The Politics of Global Production: Apple, Foxconn and China's New Working Class

Chan, Jenny; Pun, Ngai; Selden, Mark

doi:10.1017/9781316217382.017

Cited by 38 publications

(45 citation statements)

References 15 publications

(16 reference statements)

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“…In a first step, Fairphone aims to increase the transparency of the production process with the used potential pollutants, which has been already detected to be a critical issue within the paradox tension (5). A comment from the case company was that they try to collect the full material declarations, even though it is challenging, because the actors in the SC share the proof of their compliance with legislations (e.g., REACH and ROHS), but are less open about information that goes beyond this.…”

Section: Environmental Friendly Production Vs Maintaining Of Productionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The production of the devices and sourcing of the required raw materials incurs severe sustainability challenges, such as the use of water, energy and chemicals, the affection of ecosystems and landscapes as well as the emission of flue gases and wastes [2][3][4]. Moreover, social issues, like insufficient wages, long working hours, unpaid overtime and physical punishment, have been reported in mobile phone production facilities located in China and India [5][6][7]. All these issues are further multiplied by the low durability of electronic devices [8] and the poorly used recycling potential in the sector [2,9].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Sustainability Tensions in Supply Chains: A Case Study of Paradoxes and Their Management

et al. 2018

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Abstract:The comprehensive coverage of sustainability issues in a supply chain incurs goal conflicts-i.e., sustainability tensions-and is often limited by market characteristics, such as the availability of sustainable materials and services. While the mainstream business is prioritizing economic goals, a number of entrepreneurs are trying to move forward to more sustainable business practices for their own company and their supply chain. Fairphone represents such a case in the electronics industry, which is openly communicating its sustainability efforts and shortcomings. This communication is content-analyzed in this study by applying the theoretical lenses of paradox sustainability tensions and sustainable supply chain management. Findings of this analysis reveal the limitation of sustainability efforts by supply side characteristics, while Fairphone is innovatively using the demand side of its supply chain to drive sustainability. The resulting tensions among both sides are addressed via pro-active and direct supplier and stakeholder engagement by Fairphone at their suppliers' mines and factories. The systematic identification of tensions and practices by which they are addressed is adding to our understanding of sustainability practices and goal conflicts in supply chains.

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Section: Environmental Friendly Production Vs Maintaining Of Productionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sustainability Tensions in Supply Chains: A Case Study of Paradoxes and Their Management

et al. 2018

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“…Argenti 2004;Zadek 2004;Chan et al 2013). It should also be noted that recently there have been several special issues of journals devoted to ethical sourcing-related topics.…”

Section: Descriptive Findings Basic Statisticsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ethical Sourcing: An Analysis of the Literature and Implications for Future Research

2016

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The purpose of this study is to present a rigorous, focused review on how this field of ethical sourcing research has grown and evolved over the decades, providing implications for future research. We combine two research methodologies in this study: a systematic literature review and a citation network analysis. The former is used as a scientific tool to select the most relevant ethical sourcing articles, while the latter is then applied as a research technique to analyse these selected articles. Such a combined approach allows for a rigorous investigation into this field of research in a more scientific and objective way. Based on this approach, we identify (1) distinctive features of ethical sourcing studies such as growth trends and content issues; (2) important articles that have played a significant role in developing this field; (3) evolutionary paths that show how its knowledge has been created and transferred; (4) emerging trends that have received growing attention in the recent literature; (5) main research areas that underlie the entire ethical sourcing studies; and (6) major implications that need to be pursued in future research. The results of this study provide not only the current status of the literature but also the patterns of evolution in this field of research, thus contributing to the existing literature.

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“…For example, some local producers have become as powerful as MNCs because of their size, prominent position in a GPN, and/or lack of viable alternatives in a GPN. As a result, MNCs have found that some producers in GPNs are now irreplaceable, and therefore, immune to CSR codes of conduct and auditing efforts (Chan et al 2013). Further, recent research has shown a much more complex and subtle power dynamic between the various parties in GPNs, as well as a decline in MNCs' relative power at various levels of GPNs (Locke et al 2007).…”

Section: The Promise Of Csr Codes Of Conduct and Codes Of Conductmentioning

confidence: 99%

Do Factory Audits Improve International Labor Standards? An Examination of Voluntary Corporate Labor Regulations in Global Production Networks

2018

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This research examined the effects of voluntary factory audits on labor conditions. Sometimes referred to as corporate social responsibility (CSR) codes of conduct, corporations impose voluntary labor standards coupled with regular auditing to help ensure the protection of workers throughout their global production networks (GPNs). While some believe that auditing factories ensures that CSR codes of conduct are followed and helps private corporations promote higher labor standards, others argue that factory audits have little effect on labor standards at the factory level. Using unique panel data of internal factory audit reports of factories in four Southeast Asian countries between 2003 and 2010, this paper sought to understand whether voluntary GPN audits improve labor standards at the factory level. The results showed that a factory's number of audits between 2003 and 2010 did not improve factory working conditions significantly and that the local neighborhood in which a factory is located has a greater effect on changes in factory audit scores. These findings suggest that CSR codes of conduct and auditing alone are not sufficient to improve labor standards in GPNs. Rather, joint private-public collaboration is needed to improve labor conditions for workers in the global south.

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The Politics of Global Production: Apple, Foxconn and China's New Working Class

Cited by 38 publications

References 15 publications

Sustainability Tensions in Supply Chains: A Case Study of Paradoxes and Their Management

Sustainability Tensions in Supply Chains: A Case Study of Paradoxes and Their Management

Ethical Sourcing: An Analysis of the Literature and Implications for Future Research

Do Factory Audits Improve International Labor Standards? An Examination of Voluntary Corporate Labor Regulations in Global Production Networks

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