The Elusiveness of Good Work in The Insider Essay Example for Free

The Elusiveness of Good Work in The Insider EssayIn Good Work, Well Done, Howard Gardner (1999) argues that the goal of carrying out good work is harder to reach when conditions are unstable and merchandise forces are allowed to run unchecked. This, according to him, was the dilemma faced by workers in every domain as existing authority systems in most working environments are designed to penalize blab out blowers rather than to correct wrong business practices. Gardners argument is exemplified in Michael Manns (1999) use up, The Insider.Based on the reliable story of tobacco industry whistle blower Jeffrey Wigand, Manns film is a brilliant ikon depicting the intrinsic motivations, values, and presentiments that oblige differentwise ambitious, loyal employees into sacrificing profitable careers, and even themselves, for the sake of the majority. The film owes majority of its success to Manns directorial genius, exemplary performances by Russell Crowe, Al Pacino, Chris topher Plummer, and Dianne Venora and in part to the compelling story of an unselfish employee who decides to give up his lucrative career for a nobler cause.The Insider is interesting in its genuine depiction of some(prenominal) corporate workers experiences, the working environment, and the conflict that ensues due to incongruence between the individuals personal values and troupe expectations for loyalty in its organization. By following the narrative of a tobacco company executive who exposes the un respectable business practices of the corporation he works for, the film raises the issues of professional ethics as they relate and act with business ethics in a corporate setting where the concerns of a healthy bottomline override other matters of concern (Gardner, 2002).More importantly, the film captures the complex nature of whistle blowing as an extreme that defies the reasonable expectation of the most prominent versions of ethics (Grant, 2002, p. 396) and the impact of th is action on the personal life of the whistle blower. Thus, the films title takes an ironic twist as whistle blowing demands that a worker, or an insider, subvert the norms and expectations of the nuance he is in and in the process rendering him an outsider.This aspect of whistle blowing is particularly depicted in the dilemma confronting the films main protagonist, Jeffrey Wigand (Russell Crowe), a scientist working as an executive in the seek department of Brown and Williamson, one of the tobacco industrys biggest companies. Wigand is terminated by the corporation because of his refusal to work with the companys questionable practice involving the use of nicotine to make cigarettes to a greater extent addictive that in the scientists view was causing major damage to public health.Clearly, Wigands case confirms Joseph McCaffertys (2002) observation that more often, those who try to bring to light unethical or il well-grounded practices by their employers are criticized, treated standardized outcasts, fired, or worse. For instance, he experiences being harassed and receiving death threats shortly after being fired from the company, seemingly made to ensure that he keeps his silence and honors his confidentiality agreement. It is not surprising that insiders analogous Wigand often experience extreme pressure and personal conflict even after they have severed ties with the company they work for.Threats of retribution through physical or financial harm and legal action often force employees who bring out their jobs due to the mismatch between their ethical principles and work expectations vis-a-vis the priorities of the company they work for. The existence of legal and social mechanisms that punish the act of whistle-blowing, and the ineffectiveness of existing legal systems to support those who come forward to promise external stakeholders about illegal or unethical business practices contribute to the difficulties faced by whistle blowers. McCafferty, 2002) Ultimately, these impediments condition the majority of workers into a state of compliance despite their knowledge of wrongdoings in their workplace.Accordingly, Grant (2002) argues that individuals like Wigand display a sense of ethics that surpass conventional ethical behavior and exceed the borderline level that is required to sustain civil life. (p. 96) Given the lack of incentives and the threats posed by this action on their personal life and career opportunities, whistle blowers are clearly driven by a tight belief in moral and ethical ideals contrary to the conventional notion of whistle blowers as revengeful or errant employees. Wigands fount affirms Grants (2002) contention Instead of being deterred by the harassment and the gloomy prospects awaiting him in his career, he becomes more determined decision to spill Brown and Williamsons dirty secret in a 60 minutes interview with CBS reporter Lowell Bergman (Al Pacino).Wigands character therefore fits Grants desc ription of whistle blowers as saints in a secular culture. end-to-end the film, Wigands sense of justice shines through despite his emotional battles and inner turmoils as he encounters many hardships such as being separated from his family and from company efforts to discredit his name. It is therefore only fitting that Wigand is clean when Bergman is able to counter the negative publicity and he finds a more fulfilling career that allows him to finally do good work by teaching.Thus, The Insider is an illuminating look at how existing political and economic structures forbid individuals from doing good work as defined by Gardner (2002). It is also an incisive commentary on how society, in general, conditions employees to normalize unfair business practices by valuing material incentives more than those based on social or moral ones. Consequently, whistle blowers, and others intent on doing good work, are often forced to carry their battles and ethical struggles alone, left vul nerable to the machinery of Big Business, and treated with contempt by their collegues and families.