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Power and politicsPower and politics

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A B

Power

A capacity that A has to influence the behavior of B so that B acts in accordance with A’s wishes.Dependency

B’s relationship to A when A possesses something that B requires.

The Meaning of Power Power is the capacity of a person, team, or organization to influence others.

The potential to influence others

People have power they don’t use and may not know they possess

Power requires one person’s perception of dependence on another person

C. Price, Vancouver Province

Contrasting Leadership and Power

LeadershipFocuses on goal

achievement.Requires goal

compatibility with followers.

Focuses influence downward.

Research FocusLeadership styles

and relationships with followers

PowerUsed as a means for

achieving goals.Requires follower

dependency.Used to gain lateral

and upward influence.

Research FocusPower tactics for

gaining compliance

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Dependency: The Key To Power

The General Dependency PostulateThe greater B’s dependency on A, the greater the

power A has over B.Possession/control of scarce organizational

resources that others need makes a manager powerful.

Access to optional resources (e.g., multiple suppliers) reduces the resource holder’s power.

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PersonA

PersonB’s Goals

PersonB

Person B’s counterpower over Person

A

Person A’s power over Person B

Number ofNumber ofViableViable

SubstitutesSubstitutes

ImportanceImportanceof theof the

ResourceResource

Scarcity Scarcity of the of the

ResourceResource

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Influence Tactics:

• Legitimacy

• Rational persuasion

• Inspirational appeals

• Consultation

• Exchange

• Personal appeals

• Ingratiation

• Pressure

• Coalitions

Influence Tactics:

• Legitimacy

• Rational persuasion

• Inspirational appeals

• Consultation

• Exchange

• Personal appeals

• Ingratiation

• Pressure

• Coalitions

Power Tactics

Ways in which individuals translate power bases into specific actions.

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Sequencing of tactics

Skillful use of a tactic

Relative power of the tactic user

The type of request attaching to the tactic

How the request is perceived

The culture of the organization

Country-specific cultural factors

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• Seek to maximize their size to attain influence.

• Seek a broad and diverse constituency for support of their objectives.

• Occur more frequently in organizations with high task and resource interdependencies.

• Occur more frequently if tasks are standardized and routine.

• Seek to maximize their size to attain influence.

• Seek a broad and diverse constituency for support of their objectives.

• Occur more frequently in organizations with high task and resource interdependencies.

• Occur more frequently if tasks are standardized and routine.

Coalitions

Clusters of individuals who temporarily come together to a achieve a specific purpose.

Sexual Harassment: Unequal Power in the Workplace Sexual Harassment

Unwelcome advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature.

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Sexual Harassment and PowerHarasser stereotypes the victim

as subservient and powerless

Harasser threatens job security or safety through coercive or legitimate power

Hostile work environment harassment continues when the victim lacks power to stop the behavior

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Political Behavior

Activities that are not required as part of one’s formal role in the organization, but that influence, or attempt to influence, the distribution of advantages or disadvantages within the organization.

Legitimate Political BehaviorNormal everyday politics.

Illegitimate Political BehaviorExtreme political behavior that violates the implied rules of the game.

Faces of Power in Action

PositiveLeadingInfluencingSellingPersuading

NegativeCoercingForcingHurtingCrushing

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Thank you for listening!

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