The Power of Power by James March
Article Review
The Power of Power by James March.
Taiwo Animashaun
PA 6620 – Theory of Organizations
Dr. Kirsten Loutzenhiser
Troy University eCampus James Garner March is best known for his research on organizations and organizational decision making. March was born in 1928 in Cleveland, Ohio. March received his B.A from the University of Wisconsin and his Master’s along with his Ph.D from Yale University. March academic work focused on understanding how decisions happen in individuals, groups, organizations, companies and society. He explored factors that influenced decision making, such as risk orientation, leadership and the ambiguity of the present and the past. March is also known for the concept of “The Power of Power.”
March wrote “The Power of Power” back in 1966. I believe that the point March is trying to make is quoted at the end of his article stating that “Power is a disappointing concept. It gives us surprisingly little purchase in reasonable models of complex systems of social choice.” (Classics Text by Shariftz 2011, pg 318). March states that the power of power depends on the extent to which a predictive model requires and can make effective use of such a concept. What March is trying to say is that power is too broad a concept for our empirical understanding at this point and until we can define every variable involved in the exercise of power, power cannot be empirically defined. The Oxford dictionary defines ‘power’ as: The ability to make people (or things) do what they would not otherwise have done. Power is often classified into five principal forms: force, persuasion, authority, coercion, and manipulation. March focused on a specific concept of power; which are used in theories that have the following general assumptions: 1. The choice mechanism involves certain basic components (individuals, groups, roles, behaviors, labels, etc.). 2. Some amount of power is associated
The Power of Power by James March.
Taiwo Animashaun
PA 6620 – Theory of Organizations
Dr. Kirsten Loutzenhiser
Troy University eCampus James Garner March is best known for his research on organizations and organizational decision making. March was born in 1928 in Cleveland, Ohio. March received his B.A from the University of Wisconsin and his Master’s along with his Ph.D from Yale University. March academic work focused on understanding how decisions happen in individuals, groups, organizations, companies and society. He explored factors that influenced decision making, such as risk orientation, leadership and the ambiguity of the present and the past. March is also known for the concept of “The Power of Power.”
March wrote “The Power of Power” back in 1966. I believe that the point March is trying to make is quoted at the end of his article stating that “Power is a disappointing concept. It gives us surprisingly little purchase in reasonable models of complex systems of social choice.” (Classics Text by Shariftz 2011, pg 318). March states that the power of power depends on the extent to which a predictive model requires and can make effective use of such a concept. What March is trying to say is that power is too broad a concept for our empirical understanding at this point and until we can define every variable involved in the exercise of power, power cannot be empirically defined. The Oxford dictionary defines ‘power’ as: The ability to make people (or things) do what they would not otherwise have done. Power is often classified into five principal forms: force, persuasion, authority, coercion, and manipulation. March focused on a specific concept of power; which are used in theories that have the following general assumptions: 1. The choice mechanism involves certain basic components (individuals, groups, roles, behaviors, labels, etc.). 2. Some amount of power is associated
References: Wikipedia (Classics of Organizational Theory Text by Shariftz, Ott, Zang 2011). Youtubelink:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bztgYMoTEjM&feature=results_main&playnext=1&list=PLD63B94BA97B793DF