Power and Politics: Questions and Answers
Power and Politics: Questions and Answers
University of Phoenix
Organizational Behavior and Group Dynamics
MGT/307
Dorothy Cummings
October 29, 2011
Power and Politics: Questions and Answers
Very often power and politics are considered to be essential elements in the development of an organization, and although both are separate entities, power and politics are necessary for an organization to effectively manage its operations. Because power and politics play such a mitigating role in the organization’s development, it is necessary to distinguish and depict the similarities between the two. The following paper will compare and contrast power and politics within organizations, as well as explain the dimensions of power and influence as it would be used by a manager of a Papa John’s pizza store. Organizational Power
Organizational power as defined by Schermerhorn, Hunt and Osborn (2008), is “as the ability to get someone to do something you want done or the ability to make things happen in the way you want them to” (pg. 214). Organizational power occurs through direct or indirect approaches. Some power originates from leadership positions and the influence of that power is emitted through its use over individuals or groups to perform jobs or tasks in specific ways; influence of power is also seen in how those under the leadership respond to its use. Organizational power involves several types of power: legitimate, reward and coercive power, and process, informational, and representative power. It also entails personal power as well; these powers include expert power, rational persuasion, referent, and coalition power. Examples of organizational power are a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) exercising power over his or her subordinates within an organization. Another example is a manager exercising power over those under his or her leadership. How much power one has is determined by the level of authority he or she
University of Phoenix
Organizational Behavior and Group Dynamics
MGT/307
Dorothy Cummings
October 29, 2011
Power and Politics: Questions and Answers
Very often power and politics are considered to be essential elements in the development of an organization, and although both are separate entities, power and politics are necessary for an organization to effectively manage its operations. Because power and politics play such a mitigating role in the organization’s development, it is necessary to distinguish and depict the similarities between the two. The following paper will compare and contrast power and politics within organizations, as well as explain the dimensions of power and influence as it would be used by a manager of a Papa John’s pizza store. Organizational Power
Organizational power as defined by Schermerhorn, Hunt and Osborn (2008), is “as the ability to get someone to do something you want done or the ability to make things happen in the way you want them to” (pg. 214). Organizational power occurs through direct or indirect approaches. Some power originates from leadership positions and the influence of that power is emitted through its use over individuals or groups to perform jobs or tasks in specific ways; influence of power is also seen in how those under the leadership respond to its use. Organizational power involves several types of power: legitimate, reward and coercive power, and process, informational, and representative power. It also entails personal power as well; these powers include expert power, rational persuasion, referent, and coalition power. Examples of organizational power are a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) exercising power over his or her subordinates within an organization. Another example is a manager exercising power over those under his or her leadership. How much power one has is determined by the level of authority he or she
References: Papa John’s. 2011. Papa John’s. Retrieved October 31, 2011, from http://www.papajohns.com Robbins, S. P. & Judge, T. A. (2009). Organizational behavior (13th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall. Schermerhorn, J. R., Hunt, J. G., & Osborn, R. N. (2008). Organizational behavior (10th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.