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Chapter 8: Power and Politics 8-241
CHAPTER OUTLINE
A Definition of Power
Bases of Power
Formal Power
Coercive Power
Reward Power
Legitimate Power
Personal Power
Expert Power
Referent Power
Evaluating the Bases of Power
Dependency: The Key to Power
The General Dependency Postulate
What Creates Dependence?
Importance
Scarcity
Nonsubstitutability
Influence Tactics
How Power Affects People
Empowerment: Giving Power to Employees
Definition of Empowerment
The Abuse of Power
Harassment in the Workplace
Workplace Bullying
Sexual Harassment
Politics: Power in Action
Definition of Political Behaviour
The Reality of Politics
Types of Political Activity
Impression Management
The Ethics of Behaving Politically
Global Implications
Views on Empowerment
Preference for Influence Tactics
Response to Politics in the Workplace
Summary
OB at Work
LEARNING OUTCOMES
6. Show the connection between sexual harassment and the abuse of power.
7. Identify the causes and consequences of political behaviour.
8. Apply impression management techniques.
9. Determine whether a political action is ethical.
CHAPTER SYNOPSIS
This chapter taps into the dynamics of organizational life. The use of power and politics is a fact of
life in organizations. If you want to get things done, you have to have power. This chapter depicts
the organization as made up of individuals and groups who seek to gain power in order to
favourably influence the allocation of organizational resources.
STUDY QUESTIONS
It is impossible to cover all the material contained in the chapter during one or two lectures. To
deal with this problem, I present my students with a list of study questions to indicate what material
they will be responsible for on exams. I tell them that they will be responsible for these, even if the
material is not covered in class. I have found that this reduces anxiety overall, and I find it helps to
make students aware that not everything in a chapter is required material. I realize instructors vary
in their approach, so this is simply my approach.
In this class we do a mini lecture on power, and specifically go over the bases of power. We then
conduct the Experiential Exercise—Understanding Bases of Power, which is in this chapter. In
debriefing the exercise, be sure that students understand the different types of power, and how to
apply them. Also discuss with students the effectiveness of the different power bases. In doing the
debrief, I use the following overhead points to make sure students understand the purpose of the
exercise.
Purpose of Exercise:
1. Observe different types of power, and see how they affect you.
2. Develop an understanding for which types of power are more likely to achieve positive (or
negative) effects.
Which gets the desired behaviour?
Which has most long lasting effect?
How does it affect relationships?
Which is most acceptable?
Be sure to check the Supplemental Material section for additional material that can be used in
class or assigned as homework.
Teaching Tip: The class could start with a discussion about How do we know someone
has power? Talk about the Forbes Magazine annuals lists of most powerful people in
the world. (You might bring in a copy of the last list published). Ask students who they
think might be on the list and write names on the board as students suggest
personalities. Then discuss why these people are on the list.
You might also ask students to search Internet for the Forbes site (see Exploring Topics
on the Web in the supplemental section) and come back with an analysis of the top 10
(or 20) on the list and discuss why they are on this list.
Power refers to a capacity that A has to influence the behaviour of B, so that B acts
in accordance with A’s wishes.
Power is a function of dependency. The more that B depends on A, the more power
A has in the relationship. A person can have power over you only if he controls
something you desire.
People who have power deny it, people who want it try not to look like they are
seeking it, and those who are good at getting it are secretive about how they do so.
Power, if used appropriately should be a positive influence in an organization.
A major theme of this chapter is that power and political behaviour are natural
processes in any group in an organization.
Bases of power refer to what power-holders control that allows them to manipulate
the behaviour of others.
1. Formal Power
Coercive Power
Power that is based on fear.
The person can make things difficult for people, and you want to avoid getting
him or her angry.
Teaching Tip: You might ask students what they think about this use of power—under
what conditions would it work, and when would it be less effective. You can also point
out that this type of power often causes people not to stop their behaviour, but to hide it
(e.g., children, who fearful of punishment from their parents, don’t necessarily stop
doing something “wrong,” but may spend more time figuring out ways to hide the
behaviour).
Reward Power
Use of extrinsic and/or intrinsic rewards to control others.
The person is able to give special benefits or rewards to people, and you find it
advantageous to trade favors with him or her.
Legitimate Power
Power derived from formal authority in the organizational hierarchy. Also called
position power.
Acceptance by members of an organization of the authority of a position.
The person has the right, considering his or her position and your job
responsibilities, to expect you to comply with legitimate requests.
