Qualitative research in study of leadership - MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Qualitative research in the study of leadership. Answer: Introduction The assignment helps in analyzing the different kind of ethical issues that has been faced by a respective company Apple Inc. The different ethical dilemmas have to be identified in such a manner with the implications of different theoretical concepts related to ethics. The different managerial ethics has to be identified in an effective manner to solve them effectually. The main aim and purpose of the assignment is to examine and critically analyze the different theoretical concepts that will influence the different managerial practices in Apple. The different techniques have to be analyzed by the leaders or the higher officials in the respective organization to solve such ethical issues. The structure of the assignment includes analysis of different ethical dilemmas that is faced by the respective company. The different theoretical concepts have to be used in such a manner that will help in influencing the managerial practices in Aldi. Lastly, the organizational decisions have to be analyzed critically that are ended ethically. Background of Apple Apple Inc is a multinational company of America that is famous for designing along with developing computer software systems. The different hardware equipments of the respective company are iPhone, iPad and Mac Line (Rushe, 2015). After Samsung, it is the second largest IT Company in the entire world. As Tim Cook took over the business of Apple who is the new CEO of 2012, he had faced with ethical dilemma with Chinese organization Foxconn. The workers of respective company endangered suicide as the means of defending their privileges along with working conditions (Windsor, 2016). Reports of Ethical Dilemma The article of Telegraph reported that more than 150 employees of Foxconn, threatened to commit mass suicide by leaping from roof due to the harsh working conditions of the company (Demirtas Akdogan, 2015). On the other hand, employees were convinced in an effective manner to call off threat and understand the different conditions. However, there were different risks that were involved in the situation of ethical dilemma, Tim Cook focused on different products and profit of the respective company (Rego, Sousa, Marques e Cunha, 2014). As there is huge amount of demand of the different products and services of Apple in the competitive market, it is essential for the company to fulfill the different requirements of the customers. Furthermore, the working hours were increased to a huge extent in order to deliver the different products and services and this affected the manufacturers in Foxconn, China (Collinson Tourish, 2015). There are different organizations in the country that have tendency of highlighting their progress that is in opposition to the different merits of Corporate Social Responsibility. The social economic considerations are essential in nature to be considered largely that oppose the financial crisis (Steiber Alnge, 2016). Furthermore, Apple is successful company that has different influences on matters over Foxconn. However, Cook has assured the company in achieving the standards of the CSR across the supply chain. The article that has been published in the year 2012 in the month of January noticed stillness of Apple Company and this highlighted the investigations in the New York Times (Sherif, Pitre Kamara, 2016). The situation of Foxconn did not change overnight, 15 employees who attempted suicide, and more than 15 died. The labor organizations complained of long working hours, low wages along with inhuman treatment as the different factors of the protest. It is essential for the different leaders to follow ethical practices in the organizations in order to understand the different requirements of the employees in the organization (Denning Dew, 2015). Apple Inc presented their annual report with the different financial analysis for first quarter of the financial quarter (Engelen, Gupta, Strenger Brettel, 2015). The figures helped in analyzing the expectations of the different stakeholders with forecasting the payment of dividends and forecasting of revenues (Renko, El Tarabishy, Carsrud, Brnnback, 2015). This kind of news helped in benefitting the shareholders of the respective company; however, it did not benefit the employees of the respective company. There were different dilemmas related to leadership and other unethical matters in such a manner that this created issues in the economic success of the company (Muenjohn Armstrong, 2015). The Apple Company gained financial success largely however there have been different issues in handling the handling the different ethical matters of the company along with employees. The welfare of the employees was not taken into consideration and the different negative influences that have been done by media influenced the perceptions of the respective company (Shapiro Stefkovich, 2016). The New York Times noted the respective organization working on different initiatives that helped in quelling pressure (Jensen Puri 2016). In regards to the particular issue, first time the company published the report on 158 suppliers who represents a major portion of the supply chain (Jiraporn, Jiraporn, Kitsabunnarat-Chatjuthamard Tong, 2016). The organization tried to become member of the labor legislations committee as this helped them in understanding the issues faced by the employees in the organization. The different challenges that have been faced by Foxconn helped Apple in understanding the different issues, tried to resolve such issues, and excelled in it (Mendenhall et al., 2017). Ethical Dilemma in Apple It was commendable in nature that Mr. Cook handled the matters in an effectual manner and quelled the challenges in a positive approach. The protest that has been done by the employees was aborted as well (Klenke, 2016). This kind of financial results helped them in excelling in different social matters rather than the financial matters. In this kind of grievances, the company should provide a chance to the employees to analyze the grievances in an effective manner (Ki, Kim Ledingham, 2015). This kind of weekly meetings would provide fair chance to the employees to air their different kind of issues. The team of managers will help in benefitting from different officials in meeting, and a last result that will be