Power, Politics, and Ethics

What is power?

Capacity to influence others who are in a state of dependence

What is social exchange theory in power?

Power is based on dependence created through exchange of resources

How do needs create power?

Unmet needs create dependence, giving power to those who control resources

What are examples of resources that create power?

Money, information, expertise, access, relationships

What is slack and how does it affect power?

Slack = excess resources (e.g., savings, stockpiling) → reduces dependence → weakens power

What are the five bases of power?

Legitimate, reward, coercive, referent, expert

What is legitimate power?

Power from formal position or authority

What is reward power?

Power from ability to provide rewards or prevent negative outcomes

What is coercive power?

Power from ability to punish or threaten

What is referent power?

Power from being liked and admired

What is expert power?

Power from knowledge or expertise

Which power is most associated with employee effectiveness?

Expert power

Can a leader have multiple bases of power at once?

Yes — power types can overlap (e.g., legitimate + referent)

What are influence tactics?

Behaviours used to convert power into actual influence

What is assertiveness?

Using demands or pressure (linked to coercive power)

What is ingratiation?

Using flattery or friendliness (linked to referent power)

What is rational persuasion?

Using logic and evidence (linked to expert power)

What is exchange?

Trading favors or rewards (linked to reward power)

What is upward appeal?

Using higher authority to gain compliance

What is coalition formation?

Gaining support from others to influence someone

How do influence tactics match power bases?

Coercive → assertiveness / Reward → exchange / Referent → ingratiation / Expert → rational persuasion

What is nPOW?

Need for power

What is an institutional (positive) power manager?

Uses power for organizational goals

most effective

What is a personal (negative) power manager?

Uses power for self-interest

What is an affiliative manager?

More concerned with being liked than using power

How do individuals obtain power (Kanter)?

Cultivate the right people + do visible, relevant, extraordinary work

What is empowerment?

Giving employees authority, opportunity, and motivation to act

What does empowerment increase?

Self-efficacy, confidence, initiative

What happens when empowerment is too low?

Ineffective employees

What happens when empowerment is optimal?

High performance and confidence

What happens when empowerment is too high?

Misuse or abuse of power

What is a subunit?

A department or group within an organization

What is the strategic contingency model?

Subunits gain power by controlling critical factors affecting the organization

What are the four strategic contingencies?

Scarcity, uncertainty, centrality, substitutability

What is scarcity?

Control over limited resources

What is uncertainty?

Ability to reduce or manage unpredictable situations

What is centrality?

How essential a subunit is to workflow

What is substitutability?

How easily a subunit can be replaced

When does power shift between subunits?

When another subunit better controls uncertainty or critical resources

What is organizational politics?

Intentional, self-interested behaviour to influence outcomes

What is Machiavellianism?

Tendency to manipulate and exploit others for personal gain

What are characteristics of high Mach individuals?

Deceitful, manipulative, self-serving, unemotional

What are characteristics of low Mach individuals?

More ethical, less manipulative

What is the most effective strategy for neutralizing a high Mach (high-maintenance) coworker?

Interact in a formal, structured manner

What is political skill?

Ability to understand others and influence them to achieve personal or organizational goals

What are the four facets of political skill?

Social astuteness (accurately reads people and situations), interpersonal influence (adapts behaviour to influence others), apparent sincerity (appears genuine and trustworthy), networking ability (builds and uses relationships)

Which networking behaviors are most strongly associated with career success?

Engaging in professional activities and increasing internal visibility

What is defensiveness?

Behaviours used to avoid blame or responsibility

What is buffing?

Documenting carefully to avoid blame

What is stalling?

Delaying decisions or action

What is scapegoating?

Blaming others

What is overconforming?

Strictly following rules to avoid responsibility

What is ethics?

External rules or standards guiding behaviour

What are morals?

Internal personal values

Can ethics and morals conflict?

Yes — personal values can override rules or vice versa

What is bounded ethicality?

Acting unethically without realizing it

Why does bounded ethicality occur?

Blind spots, pressure, normalization (“everyone else is doing it”)

What are causes of unethical behaviour?

Personal gain, pressure, competition, role conflict

What is deaf ear syndrome?

Organizational inaction or failure to respond to complaints or unethical behaviour (e.g., ignoring harassment reports)

What are the four levels of corporate social responsibility?

Economic, legal, ethical, philanthropic