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Chapter 12

Power and Politics

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Power and Influence

• Power =

• Dependency =

• Dependence goes up as a function of:– importance

– scarcity

– nonsubstitutability

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Bases of Power and Influence

Formal Bases or Power:• Coercive power• Reward power• Legitimate power

Personal Bases of Power:• Expert power• Referent power• (but also coercive and reward power??)

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Using Power Effectively• Understand individual and structural bases of power.

• Use to accomplish collective goals.

• Use to deploy resources efficiently and effectively.

• Use to help employees grow and develop.

• Always maintain dignity and respect of those involved.

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Using Power Ineffectively

• Relies too much on one (or a few) bases of power and influence.

• Used for self-serving purposes or agenda.

• Seeks compliance through legitimate authority and giving orders.

• Uses coercion to get what’s wanted.

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( Wh

en y

ou

use

....

)

CoercivePower

RewardPower

LegitimatePower

ExpertPower

ReferentPower

Resistance Compliance Commitment

( ...others will typically respond with: )

Bases of Power and Expected Reactions from Others

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FewerBureaucratic

Obstacles

FewerBureaucratic

Obstacles

Creativity(not limited to

boss’s abilities)

Creativity(not limited to

boss’s abilities)

DecentralizedStructures

DecentralizedStructures

ProperEmployeeSelection

ProperEmployeeSelection

EquitableRewards and

Policies

EquitableRewards and

Policies

PotentialBenefits of

Empowerment

PotentialBenefits of

Empowerment

High Performance

Standards

High Performance

Standards

PositiveOrganizational

Culture

PositiveOrganizational

Culture

Confidencein EmployeesConfidence

in Employees

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Prerequisites of Empowerment

•What is empowerment?

•Do we really want/need it?

•What’s required of employees?

•What’s required of managers?

•What’s required of organizations?

•How does it develop?

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Political Behavior

Not required as part of one’s formal role, but intended to influence the distribution of advantages and disadvantages.

Political Behaviors include things like:• strategic withholding/leaking of information• spreading rumors• exchanging favors• lobbying for support• publicizing successes while hiding failures• managing perceptions more than results• “spinning” (shaping) interpretation of facts

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Politics: In the Eye of the Beholder?

“Political” Label “Effective Management” Label 1. Blaming others vs. Fixing responsibility2. “Kissing up” vs. Developing working relationships3. Apple polishing vs. Demonstrating loyalty 4. Passing the buck vs. Delegating authority 5. Covering your rear vs. Documenting decisions 6. Creating conflict vs. Encouraging change and innovation7. Forming coalitions vs. Facilitating teamwork 8. Whistle blowing vs. Improving efficiency 9. Scheming vs. Planning ahead 10. Overachieving vs. Competent and capable 11. Ambitious vs. Career-minded 12. Opportunistic vs. Astute 13. Cunning vs. Practical-minded 14. Arrogant vs. Confident 15. Perfectionist vs. Attentive to detail

Source: Based on T. C. Krell, M. E. Mendenhall, and J. Sendry, “Doing Research in the Conceptual Morass of Organizational Politics,” paper presented at the Western Academy of Management Conference, Hollywood, CA, April 1987.

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Factors Contributing toIncreased Political Behavior

Individual factors:• Authoritarian personality• High-risk propensity• External locus of control• High need for power• Need for Autonomy• Need for Security• Need for Status

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Factors Contributing toIncreased Political Behavior

(cont.)

Organizational factors:• A low trust culture• Role ambiguity• Unclear performance evaluation standards• Zero-sum reward allocation practices• Democratic decision making• High pressures for performance

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Perceptions of high organizational politicsare strongly correlated with:• Lower job satisfaction (and thus greater turnover)

• Increased job anxiety and stress

• Self-reported declines in performance

• Increased defensive behaviors (see Exh. 12-3)

• More acts of impression management

Effects of Political Behavior

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Defensive Behaviors

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Techniques Used forImpression Management

• Conformity• Excuses• Apologies• Self-promotion• Flattery• Favors• Association

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Managing Political Behavior

Encourage

Compromise

Negotiation

Relationships

DestructiveBehavior

Self-Interest

Negativity

Discourage