provide an overview of the company and answer the questions below in detail.

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provide an overview of the company and answer the questions below in detail.

IBM TAKES RESPONSIBILITY

Because openness builds the kind of trust IBM wants as the basis for its relationships, the company publishes its values and policies online along with an annual Corporate Responsibility Report. IBM’s understanding of its role in corporate citizenship includes practices related to the natural environment and the communities it serves. IBM defines its social role this way:

  1. We identify and act upon new opportunities to apply our technology and expertise to societal problems.
  2. We scale our existing programs and initiatives to achieve maximum benefit.
  3. We empower our employees and others to serve their communities.
  4. We integrate corporate citizenship and social responsibility into every aspect of our company.

These statements apply IBM’s resources as a large global technology company (over 431,000 employees in almost 170 countries) to the communities where it operates.

Especially in its concern for the natural environment, IBM unites a commitment to be responsible with the business opportunities available to a company specializing in data analysis, cloud computing solutions, and planning. In fact, IBM has had policies for protecting the environment and conserving resources since 1967. IBM’s product recycling programs are designed to resell, refurbish, or recycle at least 97 percent of its end-of-life products. The company also requires its suppliers to demonstrate that they are taking responsibility for their impact on the environment.

Moreover, environmental protection is now part of IBM’s Smarter Planet strategy. IBM’s consultants and systems help cities, businesses, and building owners manage the data required to operate as efficiently as possible. For example, IBM is helping San Francisco figure out how to keep all of its waste out of landfills by directing it to recycling and other uses. IBM’s Smarter Building initiative installs sensors and building automation software to gather data on building systems and uses, and uses the data to conserve energy and water.

IBM’s corporate citizenship also involves supporting selected nonprofit causes, including economic development, education, and health. Its biggest philanthropy is its Smarter Cities challenge, which awards grants to cities to help them improve in a specified area of performance. IBM sends a six-member team of its own experts to each city to help leaders analyze problems and develop solutions. By the end of 2013, IBM had sent teams to 100 cities around the world to address such challenges as improving urban planning, managing traffic, encouraging entrepreneurship, improving energy efficiency, and much more. The company also recently announced plans to add 25,000 U.S. jobs over the next few years, including 2,000 military veterans.

  • How is IBM’s commitment to corporate social responsibility good for IBM as a business? Explain.
  • Improving energy efficiency saves IBM millions of dollars, but recycling its used electronics requires hiring hundreds of people. Is the recycling program justifiable? Why or why not?

In answering these questions, please relate them to corporate responsibility, ethics, natural environment and sustainability