Enron Case Study
Globalization and Corporate Social Responsibility - Corporate Culture and Individual Responsibility
1. Based on Alex Gibney’s film version of the rise and fall of Enron, do you accept Joel Bakan’s argument that the corporation shows “psychopathic” traits?
I agree with Joel Bakan, however, just partially about the corporation Enron showing ‘psychopathic’ traits. Yes there are traits that they were doing unethical actions that completely ruin many people life-long works and their lives; nonetheless, in my opinion, those actions were intentional. The executives at Enron were gambling intelligently, according to the movie, and take a risk so big that it was over their heads at the end, making it an absolute failure. The psychopathic traits here were that once they managed to aggressively make the profits they made, and pocketed millions of dollars, they started to care less about employees. They knew the consequence but they still proceeded with their plans and did not care that the results will affect the lives of many. They also lied on financial reports, covering their debts one way or another, which was unlawful. Therefore, it is psychopathic in some sorts, but above all, their actions are just so unethical and unmoral.
2. How do you account for what happened at Enron? How would you assess the relative importance of culture, environment, and personal values in the company’s history?
What happened to Enron was just its founder at the time Ken Lay was greedy and unethical right from the beginning, and that was how he steered the boat to that direction. Instead of firing traders who were pocketing profits for themselves, manipulating reports which showed steady financial trends, he managed to keep them, because they were making a lot of money for the company. So he was giving opportunities for this staffs to do underhand works and he only cared if it made profits for the company. Later, when Jeff Skilling joined Enron, he developed what Lay had
1. Based on Alex Gibney’s film version of the rise and fall of Enron, do you accept Joel Bakan’s argument that the corporation shows “psychopathic” traits?
I agree with Joel Bakan, however, just partially about the corporation Enron showing ‘psychopathic’ traits. Yes there are traits that they were doing unethical actions that completely ruin many people life-long works and their lives; nonetheless, in my opinion, those actions were intentional. The executives at Enron were gambling intelligently, according to the movie, and take a risk so big that it was over their heads at the end, making it an absolute failure. The psychopathic traits here were that once they managed to aggressively make the profits they made, and pocketed millions of dollars, they started to care less about employees. They knew the consequence but they still proceeded with their plans and did not care that the results will affect the lives of many. They also lied on financial reports, covering their debts one way or another, which was unlawful. Therefore, it is psychopathic in some sorts, but above all, their actions are just so unethical and unmoral.
2. How do you account for what happened at Enron? How would you assess the relative importance of culture, environment, and personal values in the company’s history?
What happened to Enron was just its founder at the time Ken Lay was greedy and unethical right from the beginning, and that was how he steered the boat to that direction. Instead of firing traders who were pocketing profits for themselves, manipulating reports which showed steady financial trends, he managed to keep them, because they were making a lot of money for the company. So he was giving opportunities for this staffs to do underhand works and he only cared if it made profits for the company. Later, when Jeff Skilling joined Enron, he developed what Lay had