The Importance of Emotional Intelligence in Management and Organizational Effectiveness

Abstract

This thesis aims to explore to what extent emotional intelligence plays a role in the management and organizational effectiveness; the qualities that contribute to EI, its presence in the personalities of managers, importance while recruiting and contribution to the organization’s success. Explanation of the concept of EI by Salovey and Mayer along with further contribution by Daniel Goleman have been explored. Previous literature has been examined that supports the research topic including the Bar-On Model of Social-emotional Intelligence. Several counter arguments have also been presented by analysing the research from the past. A survey-based research has been carried out on The Shortcut, a talent accelerator, non-profit organization in Finland. The research was divided into 2 parts where first a survey designed for the managers/team leads of the organization was distributed to explore the importance of EI in their management, its value in their recruitment along with the extent to which EI is considered to effect their employees’ performance and organization’s success. Another survey for regular employees/interns of The Shortcut was used to collect their views on the role of EI within their workplace, management, productivity levels and recruitment. The results showed that EI plays an important role in their organizational effectiveness. Another survey-based research was carried out among the general population of Finland to assess the job applicants’/employees’ views about the recruitment criteria in Finland and the importance given to EI. Overall, this thesis explains and concludes that EI plays a huge role in the management and organizational effectiveness.