In Space, No One Can File a Formal Grievance
What the movie Alien can tell us about crisis situation management
Oh hi everybody,
Considerable recent family stress made me a perfect candidate for indoctrination at two weeks of management training (I got a promotion and am a very serious person now, don’t tell the government). Now perpetually business casually clad, I’ve gained the ability to break down management styles across mediums.
Why not take these skills to space where a xenomorph infecting one of your crew is not unlike bad morale infecting employees after an ill-defined assignment?
For those unfamiliar, Alien tells the story of a simple small spaceship team (a space freighter here) hauling rocks back to Earth when they intercept a call of unknown origin. Their parent company Weyland-Yutani Corporation notes that any such calls require the team to investigate.
This is not unlike when the main office sends workers special assignments without proper education or training. The Nostromo’s crew are trained to haul not investigate new unexplored worlds and biomes.
While ill-prepared for the planetary conditions they find, Captain Dallas acquiesces to the oddly specific rules dictation by the ship’s medical officer Ash.
Here, we have the first major management issue. For you see, the roles are ill-defined. Dallas has to seek clarification from the ship’s computer MOTHER.
This puts his authority as captain into question. While most managers have to “consult the handbook” an inability to provide some guidance, undermines crew morale. A simple training course on the importance of investigating beacons would have saved the team much-needed stress.
Over the course of the film, multiple individuals get a chance to manage a team and each addresses their newfound roles in interesting ways, utilizing many skills of the manager’s handbook.
Dallas
In addition to the issues defined above, Dallas makes several additional mistakes. He and Ripley remind the crew’s payment depends on following the company’s policies. While true, the confrontational style implemented likely caused more harm leading to Brett and Parker dragging their heels on much-needed ship repairs.
While controversial, I would also argue that Dallas’s instance of bringing Kane back onto the ship was a managerial mistake. Ripley reminds him of quarantine protocols and he berates her for putting the rest of the crew’s safety first. This further limits his standing with the others.
By volunteering to go into the ducts and trying to force the Alien to the airlock, Dallas takes responsibility for his prior errors in judgment, putting himself in a place of danger for his crew. While admirable, he puts himself into an unknown environment against which he lacks the requisite skills to handle the task.
Ripley
Ripley is a clear example of a middle manager who knows and respects the rules. She insists on preventing infection on the ship and is only rebuffed by Dallas and Ash’s seemingly impulsive decision.
Despite this, she still makes the most of the fraught situation demanding what protocols she can. In addition, she takes the lead in hunting and investigating the facehugger and the resulting xenomorph.
She fails with Brett and Parker, allowing Brett to go off alone looking for Jones. While her frustration during the investigation was understandable, the safety of your coworkers is paramount.
Finally, when thrust into the role of the primary leader, she makes quick and confident decisions based on what information she’s collected throughout the unfortunate events. Tragedy strikes, but not before the team comes together. The feet dragging and panic attacks stop. The team unites on a common goal. While not every team member remains to see success, they all made admirable contributions worthy of a Weyland-Yutani commendation.
Jones
Some naysayers will say that Jones is not a manager as she is a cat and holds no formal role on the ship. This is wildly nearsighted given that she is there for emotional support and vermin control not unlike the bodega cats of modern Earth.
In addition, her attempt to seek the newly introduced vermin (despite being quite outmatched) leads to unfortunate outcomes due to one of Ripleys few managerial mistakes in not accompanying Brett.
In addition, Jones’s contributions during Ripley’s escape (though not always seen in the carrying case) were instrumental in the escape. That’s nothing to say of the comfort provided after the considerable stress experienced by Ripley.
Ash
As the company’s proxy, Ash has instructions that do not comport with those of ultimate team success. This secretive nature and his willingness to see others as expendable demonstrates a fundamentally toxic leadership style. Some well-timed and direct conversations about the company’s goals as well as some compromises for crew safety would have benefited everyone and left Ash intact.
Ultimately, we have inadequately defined roles from the Weyland corporation and hidden rules that fundamentally undermine the success of the mission. Would these employees have signed up for the mission knowing they were expendable? Perhaps not, but Weyland would have found many takers in the galactic economy with direct expectations
While each individual in a leadership role failed in some way, Alien serves as a prime example of how to unite a team around a common goal. Who knows what management and leadership skills we might encounter in Alien: Romulus!
Mattsplaining!
This week on Mattsplaining I offend Chris Calogero with my understanding of sandwiches and we discuss his upcoming comedy album!
On Monday, I talk about Dengue Fever and the hottest new dances.
Shows (taking it easy due to the aforementioned family stress):
How Was It Storytelling - September 7
HYPERFOCUS: A NEURODIVERGENT COMEDY SHOW -September 8
The Underdogs: A Standup Comedy Show - September 19
How Was It Storytelling - September 21
I appreciate you and your reading of this set of words very much. Thank you.
Respectfully yours,
Matthew Storrs