple. His statement acknowledged issues that were occurring and may continue to occur, but also provided support and resources for how the company with mitigate and resolve problems.
References
Duke University The Fuqua School of Business. (May 30, 2013). Apple CEO Tim Cook on Ethical Leadership [Video]. YouTube. Retrieved January 2021 from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ygNKNaMv4c
Dilger, D.E. (2013). Tim Cook calls assault on Apple’s ethics in China “patently false and offensive”. Retrieved January 2021 from https://appleinsider.com/articles/12/01/27/tim_cook_calls_assault_on_apples_ethics_in_china_patently_false_and_offensive