Globalization of Levi Strauss
Globalization of Levi Strauss & Co.
LaDonna Williams
May 24, 2010
Globalization is a necessary evil that allows business to make huge profits and third-world countries to begin creating a free market economy. While it seems that globalization may be a solution to the problem of poverty and starvation for some people, it may also contribute to issues such as child labor, discrimination, exploitation and health and safety issues for people working in developing countries. Since U.S. laws do not apply to American companies operating in foreign countries, these companies have an ethical responsibility to create codes of conduct to govern the way they treat people and conduct business overseas. Levi Strauss & Co. has been a leader in corporate and social responsibility; the first multinational company to create a code of conduct for their international facilities, business partners and suppliers (History, 2009). Levi Strauss & Co. was founded in 1853, by a Levi Strauss, an immigrant from Bavaria and Jacob Davis, a tailor from Reno, Nevada. The two men patented the riveted-pocket work pants and began the multi-million dollar company that it is today. LS&Co. was developed on Levi Strauss’s high morals and values: empathy, originality, integrity and courage, and continues to operate under these core values today (History, 2009). The company is well known for its corporate social responsibility and has been recognized and rewarded for its ethical conduct. In 1965, as demands for the clothing began to grow world-wide, LS&Co. established Levi Strauss International and Levi Strauss Far East, allowing them to manufacture and sell products in Europe and Asia. In 1971, the company opened a facility in Japan, which became the company’s first official entry into Asia. Today, the company employs over 11,000 people around the world, with 4,700 employees in the Americas, 4,400 in Europe and 2,300 in Asia Pacific (History, 2009). While globalization
LaDonna Williams
May 24, 2010
Globalization is a necessary evil that allows business to make huge profits and third-world countries to begin creating a free market economy. While it seems that globalization may be a solution to the problem of poverty and starvation for some people, it may also contribute to issues such as child labor, discrimination, exploitation and health and safety issues for people working in developing countries. Since U.S. laws do not apply to American companies operating in foreign countries, these companies have an ethical responsibility to create codes of conduct to govern the way they treat people and conduct business overseas. Levi Strauss & Co. has been a leader in corporate and social responsibility; the first multinational company to create a code of conduct for their international facilities, business partners and suppliers (History, 2009). Levi Strauss & Co. was founded in 1853, by a Levi Strauss, an immigrant from Bavaria and Jacob Davis, a tailor from Reno, Nevada. The two men patented the riveted-pocket work pants and began the multi-million dollar company that it is today. LS&Co. was developed on Levi Strauss’s high morals and values: empathy, originality, integrity and courage, and continues to operate under these core values today (History, 2009). The company is well known for its corporate social responsibility and has been recognized and rewarded for its ethical conduct. In 1965, as demands for the clothing began to grow world-wide, LS&Co. established Levi Strauss International and Levi Strauss Far East, allowing them to manufacture and sell products in Europe and Asia. In 1971, the company opened a facility in Japan, which became the company’s first official entry into Asia. Today, the company employs over 11,000 people around the world, with 4,700 employees in the Americas, 4,400 in Europe and 2,300 in Asia Pacific (History, 2009). While globalization
References: Bennett, D. (2008). Globalization and blue jeans. Retrieved May 21, 2010, from Associated Content: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/896109/globalization_and_blue_jeans.html?cat=17 Dickey, F. (2002). Levi Strauss and the price we pay. Retrieved May 22, 2010, from Mindfully.org: http://www.mindfully.org/WTO/Levi-Strauss-Globalization1dec02.htm History. (2009). Retrieved May 22, 2010, from Levi Strauss & Co.: http://www.levistrauss.co.za/Heritage/History.aspx Solomon, C. M. (1996). Put your ethics to a global test. Personnel Journal, 75(1). Human Resources Abstracts. Retrieved May 22, 2010 from EBSCOhost.