Social Comparisons in Boundary-Spanning Work - Essay Example

The article titled “Child Labor Uncovered in Apple’s Suppliers” by Garside, J published in The Sunday Morning Herald on January 27, 2013 highlights different social innovation issues that Apple and the entire world fraternity has to deal with. The article highlights the different perspectives which has relevance on the different decisions which are taken and brings forward the manner in which the organization looks at different perspectives. This essay presents the different social innovation issues which has been highlighted in the article and aims to link those with the different theoretical underpinnings. It will thereby create an impact which will help to understand the manner in which decisions are taken and the impact it has on the society. The article highlights the presence of organizational identity and values as the chief executive, Tim Cook states that labor as ''abhorrent'', saying it was ''extremely rare in our supply chain'', (Garside, 2013) and steps have been taken to ensure that it doesn’t exist within the system in any form. In addition to it the senior vice president, Jeff Williams states that ''Under-age labor is a subject no company wants to be associated with, so as a result I don't believe it gets the attention it deserves, and as a result it doesn't get fixed like it should,'' (Garside, 2013) which shows the stance that Apple looks to take in this direction. The statement from the highest authorities of the organization clearly reflects the core values of the organization, the culture prevalent in the organization and the organizational identity based on which the organization performs (Holzinger & Dhalla, 2007). The identity which Apple presents by being strict against child labor and prohibiting it in any form, presents a socially constructed meaning which has made the employees responsible and justifies their reason for existence (Gioia, Schultz and Corley, 2000). This has developed the code of conduct based on which the organizational looks to perform and has thereby developed the required parameters based on which the performance is monitored. The entire process has been facilitated by strict government legislation with regard to employing children and the severity of punishment which is inflicted if found guilty. This has made Apple look at the positive side of things and develop the different parameters which will ensure that decisions which are taken by the organization don’t result in child labor. Passing on such strong comments by people at responsible position within the organization further reflects the value system that the organization has developed among its employees (Bartel, 2001). This has generated positive and socially responsible results which has increased the level of commitment as employees are able to easily link their personal values with the values that have been ingrained in the working culture (Scott & Lane, 2000). The consequences of such integration are that the commitment level of employees has increased and measures are adopted to maintain the image where child labor is prohibited. Since, organizations have different people with different identity which poses difficulties for organization as being able to unite the entire workforce towards a common purpose is difficult. This has been quite well reflected in the identity and values of Apple as the entire workforce looks to work together and for a common purpose so that better decisions are taken and the resources work towards accomplishing the common purpose. Research has highlighted that identity which is present within the organization changes with time as the opportunity to achieve the same goals through cheaper modes makes organization move away from their identity and adopt some other identity (Corley, 2004). This has not been reflected in the identity of Apple as the strong value chain which the organization has prevented them from taking such steps. The organization could have been easily misguided to take steps and approach which would lead towards employing child labor as they are cheaper and could lead towards over exploitation of children. This would mean that children instead of getting the required education are used for their own good and would have made organization move away from the values that they procure. This is something which Apple has looked to stay away and have thereby developed a code of conduct which ensures that the management at no level looks towards indulging in such acts. This clearly highlights the value and identity that Apple has and is reflected in the working culture of the company. The article highlights the presence of social innovation as the article states that “transgressors were told to return minors to a school chosen by their family, pay for their education, and give them an income equal to their factory wages”, (Garside, 2013) which clearly highlights the social innovativeness which looks towards improving the social condition of society especially under privilege children. Apple has looked towards being socially innovative as the company has developed policies which ensures no child labor and looks towards delivering on their promises. In case they are found to be victims of such incidents, steps are taken to provide children with the required education which they have been deprived off, and the company looks towards paying for their education (Glynn & Abzug, 2002). This is an example of social innovation as the company has developed the required fundamentals which will help them to uphold their corporate image and perform on the desired standards. This has thereby developed social innovativeness as the organization has developed policies and allocates specific funds which are spent to improve the condition of the society. This has helped in improving the cultural image of the organization and has made the society understand the manner in which the business positively contributes towards the society. As a result of it more and more people with diverse background, men, minorities, and ethnic background are being able to find employment opportunities within the organization (Roberson, 2006). This has created a positive impact and helped Apple to be socially innovative and develop new principles which will guide them to accomplish the bigger goals. The presence of social innovativeness is strengthened by the fact that Apple has looked towards creating a distinctive culture for itself through this mechanism. Some of the suppliers who supply equipments to Apple have been found to indulge in such act which Apple clearly looks to object and has resulted in the cancellation of contracts or imposing fines. A step further in the direction has been the manner in which companies breaching the legal requirement are compensated by providing the required education to the children which is completely being paid by the defaulter. This has developed the policy of social innovativeness and has directed the players to work in a manner which reflects the culture that the organization has. The article highlights