The Texas Instruments we know today represents a significant transformation from the seismic exploration company formed in 1930. Originally named Geophysical Service Inc., the company was purchased in 1941 by four of the managers and began manufacturing and supplying defense systems to the US Navy. In 1951, the organization changed its name to Texas Instruments as it ventured into the Semiconductor business. According to an article on www.inventors.com, Jack Kilby, an employee at Texas Instruments, forever changed the world when he invented the integrated circuit. In doing so, he ultimately created a global market with a value of about $1 trillion per year. After accepting the Nobel Prize in 2000, Kilby said, “It reminds me of what the beaver told the rabbit as they stood at the base of Hoover Dam. ‘No, I didn’t build it myself, but it’s based on an idea of mine.’”
Today, Texas Instruments is headquartered in Dallas, Texas and operates in more than 25 countries. Kilby’s invention is still used to power everything from cell phones and the internet to energy-efficient products with low-power consumption. Texas Instruments is not only a leader in technological innovation, but is fast becoming a leader in the corporate social responsibility initiatives as well. According to Texas Instrument’s 2007 Corporate Citizenship Report, TI's commitment to corporate citizenship encompasses six key areas. These include Product Stewardship, Environmental Responsibility, Employee well-being, Community Involvement, Responsible Advocacy, and Corporate Governance.
Although Texas Instruments excels in each and every one of these categories, the case study in the text is centered primarily on TI’s Corporate Governance, Ethics, and Employee Well-Being. The organization unde ...