Foxconn Suicides in China Name

Foxconn Suicides in China Name

Introduction

        Organization behavior (OB) is considered by Heerden (2012) as a study which looks at employees, individuals and how the management tends to interact within the organization. In this respect, the organization behavior is made up of communication, psychology, sociology as well as management. The primary issues which influence the organizational behavior include, the corporate culture, organizational change, organizational devilment the expectation of the consumers which shapes the values of the organization. This paper seeks to analyze critically the organizational behavior issues which face Foxconn an International Holding a Taiwan firm which is the world largest manufacturer of electronics. With regards to report by Tu (2012), Foxconakesa profit of 2,281.7 and revenues worth 59323.9million dollars. The major focus of the company is the provision of vertical integrated services for handset industry. The employees of Foxconn are more than half a million. Foxconn is the largest manufacturer of the printed circuits boards that has spread all over Europe, Asia and America. Moreover, research by Chitrao (2014) indicates that Foxconn activities are majorly located in china, united states and other nations respectively.

        In the recent past, Foxconn has engaged in the manufacturing of products in large quantities for Apple including, iPod, phone and Ipad. Being among the most renewed firms globally, Foxconn has been involved in a number of controversies, more specifically on how to manage the employees. The company was all over the news as a result of high level of employee’s suicide in its factories. In this respect, 12 workers needed their lives by jumping of the multi-story dormitories which they live in and buildings. This crisis has influenced the company to install the safety nets in their factories and other company buildings as 20 more employees were stopped form committing suicide by the authorities of the companies. In this respect, Sayers (2013) argue that the employees were omitting suicide majorly as a result of poor management systems, underage employees, unsafe working conditions, long working hours that is beyond the legal limits and stress full working conditions. The owners of the apple products are also take part in giving the employees of Foxconn a hard moment since they receive the finished products which have been manufactured under a stress full and unsafe environment by the employees.

        While focusing on Kantian approach, Sayers (2013) notes that firms should make good decisions for the right reasons. Kant believes that individuals have to do the right things for right reasons and not for self interest. Based on this theory, using the Chinese factories which are associated with poor working condition and overworking the employees by Apple is unethical. With regards to Kant, a company or any business needs to do good to its employees and customers and have the correct motivation for their actions.

        With regards to the formula of humanity which provides that humanity should be treated as an end and not just means,  Apple should consider focusing on how their products are being manufactured and its working conditions and not just how the final output comes out. Treating the factories workers with unfair working conditions so as to receive huge level of profit is highly unethical. The utilitarianism theory will also consider it unethical. According to the utilitarianism theory, it is considered ethical to create most happiness to you and the majority. Although the management of apple and its stakeholders could be satisfied with their factories in China, since it is making more profits, the individuals who are actually working there are suffering in a great way.

        While focusing on the virtues theory, which highlights various virtues including honesty, courage, justice and temperance, Apple are not being honest in that they are overworking the employees and going against the child labor laws; this is considered unfair for the employees who work in Foxconn and are being treated with unfairness. Based on the majority of the virtues theory, the practices of Apple firm in making use of the overseas factories are highly unethical, in this regard; they should consider a more ethical way of carrying out their operation such as employing the right individuals and avoid overworking the employees. However, Sayers (2013) argue that although all the above controversies occurred, the profits incurred by Apple was not affected, rather it continued to grow and its  image remained attractive to its clients.