An Examination of Power and Politics in Organizations Essay Example for Free

An Examination of billet and government in Organizations EssayAbstractMany studies strike examined the affects spot and politics have on organizations. In researching The University of Phoenixs Online Library and current web sites training shows that power and politics dominates the work place and organizations more than any other psycheal skill. In order to introduce unitary must have power to act, set and enforce rules. Politics are found in the majority of organizations, on that pointfore it is crucial for employees to recognize the political game in their own organization and purpose rather to participate and benefit from the positives of politics or non. An Examination of Power and Politics in OrganizationsPower and politics are dominating forces with in organizations. Organizations are lead by people with power. Power sack be awarded by management to a person by title, current power which is more nut and recognizable. Many leaders assume power by such thing s as knowledge, data or seniority. through and through research positd online and knowledge obtained from ad hominem fills a comparison was conducted on power and politics in organizations.The structure of a ag sort is important in determining how the squad will perform. Each aggroup member should contri savee skills to enhance the aggroups overall performance. Individual work habits and leadership styles will determine if the group has the faculty to join together and complete their common goals. Teams create environments that bring out the best in each team member. A commitment to legally communicating information and ideas is a characteristic of an effective team.That is why the usage of coercion and politics to gain reinforcement over team members can be rattling destructive to team dynamics. Coercion is defined by the Oxford English Dictionary is to force one to act or think in a certain manner, to dominate, restrain, or control by force. frequently at work or in a group environment one might hold this form of power to control dominanceover the group. This usage of power can often hold up other team members conform. In a conquestful team conformity is not a recyclable tactic. The usage of politics and coercion to gain advantage over team members is a danger to the success of the project. Once team members realize that their input is not wanted more than likely they will line from the process altogether. The USA today states, major powers dynamics often change from the usage of intimidation. (2004)For example a team must work together to process information for the desired results. Once a member takes advantage of a situation and wont coercion to gain advantage it often leads to possibility. An example of such disaster happened recently within our team. A couple classes ago we had a member that was an extremely dominant person. The person was precise smart and well educated but had a problem understanding the syllabus. Everybody in the team would understand the group assignments one way but she would always play devil advocate on the simplest details. She would use coercion to gain advantage over the other team members when we would meet to complete group assignments. The entire team was guilty of beneficial going with the flow, not wanting to cause any problem. She was so convincing we felt she had to be correct The result was a low grade, because the content was not correct. So the team from that moment on did not allow that dominant personality use politics and power to manipulate the group any more.Organizational manner Ch. 15 pg. 3 defines power through information as Information power is the access to and/or the control of information. It is one of the most important aspects of legitimacy. In the majority organization the person with the information controls the manner in which the company operates. Expert power is the ability to control through the possession of knowledge, experience, or judgment that the other person does not have but needs. This source of power is often used by subordinates. Judson, P. stated in Worldwide Energy although at that place are several directors and autobuss to organizations the experts of the business actually controls progress.In the public works and engineering department there are several directors and managers. Hierarchical authority has put several rules, guide lines and manuals together through information they obtain for employees tofollow when completing tasks and goals. Supervisors and employees who actually work in the field have the knowledge and experience therefore tasks are completed in a different manner than the manuals implement. The knowledge subordinates obtain through actually doing the work gives them more power and control in decision made about the organization.Politics are in all organizations and employees are affected in some way by politics. As stated in by Schermerhorn, Hunt and Osborn, any study of power and beguile inevitably leads to the radical of politics. For umpteen, this word may conjure up thoughts of illicit deals, favors and special personal relationships. Although these actions are considered negative by the observer, the organization and the recipients view politics as positive. Organizations use politics to influence employees through promotions and rewards. The City of Houston habitual Works and Engineering Department mainly promotes from with in the organization. This is a positive showing by management, because employees incur effort are rewarded.When you think of power and politics rarely are