Power and politics

Power and Politics

Definition of Power

  • Power: Capacity of A to influence B's behavior according to A's wishes.

  • Dependency: Relationship where B requires something from A.

Influence

  • Influence: Causes change in behavior/attitudes of others.

  • Power: Ability to influence for desired outcomes.

  • Politics: Activities to acquire and use power for preferred outcomes.

Recognizing Influence

  • Influential individuals prompt actions others wouldn't normally take.

Sources of Influence

  • Situation: Needs, personalities involved.

  • Structure: Nature and rules of the organization.

  • Culture: Organizational values (e.g., assertive behavior seen as weak).

  • Relationships: Team dynamics matter (like football versus golf).

  • Traits: Characteristics influencing effectiveness (e.g., energy, focus).

Means of Influence

  • Formal Tools: Laws, rules, roles.

  • Informal Tools: Persuasion, alliances, moral guilt.

Extent of Influence

  • Refers to compliance probability of desires being followed.

Importance of Power and Politics

  • Necessary for directing organizational behavior towards goals.

Contrasting Leadership and Power

  • Leadership: Focus on goals, influence downward, compatibility with followers.

  • Power: Achieves goals through follower dependency, lateral and upward influence.

Bases of Power

Formal Power

  • Coercive Power: Based on fear.

  • Reward Power: Ability to distribute valuable rewards.

  • Legitimate Power: Power from position in hierarchy.

Personal Power

  • Expert Power: Based on skills or knowledge.

  • Referent Power: Based on desirable traits or resources.

Dependency: Key to Power

  • General Dependency Postulate: Greater B's dependency on A increases A's power.

  • Factors creating dependency: Importance, scarcity, nonsubstitutability of resources.

Power Tactics

  • Influence tactics include:

    • Legitimacy, rational persuasion, consultation, and pressures.

  • Effectiveness:

    • Most effective: Rational persuasion, inspirational appeals.

    • Least effective: Pressure.

Preferred Tactics by Influence Direction

  • Upward Influence: Rational persuasion.

  • Downward Influence: Inspirational appeals, rational persuasion.

  • Lateral Influence: Consultation and personal appeals.

Factors Influencing Power Tactics

  • Tactics should be sequenced; softer to harder.

  • Effectiveness varied by request perception and organizational culture.

Politics in Organizations

  • Involves use of power to affect decisions and outcomes.

  • Political Behavior: Unregulated attempts to influence advantages/disadvantages.

  • Conflicting interests and resource scarcity lead to organizational politics.

Defensive Behaviors

  • Avoiding Action: Overconforming, playing dumb.

  • Avoiding Blame: Justifying, scapegoating.

  • Avoiding Change: Self-protection.

Impression Management (IM)

  • Techniques include conformity, excuses, and self-promotion.

  • Purpose: Control impressions formed by others about oneself.