POWER & POLITICS IN ORGANIZATION

A Definition of Power
Power

Kapasitas yang dimiliki seseorang (A) untuk mempengaruhi perilaku orang lain (B), sehingga B mau berbuat seperti yang diinginkan oleh A.

LEADERSHIP VS POWER
Leadership
Fokus pada pencapaian tujuan.
penyelarasan dengan tujuan/ keinginan para pengikutnya. Mengutamakan downward influence.

Power
Dipergunakan sebagai alat untuk mencapai tujuan. Ketergantungan para pengikut adalah syarat utama. Dipergunakan untuk mempengaruhi secara lateral maupun vertical.

Dependency: The Key To Power

Dependency
The greater Bs dependency on A, the greater the power A has over B. Possession/control of scarce resources that others need makes a manager powerful. Access to optional resources (e.g., multiple suppliers) reduces the resource holders power.

What Creates Dependency

Importance of the resource to the organization Scarcity of the resource Non-substitutability of the resource

Power in Groups

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.

Bases of Power
Formal Power (Legitimate Power) Established by an individuals position in an organization Reward Power Ability to distribute rewards that others view as valuable Information Power Access to and control over information.

Expert Power Influence based on special skills or knowledge.

Referent Power Influence based on possession by an individual of desirable resources or personal traits.

Politics in Organization
Politics: Power in Action
Political Behavior Activities that are not required as part of ones formal role in the organization, but that influence, or attempt to influence, the distribution of advantages or disadvantages within the organization.
Legitimate Political Behavior Normal everyday politics. Illegitimate Political Behavior Extreme political behavior that violates the implied rules of the game.

Is A Political Action Ethical?