Ethics, Technology Development and Innovation: of Intel - Case Study Example

The paper "Ethics, Technology Development and Innovation: Case of Intel" is a perfect example of a case study on business. As the business environment increasingly becomes competitive, business owners go to great lengths to enhance and sustain their wellbeing. The main aim of their activities and operations is to enhance performance that can enable them to maintain a competitive environment in the seemingly harsh business environment. This increased competition has diverse impacts on both business owners and consumers. Perhaps the most important of these are the ethical concerns that stem from the increased competition. In light of the case study, it is certain that Intel’s actions are compounded by a host of ethical concerns. The inherent greed and execution of market dominance have greatly hurt the consumer community.

From the case study, Intel dominates Central Processing Units (CPU) and Graphics Processing Units (GPU) market share. Thus it enjoys sufficient profits to sustain its operations as well as general wellbeing. From a business point of view, it would be healthy if the business took practical measures to safeguard this desirable corporate status. However, its operations are compounded by ethical lapses that have far-reaching impacts on its competitors as well as clients. From the case study, it overcharges its clients on products that the clients would have otherwise paid lower prices. Although the company gets enormous profits in the short term, the lasting impacts have negative implications for its performance. Gradually, clients and other stakeholders lose trust in this company. At this point, Di Norcia (1994) asserts that trust is fundamental for ensuring a company’s future growth as well as investment.

Intel’s step to alter its CPUs in case programs from other companies were introduced in them is also unethical and driven by selfish interests. In particular, its main aim is to undermine the performance of its competitors such as Dell. The consumers, however, suffer the most because they have to pay more for similar products. Alternatively, consumers get enslaved to their products and lack the ability to explore the effectiveness of the products from their competitors.

Seemingly, Intel’s operations and business strategies contravene the provisions of the principle of fair play as well as the laws that protect competition merits. These principles provide that an individual’s or organization’s behavior is ethical if it puts into consideration the effects of its activities and operations to the wellbeing of others. Put differently, this principle obliges organizations to ensure that their operations are within the legal and moral domains that govern business activities. Thus relative operations need not have adverse effects on others; rather they should promote their growth and sustainability.

As aforementioned, Intel’s activities deny its competitors a chance to benefit from society. To a great extent, they also limit the options of the consumer base and prevent them from exploring the resources that other companies offer optimally. Undoubtedly, the implications are pervasive and affect the suppliers of relative products too. For this reason, it is imperatively important for the company to review its operations and align its strategies to the ethical principles that govern competition and business growth. This would go a long way in ensuring that profits reaped are sustainable and rewarding.