Power & Politics Presented by

2 Power Power: Power refers to a capacity that A has to influence the behavior of B, so that B acts in accordance with A’ wishes. Power may be latent; it may not be apparent or exercised, even though the capacity is there. 2

3 Bases of Power Formal Power Personal / Informal Power

4 5 Insert Figure 18.1 here

5 Sources of Formal Power Legitimate Legitimate: The power to control and use organizational resources to accomplish organizational goals. Reward Reward: The power to give pay raises, promotion, praise, interesting projects, and other rewards to subordinates. Coercive Coercive: The power to give or withhold punishment, such as suspension, termination, or even the withholding of praise and goodwill. Information Information: The power that stems from access to and control over information. 7

6 Sources of Informal Power Expert Expert: Informal power that stems from superior ability or expertise. Referent Referent: Informal power that stems from being liked, admired, and respected. Charismatic Charismatic: An intense form of referent power that stems from an individual’s personality or physical or other abilities, which induce others to believe in and follow that person. 8

7 Dependency & Power Dependency gives power its influence. The greater the dependency an individual or a group has to another person or an organization, the greater the intensity of power.

8 Parameters of Dependency Three parameters to dependency: it must be scarce. it must be important. it must be non-substitutable.

9 Power Tactics Legitimacy Rational Persuasion Inspirational appeals Consultation Exchange Personal appeals Integration Pressure Coalitions

10 Power and Leadership Leadership and power are not the same: leadership focuses on a downward influence that seeks goal satisfaction. power seeks to create a dependency with influence downward, upward or laterally.

11 Power/Leadership/ Authority Relationship Power is closely related to leadership and authority Leadership / \ Authority________Power

12 Politics Those activities taken within organizations to acquire, develop, and use power and other resources to obtain one’s preferred outcome in a situation where there is uncertainty of outcome. Political behavior used to overcome opposition.

13 Political Behavior Political behavior is the method that organization members use to demonstrate power. Political behavior is not bad; in fact, it is quite necessary for healthy organizations. However, there are acceptable and unacceptable political behaviors.

14 Impression Management Impression management is a form of political behavior that influences how others see oneself

15 Impression Management Techniques Conformity Excuse Apology Acclaiming Flattery Association Favor

16 The Dark Side of Power and Politics Power and politics often have negative results because people associate them with attempts to use organizational resources for personal advantage and to achieve personal goals at the expense of other goals. 3

17 The Bright Side Managers can use power to control people and other resources so that they cooperate and help to achieve an organization’s current goals. Managers can use power to engage in politics and influence the decision-making process to promote new, more appropriate organizational goals. 4

18 Advice to Managers Recognize that power and politics influence all behavior in organizations and that it is necessary to develop the skills to be able to understand and manage them. Analyze the sources of power in the function, division, and organization in which you work to identify powerful people and the organization’s power structure. To influence organizational decision making and your chances of promotion, try to develop a personal power base to increase your visibility and individual power.

19 Summary Power and politics are present in all organizations. Sexual harassment is an issue of one having power over another (and it is illegal). Political behavior occurs when individual (s) use influence to alter a course of action. Impression management is a way to influence others’ acceptance of one.

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