Analysis of Erin Brockovich and her impact on the workplace

Emotional Intelligence and Competencies of Erin

Instructions: Answer the following questions according to the guidelines above. 

1. Write a report on the growth and development of Erin’s emotional intelligence, including all five competencies as identified by Goleman (2001).

2. Many people have strong adverse reactions towards Erin and her behaviour. She is not an ideal role model for anyone entering the workforce. However, she proved to be an outstanding contributor to the law firm. 
a) How well did Ed manage her? If you were her manager, would you have fired her? 
b) What were the adverse effects of her presence on the other employees? 
c) Can a firm afford an Erin Brockovich? 
d) Can we afford not to have some rebels or Mavericks like her in an organisation? Motivate.
e) Moreover, if we keep them, how do we manage them? 
f) Explain what strategies would you have used to manage a perceived difficult person such as Erin?         

3. Erin Brockovich clearly illustrates the existence of “personality” as an enduring set of traits and behaviours that distinguish her from others. 
a) Describe Erin’s personality characteristics 
b) Expand her personality traits to the dimensions of models such as the Big Five. 
c) What are her personality traits strengths and weakness based on the Big Five? 
d) Do her behaviour and attitude change during the movie?

4. It is interesting to note that Erin is a very highly motivated person throughout the movie. What changes are the sources of the motivation, the unfulfilled needs, and the hierarchical levels? 
a) Discuss her levels and sources of motivation. 
b) Do these change during the movie? 
c) Based on the different motivation theories identify and discuss at least five ways in which Erin was motivated.

5. Critically discusses how Erin entered in her new job. What were the classic mistakes she has made? What advice will you have given her based on the various job transition theories? Based on the different career development theories, what stage will best describe Ed’s (her boss) current career development phase? Motivate your answer. 

6. Compile a simple job description and job specification based on a job analysis of Erin’s job. List the KSAOs required for her job. Write down to 5-8 different personal requirements. 

7. Based on the job analysis (job description and job specification) of Erin’s job prepare a template of at least five behavioural types of questions for a job interview for Erin as a member of the interview panel.  Motivate why you prefer behavioural type questions compared with other types of questions?

8. Suppose you were Ed, her boss, compile a written performance agreement for her based on job description and specification. Identify organisational goals for the law firm. Identify the key performance areas, critical activities for each of the critical performance areas,  key performance indicators, targets based on the performance indicators and comments/constraints.

9. Based on Erin’s performance agreement compile a comprehensive performance assessment template to assess her performance. 

10. Evaluate the extent to which the five dimensions of the Job Characteristics Model of Hackman and Oldham (1980) was present in Erin’s job. Motivate why?

11. Analyse and discuss Erin’s locus of control and how it developed throughout the movie.

12. Reflect on how the meaning of work changes for her, as well as on the career/family conflicts in the film. Do you think she was able to maintain a work-life balance? Based on the literature, what recommendations will you give to Erin to maintain a work-life balance and to reduced work/family conflict?

13. Based on work engagement theories, critically assess Erin’s work engagement levels on the various factors that determine work engagement.

14. Organisational culture is a system of shared meaning held by members of an organisation that distinguishes the organisation from other organisations. Seven primary characteristics seem to capture the essence of an organisation’s culture. The two law firms with different cultures and expectations have difficulty working together. The larger, much more powerful and professional firm was brought in to help handle the immense class-action suit. Ed and his local personal liability practice are clearly out of their league, but in many ways are more effective in working with the community members. Use the seven common characteristics of organisational and culture to compare and evaluate the culture of the two law firms.

15. Discuss the phases of development between Erin and her co-workers as a team throughout the movie. Based on best practices and the literature, what recommendations and strategies will you make to Ed to ensure that Erin becomes a better team player?