© 2013 Cengage Learning Chapter 11 Power and Political Behavior 1.Describe the concept of power....

© 2013 Cengage Learning

Chapter 11 Power and Political Behavior

1. Describe the concept of power.

2. Identify forms and sources of power in organizations.

3. Describe the role of ethics in using power.

4. Identify symbols of power and powerlessness in organizations.

5. Define organizational politics and understand the role of political skill and major influence tactics.

6. Identify ways to manage political behavior in organizations.Lea

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Learning OutcomeLearning Outcome

Describe the concept of power.


1

The Concept of Power

Power – the ability to influence another person

Influence – the process of affecting the thoughts, behavior, and feelings of another person

Authority – the right to influence another person


Zone of Indifference

the range in which attempts to influence a

person will be perceived as legitimate and will

be acted on without a great deal of thought


In September 2009, the Washington Redskins sued 72-year old Pat Hill for failing to pay for her season tickets, which she’s held for almost 50 years.

Hill admitted that she could no longer afford the tickets, which cost $5300 per year, and asked the organization to release her from the contract.

The team declined, and sued Hill, seeking payment for the rest of the contract, which runs through 2017.

Beyond the Book:Football Tickets and Power



Identify forms and sources of power in organizations.


2

Interpersonal Forms of Power

Reward Power – agent’s ability to control the rewards that the target wants

Coercive Power – agent’s ability to cause an unpleasant experience for a target

Legitimate Power – power based on position and mutual agreement; agent and target agree that the agent has the right to influence the target

Referent Power – an elusive power that is based on interpersonal attraction

Expert Power – the power that exists when an agent has specialized knowledge or skills that the target needs


Which Power Is Most Effective?

• Strongest relationship to performance & satisfaction• Transfers vital skills, abilities, and knowledge within

the organization• Employees internalize what they observe & learn

from managers they consider “experts”

Expert Power!


Intergroup Sources of Power

• Control critical resources

• Control of strategic contingencies – activities that other groups need to complete their tasks– Ability to cope with uncertainty– High degree of centrality– Nonsubstitutability


Intergroup Power

• Reduce uncertainty• Function is central to organization• Activities are difficult to replace

Groups hold power over

other groups when they…



Describe the role of ethics in using power.


3

Guidelines for Ethical Use of Power


Information Power

access to and control over

important information


[Criteria for Using Power Ethically]

Does the behavior produce a good outcome for people both inside and outside the organization?

Does the behavior respect the rights of all parties?

Does the behavior treat all parties equitably and fairly?



[Two Faces of Power]

Personal Power used for personal gain

Social Power used to create motivation used to accomplish

group goals

Rod Blagojevich, the former governor of Illinois, is a premier illustration of abuse of personal power.

In exchange for the Illinois’ seat in the US Senate, Blagojevich demanded financial compensation for himself and his wife, as well as a position as an ambassador.

Beyond the Book:The Trials of Blago



Successful Power Users

belief in the authoritysystem

belief in justice

preference for work and discipline

altruism


Identify symbols of power and powerlessness in organizations.


4

Kanter’s Symbols of Power

• Intercede for someone in trouble

• Obtain placements for favored employees

• Exceed budget limitations

• Procure above-average raises for employees

• Place items on meeting agendas

• Access to early information

• Have top managers seek out their opinion

Common Theme: Doing things for others


Kanter’s Symbols of Powerlessness

Key to overcoming powerlessness: share power and delegate decision making

Top Executives• budget cuts

• punishing behaviors• top-down communications

Managers• assign external attribution - blame others or environment

First-line Supervisors• overly close supervision

• inflexible adherence to rules• do job rather than train

Staff Professionals• resistance to change

• turf protection



Korda’s Power Symbols

TimeFurnishings Standing by


Define organizational politics and understand the role of political skill and major influence tactics.


5

Organizational Politics

the use of power and influence in

organizations


Political Behavior

actions not officially sanctioned by an

organization that are taken to influence

others in order to meet one’s personal

goals


Conditions Encouraging Political Activity

• Unclear goals

• Autocratic decision making

• Ambiguous lines of authority

• Scarce resources

• Uncertainty


1. Which characteristics do you possess? Which do you need to work on? Ask a friend what characteristics you possess.2. On the basis of the table, are you an effective political actor? Explain.3. Can we assume that all of these characteristics are worth having?

Personal Characteristics of Effective Political Actors:

Articulate Sensitive Socially adeptCompetent Popular ExtravertedSelf-confident Aggressive AmbitiousDevious “Organization man or woman”Highly intelligent Logical

Beyond the Book:Evaluate Your Political Potential


Influence Tactics


[Using Influence Tactics ]

• Develop and maintain open lines of communication in all directions

• Treat the targets of influence attempts with basic respect

• Understand that influence relationships are reciprocal

• Direct influence attempts towards organizational goals


Political Skill

ability to get things done through favorable

interpersonal relationships outside of

formally prescribed organizational

mechanisms



Four Dimensions to Political Skill

SincerityNetworking ability

Social astutenessInterpersonal influence


Identify ways to manage political behavior in organizations.


6

[Managing Political Behavior]

• Recognize it• Open communication• Clarify performance expectations• Participative management• Encourage cooperation among

work groups• Manage scarce resources well• Provide a supportive organizational

climate


Managing Up: The Boss


Managing Up: The Boss

SOURCE: From J. J. Gabarro and J. P. Kotter, “Managing Your Boss,” Harvard Business Review (May–June 1993): 155.Reprinted by permission of Harvard Business Review. Copyright © 1993 by the Harvard Business School PublishingCorporation; all rights reserved


Empowerment

sharing power in such a way that

individuals learn to believe in their ability

to do the job



Four Dimensions of Empowerment

Meaning

ImpactSelf-

determination

Competence

[Guidelines for Empowering]

• Express confidence in employees and

set high performance expectations

• Create opportunities for participative

decision making

• Remove bureaucratic constraints that

stifle autonomy

• Set inspirational and meaningful goals


Employee Empowerment Grid


A key element in Toyota’s quality control program is empowerment.

Every employee on the assembly line has access to an andon cord. If they see any quality issues, no matter how small, they can pull the cord to pause production and have the issue resolved.

Beyond the Book:Empowering Employees for Quality


Flash of Genius

1. This chapter defined power as “the ability to influence another person.”Who has power in this film scene?

2. The chapter distinguished influence from authority. What is the exampleof the use of authority in the scene?

3. Which interpersonal forms of power appear in this film scene? Drawexamples of your choices from the scene.


http://www.cengage.com/management/webtutor/nq_orgb2/bf/ch11.html

Barcelona Restaurant Group

1. Who has authority at Barcelona?

2. What forms of interpersonal power do these individuals possess?

3. Identify Kanter’s symbols of power that are evident at Barcelona Restaurant Group.


http://www.cengage.com/management/webtutor/daft_mgt10e/video/ojt/ch12.html

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© 2013 Cengage Learning Chapter 11 Power and Political Behavior 1.Describe the concept of power....

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