Pirates of Silicon Valley, 1999

1) Watch ONE of the following movie titles:
Pirates of Silicon Valley, 1999: Martyn Burke. This is a semi-humorous biographical film about the men who
made the world of technology what it is today, their struggles during college, the founding of their companies,
and the ingenious actions they took to build up the global corporate empires of Apple Computer Corporation
and Microsoft Inc.
The Damned United, 2009: Tom Hopper. The story of the controversial Brian Clough's 44-day reign as the
coach of the English football club Leeds United. Taking over England's top football club Leeds United,
previously successful manager Brian Clough's abrasive approach and his clear dislike of the players' dirty style
of play make it certain there is going to be friction. Glimpses of his earlier career help explain both his hostility
to previous manager Don Revie and how much he is missing right-hand man Peter Taylor who has loyally
stayed with Brighton & Hove Albion.
Office Space, 1999: Mike Judge. In the Initech office, the insecure Peter Gibbons hates his job and the abusive
Division VP Bill Lumbergh that has just hired two consultants to downsize the company. His best friends are
the software engineers Michael Bolton and Samir Nagheenanajar that also hate Initech, and his next door
neighbor Lawrence. His girlfriend Anne is cheating on him but she convinces Peter to visit the hypnotherapist
Dr. Swanson. Peter tells how miserable his life is and Dr. Swanson hypnotizes him and he goes into a state of
ecstasy. However, Dr. Swanson dies immediately after giving the hypnotic suggestion to Peter. He dates the
waitress Joanna and changes his attitude in the company, being promoted by the consultants. When he
discovers that Michael and Samir will be fired, they decide to plant a virus in the account system to embezzle
fraction of cents in each financial operation into Peter's account.
The Great Debaters, 2007. Denzel Washington. Marshall, Texas, described by James Farmer, Jr. as "the last
city to surrender after the Civil War," is home to Wiley College, where, in 1935-36, inspired by the Harlem
Renaissance and his clandestine work as a union organizer, Professor Melvin Tolson coaches the debate team
to a nearly-undefeated season that sees the first debate between U.S. students from white and Negro colleges
and ends with an invitation to face Harvard University's national champions. The team of four, which includes a
female student and a very young James Farmer, is tested in a crucible heated by Jim Crow, sexism, a lynch
mob, an arrest and near riot, a love affair, jealousy, and a national radio audience.
*It may not be immediately obvious how the film ties into management, but I assure you each of these titles do.
2) Write a 5 page paper, APA format, addressing the following components:
Storyline of the movie
The biggest obstacles the main character faced as a manager, or with management
How did the character overcome the obstacles?
How can you relate the main character's obstacles to your line of work? What did you learn from the storyline?