Enron, the Smartest Guys in the Room is a
2005 feature film suitable for senior secondary and tertiary students about how
core values of groups can be eroded in business. The film is the inside story of
one of history’s greatest business scandals, in which top executives of
America’s largest company walked away with over 1 billion dollars while
investors and employees lost everything.
The film is based on a book of
the same name and features insider accounts and revealing corporate audio and
videos. It exposes the almost unimaginable excesses of the Enron hierarchy and
the utter moral vacuum that posed as corporate philosophy.
The Film As Text packaged in black and white includes information and activities to enhance the themes of the film.
Students are encourage to critically analyze the core values of groups and
societies and how we can determine what is right and wrong in a business
context. The study guide also helps students develop an awareness of the complex
interrelationships between businesses and how language can be used to conceal
the truth. It includes a chart to show how companies are structured, timelines
for the events in the film and challenging ideas about business ethics and
corporate greed for students to discuss.
Curriculum Links:
The film
and study guide will be of interest to teachers and students in a number of
curriculum areas:
• Business Management
• Legal Studies
•
Economics
• Civics and Citizenship
• SOSE / HSIE
• Ethical Studies
•
Philosophy
• Media Studies
• Political Studies
• English