generated will be for the interest of the employees (Jia, Hall Zhu, 2015). Apple Inc claims that they have tried to improve the working conditions at Foxconn that has been done on the demand of employers. The association of the labor laws that is the nonprofit organization in United States has stated that the Apple Inc Company has tried in fulfilling the different needs of the employees in the organization. This helped them in improving the working conditions at Chengdu and Shenzhen that is known for selling different iPad and iPhone products. However, the story of employees in the organization is different in nature as they still complain the culture of work and the company is bothered about accomplishing the targets of the company (DInnocenzo, Mathieu Kukenberger 2016). Furthermore, the employees complain that the company does not motivate them in an effective manner. The workers in the respective company even complained about the long hours of working that did not help them to enjoy the different activities and other fun activities. The workers commented that their workplace is well equipped and there are good tennis courts, swimming pools, TVs along with interest clubs. However, the workers are not able to enjoy such facilities, as their working hours are tiring in nature and due to improper maintenance. It was reported that there was an activity wherein employees complain about Foxconn, as they never publish the different problems that is faced in factories (Northouse, 2015). The workers in the respective company even complained about ineffective medical facilities on premises and there were suicide scandal that had occurred that had injured more than 260 workers. Furthermore, it is seen that as Apple is a multinational company, it has huge responsibility towards the market along with customers. The business chains of the respective company Apple has been spread all across the world and they have gained loyalty and trust factor from the individuals. Therefore, it is seen that this is the sole responsibility of the company to understand the different requirements of the customers along with employees in delivering the responsibilities in an effective manner. The different business chains are spread across the entire world with high quality production and quality. The respective company needs to maintain high quality and standards of integrity and not only the motive of generating profit and revenues. The next section helps in understanding along with analy zing the theoretical concepts from the managerial ethics: Different Ethical Theories The different kind of ethical theories are helpful in nature despite the fact that judging the moral satisfied of the act. The two kind of ethical theories are Teleological and Deontological. These kinds of theories help in deriving conclusions that will be in respect to the kind of scenario under consideration. The teleological approach helps in focusing on the outcomes of the actions along with the importance. According to Jia, Hall and Zhu, (2015), Utilitarianism refers to the different ethical choices that will provide good benefits to bigger number of employees. In the particular perspective, one has the belief that the end will justify the means. For instance- it is fair to save the lives of thousands of individuals by killing one individual as the Utilitarianism concept helps in understanding that it is ethical in nature and this will benefit huge number of persons. In short, it can be analyzed and explained that act is performed in such a manner when the different utilities it is produced is high in nature performed by agents. According to Sherif et al., (2017), the deontological theory deals with duty of performing well for the entire society with proper intention and this is not justified with the means of consequences. In addition to good outcome, there is different kind of factors that helps in determining the proper rights of the particular action. These kinds of actions can be non-consequential in nature; however, it helps in increasing the principles of different individuals. In the present scenario, Apple has made different significant contribution in field of technological and the retail chains and this has large impact on the society. However, there have been different issues relating to the ethics in the respective company. Tim Cook performed the different functions for the company that is profitable in nature. However, this kind of performance affected the employees; however, they cared for the workers in the organization. This helped them in making such decisions and coming out from the ethica l dilemma in the future. The case is dealing with different kind of ethical issues and the respective author is dealing with different ethical approaches that are referred to as consequentiality, deontological approach, and virtue ethics. Two ethical approaches The particular case can be termed as deontological approach. The company Apple Inc took care of different working hours that are excessive in nature, child labor and issues related to safety issues with suppliers. On the other hand, with increasing exposure of media that is in regards to the ethical behavior, the respective organization is concerned about impact of negative publicity on different shares along with profits. The different audits and policies eventually were raised that included the working hours along with pressure on suppliers to accomplish the different objectives. According to Jensen and Puri (2016), the act has to be ethical in nature in order to create ethical relations. In the present case scenario, Apple Company was not ethical with the workers along with suppliers; however, there has been immediate relationship with them. The laborers from Asian countries were used in the respective company, as they were cheaper in nature. The major and ultimate goal and concern of the company was to not lose business by reducing the cost and meet the production targets within specified deadline. Sherif et al., commented that an act has to be universally acceptable in nature and in the recent study it has been that Apple Company discriminated the own company and supplier employees. It has even reported that involvement of the suppliers in the child labor issues and it can be commented that act of Apple Inc is not accepted universally. Therefore, it can be inferred that management of Apple Company maintained the theory of utilitarianism; however, they failed in implementation