Final answer:
Apple values its associates as 'partners', reflecting its culture of collaboration and shared goals. The concept of partners aligns with the company's strategy of integrating human capital, physical capital, and technology for innovation and growth.
Step-by-step explanation:
Apple's approach to developing its human capital involves several key strategies that involve the rigorous recruitment of individuals who align with the company's values, significant investment in training and development, and acknowledging the intrinsic value of its associates. The company seeks to regard its associates as integral to its success, which can be described using one of the options provided. In this context, considering Apple's corporate culture and philosophy, associates are most accurately valued as partners. This aligns with Apple's emphasis on innovation, collaboration, and a shared vision, where every team member contributes to the company's objectives and is involved in the mutual growth process.
It's crucial to understand that effective management of human capital is not only about acquiring skills through education but also about nurturing a workforce that is adaptive to technological advancements and improvement in physical capital. Apple's emphasis on seeing its workers as partners indicates its commitment to supporting its workforce in a manner that promotes continuous learning and improvement, thereby preparing them for the integration of new technological innovations and the handling of advanced machinery that are part and parcel of driving economic growth and productivity.