ORGS 2200 - Week 3 : Organization as Political System

(QUIZ) Strong connections are usually better than weak ones.

True

(QUIZ) A coalition can best be described as....

An alliance between individuals or groups who share interests

(QUIZ) According to Pfeffer, which of the following is NOT likely to be a significant source of power in organizations:

Consistency *

(QUIZ) Giving to others without expectations is NOT…

Foolish *

(QUIZ) _________________________ often have common interests.

(W) You can NEVER use these categories to understand interests. *

(QUIZ) In organizations, the 'political' ________________________ government, elections and political parties.

is not the same as

(QUIZ) If someone has power, they will likely _____________________.

Need to use it

(QUIZ) This lens views conflicts as requiring...

Resolution *

(QUIZ) In OB, playing politics is seen as which of these?

Necessary

(QUIZ) You will need to know how to do your job but perhaps more important is________________________.

Who you actually know

What is the political organization view?

conflict arena

What are the political key concepts?

• power / influence

• interest

What are the political key processes?

• conflict

• negotiation

• coalition

• network

What is the political environment view?

external stakeholder

What is the political leader role?

• negotiate

• forge coalition

• identify / leverage interest

What are the political key elements?

• conflict

• interest

• competition

• negotiation

• coalition

What does support / opposition effectiveness depend on?

power | amount / nature |

What is the political & economic assumption similarity?

people act rationally to serve own interest

What is the political & economic assumption difference?

interest analysis

What is the economic interest analysis?

interest = common economic currency allowing one to compare value

What is the political interest analysis?

interest = difficult to reduce to economic term

| personal ≤ collective | interest

What is a collective interest?

centre on group welfare

What are the collective interests?

| structure & || demographic / location || & position & profession | group

What is a box boundary?

define role & interest groups competing for resource / approval

What is a common way to understand collective interest?

stakeholder

What do internal stakeholders vary?

| organization / external stakeholder tie | extent

What is the first step in using the political lens?

recognize interest = important

What is the second step in using the political lens?

analyze | interest / priority |

What are some individual interest examples?

• | short / long | -term goal

• autonomy / cooperation

• reputation / life quality

What are some collective interest examples?

• solution

• new problems

What explains why interest may be latent?

may NOT realize one has interest until | evoked by circumstance / mobilized support |

What is power according to Jeffrey Pfeffer?

| behaviour influence / event change / overcome resistance / get people to do thing they would NOT do | potential

What explains why people are uncomfortable talking about power?

| influence IF power = issue / authority IF boss’ power = issue | > power IF coercion

What are the power variants?

• influence

What explains influence as a power variant?

What are some power source examples?

• personal characteristic

• track record

• expertise

• | in&formal | position

• social network

What explains personal characteristics as a power source?

charisma

What is charisma according to Max Weber?

grace gift

What explains why charisma is unstable?

• constant unique | gift / vision | proof

• difficult | context / leader | transfer

What personal characteristics provide an effective political base?

• stamina / energy

• focus

• sensitivity

• flexibility

• conflict tolerance

• ego submerge

What explains expertise as a power source?

valued / scarce

What explains formal position as a power source?

• position equivalence IS NOT relative indicator

• excessive process reliance undermines power

• strategic but power IS dynamic

What processes do top positions have power over?

• resource allocation

• performance evaluation

• info flow

• task assignment

• conflict resolution

What is authority?

legit power by subject

What is a power gain strategy?

favour

What explains favour as a power gain strategy?

build obligation network → serve own interest

What is centrality?

how many people one | in&directly | communicates

• | close / between | -ness & efficiency

What explains network position as an influence source?

info advantage

• get variety

• get early

• referral

• coalition

What explains why managers DO NOT have a social network picture?

different kinds

• task

• friendship

• advice

• online

What is the weak tie strength?

casual acquaintance // weak tie importance

What explains weak tie strength as a power source?

different circle → new | info / social cohesion |

What are the power assessments according to Pfeffer?

• reputation

• representation indicator

• consequence observation

• symbol

What explains reputation as a power assessment?

ask | people who has power / which units people want to work |

What explains representation indicators as a power assessment?

identify important roles’ overrepresented units

What explains consequence observation as a power assessment?

observe | decision / allocation | ‘s unit benefit & ask which unit keeps issues from attention

What explains symbols as a power assessment?

see units enjoying symbolic power

What questions does one need to ask IF mapping power according to Pfeffer?

• supporter

• blocker

• stakeholder

• coalition

What are some power map tool examples?

• commitment chart

• stakeholder map

What are the stakeholder map benefits?

• oversimplify motivation corrective

• latent interest

• | convince stakeholder / tailor initiative | guidance

What is buy-in?

commit to support / participate in other’s action

What are the buy-in paths?

• support initiative → serve interest

• commitment escalation

• influence perception

What is commitment escalation?

commit resource → likely to persist support

What is commitment escalation?

get potential supporter to commit small resource → likely to persevere

• | continue / increase | resource allocation

• public commitment

What is the influence perception benefit?

stakeholders provide initiative | feedback / input |

What are the commitment escalation and influence perception weaknesses?

• cause supporter to back off

• lose control

• suspect agenda ploy

What is a coalition?

allies supporting act

What can form long-lasting coalitions?

common interest & reciprocal support

What is a change master according to Rosabeth Moss Kanter?

right | person & place & time |

What is the coalition build challenge?

identify allies whose interests benefit & make aware

What are the reciprocity types?

• balanced

• general

• negative

What is balanced reciprocity?

give → expect squific equivalent return

What is general reciprocity?

give → DO NOT expect return aside from goodwill

What is negative reciprocity?

minimally give → receive greater value

What is the most important influence source?

informal network

What explains why informal network is the most important influence source?

• mobilized resource

• direct knowledge

What directions does an effective network extend?

• | up & down | -ward

• horizontal

What is the challenge once one identifies opportunities?

how to expand network

What currencies does economic metaphor put exchange?

• reward

• task

• relation

• status

What way can one improve network?

understand valued currency & take advantage that currencies are different value

What are the negotiating ways?

• separate people from problem

• focus on interest

• generate option

• use criteria

• be prepared

• communicate well

• manage emotion

• consider BATNA