Power and Politics

Presented to:

Dr. Maha Hafez

Presented by:

Asmaa Osman Nevien Ahmed Wael Refaat

Chapter Learning Objectives

After studying this chapter, you should be able to:
Define power, and contrast leadership and power. Contrast the five bases of power. Identify nine power or influence tactics and their contingencies. Distinguish between legitimate and illegitimate political behavior. Identify the causes and consequences of political behavior. Apply impression management techniques. Determine whether a political action is ethical. Show the influence of culture on the uses and perceptions of politics.

Power and Politics

Why they are described as the last dirty words?
People who have power deny it. People who want it try to not look like they are seeking it. And those who are good at getting it are secretive about how they do so.

Is power always bad?

No. it is a matter of using it productively in order to be effective manager.

A Definition of Power
Power
The capacity that A has to influence the behavior of B so that B acts in accordance with As wishes
Exists as a potential or fully actualized influence over a dependent relationship. Potential: need not be actualized to be effective. You may have power but not impose it. Dependency: Alternatives. Weight of alternatives.
potential

power

dependency

Contrasting Leadership and Power

Leaders achieve goals and power is a means of facilitating their achievement

Description

Power

Leadership

Goal compatibility Direction of influence Gaining compliance The exerciser

Merely dependency Lateral and upward influence pattern. Dependent on tactics Individual or groups

Min appeal to those who are being led. Downward influence on ones followers. Dependent on style Individual

Bases of Power
Coercive
Remove something of positive value or inflict something of negative value

Formal

Reward
give something of positive value or remove something of negative value

Legitimate
It represents the formal authority to control and use organizational resources

Expert

Personal

As a result of expertise , special skill or knowledge.

Referent
Develops out of admiration and the desire to be like the person. Charisma.

Bases of Power
Formal Power
Established by an individuals position in an organization Coercive Power
A power base dependent on fear of negative results

Reward Power
Compliance achieved based on the ability to distribute rewards that others view as valuable

Legitimate Power
The formal authority to control and use resources based on a persons position in the formal hierarchy

Personal Power
- Power that comes from an individuals unique characteristics these are the most effective

which bases of power are most effective

Expert Power
Influence based on special skills or knowledge

Referent Power
Influence based on possession by an individual of desirable resources or personal traits

Base of power

Type

Employee satisfaction , commitment & performance Positively related

Personal

Expert and referent

Formal
Formal

Reward and legitimate

Coercive

unrelated
Backfire in negatively related

Dependency: The Key To Power

The General Dependency Postulate

The greater Bs dependency on A, the greater the power A has over B

Dependency is inversely proportional to the alternative sources of the supply Possession/control of scarce organizational (information, prestige,)resources that others need makes a manager powerful Access to optional resources (e.g., multiple suppliers) reduces the power you place in the hand of others.
Importance Scarcity Non substitutability

Dependency

Dependency: The Key To Power

Importance
Control things that perceived as being important Matsushita

P&G
Brand oriented. Marketing is the name of the game

Heavily tech oriented

Engineers are powerful group

Marketers are powerful group

Dependency: The Key To Power

Scarcity
In the land of the blind, the one eyed man is King
Explain the illogical behaviour of the low ranking members to gain power over the high ranking members such as; Destroying the manual that describe how a job done. Refusing to train people or show exactly what they do. Creating specialized language that inhibit others from understanding their job.

Non substitutability
The fewer viable substitutes for a resource the more power the control over the source provides.

Power Tactics
Power Tactics
Ways in which individuals translate power bases into specific actions

Nine influence tactics:

Legitimacy Rational persuasion* Inspirational appeals* Consultation* Exchange Personal appeals Ingratiation using friendly behavior prior to making a request Pressure * Coalitions

Preferred Power Tactics by Influence Direction

You can increase the chance of success by using more than one tactic at the same time or sequentially

Upward Influence Rational persuasion

Downward Influence Rational persuasion

Lateral Influence Rational persuasion

Inspirational appeals
Pressure Consultation Ingratiation Exchange Legitimacy

Consultation
Ingratiation Exchange Legitimacy Personal appeals Coalitions

Factors Influencing Power Tactics

Factors that defining which tactics are considered appropriate: Sequencing of tactics
Softer
Less risk and cost

Moderate

Harder
Greater risk and cost

Political skill of the user

the ability to influence others in such a way as to enhance their own objectives

The culture of the organization

Some culture encourage the use of participation and consultation, some encourage reason, and still others rely on pressure. So the organization itself will influence which power tactics is viewed as acceptable.

