Chapter Nine Power and Politics Mc GrawHillIrwin 2008

Chapter Nine Power and Politics Mc. Graw-Hill/Irwin © 2008 The Mc. Graw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

Learning Objectives • Define power and its relationship to authority and influence. • Identify the various classifications of power. • Discuss the contingency approach to power. • Describe the empowerment of employees. • Relate the political implications of power. • Present some political strategies for power acquisition in modern organizations.

Introduction • Power and politics – important dynamics in organizational behavior – Power related to authority and influence – Political strategies used to acquire power

Meaning of Power • Ability to get an individual or group to do something • Distinctions among power, authority, and influence – Power – as observed influence or potential to influence – Authority – legitimates and is a source of power – Influence – ability to alter others in general ways

Meaning of Power Continued • Classifications of power – Reward power – Coercive power – Legitimate power – Referent power – Expert power

Meaning of Power Continued • Contingency approaches to power – Influenceability of the targets of power • • Dependency Uncertainty Personality Intelligence Gender Age Culture

Meaning of Power Continued • Contingency approaches to power (continued) – An overall contingency model for power

Meaning of Power Continued • Two faces of power – Positive power – Negative power

Special Case of Empowerment • Complexity of empowerment – Innovation implications – Access to Information – Accountability and responsibility • Putting empowerment into action – Two common approaches are: • Kaizen and “just do it” principles (JDIT) • Trust building

Political Implications of Power • Political perspective of power in organizations – Areas relevant to politics • • • Resources Decisions Goals Technology and external environment Change

Political Implications of Power Continued • Specific political strategies for power acquisition

Political Implications of Power Continued • Political tactics

Political Implications of Power Continued • Strategies for power acquisition (continued) – Maintain alliances with powerful people – Embrace or demolish – Divide and rule – Manipulate classified information – Make a quick showing – Collect and use IOUs – Avoid decisive engagement (Fabianism)

Political Implications of Power Continued • Strategies for power acquisition (continued) – Attacking and blaming others – Progress one step at a time – Wait for a crisis – Take council with caution – Be aware of resource dependence

Political Implications of Power Continued • Final word on power and politics – Guidelines to overcome negative impact: • Keep lines of communication open • Role-model ethical and nonpolitical behaviors • Be wary of game players acting only in their own self-interests • Protect individual privacy interests • Always use the value judgment “Is this fair? ”

Questions ?