Organizational Politics

Presented By:Fahad Ameen

Purpose of Presentation

• The purpose of this presentation is to increase your awareness about power of an employee due to position in organization, organizational politics, employees’ reaction toward politics and good impression management in organization.

Layout of PresentationIn our presentation we will discuss– Power–Bases of power • Formal power• Personal power

–Most effective base of power– Power tactics–Organizational politics– Existence of politics– Employees’ response to organizational

politics–Defensive actions– Impression management and its

techniques–Case Study

Power• A capacity to influence the behavior of others.• Leaders use their power as a means to achieve a

goal

• Power is not revealed by striking hard or often, but

by striking true. —Honoré de Balzac

Bases of Power: Formal Power• Coercive Power:A power base that is dependent on fear of the negative results from failing to comply. • Reward Power:People comply with the wishes of another because it produces positive benefitsReward can be offered in the form of financial, but also friendship, praise and acceptance• Legitimate Power:the power a person receives as a result of his position in the organization

Personal Power• Expert Power:Influence based on special skills or knowledge.

• Referent Power:Refers to the ability of a leader to influence a follower because of the follower's loyalty, respect, friendship, admiration, affection, or a desire to gain approval.

Which Based of Power are Most Effective?

Among both bases of power personal power is most effective.

Both expert and referent power are positively related to employees’ satisfaction with supervision, their organizational commitment, and their performance,

whereas reward and legitimate power seem to be unrelated to these outcomes.

Organizational Politics

• The chase of individual agendas and self-interest in an organization without regard to their effect on the organization’s efforts to achieve its goals.

• It becomes most notable when it is outside the actor’s direct job responsibility.

Why do Politics Exist?

• Organizations are made up of people with differing values, goals and interests

• Resources are limited which causes action to resolve the shortage resulting in conflict.

• The less trust there is in an organization, the more politics

• Unclear performance evaluations promote politics

Employee Responses to Organizational Politics

Defensive Actions:• when employees see politics as a threat, they

often respond with reactive and protective behaviors to avoid action, blame, or change.

Avoiding Action:– Playing dumb: Avoiding an unwanted task by

falsely pleading ignorance or inability.– Stretching: Prolonging a task to represent

himself occupied. E.g. turning a 2 week task into 4 month job.

– Buck Passing: Transferring responsibility for the execution of task or decision to someone else

Defensive Actions (Cont’d)Avoiding Blame:– Playing Safe: taking on only

projects with a high probability of success, having risky decisions approved by superiors,qualifying expressions of judgment, and taking neutral positions in conflicts.

– Justifying: Developing explanations that lessen one’s responsibility for a negative outcome.

– Scapegoating: Placing the blame for a negative outcome on external factors that are not entirely blameworthy.

Defensive Actions (Cont’d)Avoiding Change:– Prevention: Trying to prevent a threatening

change from occurring.– Self-protection: Acting in ways to protect

one’s self-interest during change by guardinginformation or other resources.

Impression Management and its TechniquesThe process by which individuals attempt to control the impression others form of them.ConformityAgreeing with someone else’s opinionExample: A manager tells his boss, “You’re absolutely right on your reorganization plan for the western regional office. I couldn’t agree with you more.”FavorsDoing something nice for someone Example: A salesperson says to a prospective client, “I’ve got two tickets to the theater tonight that I can’t use. Take them. Consider it a thank-you for taking the time to talk with me.”

ApologiesAdmitting responsibility for an undesirable event Example: An employee says to his boss, “I’m sorry I made a mistake on the report. Please forgive me.”Self-PromotionHighlighting one’s best qualities, downplaying one’s deficits, and calling attention to one’s achievementsExample: A salesperson tells his boss, “Matt worked unsuccessfully for three years to try to get that account. I sewed it up in six weeks. I’m the best closer this company has.”EnhancementClaiming that something you did is more valuable than most other members of the organizations would.Example: A journalist tells his editor, “My work on this celebrity divorce story was really a major boost to our sales” (even though the story only made it to page 3 in the entertainment section).

FlatteryComplimenting others about their virtues in an effort to make oneself appear likeable.Example: A new sales trainee says to her peer, “You handled that client’s complaint so tactfully! I could never have handled that as well as you did.”

ExemplificationDoing more than you need to in an effort to show how dedicated and hard working you are.Example: An employee sends e-mails from his work computer when he works late so thathis supervisor will know how long he’s been working.

CASE STUDYExcel Corporation Ltd on power and politics

There was a company was located in UP with head quarters in Delhi. The Unit was manufacturing mopeds in its plant at Allahabad. The turnover of the plant was 100Crs. It made a loss of 3 crs in the lst fianancial year. The MD was under great pressure to turn it around so that he can survive. The MD MR Gupta was having second line Managed by Mr Bali VP (Finance ) and Mr Krishna VP(Production) Mr Ram kumar VP (Purchase). Mr Bali and Mr Krishna has secret desire of becoming MD after Mr Gupta leaves. The average production of Mopeds was 150 per day at present in the company . breakpoint was 200 mopeds. The plant was designed for it. The machinery was imported from Italy and was 20 yrs old. One day , production of Mopeds was only 125 in the day. MD wanted to know the reason for the same.

CASE STUDYExcel Corporation Ltd on power and politics

(Cont’d)The production head Mr .Ram Kumar knew that production was less as Machine shop did not produce a part for the engine which stopped the production. This was due to non arrival of the casting from the party. But he also informed MD that party supplying the castings was not paid money by Finance MD called Finance head, who informed him that he stopped the payment as there is dispute regarding the past supplies and he has asked the company to send their accountant for accounts reconciliation. Mr Bali also informed that Audit has taken objection last year on such payments to parties when disputes are not resolved.

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