Teaching Tip: You might ask students what happened in their classroom in secondary
school when a substitute teacher showed up. Though the person was formally a
teacher, many students did not accord him or her with legitimate power, knowing that
the substitute would only be there for the day.
2. Personal Power
Expert Power
Power derived from expertise, special skills, or knowledge.
The person has the experience and knowledge to earn your respect, and you
defer to his or her judgment in some matters.
Has become one of the most powerful sources of influences as the world has
become more technologically oriented.
Referent Power
Power derived from admiration of another and a desire to be like that person.
You like the person and enjoy doing things for him or her.
Teaching Tip: This is a good point to use the Experiential Exercise “Understanding
Bases of Power.” Students can start to look at how one uses the different forms of
power, and how they respond to the different forms.
When you possess anything that others require but that you alone control, you
make them dependent upon you and you gain power over them.
Teaching Tip: Ask the students if they can think of situations in which someone was
dependent on them for something (even as simple as “what’s tonight’s homework”, and
they used their power to get something they wanted.
– Importance
The things you control must be important. If nobody wants what you have, there
is no dependency.
– Scarcity
A resource must be perceived as scarce. Possession of a scarce resource
makes those who don’t have it dependent on those who do.
Examples: information or skill; maybe money, equipment, workers.
– Nonsubstitutability
The resource cannot be substituted with something else and it must be viewed
as scarce.
In today’s workplace there is a strong movement toward sharing more power with
employees and giving them responsibility for some of the decisions regarding their
jobs.
1. Definitions of Empowerment
The freedom and the ability of employees to make decisions and commitments.
Managers disagree over definition of empowerment. Alternative definitions are:
Empowerment as “delegating decision making within a set of clear boundaries”
versus empowerment as “a process of risk taking and personal growth.”
The concept of empowerment has caused much cynicism in many workplaces.
Employees are told that they are empowered, and yet they do not feel that they
have the authority to act, or feel that their manager still micro-manages their
performance.
To be fully empowered, employees need:
Access to the information required to make decisions.
Rewards for acting in appropriate, responsible ways.
Authority to make the necessary decision.
Teaching Tip: Ask students if they have faced situations in the workplace where they
were told they were empowered. Did they really feel empowered? Why or why not?
Sense of self-determination.
People who engage in harassment in the workplace are typically abusing their
power position.
Manager-employee relationship is an unequal power relationship.
Co-workers do not have position power but they can have influence and harass
peers and are the most frequent perpetrators of harassment.
Some categories of harassment are illegal in Canada.
2. Workplace Bullying
3. Sexual Harassment
Teaching Tip: I generally begin this part of the lecture by explaining that politics is a
reality in the workplace, like it or not. I tell them that when we are through, I will give
them some tips for being more aware of political behaviour. To do so, I go over the
From Concepts to Skills for this chapter. Obviously this approach depends upon how
comfortable the instructor is with workplace politics.
Those activities outside one’s formal role that influence, or attempt to influence, the
distribution of advantages and disadvantages within the organization.
The behaviour requires some attempt to use one’s bases of power and efforts to
influence the goals, criteria, or processes used for decision making.
Behaviours include withholding key information from decision makers, joining a
coalition, whistle-blowing, spreading rumours, leaking confidential information,
exchanging fours with others, and lobbying on behalf of or against an individual or a
decision.
Organizations are made up of groups and individuals who have differing values,
goals and interests.
Resources in organizations are limited. Potential for conflict over limited resources
can lead to political behaviour.
Most decisions are made in a climate of ambiguity where facts are rarely fully
objective, people will use whatever influence they can to spin the facts to support
their own goals and interests.
Teaching Tip: This can be an opportunity to point them to Exhibit 8-3 “A Quick
Measure of How Political Your Workplace Is” so that students can get a sense of what
brings about politics.
Teaching Tip: Ask students to describe situations where they have tried to use political
behaviour to get what they wanted. What tactics did they use? You might also have
them work on the Understanding Influence Tactics activity in the supplemental
materials section that follows.
4. Impression Management
The process by which individuals attempt to control the impression others form of
them.
More likely used by high self-monitors who try to read the situation and adjust their
behaviour accordingly.
A number of studies have examined the effectiveness of impression management
techniques in a variety of work situations. Studies show that impression
management behaviour is positively associated with salary increases, and more
rapid promotions.
Evidence shows that most job applicants use impression management techniques
in job interviews, and that self-promotion techniques work in these situations.
In relation to ethical behaviour there are several questions that should be asked:
What is the utility of engaging in politicking? Look for reasons that people
engage in impression management.
