This paper focuses upon the Four I’s of business issues, interests, institutions and information along with stakeholder risk as they relate to Enron.
The paper shows that at stake for Enron’s shareholders was a financial guarantee from Enron, one that the corporation apparently never intended to honor. For the employees, however, the stakes were even greater, inasmuch as their entire retirement funds were wiped out when the company went bankrupt. The paper examines how the emotional and economic cost for these employees was staggering when they learned their years of loyal service and trust in the company completely dissolved along with their retirement funds.
From a social perspective, the Enron issue reflects a blatant disregard for social responsibility, which is being aware of the impacts one’s actions have upon the rest of society. Far too many people believe it is their inherent right as human beings to exercise whatever choices they see fit, in spite of the fact that their selfish actions may cause harm or damage to others. Indeed, this is precisely the essence of social responsibility: to make a conscious effort to incorporate society’s feelings as a whole, rather than merely focusing upon the singular desires of oneself, which clearly reflects the individualistic point of view of Enron’s top management.