Title :
Intel´s Pentium chip crisis: an ethical analysis
Author_Institution :
Boise State Univ., ID, USA
fDate :
3/1/1997 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
In October 1994 a mathematics professor informed the Intel Corporation that its Pentium chip had a flaw which caused mathematical errors. Intel´s response to the professor and its customers created a backlash of anger and a public relations crisis. By analyzing Intel´s actions using the work of two relevant ethical philosophies, the article shows that some of the company´s errors in public relations were also ethical errors. However, it also points out that Intel has made improvements which will help it avoid future problems and which could set an ethical precedent for the semiconductor industry
Keywords :
DP industry; electronics industry; errors; marketing; mathematics computing; microprocessor chips; professional aspects; Intel Corporation; Intel Pentium chip crisis; Pentium chip flaw; customers; ethical analysis; ethical errors; ethical philosophies; mathematical errors; public relations crisis; public relations errors; semiconductor industry; Chip scale packaging; Companies; Computer aided manufacturing; Computer aided software engineering; Electronics industry; Ethics; Fasteners; Mathematics; Microcomputers; Public relations;
Journal_Title :
Professional Communication, IEEE Transactions on