Corporate Social Responsibility

Assessment 2: Research Project/Essay

Business Ethics, Corporate Social Responsibility, & Globalisation, within the Global Electronics Industry

Presented to:

Dr Gustavo Guzman

7112IBA Globalisation & Corporate Social Responsibility, G01_2.13A,

Griffith Business School, Gold Coast Campus

Prepared by

Kevin Vohra 2746020

Word Count =

October-29-2011

INTRODUCTION

The global electronics industry comprises of many partners that make up a complex international supply chain. Due to globalisation, TNCs have set up subsidiaries that operate in under developed foreign countries like Asia. They operate in the areas of manufacturing of components for computers, assembly, contractors, suppliers, software, technical services, and retailers. As per the OECD ICT Industry Outlook, 2008. Total employment for the global electronics industry was estimated at 15 million workers worldwide. Revenues for the top 250 electronic firms were $3.8 trillion, and the top countries exporting ICT goods were the following nations; China, European Union, United States, Korea, Japan. The recorded fasted growing export countries are; Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Thailand, Eastern Europe (EICC, 2008) . Due to deregulation of markets and the competition in the electronics industry, transnational corporations such as Apple, and HP have set up operations in developing countries in order to profit off of these developing nations. Many TNCs take advantage of such high profit, low wage labour markets and do not abide by the international labour standards (Duke). This allows these firms to capitalise on cheap resources, cheaper manufacturing labour, acquire and transfer new knowledge. The globalisation of business operations has created issues in the area of corporate social responsibility for the electronic industry and has raised issues of ethical practices. CSR is defined by Maignan and Ralston as, “ Conceptualized as motivating principles (driven by values, stakeholders, performance); processes programs and activities aimed at implementing CSR principles and/or addressing specific stakeholder issues, including philanthropic, sponsorships, volunteer, code of ethics, quality, health and safety, and managing environmental impacts); and stakeholder issues (community, customer, employee, shareholders, suppliers) (Montiel, 2008)” .This paper