Critical Analysis of the Code of Ethics in Intel Company

Introduction:

Ethics is considered one of the branches of philosophy, it was created to defense, systemize, recommend the concepts that concerned with correct and wrong behavior. It attempts to find solutions to resolve some issues that are related to human morality, through differentiation between concepts such as good and evil, right and wrong, virtue and vice, justice and crime. (Anscombe and Elizabeth, 1981).

Ethics has discipline applied in many specialized fields, such as engineering ethics, public service ethics, bioethics, business ethics, and most of important and influential companies. For example, ethics in Intel Company.

Save your time!
We can take care of your essay

• Proper editing and formatting
• Free revision, title page, and bibliography
• Flexible prices and money-back guarantee

Place an order

Intel Corporation is an American multinational corporation and technology company headquartered in California. It is the world's second-largest and second highest valued semiconductor chip manufacturer based on revenue after being overtaken by Samsung Electronics (Intel, 2007) and is the inventor of the x86 series of microprocessors, the processors found in most personal computers (PCs) (Fortune 500 Companies, 2018).

Intel is one of many companies that considered professional ethics are the basic of dealing with employees, consumers, other companies... etc. This report will clarify code of ethics and CSR (Corporate social responsibility) in Intel Company.

Code of Ethics:

The management department often has the responsibility of ethical codes, it does not to set up a specific moral hypothesis, but because they are considered as pragmatic necessities to control any organization under basic rules in a complex society in which moral concepts play an essential role. They have some differences than moral codes that used in education, culture, and religion of a whole society (Buonomo and Giampiero, 2000).

A code of ethics will start by selecting the significant values that are focused on the code and then will clarify a company's obligation to its stakeholders. It also contains some details and instructions about the plans of the company to implement its values and vision. In addition, guidance to staff about ethical standards and how to achieve them.

Code of Ethics in Intel:

At Intel, all employees are committed to apply the Code of Conduct, and set expectations for Intel Corporation and its subsidiaries (all of them are called as 'Intel'), also its members who are non-employee in the Board of Directors, regarding their Intel-related activities. The Code of Conduct must be applied to independent contractors, consultants, suppliers and others who have business with Intel.

If any employee is found to have violated Intel's Code of conduct, he she will be subject to discipline or termination of work. If any of these laws are violated by any person, heshe will be punished in a civil or criminal way.

In addition, the Code of Conduct sets a standard for its employees in their working together, to create developed products, deliver them in the best possible way, and how to protect the value of 'Intel' in general through working with customers or suppliers. all members who work or deal with Intel must follow its business Conduct.

The Code affirms Intel's five principles of conduct:

1. Intel Conducts Business with Honesty and Integrity.
2. Intel Follows the Letter and Spirit of the Law.
3. Intel Employees Treat Each Other Fairly.
4. Intel Employees Act in the Best Interests of Intel and Avoid Conflicts of Interest.
5. Intel Employees Protect the Company's Assets and Reputation.

Intel Conducts Business with Honesty and Integrity:

One of the values that Intel sees as essential and must be applied and used in a business conduct is integrity and professionalism of a high standard. It puts this value into practice by:

Dealing with consumers and suppliers with full fairness and equal rights; working as a responsible employee, respecting human rights, understanding Intel's impact on the world, and keeping financial records that contain accurate information to build trust and mutual respect between the company and the client or others.

Intel has strong relationships with its customers, potential customers, products, and services, this relationship was built through marketing with credibility and fairness. Also, accurately preparing financial records and totals in time is a clear reflection of the integrity of the company during its business activities. Intel requires its employees to prepare real reports in their records and it does not condone any record that contains false or fake information.

Intel Follows the Letter and Spirit of the Law

Intel is one of the most important international companies, and therefore it follows the same laws in many countries where it does business in. Intel employees are fully responsible to search and follow with all applicable laws and regulations.

In case of violation, any one of these laws and regulations will lead to serious consequences, whether for the company itself or the person who caused it. So, if you have any questions about one of these legal issues, go directly to Intel Legal.

Some of important and common legal topics that Intel encounters include antitrust, anti-corruption, environment, import-export, insider trading, intellectual property, privacy, and public communications.

Intel Employees Treat Each Other Fairly:

One of the core values in Intel's conduct is respecting each other's employees, working as a confident team of abilities. Intel seeks to support open communication among employees and works hard to protect employees from any harassment, unsafe behavior, and discrimination.

