Abstract

The caselet narrates how Nike, a leading apparel and footwear company, cleverly disguised its unethical human practices in Asian factories. It takes the reader through a series of inhuman practices that have been taking place in Nike factories since 1996. It further describes the attempts made by some NGOs to reveal Nike’s true colors and talks about the ultimate confession made by the company.

Learning Objectives

The case is structured to achieve the following Learning Objectives:

• The importance of ethics in business practices
• Nike’s inhuman practices in Asian factories
• The company’s attempts to cover up the unethical practices in its factories
• Nike’s corporate social responsibility comes under fire

Keywords

Nike Inc., apparel and footwear manufacturer, cheap labor, contract factories, tortured workers, child labor, inhumane treatment, exploited workers, violated labor laws, health and safety standards, working conditions, health problems, medical facilities, sexual harassment, labor practices, sweatshop, Asian factories, unfair labor practices, labor relations department, Code of Conduct, labor rights group, international labor standards, social responsibility compliance