How does political behaviour balance out any (potential) harm it will do to
others? Immoral people can justify almost any behaviour.
Does the activity conform to standards of equity and justice? Powerful people
are good at explaining self-serving behaviours in terms of organization’s best
interests.
Teaching Tip: I like to end this discussion by reminding students that politics is the
reality of all organizations, and it really does help to understand it. There are additional
tips for improving one’s political effectiveness in the From Concepts to Skills exercise.
Another activity could be based on this statement: “Politics is not inherently bad. It is
merely a way to get things accomplished within organizations.” Do you agree or
disagree? Have students debate the issue.
You could also introduce here the Case Incident – Barry’s Peer Becomes His Boss.
Notes
I. Global Implications
1. Views on Empowerment
SUMMARY
An effective manager accepts the political nature of organizations. Some people are significantly
more politically astute than others, meaning that they are aware of the underlying politics and can
manage impressions. Those who are good at playing politics can be expected to get higher
performance evaluations and, hence, larger salary increases and more promotions than the
politically naïve or inept. The politically astute are also likely to exhibit higher job satisfaction and
be better able to neutralize job stressors.
Few employees relish being powerless in their job and organization. People respond differently to
the various power bases. Expert and referent power are derived from an individual’s personal
qualities. In contrast, coercion, reward, and legitimate power are essentially organizationally
derived. Competence especially appears to offer wide appeal as a political skill.
OB AT WORK
For Review
(Note to instructors: The answers here are starting points for discussion, not absolutes!)
1. What is power?
Power refers to a capacity that A has to influence the behavior of B, so that B acts in
accordance with A’s wishes. Power may exist but not be used. It is, therefore, a capacity or
potential. Probably the most important aspect of power is that it is a function of dependency.
The greater B’s dependence on A, the greater is A’s power in the relationship. Dependence, in
turn, is based on alternatives that B perceives and the importance that B places on the
alternative(s) that A controls. A person can have power over you only if he or she controls
something you desire.
Coercive power: a power base dependent on fear of negative results valuable. Reward power:
compliance achieved based on the ability to distribute rewards that others view as valuable.
Legitimate power: the formal authority to control and use resources based on a person’s
position in the formal hierarchy. Expert power: influence based on special skills or knowledge.
Referent power: influence based on possession by an individual of desirable resources or
personal traits.
Probably the most important aspect of power is that it is a function of dependency. The greater
B’s dependence on A, the greater is A’s power in the relationship. Dependence, in turn, is
based on alternatives that B perceives and the importance that B places on the alternative(s)
that A controls.
4. What are the nine most often identified power or influence tactics and their contingencies?
Empowerment is the freedom and the ability of employees to make decisions and
commitments. Sometimes these are accorded within a set of clear boundaries and can
encompass a process of risk-taking and personal growth on part of the employee. True
empowerment comes when employees have access to necessary information, and the
authority to make decisions. Employees also need to be rewarded appropriately.
6. What is the connection between sexual harassment and the abuse of power?
Sexual harassment is any unwanted activity of a sexual nature that affects an individual’s
employment and creates a hostile work environment. Sexual harassment isn’t about sex: it is
about abusing an unequal power relationship. Harassment can damage the well-being of the
individual, work group, and organization.
There are both individual and organizational factors involved. Researchers have identified
certain personality traits, needs, and other factors that are likely to be related to political
behavior. For example, employees who are high self-monitors, possess an internal locus of
control, and have a high need for power are more likely to engage in political behavior. The high
self-monitor is more sensitive to social cues and is more likely to be skilled in political behavior
than the low self-monitor. Individuals with an internal locus of control are more prone to take a
proactive stance and attempt to manipulate situations in their favor. The Machiavellian
personality is comfortable using politics as a means to further his/her self-interest. An
individual’s investment in the organization, perceived alternatives, and expectations of success
will influence the tendency to pursue illegitimate means of political action. Political activity is
probably more a function of the organization’s characteristics than of individual difference
variables. When an organization’s resources are declining, when the existing pattern of
resources is changing, and when there is opportunity for promotions, politics is more likely to
surface. Organizational culture is characterized by low trust, role ambiguity, etc. Making
organizations less autocratic by asking managers to behave more democratically is not
necessarily embraced by all individual managers.
This is the process by which individuals attempt to control the impression others form of them.
We know that people have an ongoing interest in how others perceive and evaluate them.
