ENRON
Discussion Questions
Pre-Production
- What is "corporate social responsibility"?
- Can a company give back to its community in a purely altruistic way?
- Who is to blame when a company loses its integrity? Management? Staff? Shareholders? Society at large? Explain your response.
- Do companies have an obligation to act morally?
- Define "greed". Are corporations inherently greedy or just carrying out a function for which they are designed (i.e. making a profit)?
- What does a lobbyist do?
- 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
- Do you feel the production offered a balanced view of the issues it presented? Why or why not?
- How can art reveal truth?
- 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?
- Why does the character Jeffrey Skilling make the distinction between an "oil and gas company" and an "energy company"?
- One of ENRON's slogans was "Ask Why". Explain the irony.
- Bill Lereach, attorney for shareholders suing ENRON, described what happened as "synergistic corruption". Explain what this means.
- What is the connection between bullying and the behaviour of ENRON executives made by Roe? Do you agree there is a connection?
- What is irrational exuberance?
- What is "mark-to-market" accounting?
- What is a "whistle blower"?
- 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