Power

What is Power

The ability to get some to do something that they otherwise would not do

What is the first dimension of power

• using power through managing resources

• is used to defeat resistance

• Power relies on person’s dependency over the resource (ie. A wants resource B has, so B has the power)

• BMAS:

  • Base: what do we have (asset, social status)

  • Means: how power is exercised

  • Amount: extent to which power can be exercised

  • S: the influence spread of the power

Resources and power

• Reward power: the ability to reward or punish people eg. controlling salaries

• Coercive power: the ability to injure of damage someone

• Authority Power: formal hierarchy (I’m the queen so I have power)

• Referent power: ones charisma, rapport (charming and persuasive)

• Expert power: being able to do things others can’t, holding knowledge/achievements that others don’t 

• Information power: holding info that others dont

• Affiliation: being connected to powerful people

• Group support: you have the support of other people (peer pressure)

• Budget, equipment: you can allocate the budget

Intention, opposition, action and power for first dimension

• Intention: A wants B to do smth they otherwise wouldn’t

• Opposition: B confronts A

• Action: A mobilises resources

• Power use: relatively visible

• Conflict: Overt

What is second dimension of power

• Is about using power by managing processes

• using power to sideline/avoid resistance

  • can occur thru non-decision making

• ie. thru including or excluding ppl from discussions, controlling what gets discussed, control how and when it gets disucssed (at end of meetin), can change criteria (you can’t vote)

Intention, opposition, action and power for second dimension

• Intention: A wants B to do smth they otherwise wouldn’t

• Opposition: B is sidelined by A

• Action: A manages decision making processes

• Power use: less visible

• Conflict: sidelined

What is third dimension of power

• Is about managing meaning

• is about preventing conflict through making things seem like they are the norm, and making ouctomes widely accepted

• meaning is created for the desired outcome so it is seen as natural

Intention, opposition, action and power for first dimension

• Intention: A wants B to do smth they otherwise wouldn’t

• Opposition: B’s opposition is pre-emptively eliminated by A by getting B to

• desire what A wants also

• Action: A manages meaning making processes to control and manipulate B

• Power use: almost invisible

• Conflict: averted (until meaning is contested)

Fourth dimension of power

Power dynamics can be mutually accepted because it is embedded in systems, identities and norms. Created and reinforced through education, monitioring, comparison, status.

Power dynamics can bind people together. Father son relationship.