Being perceived positively by others should have benefits for people in organizations. Some IM
techniques include:
Conformity
Excuses
Apologies
Self-Promotion
Flattery
Favors
Association
9. What standards can you use to determine whether a political action is ethical?
There is no obvious or clear-cut way, but there are three questions that may help:
1. What is the utility of engaging in the behavior?
2. Does the utility balance out any harm done by the action?
3. Does the action conform to standards of equity and justice?
POINT/COUNTERPOIT
Summary
Point:
Research shows that people with power and status command more respect from others, have
higher self-esteem and enjoy better health than those of less stature. McClelland’s theory of
motivation measures people’s desire for power and concludes that many more people really want
power than would admit, or even consciously realize it. Power is good for us. It gives us more
control over lives and freedom to do as we wish.
Counterpoint:
Majority of people want respect, not power. Most individuals feel uncomfortable when placed in
powerful positions. The main reason for wanting power is to get respect and we seek it for more
benevolent ends that allows us to do good.
Class Exercise
1. Describe an incident where you tried to use political behaviour in order to get something you
wanted. What tactics did you use?
Students will give a variety of examples. Have them link their strategies to the list on page 297.
2. In thinking about the incident described above, were your tactics effective? Why?
Based on their answers to this you might have them develop some hypotheses or
contingencies about when these different tactics might be effective.
3. Describe an incident where you saw someone engaging in politics. What was your reaction to
observing the political behaviour? Under what circumstances do you think political behaviour
is appropriate?
Many individuals are somewhat disturbed by the use of politics, in part because they don’t
know how to engage in political behaviour themselves. Political behaviour is a reality of
organizational life. However, they should distinguish between political behaviour and bullying
behaviour.
EXPERIENTIAL EXERCISE
Have the students help you summarize the scores for each of the influence types, and then put the
numbers up on the board or overhead for each power type and the four questions. This allows you
to summarize what the students find.
Be aware that students do not always correctly perform the role play, i.e., they don’t always stick to
the influence attempt they’ve been given. So be ready to explain some of the anomalies in the
findings if there are any.
The students can use their answers to the questions with the exercise to develop a contingency
approach to the use of power. That is, they can develop an answer to “under what conditions will a
particular kind of influence be most.
ETHICAL DILEMMA
Summary
We tend to adapt our behaviour to suit those in power; after all, they are in positions of authority for
a reason. At times, however, powerful authority figures in organizations push our actions into
ethical grey areas. Power persuades and often there is pressure from above to perform.
Questions
(Note to instructors: The answers here are starting points for discussion, not absolutes!)
1. Do you think people tailor their behavior to suit those in power more than they admit? Do you?
2. One writer commented that these acts of bending behavior to suit those in power remind
“anyone who is under pressure to carry out orders from ‘above’ to constantly question the
validity and prudence of what they’re being asked to do.?” Why don’t we do this more often?
Responses to this question will vary by student. Many will probably suggest however, that it
is human nature not to question authority.
3. Why do some individuals resist the effects of power more strongly than others?
Again, students will respond to this question in different ways depending on their own
experiences and perspectives. Some students may suggest that an individual’s early years
and attitude toward authority could be a major factor in just how much he or she questions
authority later in life.
CASE INCIDENT
Summary
Questions
(Note to instructors: The answers here are starting points for discussion, not absolutes!)
1. If you were Samantha Parks, how would you prioritize which projects or parts of projects to
delegate?
If Ms. Parks’ work was the reason the client came to her firm, then she should be the primary
account manager on the new account. If the client came to the firm through general recruitment
or because of firm reputation, then delegation is a distinct option. Ms. Parks can retain overall
oversight working with assigned account personnel to ensure they fulfill her vision of company
performance.
2. In explaining what makes her decisions hard, Parks said, “I hire good people, creative people,
to run these projects, and I worry that they will see my oversight and authority as interfering with
their creative process.” How can she deal with these concerns without giving up too much
control?
The student should indicate that Ms. Parks should ensure that her role of oversight is defined in
all policy and operations of the firm. If the employees are informed and the criteria are
reinforced, then their expectations will be for the oversight and it will not be perceived as
intrusion.
3. Should executives try to control projects to maintain their position of authority? Do they have a
right to control projects and keep in the loop on important decisions just so they can remain in
charge?
Responses to this question will vary by student. In general, students are likely to focus on the
fine line between too little control and too much control. Managers need to ensure that goals
are achieved, but too much control could stifle initiative and creativity
CASE INCIDENT
Summary
Company reorganizations often impose unexpected changes on employees. In this case the
change seemed to have negative effects as a former colleague, albeit a bit more senior one,
became the boss of his former co-worker. Even though on surface the relationship seemed
positive, the background facts showed that the new boss was not only taking credit for the
employees work, but seemed to undermine the employees future prospects with the higher-ups.