these images positive or inspiring. in corporal American today has fallen far from the one time logic that rewards are based only when on individual performance. Today more rewards are based on the managements need for power. This ability, power, to have person else do something in the way you want it done and the precise time you need it done is an raise and influential force. The re are several types of ruling powers that are used in todays businesses. Perhaps, the most prefer by employees is known as the Reward Power. The Reward Power enables a manager to express their handgrip to an individual or group for a job well done by offering the employee or team members a bonus.Such pleasantries can be in the form of a pay increase, personal praise, or advancement within the company. Unlike the Coercive Reward, probably the most disliked by associates, is a system in which the person in charge uses punishment to rule. Examples of such authority could be the withholding of merit increases, denying a promotion, or even termination. Powers such as these are key elements to leadership success. Unfortunately, they look to represent the seamy side of management (Schermerhorn, 2003). There are other powers used in organisational structures, such as certain, process,informational and representative. These power all vary in pattern, however, none are as incompatible as the Reward versus Coercive Power.How do these managers gain this power? Some might believe that office politics and net on the job(p) are major components. The saying its not what you know, but who, does not stand truer than in todays corporate environments. An example of networking took place a couple of years ago in our department. At the time of this occurrence, surface-to-air missile was a Financial Administrator for the West Region. He held a reputation for one of the best managed monetary divisions. It seems that Sam had built a special friendship with the Sales manager for that region and he would do allow special payments or exceptions for his market without proper documentation to help his numbers increase. These favors were soon share with other salespeople from other markets, and Sam immediately became best of buddies with everyone. A few months later a amaze for a supervisor was opened and Sam immediately recruited his comrades to assist him in assuring this new s pot. His use of political power and networking is a prime example of the self absorbed need for dominance in todays managers.Ethical Persuasion and Legitimate Power can have a strong impact on teams, management and others alike. First, lets look at the definition of ethical persuasion and legitimate power. Ethical persuasion is manner that is morally accepted as good and right (Schermerhorn, gloss, pg. 6). Legitimate power is the extent to which a manager can use the right of command to control other people (Schermerhorn, gloss, pg.12). Ethical Persuasion is very different from legitimate power because when a manger is demanding that you complete a task, the task may not always be ethical. Each one of these expressions can affect a team in many ways. For example, a management team is assigned a task that involves investigating an employees work history to locate any negative infractions or practices in order to terminate the employee. In the investigating process you learn that th is person is a single-mother barely able to feed her two children.However, the company cannot afford to keep her for financial reasons and needs to lay her off. There are five members in the management team that are working on this case and three of them are females, these ladies do not feel that they aredisplaying ethical behavior and refuse to have anything to do with dismissing this single mother. In reality this woman has done nothing wrong, she was just the last one hired. In the meantime the CEO hears about the moral conflict and he gets very upset with the team members disobedience.Consequently, the CEO calls a meeting to let the management team know that he is the head of the company and team will do as he says whether they like it or not. If the team do not do as they are told, then they can give the single mother their positions because they will no longer be needed. In this situation the CEO is clearly using legitimate power, which is definitely not ethical however, it i s a job that still has to be done. Therefore, ethical behavior and legitimate power can and will eventually affect a management team. More often than not legitimate power will overrule ethical behavior.In conclusion research has proven sources of position and personal power, such as expert, information, reward, coercion and legitimate are used by employees to control, persuade and influence people and organizations. Politics are more commonly used by management to control and influence organizational behavior. Both politics and power have positive and negative affects on employees, organizations and communities.ReferencesLindsey, L. B. (2004, July 14) Office kinetic Retrieved dreadful 26, 2004 fromUniversity of Phoenix, EDSCO Host database, Websitehttp//phoenix.edu//libraryresourceStum, D.L. Strategy and Leadership. Maslow Revisited. Building theEmployee Commitment Pyramid Volume 29. University of Phoenix Custom Edition. Retrieved August 25, 2004, from ProQuest database.Judson, P. (2004) Advantages of Experts Worldwide Energy. Vol. 15 Issue 8 p3. abstract retrieved August 28, 2004, from EBSCOhost data baseSchermerhorn, J.R., Hunt, J.G. Osburn, R.N. (2003) Organizational BehaviorNew York John Wiley Sons, Inc. Ch. 15 Power and Politics Pg 2-3