CSR - Apple: Big Profits but Dirty Data?

Three news stories today which provide some useful research evidence for BUSS4 students preparing for their Section A essay in June 2011. We featured Apple Inc in our sell-out BUSS4 workshops, so i’m guessing that at least 3-4,000 students have the global brand on their research list - and for good reason. The news stories provide a neat way of “comparing and contrasting”. For example, contrast the news that Apple has recorded a further, significant rise in profits with the news that the brand has been voted the “least green” technology firm. There seems to be little to slow the phenomenal growth of Apple’s revenues and profits - not even revelations that the iPhone secretly tracks the location of its users! Students could legitimately argue that the “dirty data” and secret tracking criticisms are examples of a business that is not acting in a socially responsible way. But Apple’s investors will hardly be concerned if the management continue to deliver significant growth in shareholder value.