The employee was left wondering what his future in the company would be and how could he
continue working with a boss who apparently was willing to do anything to get ahead.
Questions
(Note to instructors: The answers here are starting points for discussion, not absolutes!)
1. Should Barry complain about his treatment by Raphael? To whom? If he did complain, what
influence tactics should Barry use?
Responses to this question will vary by student, but many will suggest that Barry should indeed
engage in a conversation about his treatment. Many students will probably suggest that Barry
begin with his new boss, Raphael, and move on from there if necessary. Rational persuasion,
consultation, personal appeals, and or ingratiation may be among the suggested power tactics.
2. Studies have shown that those prone to complaining or “whining” tend to have less power in an
organization. Do you think whining leads to diminished power and influence, or the other way
around? How can Barry avoid appearing to be a whiner?
3. Do you think Barry should look for another job? Why or why not?
Again, responses to this question will vary by student, however, many will probably suggest
that because Barry like the company he works for, he should try to resolve his problems before
making the decision to leave.
Politicking
Practising Skills
This case asks students to analyze the effects of power on resource distribution. A likely way to
approach this problem is to consider the dependency in the situation—for some reason Maria has
determined that Sean is more useful to her that the “star marketing manager.” So the marketing
manager needs to increase the dependency that Maria feels. This could happen in a number of
ways, so have students explore how the troubled marketing manager could increase importance
of his/her department, increase the scarcity of the department, and increase its nonsubstitutability.
The marketing manager has to be more proactive, showing Maria how important and useful s/he is
to the organization. At the moment, the manager seems more focused on what Maria is giving to
Sean, rather than what s/he can do to show how valuable they are to the organization.
Reinforcing Skills
The purpose of this exercise is to encourage students to apply material from the chapter in various
ways. The suggested activities encourage students to think about how they use influence tactics
and whether these tactics are successful. The first activity asks students to monitor their behaviour
for a week. The second activity encourages students to think about how networking and politics
can help people move up in organizations.
KEY TERMS
SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL
NOTE: You may need to copy/paste the following links to your web browser.
1. Knowing about “personal power” is one thing—applying it to everyday work life is another.
Learn how Craig Ohlson of Activation does it to be the top salesperson in a featured article in
Inc. Magazine. Point to: www.inc.com/magazine/19950201/2142.html to read the article. Write
a short reaction paper describing the power tactics he uses to influence his customers. Could
any of his methods be applied to an activity you are involved in—why or why not?
2. Ethics in the boardroom? You bet, despite the bad news we heard from the media on a daily
basis. CEO’s are talking about, and doing something about, ethics everyday. Point to
http://www.refresher.com/archives44.html to learn how apply an ethical framework to your
activities. Click on the link for spiritualityhealth.com and take the self-test to become more
aware of your own personal values. Write three things in a short journal entry you learned
about yourself after reading this website.
3. Go to: www.itstime.com/oct97map.htm and develop your own personal power map for an
organization your are involved (or have been involved) with. Bring it to class for discussion.
4. For a wide variety of resources on business ethics (articles, cases, corporate ethics codes,
publications, and organizations visit: http://www.web-miner.com/busethics.htm . Browse
through the various resources. Select one or two articles to read, print them out, and bring to
class to discuss during next class session.
5. Who are the most powerful people? Forbes Magazine conducts now an annual ranking of the
most powerful women, business people, and celebrities. Students should go to:
www.forbes.com/powerful-people/. They should peruse the lists and then analyze why these
people are so powerful and why they are on the lists.
Teaching Tip: I use this last activity in the beginning of the class. We discuss the question: How
do we know someone has power? I talk about Forbes and these annuals lists. I ask students who
they think might be on the list and write names on the board as students suggest personalities.
Then I ask students to search Internet for the Forbes site and come back with an analysis of the
top 10 (or 20) on the list and discuss why they are on this list.
Lead a discussion of the ethicality of using personal contacts to get “what you want” in the
following situation.
