Monsters, Inc.

1. Define the ethical dilemma central to the plot of the movie.

The ethical dilemma portrayed was the fear tactics used by the CEO of Monsters, Inc., Mr. Henry J. Waternoose to keep the employees from forming relationships with children. Mr. Waternoose has created a culture of fear among his employees by creating the Child Detection Agency to remove contamination caused by children. Mr. Waternoose knows that the threat of toxicity does not exist, as depicted in the scene where Waternoose simply picks up the human child when the child first enters his sight. All other monsters run upon first sight of the child but because Waternoose is responsible for creating this culture of fear, he knows the child is not toxic.

2. How does the movie resolve the ethical dilemma?

I was amazed at the ease of how the ethical dilemmas presented in this film were resolved. The issue was resolved at the end of the movie with the disbandment of the CDA, and the scenes of free floating toys from human world to monster world. All monsters easily accepted the truth that children are not toxic, nor have they ever been toxic.

3. Think of alternate solutions and how they might have changed the story.

Alternative Solution: At Monsters Inc. all the monsters had this myth that the children are toxic. If they would have start meetings devoted to letting people watch at a distance the nonexistent effects of the myth. Letting people see with their own eyes the myth dissolving is at times enough to persuade. Also, providing literature describing facts related to the issue helps people gain a different perspective on the issue.

How they might have changed the story: They could have avoided their energy crisis if they would have realized sooner that laughter generates ten times more power than a scream.

4. What lessons can an accounting student take away from the movie?

As an accounting student I have learnt that violation of business policies and unethical behavior can’t be justified by the magnitude of the problem. No matter what, we should always behave in an ethical manner and should always do the right thing at the first place.