Politics: Power in Action

Organizational Politics :
The use of power to affect decision making in an organization or on members behavior

Political Behavior
Activities that are not required as part of ones formal role in the organization, but that influence, or attempt to influence, the distribution of advantages or disadvantages within the organization, the goals, criteria, or processes used for decision making
Legitimate (normal) Political Behavior Illegitimate (play hardball) violates the implied rules of the game: sabotage, whistle-blowing, and symbolic protest complaining, bypassing, obstructing

The Reality of Politics

Limited resources lead to competition and political behaviors
Gains by one individual or group are often perceived as being at the expense of others The facts dont speak for themselves, politics flourish. People within the organization will use whatever influence they can to taints the facts to support their goals and interest.

The Reality of Politics

Politics in the eye of the behavior

A behavior that one person labels as organizational politics can be characterized as instance effective management Political label Effective Management label

Blaming others
Arrogant Apple polishing Covering your rear Creating conflict Kissing up

Fixing responsibilities
Confident Demonstrating Loyalty Documenting decisions Encouraging change and innovation Developing working relationships

Causes and Consequences of Political Behavior

Factors Contributing to Political Behavior
Power leads to the tendency to view other people only in terms of qualities that serve ones personal goals and interests, while failing to consider those features of others that define their humanity
Individual factors

Political Behavior
Organization al factors

Rewards Averted Punishment

Causes and Consequences of Political Behavior (cont.)

Self monitor is more sensitive to social cues, exhibits higher levels of social conformity and is more skilled in political behavior Internal locus control believe that they can control the environment and are more prone to take proactive stance and attempt to manipulate situations to their favor

Individual factors

Machiavellian personality use politics as a means to further self interest

Perceived alternatives and expectations of success will influence the degree to which he will pursue illegitimate means of political actions

Causes and Consequences of Political Behavior (cont.)

Reallocation of resources when an organization resources are declining, changing politicking is more likely to surface

Promotion the opportunity for promotions encourages people to compete and to try to influence the decision outcome

Organizational factors
Low trust the less trust , the higher the level of political behavior of the illegitimate kind

Role Ambiguity the greater the role ambiguity, the more one can engage in political activity with little chance of it being visible

How do people respond to organizational politics

Employee Responses to Organizational Politics
Most employees have low to modest willingness to play politics and have the following reactions to politics
Decreased job satisfaction
Increased anxiety and stress Increased turnover

Organizational politics may threaten employees

Reduced performance

Defensive Behaviors
Defensive behaviors ; reactive and protective behaviors to avoid action, blame & change Employees who perceive politics as a threat have defensive reactions Avoiding Action

Over-conforming buck-passing playing dumb stalling

Bluffing playing safe Justifying scapegoating

Avoiding Blame

Avoiding Change

Prevention self-protection

Impression Management (IM)

The process by which individuals attempt to control the impression others form of them IM Techniques Conformity Excuses Apologies Self-Promotion Flattery Favors Association

IM Effectiveness
Job Interview Success
IM does work and most people use it Self-promotion techniques are important Ingratiation is of secondary importance

Performance Evaluations
Ingratiation is positively related to ratings Self-promotion tends to backfire

The Ethics of Behaving Politically

There are no clear-cut ways to differentiate ethical from unethical politicking
Three questions help:
1. What is the utility of engaging in the behavior? 2. How Does the utility of engaging in the political behavior balance out any harm done by the action?

The Ethics of Behaving Politically

3. Does the political activity conform to standards of equity and justice?

Unfortunately, the answers to these questions are often argued in ways to make unethical practices seem ethical.

Global Implications
Culture might enter any of the topics weve covered to this point.
1. Does culture influence political perception?
2. Does culture affect the power of influence tactics people prefer to use? 3. Does culture influence the effectiveness of different tactics?

Global Implications
Politics Perceptions
Negative consequences to the perception of politics seem to be fairly widespread

Preference for Power Tactics

The choice of effective tactics is heavily dependent on the culture of the country in which they are to be used

Effectiveness of Power Tactics

There is much less evidence as to whether these tactics work better in some culture than in others

Summary and Managerial Implications

Increase your power by having others depend on you more Power is a two-way street. People respond differently to various power bases. Expert and referent power are far more effective than is coercion.

Greater employee motivation, performance, commitment, and satisfaction

Personal power basis, not organizational

Summary and Managerial Implications

The power of the manager may also play a role in determining job satisfaction.

The effective manager accepts the political nature of organizations. The more political that employees perceive an organization, the lower their satisfaction.

Conclusion
Managers need to use power effectively.
Closely related to power is politics. Politics relates to the ways people gain and use power in organizations. Political activities in an organization are inevitable and managers should manage them carefully. Power and politics are present in all organizations. Power is the ability to influence people and events.

THANK YOU