Situation
The administration of a state university wants all students—full, part-time, non-traditional— to pay
a fee every semester for the next three years to fund the building of a new physical learning center
for the campus. Students are upset because they do not want to pay for something they will not
use. The student government has been ineffective in getting the administration or board to hear
the students. You discover that your roommate’s parents are major donors to the university, are
well-respected alumni, and are golfing buddies with the university’s president. Your roommate
does not care about the fee because money is not an issue, but to you and your other friends, with
heavy loans and having to work, this is a big deal. You have been helping your roommate survive
a couple of key classes by tutoring him/her and helping with papers by offering suggestions. Your
roommate went from failing to a C+ in these classes. You believe that your roommates’ parents
could influence the university president’s final decision.
Should you use your relationship with your roommate to affect the administration’s final
decision?
Do you have enough political capital to get your roommate to help? How could you
increase, and how would you cash in your political capital?
IN-CLASS EXERCISE
IN-CLASS EXERCISE
Understanding Empowerment
1. Offer students the opportunity to design the remainder of this course for the
semester—what content is to be covered, how performance will be measured, whether
there should be lecture or discussion, etc. Some students will take the opportunity; the
majority probably won’t. Discuss their ideas, and record them on the board.
2. Ask the students who did not participate or who communicated that they did not want to
design the course or didn’t know enough to do so, why they felt that way, etc.
3. Use both, those who redesign the class and those who did not participate, to discuss
whether they think employees want to be “empowered.” Have them offer reasons,
experiences, etc. to support their position. Ask if this experience supports one or the other
position.
4. Students may argue that 1) your offer was not real or 2) there is a difference between
college and work. Help them explore why they did not think the offer was real and realize
that the principle is the same here as in work, only the immediate context is different.
5. Finally, discuss why these empowerment efforts are failing.
CHAPTER
1
8
Power and Politics
Power and Politics LO1; Material pertinent to this discussion is found under “A
6 Definition of Power.”
• Power
– A capacity that A has to influence the behaviour of
B, so that B acts in accordance with A’s wishes.
• Dependence
– B’s relationship to A when A possesses something
that B needs.
Evaluating the Bases of Power LO2; Material pertinent to this discussion is found under
9 “Bases of Power.”
People will respond in one of three ways:
Exhibit 8‐1 Continuum of Responses to Power LO2; Material pertinent to this discussion is found under
10 “Bases of Power.”
Leaders’ Use of Power LO2; Material pertinent to this discussion is found under
11 “Bases of Power.”
• The least effective power bases are the ones most
likely to be used by managers.
– Coercive, legitimate, and reward
– Easiest to implement
Dependency: The Key to Power LO3; Material pertinent to this discussion is found under
12 “Dependency: The Key to Power.”
• Importance When you possess anything that others require but that you
– The things you control must be important.
alone control, you make them dependant upon you and you
• Scarcity gain power over them. Dependency is inversely proportional to
– A resource must be perceived as scarce. the alternative sources of supply. If something is plentiful,
• Non‐substitutability
possession of it will not increase your power.
– The resource cannot be substituted with
something else.
Copyright © 2016 Pearson Canada Inc.
How Power Affects People LO4; Material pertinent to this discussion is found under “How
16 Power Affects People.”
• Does power corrupt?
• Power can lead people to place their own
interests ahead of others
• Powerful people react (more negatively) to
any threats to their competence
• More willing to denigrate others
• Power also leads to overconfident decision
making
Copyright © 2016 Pearson Canada Inc.
Empowerment: Giving Power to Employees LO5; Material pertinent to this discussion is found under
17 “Empowerment: Giving Power to Employees.”
• The freedom and the ability of employees to make View 1: Empowerment starts at the top, with specific goals and
decisions and commitments.
task assigned, responsibility delegated, and people be held
• Managers disagree over definition of empowerment. accountable for their results.
– Empowerment as delegating decision making
within a set of clear boundaries View 2: Empowerment starts at the bottom, considering the
versus employees needs, showing them what empowered behaviour
– Empowerment as “a process of risk taking and
personal growth” looks like, building teams, encouraging risk-taking, and
Copyright © 2016 Pearson Canada Inc. demonstrating trust in employee’s ability to perform.
The concept of empowerment has caused much cynicism in
many workplaces. Employees are told that they are
empowered, and yet they do not feel that they have the
authority to act, or feel that their manager still micromanages
their performance.
Conditions for True Empowerment LO5; Material pertinent to this discussion is found under
18 “Empowerment: Giving Power to Employees.”
1. There must be a clear definition of the values and
mission of the company.
2. Company must help employees acquire the
relevant skills.
3. Employees need to be supported in their decision
making, and not criticized when they try to do
something extraordinary.
4. Employees need to be recognized for their efforts.
Characteristics of Empowered People LO5; Material pertinent to this discussion is found under
19 “Empowerment: Giving Power to Employees.”
