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Power and Politics Presentation

Power refers to the ability to influence or control others. There are several keys to having power, with dependency being the most important aspect. The greater B's dependency on A for important and scarce resources that have no substitutes, the more power A has over B. Power is required for providing direction, access to decision making, and structure in organizations. There are formal sources of power based on one's position, and personal sources based on characteristics like expertise. Politics refers to the use of power to influence decisions and achieve objectives. While politics can have positive effects, it can also negatively impact outcomes like increased stress and decreased productivity if seen as threatening.

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Masresha Tasew
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143 views30 pages

Power and Politics Presentation

Power refers to the ability to influence or control others. There are several keys to having power, with dependency being the most important aspect. The greater B's dependency on A for important and scarce resources that have no substitutes, the more power A has over B. Power is required for providing direction, access to decision making, and structure in organizations. There are formal sources of power based on one's position, and personal sources based on characteristics like expertise. Politics refers to the use of power to influence decisions and achieve objectives. While politics can have positive effects, it can also negatively impact outcomes like increased stress and decreased productivity if seen as threatening.

Uploaded by

Masresha Tasew
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Power and Politics

Power : the possession of authority


and influence over others.
• Power may exist but not be used
“power is the ability to get things
done”
Keys to have power
• Dependency : The most important aspect of
power.
Dependency postulate
• The greater B’s dependency on A, the greater
the power A has over B.

• When you possess anything that others require but


that you alone control, you make them dependent
upon you and, therefore, you gain power over them.
What Creates Dependency?
Important, if nobody wants what you’ve got, it’s not
going to create dependency. To create dependency,
therefore, the thing(s) you control must be perceived
as being important.

Scarce, scarcity refers to the uniqueness of a


resource, if something is plentiful, possession
of it will not increase your power. A resource
needs to be perceived as scarce to create
dependency.

Non-substitutable, the more that a resource


has no viable substitutes, the more power that
control over that resource provides.
Why power is required ?
• Providing direction
• Get fast access to decision making
• Maintain regular, frequent contact with
decision makers
• Assisting in the management process
• Structure to organizations
• Assist to employees in performing better
• Articulate the goals
Leadership Vs. power
Sources of Power in the organization
Cont ….
• According to French and Raven. Power has five bases :
coercive, reward, legitimate, expert, and referent.
• These five categories can be grouped in to two general group
bases of power —formal and personal
• Formal Power is based on an individual’s position in an
organization
• Personal Power - relates to individuals unique characteristics
Cont …
Coercive power : Reward power : a
the ability of a manager power of a manager to
to force an employee to give some type of
follow an order buy reward to an employee
threatening the employee as a means to influence
with punishment if the the employee to act.
employee doesn’t comply Rewards cab be
with the order • Tangible
 It is exercised through ( monetary awards,
fear salary , bonuses,
medals, certificates)
• Intangible
Eg. Demotions, pay cuts, (praise, positive feed
layoffs, terminations back , recognition ,
well timed
“thank you” )
Cont…
Legitimate power: a Expert power:
power a person receives Influence others through
special experience, skill
as a result of his or her
or knowledge that the
position in the formal
others persons doesn’t
hierarchy of an
have but needs.
organization.
Eg. Engineers in
• It represents the construction project
formal authority to
control and use Referent power :
organizational Is power of individual
resources based on over the team or follower
structural position in
, based on a high level of
the organization.
identification with,
• Eg. Power of CEO ,
admiration, or respect
project director ,
for the power holder/
politician
leader
Eg. Patriotism,
celebrities, mass leaders
Cont…
Structural source of power
• Knowledge : individuals or
groups who posses critical
knowledge are assumed to be
very power full in the
organization.
• Resource : any person who can
provide resources
• Decision making : authority to
make decisions and/or the ability
to influence the decision makers .
• Network: having access to
information because you are
centrally located also increase
power
Power tactics
Ways in which individuals translate power bases into specific actions

• Legitimacy. Relying on your authority position or saying a request accords with organizational policies or

rules.

• Rational persuasion. Presenting logical arguments and factual evidence to demonstrate a request is

reasonable.

• Inspirational appeals. Developing emotional commitment by appealing to a target’s values, needs, hopes,

and aspirations.

• Consultation. Increasing the target’s support by involving him or her in deciding how you will accomplish

your plan.

• Exchange. Rewarding the target with benefits or favors in exchange for following a request.

• Personal appeals. Asking for compliance based on friendship or loyalty.

• Ingratiation. Using flattery, praise, or friendly behavior prior to making a request.

• Pressure. Using warnings, repeated demands, and threats.

• Coalitions. Enlisting the aid or support of others to persuade the target to agree.
Cont ….
• Influence tactics are the way that individuals
attempt to influence one another in
organizations.
Cont….
Positive effect of power
• Leadership responsibility
• Organizational and personal goals
• Inspire commitment
• Creativity
• Reduction of bureaucratic obstacles
Negative effect of power
Sexual harassment
• sexual harassment is defined as unwelcome advances,
requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical
conduct of a sexual nature.
• Sexual harassment is more likely to occur when there are
large power differentials(unequal power between
supervisor–employee ).
How to protect employees from sexual
harassment?
• Make sure an active policy defines what constitutes sexual
harassment, informs employees they can be fired for
sexually harassing another employee, and establishes
procedures for making complaints.
• Reassure employees they will not encounter retaliation if
they file a complaint.
• Investigate every complaint, and inform the legal and
human resource departments.
• Make sure offenders are disciplined or terminated.
• Set up in-house seminars to raise employee awareness of
sexual harassment issues.
Organizational Politics
• Politics : power in action.
• Organizational politics (workplace politics, office politics )
is the use of power and social networking with in the
organization to achieve changes that benefit the
organization or individuals with in it.
• focuses on the use of power to affect decision making in
an organization.
• Organizational politics are informal, unofficial, and
sometimes behind-the-scenes efforts to sell ideas,
influence an organization, increase power, or achieve
other targeted objectives.
Why office politics ?
Political behavior
• Political behavior : activates that are not required as part of
one’s formal role in the organization , but that influence or
attempt to influence , the goals, criteria, or processes used for
decision making.
• Includes
withholding key information from decision makers,
Joining a coalition,
whistle blowing,
Spreading rumors,
Leaking confidential information to the media,
Exchanging favors with others in the organization for mutual benefit,
and
Lobbying on behalf of or against a particular individual or decision
alternative.
Cont…
• Legitimate political behavior : normal
every day political power
• Illegitimate political behavior : extreme
political behavior that violates and
implied rules of the game.
• How politics become real ?
 Scarcity of resource
 Unclear and non-programed
decision
 Organizational change
 Organizational culture
 Technology and external factor
Politics Is in the Eye of the Beholder
Factors Contributing to Political Behavior
• Individual factors ( personality traits, need)
• Organizational factors
Employees’ responses to Organizational
politics
Effects of politics
 Decrease job satisfaction
 Increased anxiety and stress
 Decreased in overall
productivity
 Affects concentration
 Spoils and ambience
 Changes the attitude of
employee
 Demotivated employees
 Wrong information
Defensive behaviors
• when employees see politics as a threat, they
often respond with defensive behaviors .
• Defensive behaviors are reactive and
protective behaviors to avoid action, blame, or
change.
Con…

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