Corporate Culture at Enron

Marketing Strategy Paper #3

Enron Paper Assignment: Fall 2022

In class we will be watching “Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room” (if you are not in class you will need to watch the movie on your own/remotely: Enron has been available on Netflix under documentaries, and may be available elsewhere).

As part of this viewing there is an assignment which is comprised of two parts,

Part 1: During the movie’s viewing you are tasked with identifying and listing in writing two types of behaviors/activities committed by various Enron employees.  First are those activities that are illegal, or on the borderline of legality.  Second are those activities that challenge accepted ethical and/or moral guidelines.  Throughout Enron’s history these two themes are ever apparent and your lists should reflect your own views of legality and morality/ethical behavior.  At the conclusion of the movie take a moment to consider “corporate culture” as a concept.

As you create your lists I challenge you to consider your own views as to what is appropriate professional behavior, legally and ethically, these are often different and at odds with each other.   Please consider how easy it sometimes seems to “go along” with the corporate culture and how difficult it may be to stand up for your beliefs.

Part 2: Based on the list you created in Part 1 while viewing the film, identify what you feel is the most significant illegal, ethical, or moral issue, company policy, or activity committed and why you feel this is the most serious one raised.  Be sure to consider and incorporate why its impact on Enron is a key reason for the firm’s rapid rise and fall.  Your list of all issues you identified during the viewing of the film must be attached to your paper when submitted (hand written is fine, no need to retype from your notes, just scan them in).  You may write up to 2 pages in total not counting class notes or any outside references in a bibliography.

Grading criteria: Papers will be graded on a 20-point scale (see syllabus).  Reiterating just what is presented in the film will result in an average graded paper (a grade of 16-17).  A better than average paper at 18 and a superior paper grade of 19-20 will discuss why the chosen issue(s) is so significant.  To achieve a good or superior paper requires the incorporation of 3 or more outside references that support or expand upon the key focus of your discussion and will bring in additional arguments, sources, and/or original thinking that demonstrate thought and insights beyond what we’ve covered (so some additional research may be required here).

Additionally, the quality of your writing, its structure and presentation, will also be incorporated as grading criteria.