By now, you should be very familiar with the Enron case. In the Module 4 SLP, we will evaluate the Enron debacle in the context of Corporate Social Responsibility. Specifically, socially responsible organizations behave in certain, ethical ways. Socially responsible organizations tend to go above and beyond the rules, mores, and expectations that have been established (and that are expected to be adhered to) by the general public, company employees, end customers, buyers and suppliers, and the government, for example. We will investigate the ways in which Enron defied the tenets of “socially responsible” behavior.
Required Reading
Read the following excerpt related to CSR. As you read, consider the benefits realized by socially responsible organizations, and how the leadership at Enron operated counter to CSR tenets:
Assignment
In a well-written, 2- to 3-page paper, discuss how the Enron case informs our understanding of what it means for companies to be “socially responsible.”
Keys to the Assignment
In the context of CSR, in what ways did Enron demonstrate – not social responsibility – but social irresponsibility? Consider how the company’s actions ran counter to the tenets of CSR through its neglect of duty to the company’s shareholders, its employees, and even the larger public trust. Be sure to cite specific examples.
What have been the long-term consequences of Enron’s actions, and how did the company’s implosion change our view of what it means for a company to be “socially responsible”?