Influence, Power, & Politics

1. Influence, Power, & Politics • Influence -- This refers to the outcome of an attempt to change someone’s behavior or attitude • Power -- This refers to the means by which the influence is accomplished. • Politics -- The pursuit of self-interest in an organization to protect or further either individual or organizational goals.

2. Influence Tactics • Rational persuasion -- use of logic • Emotional appeals -- use of values, loyalty, fear • Exchange -- use of rewards • Norms -- use of traditions, policies

3. Position Power • Legitimate: Power derived from a person’s position of authority in an organization • Reward: Power derived form the ability to provide positive outcomes • Coercive: Power derived from the ability to administer punishments

4. Individual Power • Information: Power derived access to information that is important to others in the organization • Expert: Power derived from an individual’s superior skills or abilities in an area values by the organization • Referent: Power derived from the extent to which an individual is well liked and admired by others.

5. Resource Dependency Model Important Resources Engineering Production Personnel Unimportant Resources Controlled resource Needed resource

6. Strategic Contingencies Model Substitutability Scarcity Unit Power Uncertainty Centrality

7. Political Tactics • Controlling access to information • Building a favorable impression • Building a support base — Politics as the art of clout or gathering debts owed • Blaming and attacking others • Networking

8. Political Action Occurs • When scarce resources are at stake • When there are conflicting interests • When uncertainly or ambiguity exists

9. Common Ethical Dilemmas • Employee conflict of interest • Where to draw the line in accepting favors or gifts • Sexual harassment • Personnel decisions based on favoritism

10. Causes of Unethical Choices • Gain or greed • Role conflict • Competition • Organizational culture

11. Ethical Guidelines Ethical 3 Activity meets standards of fairness Yes 2 Political activity respects rights of stakeholders 1 Yes No Tactics promote purely selfish interests No No Unethical Behavior Yes

12. Backwards & Forwards • Summing up — Examined power from individual and situational perspective. Looked at how departments gain and maintain power, at various political tactics and the thin line between using and abusing power. • Looking ahead — Next time, building on our knowledge of power, we explore its application in study of leadership