• Sense of self‐determination
– Employees are free to choose how to do their work;
they are not micromanaged.
• Sense of meaning
– Employees feel that their work is important to them;
they care about what they are doing.
• Sense of competence
– Employees are confident about their ability to do their
work well; they know they can perform.
• Sense of impact
– Employees believe they can have influence on their
work unit; others listen to their ideas.
Copyright © 2016 Pearson Canada Inc.
Exhibit 8‐2 Characteristics of Empowered People LO5; Material pertinent to this discussion is found under
20 “Empowerment: Giving Power to Employees.”
a) No Discretion (Point A) is the typical assembly line job,
highly routine and repetitive.
b) Task Setting (Point B) is typical of most workers who have
been empowered today. The worker can determine how the
job gets done, but has no discretion in determining what jobs
get done.
Copyright © 2016 Pearson Canada Inc. c) Participatory Empowerment (Point C) represents the
situation of autonomous work groups that are given some
decision-making authority over both job content and job
context.
d) Mission Defining (Point D) in one in which a design team, for
instance, sets out the broad goals of a project, but is not be
responsible for carrying out the tasks of that project.
e) Self-Management (Point E) represents employees who have
total decision-making power for both job content and job
context.
The Abuse of Power: Harassment in the Workplace LO6; Material pertinent to this discussion is found under “The
21 Abuse of Power: Harassment in the Workplace.”
• People who engage in harassment in the workplace are
typically abusing their power position.
– Manager‐employee
• Where position power gives the manager the
capacity to reward and coerce.
– Co‐workers
• Although co-workers appear to engage in
somewhat less severe forms of harassment than
do managers, co-workers are the most frequent
perpetrators of harassment, particularly sexual
harassment, in organizations.
Copyright © 2016 Pearson Canada Inc.
The Abuse of Power: Workplace Bullying LO6; Material pertinent to this discussion is found under “The
22 Abuse of Power: Harassment in the Workplace.”
• Bullying can happen across levels of the
organization, or among co‐workers.
The Abuse of Power: Sexual Harassment LO6; Material pertinent to this discussion is found under “The
23 Abuse of Power: Harassment in the Workplace.”
• The Supreme Court of Canada definition People who engage in sexual harassment in the workplace are
– Unwelcome behaviour of a sexual nature in the workplace
that negatively affects the work environment or leads to typically abusing their power position. The issue of sexual
adverse job‐related consequences for the employee.
• There is disagreement as to what specifically constitutes harassment has received increasing attention by corporations
sexual harassment.
– Unwanted physical touching. and the media because of the growing ranks of female
– Recurring requests for dates when the person is clearly
uninterested.
employees, especially in non-traditional work environments,
– Coercive threats that a person will lose her or his job if she
or he refuses a sexual proposition
and a number of high-profile cases.
Copyright © 2016 Pearson Canada Inc. You might ask students their reaction to the following: In 2003,
the University of California, which includes Berkeley,
implemented a policy that forbids romantic relationships
between professors and their students.
Additional Examples of Sexual Harassment LO6; Material pertinent to this discussion is found under “The
24 Abuse of Power: Harassment in the Workplace.”
• More subtle forms (harder to interpret):
– Unwanted looks or comments
– Off‐colour jokes
– Sexual artifacts such as nude calendars in the
workplace
– Sexual innuendo
– Misinterpretations of where the line between
“being friendly” ends and “harassment” begins
Politics: Power in Action LO7; Material pertinent to this discussion is found under
26 “Politics: Power in Action.”
• Political behaviour is those activities that
influence, or attempt to influence, the
distribution of advantages and disadvantages
within the organization.
Why Do Politics in an Organization Exist? LO7; Material pertinent to this discussion is found under
27 “Politics: Power in Action.”
• Organizations are made up of groups and Organizations are made up of individuals and groups with
individuals who have differing values, goals
and interests.
different values, goals, and interests. This creates the potential
for conflict over resources, which are limited, and this turns
• Resources in organizations are limited. potential conflict into real conflict. Gains by one individual or
group are often perceived as being at the expense of others
• Performance outcomes are not completely
clear and objective. within the organization. These forces create competition
Copyright © 2016 Pearson Canada Inc. among members for the organization's limited resources.
Types of Political Activity Lo7; Material pertinent to this discussion is found under
30 “Politics: Power in Action.”
