ENRON

Discussion Questions

Pre-Production

  1. What is "corporate social responsibility"?
  2. Can a company give back to its community in a purely altruistic way?
  3. Who is to blame when a company loses its integrity? Management? Staff? Shareholders? Society at large? Explain your response.
  4. Do companies have an obligation to act morally?
  5. Define "greed". Are corporations inherently greedy or just carrying out a function for which they are designed (i.e. making a profit)?
  6. What does a lobbyist do?
  7. Should corporations be able to contribute to political campaigns?

(For background, have students conduct research on the Citizens United case that went to the Supreme Court. http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2012/07/the-supreme-court-still-thinks-corporations-are-people/259995)

 

 

 

Post-Production

  1. Do you feel the production offered a balanced view of the issues it presented? Why or why not?
  2. How can art reveal truth?
  3. Did you have a strong belief on the issues dealt with in the play prior to seeing the production? If so, was this belief challenged or re-enforced? If not, do you have a strong belief now?
  4. Why does the character Jeffrey Skilling make the distinction between an "oil and gas company" and an "energy company"?
  5. One of ENRON's slogans was "Ask Why". Explain the irony.
  6. Bill Lereach, attorney for shareholders suing ENRON, described what happened as "synergistic corruption". Explain what this means.
  7. What is the connection between bullying and the behaviour of ENRON executives made by Roe? Do you agree there is a connection?
  8. What is irrational exuberance?
  9. What is "mark-to-market" accounting?
  10. What is a "whistle blower"?
  11. Read this article in the Economist about the Glass Steagall Act and ENRON. Should the government impose more rules to regulate the market? Why or why not? http://www.economist.com/node/954024