Programs: Resources
Some Universal Ethical Principles
| Honesty: | Be truthful, sincere, forthright, straightforward, frank, and candid; do not cheat, steal, lie, deceive, or act deviously. |
| Integrity: | Be principled, honorable, upright, courageous and act on convictions; do not be two-faced, or unscrupulous or adopt an end-justifies-the-means philosophy that ignores principle. |
| Promise-keeping: | Be worthy of trust, keep promises, fulfill commitments, abide by the spirit as well as the letter of an agreement; do not interpret agreements in a technical or legalistic manner in order to rationalize noncompliance or create excuses for breaking commitments. |
| Fidelity: | Be faithful and loyal to family, friends, employers, and country; do not use or disclose information learned in confidence; in a professional context, safeguard the ability to make independent professional judgments by scrupulously avoiding undue influences and conflicts of interest. |
| Fairness: | Be fair and open-minded, be willing to admit error and, where appropriate, change positions and beliefs, demonstrate a commitment to justice, the equal treatment of individuals, and tolerance for diversity; do not overreach or take undue advantage of another’s mistakes or adversities. |
| Caring for Others: | Be caring, kind and compassionate; share, be giving, serve others; help those in need and avoid harming others. |
Respect for Others: |
Demonstrate respect for human dignity, privacy, and the right to self determination of all people; be courteous, prompt, and decent; provide others with the information they need to make informed decisions about their own lives; do not patronize, embarrass or demean. |
Responsible Citizenship: |
Obey just laws (if a law is unjust, openly protest it); exercise all democratic rights and privileges responsibly by participation (voting and expressing informed views), social consciousness and public service; when in a position of leadership or authority, openly respect and honor democratic processes of decision making, avoid unnecessary secrecy or concealment of information, and assure that others have the information needed to make intelligent choices and exercise their rights. |
| Pursuit of Excellence: | Pursue excellence in all matters; in meeting personal and professional responsibilities, be diligent, reliable, industrious, and committed; perform all tasks to the best of your ability, develop and maintain a high degree of competence, be well informed and well prepared; do not be content with mediocrity but do not seek to win “at any cost.” |
| Accountability: | Be accountable, accept responsibility for decisions and the foreseeable consequences of actions and inactions, and for setting an example for others. Parents, teachers, employers, many professionals and public officials have a special obligation to lead by example; to safeguard and advance the integrity and reputation of their families, companies, professions, and the government; avoid even the appearance of impropriety and take whatever actions are necessary to correct or prevent inappropriate conduct of others. |
Adapted from Business Ethics Readings & Cases in Corporate Plurality:
W. Michael Hoffman; Robert E. Frederick; 3rd Edition; McGraw-Hill, 1995
Federal Sentencing Guidelines
The Federal Sentencing Guidelines for Organizations (which apply to corporations, partnerships, labor unions, pension funds, trusts, non-profit entities, and governmental units) became effective November 1, 1991, and were amended in 2004. These guidelines are designed to further two key purposes of sentencing: “just punishment” and “deterrence.” “Punishment” corresponds to the degree of blameworthiness of the offender, while “deterrence” offers incentives for organizations to detect and prevent crime.
Texas Instruments Ethics Quick Test
When unsure of how to act, Texas Instrument employees are encouraged to consider:
Is the action legal?
Does it comply with our values?
If you do it, will you feel bad?
How will it look in the newspaper?
If you know it's wrong, don't do it!
If you're not sure, ask.
Keep asking until you get an answer.
This information is provided to TI employees on a business-card size mini-pamphlet to carry with them. For copies of the card or further information, contact the TI Ethics Office at 1-800-33-ETHIC.
“Courtesy of Texas Instruments”