of the deontological approach. The entire profit -making motive of the respective company is dependent on the different workers. The CEO of the company has to be concerned relating to the health and level of satisfaction of the employees and if it is not followed then the company will create issues on the brand image. When the company is following consequentiality approach, the situation will be in control, as the CEO of the company requires being more inclined towards the satisfaction of the requirements of the employees in the company. When the employees are satisfied with the needs, the productivity will increase and this will reduce the absenteeism among the employees. However, when there is low satisfaction of the needs of the employees, it will increase the absenteeism and willingness to perform the tasks. This kind of dilemma in the ethics is not good and this will affect the reputation of the company in a negative manner. According to Chen, Eberly, Chiang, Farh and Cheng (2014), with such kind of treatment to the workers will not lead to sustainable development and if there is no such change in the behavior of Foxconn towards the employees, there will be increase in the media attention. The consumers of the company are concerned relating to social behavior of company and not the profit-making motive. Furthermore, the consumers realize the work of manufacturers at cost of their own life that has increased value than the different strategies prepared by them. It is quite essential in nature that Apple Company will lose the valuable clients and there will be no such sustainable development of the company relating to the managerial system. According to Jensen and Puri (2016), the system of management at Foxconn is machinelike and not sustainable in nature. The main motive of Foxconn is to make machine as the central power as this is vital in their business. The company believes that strong leadership is essential in nature, as this will make the policies precise and accurate in nature. Ho et al., (2016) analyzed those views of Foxconn wherein they feel leadership has to be decisive and there is ethical issues and dilemma related to it as well. Chen, Eberly, Chiang, Farh and Cheng (2014) suggested that in order to overcome such issues in the company they must adopt post bureaucracy that involved shared responsibility. This includes trust between the managers and workers and there will be empowerment. The entire concept underlies the whole responsibility instead of the hierarchy and it is suggested that the organization has to be morally superior in nature to the different employees. The different ethical dilemma has been analyzed in the article that helped in analyzing the issues and solves the issues with proper implementation of different strategies. The work that is performed by Tim Cook was commendable in nature as this helped in understanding the different priorities and solves the issues in an effective manner. Ki, Kim and Ledingham (2015) agrees with the views of Ho, Li, Tam and Tong (2016) and they feel that this strategy will help in understanding requirements of the employees. The workers of the organization have to be trained that they can perform multiple tasks and handle different issues in an effective manner. The workers are well protected under labor law of China and the ID cards and the company duly signs other contracts (Weinzimmer Esken, 2016). The different kind of requests from family members is not granted and this kind of behavior is not universally acceptable. Such actions can create ethical dilemma that is faced by Apple Company. Chatterji and Toffel, (2016) commented that construct has to be made of three different components that include capacity to trust the individuals, perception of intentions and competence. The different ethics related to the workplace are of same kind of route. If the organization follows different code of ethics and conducts, such kind of ethics has to be implemented by the leader in an effective manner. When the company faces such issues and they fail to adopt such strategies, this will be affecting the company in a negative manner (Chan, Pun Selden 2013). A good and effective leader needs to analyze the issues by exhibition of the ethical behavior in a powerful manner. Ethics refer to the different virtues along with motives of the individuals along with moral development that will affect the choices of the leaders. The leaders of the different organizations require understanding the different ethical behavior in an effective manner. The best leader lives daily life and exhibit th e different values accordance to actions and styles and this will help in building trust. Conclusion The entire essay has helped in analyzing the organization from multi perspective view that helped in concluding that Foxconn is good at increasing the input along with profit and this helped them in generating products. In relation with the different allegations from the workers and ethical dilemmas, it can be concluded that organization has treated the different employees as slave and do not provide them with the rights they deserve. According to the theory of scientific and administrative management along with bureaucracy, Foxconn has managed the different workers as this helped them in maximizing profit. The different progress has been highlighted in nature that helped them in generation of the Corporate Social Responsibility in an effective manner. Therefore, it is the incidence of pressure on CEO of the company wherein he was new to the respective field tried his best in ensuring well being of individuals in the company. However, he failed in generating success to the company and this failed to maintain ethics in the business. The business world needs to analyze proper decision-making capabilities that will help in overall development of the team. The leader of the respective company needs to focus on the entire development and satisfaction of the different employees. The entire essay has used domination and machine metaphor in order to develop view on the management of the company about different workers. The author has discussed theoretical concepts in the ethics that is administrative in nature. Furthermore, there has been critical analysis of the theoretical concepts influenced the different managerial practices by performing through literature review and supported the different arguments. 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