Intel provides 'Open and Honest Communication' because it believes in free thoughts, ideas, questions, and creativity. Also, it's highly focused on making jobs equal and discarding discrimination. Intel also seeks to provide equal opportunities for all employees and applicants. It does not take any other considerations when choosing its employees, for example, race, sex, nationality, color, religion, etc. Intel depends on efficiency only.

Also, follow the safety guidelines and laws that apply on its business to ensure the protection of employees, consumers, and the community.

Intel Employees Act in the Best Interests of Intel and Avoid Conflicts of Interest:

Conflict of interest is the interference of personal or family interests of the employee with hisher ability to make a right business decision, for the benefit of the company 'Intel'.

Intel always tries to prevent its employees from trying to put themselves in a position when their interests are different than its interests, and to avoid taking any decision that might entice them to put their personal needs before the general company's interest.

Intel is fully aware that conflicts of interest may sometimes occur unintentionally and without any deliberate intent. In this case, Intel advises staff to inform the manager immediately before it gets worse with a comprehensive report of all the circumstances.

Intel Employees Protect the Company's Assets and Reputation

Intel spends a lot of resources in order to develop and maintain the quality of its assets that are used in business. The company and the stuff have a responsibility to comply with all procedures in order to protect the value of Intel's assets. These assets contain physical assets, information, Intel brands, and its good name and reputation.

Intel's physical assets also mean facilities, equipment, and computer and communications systems. Thus, it follows applicable security and accurate use of procedures to protect the company's physical assets from stealing, loss, damage, or misuse.

At the same time Intel appreciates employee privacy, it considered that the desk, cubicle, or using laptop or computer or telephone equipment are private or confidential, and when it works with private and confidential information, it will take the whole responsibility to save it from any illegal disclosure, changes, or loss.

Intel Corporation employs its corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategy to support its business.

CSR in Intel:

According to (Carroll, A.B., Brown, J., Buchholtz, A., 2017), Corporate responsibility is essential to all companies because of the effects of stakeholders on business performance, there are some factors, such as customer conception and brand loyalty. In the case of Intel, corporate responsibilities are addressed by using a different initiatives or programs. Partially, the company accomplishes its corporate citizenship through the Intel Foundation. The Intel Foundation serves as the main body through which the company contact with some stakeholders and implements corporate social responsibility programs to satisfy stakeholders’ interests.

As a leading firm in the semiconductor industry, Intel needs to ensure the satisfaction of these interests. A positive relationship with stakeholders optimizes the company’s business performance by supporting brand awareness and customer loyalty. Intel responds to social and market factors to adjust its corporate social responsibility strategy to ensure the CSR strategy’s long-term effectiveness in supporting business performance.

Intel’s corporate social responsibility strategy prioritizes the main stakeholder groups of the business in the following manner:

Customers (Top Priority)- Investors- Employees- Suppliers- Communities (Miles, M. P., Munilla, L. S., & Darroch, J., 2006).

1. Customers. Intel’s CSR strategy afford the highest advantage to its customers. This stakeholder group is focused on the quality and price of the company’s products. Customers are important because they have influence on Intel’s revenues and profits. Thus, financial achievement.
2. Investors are significant stakeholders considered in Intel’s CSR strategy, because they effect the availability of capital for and the value of the semiconductor business. The main concern of these stakeholders is the growth and profitability of the company.
3. Employees. Intel Corporation values employees as a major stakeholder group in its corporate social responsibility strategy. Employees are important because they directly affect organizational performance, such as in terms of productivity.
4. Suppliers. Supply chain conditions determine Intel’s business capacity. Changes in suppliers’ productivity can significantly affect the company’s production capacity. Thus, Intel’s corporate social responsibility strategy must consider suppliers as a major stakeholder group.
5. Communities. Intel Corporation includes communities in its corporate social responsibility strategy. As stakeholders, communities are significant because they affect corporate image and consumer perception.

Conclusion:

Intel deals ethically with investors, employees, and customers based on the importance of defining the code of conduct that will be followed with everyone.

Because Intel is a global company, its laws do not accept change or flexibility in case of error or breaking those laws. In order to satisfy all stakeholders, Intel sets these laws clearly before dealing with them to ensure honest and firm relationships during its business activities.