ORGANISATIONAL BEHAVIOUR · ORGANISATIONAL BEHAVIOUR CHAPTER 13 ‘POWER AND POLITICS’ MGT 321:...
Transcript of ORGANISATIONAL BEHAVIOUR · ORGANISATIONAL BEHAVIOUR CHAPTER 13 ‘POWER AND POLITICS’ MGT 321:...
MGT 321: WASIK ALI KHAN ‘POWER AND POLITICS’
ORGANISATIONAL BEHAVIOUR
CHAPTER 13
‘POWER AND POLITICS’
MGT 321: WASIK ALI KHAN ‘POWER AND POLITICS’
Power
A capacity that A has to influence the behaviour of B so that B
acts in accordance with A’s wishes.
Power is a function of dependence. The greater the dependence,
the greater the power
Dependence: B’s relationship to A when A possesses something
that B requires
MGT 321: WASIK ALI KHAN ‘POWER AND POLITICS’
Leadership and Power
• Power does not require goal compatibility, merely dependence
• Leadership requires some congruence between the goals of
leader and follower
• Leadership focuses on downward influence on followers,
whereas power focuses on lateral and upward as well
MGT 321: WASIK ALI KHAN ‘POWER AND POLITICS’
Bases of Power
Formal Power
• Coercive Power
– dependent in fear of the negative results from failing to comply (pg. 442)
• Reward Power
– Ability to distribute reward that others view as valuable (financial or non-
financial)
• Legitimate Power
– Result of his/her position in the formal hierarchy of an organisation
MGT 321: WASIK ALI KHAN ‘POWER AND POLITICS’
Bases of Power
Personal Power
• Expert Power
– Influence based on special skills or knowledge
• Referent Power
– Influence based on identification with a person who has desirable resources or
personal traits
Personal sources of power are most effective.
Positively related to satisfaction with supervision, org. commitment and performance
Coercive power (formal) – negatively related
MGT 321: WASIK ALI KHAN ‘POWER AND POLITICS’
General Dependence Postulate
• The greater B’s dependence on A, the more power A has over B
• “In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is King”
• Reason behind firms lining up multiple suppliers
• Reason behind firms wanting financial independence
MGT 321: WASIK ALI KHAN ‘POWER AND POLITICS’
What creates Dependence?
• Importance
– Eg. Ferruccio Lamborghini (pg. 445)
• Scarcity
• Nonsubstitutability
MGT 321: WASIK ALI KHAN ‘POWER AND POLITICS’
Power Tactics
Ways in which individuals translate power bases into specific actions
• Legitimacy: relying on your authority or saying a request accords with org
policies
• Rational persuasion: logical and factual arguments
• Inspirational appeals: Developing an emotional commitment by appealing
to a target’s needs
• Consultation: Increasing target’s support by involving them in deciding
how you accomplish your plan
• Exchange: Rewarding the target with benefits in exchange for following a
request
MGT 321: WASIK ALI KHAN ‘POWER AND POLITICS’
Power Tactics (cont.)
• Personal Appeals: Asking for compliance based on friendship or loyalty
• Ingratiation: Using flattery, praise before making request
• Pressure: warnings, repeated demands and threats
• Coalition: Enlisting the aid or support of others to persuade the target to
agree
MGT 321: WASIK ALI KHAN ‘POWER AND POLITICS’
MGT 321: WASIK ALI KHAN ‘POWER AND POLITICS’
Sexual Harassment (SH)
Any unwanted activity of a sexual nature that affects an individual’s
employment and creates a hostile work environment
Ways managers can protect themselves and employees:
Make sure an active policy defines what SH is, informs employees they can
be fired and established procedures for complaints
Reassure employees that they wont encounter retaliation if they complain
Investigate every complaint and inform legal and HR dept
Make sure offenders are disciplined and terminated
Set up in-house seminars to raise employee awareness of SH issues
MGT 321: WASIK ALI KHAN ‘POWER AND POLITICS’
Political Behaviour
Activities that are not required as part of a person’s formal role
in the organisation but that influence, or attempt to influence,
the distribution of advantages and disadvantages within the
organisation
MGT 321: WASIK ALI KHAN ‘POWER AND POLITICS’
Causes and Consequences of political behaviour
MGT 321: WASIK ALI KHAN ‘POWER AND POLITICS’
MGT 321: WASIK ALI KHAN ‘POWER AND POLITICS’
Defensive Behaviours (pg. 460)
MGT 321: WASIK ALI KHAN ‘POWER AND POLITICS’
END OF CHAPTER