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Movie Analysis Project By Andrea Hansen

BS311. Movie Analysis Project By Andrea Hansen. Introduction . I will be discussing The Firm motion picture’s portrayal and impact of… Organizational structure Organizational goals S ystems theory H idden agendas I will then summarize and analyze the areas mentioned.

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Movie Analysis Project By Andrea Hansen

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  1. BS311 Movie Analysis ProjectBy Andrea Hansen

  2. Introduction • I will be discussing The Firm motion picture’s portrayal and impact of… • Organizational structure • Organizational goals • Systems theory • Hidden agendas • I will then summarize and analyze the areas mentioned.

  3. Organizational Structure • The Organizational Structure of Bendini, Lambert, and Locke… • Small, Memphis law firm • 41 Lawyers • Divides its labor into distinct tasks • Differentiation exists, but integration is lacking. • (Anthony, Gales, & Hodge, 2003).

  4. Organizational Structure (cont’d) • Formal structure • Oliver Lambert & Executives are top authority • The rest of the firm employees are pawns that the Executives use as they see fit to maintain their shady existence. • Avery is a mentor to Mitch • Evolved into a more informal relationship • Different dynamic than the rest of the characters

  5. Organizational Goals • Stability and maintaining an upstanding appearance • “Mitch, I hope you don't think us intrusive, but stability in the family has a special importance for us.” • Oliver Lambert (Pollack, 1993) • Control of clients and employees • “I won my life back. You don't run me. And they don't run me!” • Mitch Alderman (Pollack, 1993)

  6. Organizational Goals (cont’d) • Do what is necessary, whatever it takes. • “I get paid to be suspicious when I've got nothing to be suspicious about.” • William Devasher (Pollack, 1993). • Satisfy clients (especially the Mob) • They flew to Cayman Islands to secure a client • Make M-O-N-E-Y

  7. Systems Theory • It conveys the idea that organizations are made up of parts and that the parts interact with each other to accomplish the organization’s goals (Anthony, Gales, & Hodge, 2003). • The firm represented is a closed, self-perpetuating system that receives no outside energy or resources (Anthony, Gales, & Hodge, 2003). • They have made sure the firm is private because of their shady dealings with the Mob.

  8. Systems Theory (cont’d) • Bendini, Lambert, and Locke’s parts include Executives, lawyers, criminals, and investigators. • The Executives appoint lawyers on cases, the lawyers follow the orders, the investigators locate threats, and the criminals clean up the mess. • All of these parts interact with each other to maintain the organization’s goal of making money, while appearing ethical.

  9. Hidden Agendas • Mitch McDeere is an up-and-coming young lawyer with a promising career coming from little money. • Agenda: to make something of himself; to become rich; goes from idealist to realist • Avery Tolar • Agenda: to survive, but to have fun and make a little waves in the process; to be a philanderer

  10. Hidden Agendas (cont’d) • Oliver Lambert & Company • Agenda: to control and continue to prosper aiding the Mob in money laundering; to do anything necessary to keep up appearances • “We know you'll do whatever’s necessary to protect the firm… wont’cha Mitch?” • Oliver Lambert (Pollack, 1993).

  11. Summary • Bendini, Lambert, and Lockeuses a formal organizational structure. • However, there are employees not on the proverbial organizational chart. • Organizational goals for the firm revolve around making money, whatever the cost. • The firm is a closed system, which enables their secrets to remain unknown. • There are three main agendas present at the firm.

  12. Analysis • Mitch McDeere was left in the dark on the business dealings of his new firm. This shows… • The absence of coordination between McDeere and the rest of the firm • The reluctance and severity of letting their secret out • There were hidden agendas that McDeere had to find out on his own. • The system was closed rather than open because they used resources without venturing outside to get them.

  13. Analysis (cont’d) • The organizational goals of the firm do not match the strategic goals and actions. • I believe that the goals for this firm are contradictory because in order to satisfy clients you must make helping them your main goal. • Bendini, Lambert, and Locke are incapable of putting clients first. • The firm’s standards were set high in outward appearance but internally set very low.

  14. Analysis (cont’d) • As the book states, “Organizations are purposeful, goal-oriented entities,” but when I think of the purpose and goals of the firm in the movie, they seem to be the same; to make money. • (Anthony, Gales, & Hodge, 2003). • You would think that the purpose of a law firm would be to help people, but this law firm was as crooked as it gets. • Social responsibility and ethical behavior guidelines are nonexistent. • Without these components, the firm will lose clients and eventually fail.

  15. Analysis (Cont’d) • This movie depicted an overall very ineffective organizational structure, as well as a very unethical firm. • The concepts from our book helped me to judge the firm’s actions without bias, but with fact. • The organizational goals were not disclosed in the movie outright, but were decipherable by their actions. • I learned that all of the concepts in our book are important, but some are more important than others.

  16. References • Anthony, W. P., Gales, L. M., & Hodge, B. J. (2003). Organization Theory: A Strategic Approach (6th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc. • Pollack, S. (Producer and Director). (1993). The Firm[Motion picture]. [With T. Cruise]. United States: Paramount Pictures. • Cover Image: The Firm http://tf.org/images/covers/TheFirmTomCruiseGeneHackman1993-tf.org-free-2010-movie.jpg • Avery and Mitch Image http://www.businessinsider.com/is-greenberg-traurig-john-grishams-the-firm-2009-10

  17. References (cont’d) • Avery Tolar Image http://www.hotflick.net/pictures/993TFM_Gene_Hackman_016.html • Desk Image http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1800191019/photo/538040 • Eye http://www.psychologytoday.com/files/u15/Blue_eye.jpg • Oliver Lambert Image http://www.hotflick.net/pictures/993TFM_Tom_Cruise_010.html

  18. References (cont’d) • Running Image http://www.time.com/time/photoessays/10question s/0,30255,1706278_1522782,00.html • The Firm Image http://www.hotflick.net/pictures/993TFM_Gene_Hackman_009.html • William Devasher Image http://www.hotflick.net/pictures/993TFM_Wilford_Brimley_003.hml

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