Eron Ethics and Organizational Culture

Read the Application Case: Enron, Ethics, and Organizational Culture (Dessler, Ch. 14). After reading the case,
complete the questions below.
1. Based on what you read in this chapter, summarize in one page or less how you would explain Enron’s ethical
meltdown.
2. It is said that when one securities analyst tried to confront Enron’s CEO about the firm’s unusual accounting
statements, the CEO publicly used vulgar language to describe the analyst, and that Enron employees subsequently
thought doing so was humorous. If true, what does that say about Enron’s ethical culture?
3. This case and chapter had something to say about how organizational culture influences ethical behavior. What role
do you think culture played at Enron? Give five specific examples of things Enron’s CEO could have done to create a
healthy ethical culture.