• Attacking or blaming others
• Using information
• Managing impressions
• Building support for ideas
• Praising others
• Building coalitions
• Associating with influential people
• Creating obligations
Copyright © 2016 Pearson Canada Inc.
The Ethics of Behaving Politically LO8; Material pertinent to this discussion is found under
32 “Politics: Power in Action.”
• No clear‐cut ways to differentiate ethical from Is there an effective way to engage in office politics that is less
unethical politicking
• Outright lies may be an attempt at impression likely to be disruptive or negative? Fast Company, an online
management. Is it worth the risk? business magazine, identifies several rules that may help to
• Often difficult to weigh the costs and benefits of
political action ‐ Need to consider equity and fairness improve the climate of the organization, while negotiating
• Powerful people can persuasively argue that unfair
actions are really fair and just, or in the best interests
through the office politics maze:
of the organization (1) Nobody wins unless everybody wins.
Copyright © 2016 Pearson Canada Inc. (2) Don’t just ask for opinions.
(3) Everyone expects to be paid back.
(4) Success can create opposition.
OB at Work: For Review Material pertinent to this discussion is found at the end of the
35 chapter.
1. What is power?
2. What are the five bases of power?
3. What is the role of dependence in power
relationships?
4. What are the nine most often identified
power or influence tactics and their
contingencies?
5. What does it mean to be empowered? What
factors lead to empowerment?
Copyright © 2016 Pearson Canada Inc.
OB at Work: For Review Material pertinent to this discussion is found at the end of the
36 chapter.
6. What is the connection between harassment
and the abuse of power?
7. What are the causes and consequences of
political behaviour?
8. What are some examples of impression
management techniques?
9. What standards can you use to determine
whether a political action is ethical?
Copyright © 2016 Pearson Canada Inc.
OB at Work: For Managers Material pertinent to this discussion is found at the end of the
37 chapter.
■ As a manager who wants to maximize your power,
you will want to increase others’ dependence on
you. You can, for instance, increase your power in
relation to your boss by developing knowledge or a
skill she needs and for which she perceives no ready
substitute.
■ You will not be alone in attempting to build your
power bases. Others, particularly employees and
peers, will be seeking to increase your dependence
on them, while you are trying to minimize it and
increase their dependence on you. This push and pull
is continual.
Copyright © 2016 Pearson Canada Inc.
OB at Work: For Managers Material pertinent to this discussion is found at the end of the
38 chapter.
■ Try to avoid putting others in a position where they
feel they have no power.
OB at Work: For Managers Material pertinent to this discussion is found at the end of the
39 chapter.
■ Consider that employees who have poor political
skills or are unwilling to play the politics game
generally relate perceived organizational politics to
lower job satisfaction and self‐reported
performance, increased anxiety, and higher
turnover. Therefore, if you are good at organizational
politics, help your employees understand the
importance of becoming politically savvy.
Breakout Group Exercises Material pertinent to this discussion is found at the end of the
40 chapter.
• Form small groups to discuss the following
topics
1. Describe an incident where you tried to use political behaviour
in order to get something you wanted. What tactics did you
use?
2. In thinking about the incident described above, were your
tactics effective? Why?
3. Describe an incident where you saw someone engaging in
politics. What was your reaction to observing the political
behaviour? Under what circumstances do you think political
behaviour is appropriate?
Copyright © 2016 Pearson Canada Inc.
Experiential Exercise:
Understanding Bases of Power
Material pertinent to this discussion is found at the end of the
41 chapter.
Instructions for Role Play
• Working in your group, read the instructions
for the assignment.
Role Play Scenario Material pertinent to this discussion is found at the end of the
42 chapter.
• You are the leader of a group that is trying to develop a
website for a new client. One of your group members, who
was assigned the task of researching and analyzing the
websites of your client’s competition, has failed twice to bring
the analysis to scheduled meetings, even though the member
knew the assignment was due. Consequently, your group is
falling behind in getting the website developed. As leader of
the group, you have decided to speak with this team member,
and use your specific brand of power to influence the
individual’s behaviour.
Concepts to Skills: Politicking Material pertinent to this discussion is found at the end of the
43 chapter.
1. Frame arguments in terms of organizational goals.
2. Develop the right image.
3. Gain control of organizational resources.
4. Make yourself appear indispensable.
5. Be visible.
6. Develop powerful allies.
7. Avoid “tainted” members.
8. Support your manager.
Transcriber’s Note
The formatting of the notes was substantially altered for this edition.
On page 41, “Greek in culture Roman by political descent” was corrected to “Greek in
culture, Roman by political descent.”
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