Homework Question on The 2005 Film “Enron”
- Watch the 2005 film “Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room,” directed by Alex Gibney.
- The film is also available at the UM library, on Netflix, Amazon, cable on-demand, and other sources.
- Plan ahead to ensure you have time to view the film at least once before beginning your paper.
Essay Prompt:
There are numerous examples of ethically ambiguous practices featured in the film. These practices may include actions, affirmative statements, omissions and/or schemes. Identify and explain one such practice. Include a brief description of the parties involved, how the practice worked, and why it was ethically questionable. Then, answer the following questions utilizing the framework of the moral philosophies.
- Identify the moral philosophy upon which the parties seem to have relied to justify their actions. Define that philosophy and explain how it led them to act as they did.
- Select two alternative moral philosophies that might have led the parties to a different result and, for each one, include a definition of that alternative philosophy and an analysis of how the actors would have acted had they utilized that moral philosophy. Also discuss the likely outcome of acting in accordance with each such alternative philosophy.
Homework Answer on The 2005 Film “Enron”
Managers, for instance, will rely on philosophies to assist them make decisions on the kind of behaviors and actions to emulate in making sound decisions in organizations and workplaces. This therefore means that organizations should come up with best practices, strategies, and codes of conduct that will influence the culture of the organization positively. Moral philosophies will help leaders identify the right and wrong behaviors, develop guidelines for good practices, and navigate companies towards beneficial outcomes.
Leaders will investigate human morality by defining actions. Moral philosophy is divided into meta-ethics that reference moral propositions, normative ethics that determine courses of action, and applied ethics that permits behavior.Managers who do not adhere to the best practices always justify their transgression as a means of achieving their end goal. The Enron scandal best describes how ethical or moral philosophies can make or break an organization.
This is about a company that enjoyed short-lived success in terms of profits, eventually becoming bankrupt and dissolving. Enron was formed as a merger of two companies, with Jeffrey Skilling hired as a top executive. Together with his employees, they conspired, stole, and hid the company’s billions of dollars. This unethical act affected employees, shareholders, and customers since the company ceased operating.