the importance of social needs which has been highlighted by the different instances which shows that children are being exploited by suppliers of Apple in some form or the other. This highlights the importance of spreading awareness within the organization so that the organization doesn’t look towards hiring children and exploit them. Instead it is important that organization looks towards moving ahead from the concept of hiring children and should look towards providing the required education to them so that the society is able to see the required changes and have educated people who will be able to carry out future responsibilities for the economy. Research in the same direction highlights that a negative correlation exist between child labor and employment especially in developing countries as families to sustain their livelihood indulge into child labor. This has a direct bearing on the household income as it tends to increased but results in affecting the future of a child (Ray, 2000). This is an act which needs to be condemned and the social need has arisen where organizations need to be more circumspect and have to look towards developing ways through which education especially basic education is provided to children. The fact that child labor has an effect on the future earning of a child it has an adverse effect on the overall growth potential of an organization (Kruger, 2002). This has created a social need where organizations need to be aware of the fact that child labor is prohibited at all levels and instead should look towards contributing to the society by developing a mechanism through which basic educational facilities are provided to the child (Edmonds and Pavcnik, 2002). Government all around the globe has already highlighted the need and importance of imparting education to children and abolishing child labor in any form which makes it imperative that organization understands the importance of staying away from hiring children and abide by the legislative requirements. Apple in this case has been found to be guilty as some of its suppliers have indulged in such activities and requires stringent rules to be framed in this direction. Passing on messages in this direction will not satisfy the requirement of developing a culture which intends to reduce such acts but acting in the same direction will help to control such incidents. Apple on this platform has to understand the social need to imparting education to children and to stay away from child labor has to develop a code of conduct which is applicable for all its suppliers and intends to stay away from child labor. The social need is further consolidated by the fact that the concept of bonded labor is still prevalent in the supply chain of Apple (Garside, 2013). This concept states that children or people are forced into employment so that the debt which they have is cleared off through this mechanism where the wages that they earn will be used as a compensation for debt. The process results in forcing people to work in fields or direction which they might not have done actually. Further, such a need could arise due to different reasons and in case of Apple conspiracies were done by different recruitment agencies which forced people to work in a manner which was not accepted (Garside, 2013). The case strongly highlights the social need to move away from such policies and develop a mechanism which allows the individual to work on a different profession which he seems fit and based on the debt will be cleared. The process of bonded labor instead forces people into employment and also results in exploitation of employees as they are paid poorly and exploited by being forced to work more (Duryea, Lam and Levison, 2003). The process entails to a situation where the need has grown to bring ramification in the method and improve the entire process through which employees are hired. This will help to ensure that the aspect of corporate governance is being looked at and will help in the development of policies which will support better employment laws. The entire process has to be facilitated by strict government legislation with regard to employing children and the severity of punishment which is inflicted if found guilty. This will made Apple look at the positive side of things and develop the different parameters which will ensure that decisions which are taken by the organization don’t result in bonded labor and will bring the required changes through which the organization performs. The social need for moving away from the custom of child labor and bonded labor will improve the quality of education and help children and others to have an option through which they will be able to improve their basic sustenance of life (Schultz, 2001). This requires that Apple looks towards understanding the importance of the situation and develops the required procedure through which better policies can be developed. Thus, the paper presents the different social innovation issues which has been highlighted in the article and aims to link those with the different theoretical underpinnings. It will thereby create an impact which will help to understand the manner in which decisions are taken and the impact it has on the society. This thereby shows the different areas where Apple has to improve their hiring pattern and improve the overall system through which better contribution towards the society becomes possible. References Bartel, C. A. 2001. Social comparisons in boundary-spanning work: effects of community outreach on members' organizational identity and identification. Administrative Science Quarterly, 46, 379-413 Corley, K. G. 2004. Defined by our strategy or our culture? Hierarchical differences in perceptions of organizational identity and change. Human Relations, 57 (9), 1145-1177 Duryea, S., Lam, D. and Levison, D. 2003. Effects of Economic Shocks on Children’s Employment and Schooling in Brazil, Population Studies Center Research Report 03-541, University of Michigan Edmonds, E. and N. Pavcnik, 2002. Does Globalization Increase Child Labor? Evidence from Vietnam, Working Paper, Dartmouth University Glynn, M. A., & Abzug, R. 2002. Institutionalizing identity: Symbolic isomorphism and organizational names. Academy of Management Journal, 45 (1), 267-280 Gioia, D. A., Schultz, M., & Corley, K. G. 2000. Organizational identity, image, and adaptive instability. Academy of Management Review, 25 (1), 63-81 Garside, J. 2013. Child Labour Uncovered in Apple’s Suppliers. The Sunday Morning Herald. Retrieved on March 24, 2013 from http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/child-labour-uncovered-in-apples-suppliers-20130126-2ddio.html Holzinger, I. & Dhall, R. 2007. Multiple Identities in Organizations: The Effects of Diversity on Organizational Identity. The International Journal of Diversity in Organizations, Communites & Nations, 7 (5), 43-50 Kruger, D., 2002. The Effects of Coffee Production on Child Labor and Schooling in Brazil, Working Paper, Univ. of Maryland Roberson, Q. M. 2006. 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