Question

Read the Political Behavior case on p. W-117 (Chapter 12 > OB Skills Workbook > Cases for Critical Thinking > Political Behavior Analysis) and respond to the following questions:

1. To what extent are power and politics already at play in this situation?
2. How might one of the actors in the incident use power and politics to achieve advantage in the situation described

write 250 words

Answer 1

Incident 1: New Product Development

1. Scientist A is said to be stronger than scientist B, and the following facts show why. She has personal power to influence for the fact that scientist A is quiet, reserved, and modest in hear dealings with co-workers and managers. She also seems to have some legitimate power, which comes from the position she works at. However, she does not rely on this type of power and she falls under the category of “inside zone of indifference” where co-workers and managers are willing to respond without judgement. She possesses personal power as well because of her personal qualities such as good reputation. She does not seem to be really involved in politics. She can be categorized on formal systems, which dictate “what is to be done in organizations and how work processes are to be coordinated and structured.” On the other side, scientist B reflects the opposite of scientist A because he is outgoing and a real self-promoter. Moreover, after the proposals were submitted, he wrongly used power and politics to influence those around. He demonstrated coercive power by implementing an aggressive campaign. He is very much involving in a self-interested behavior to benefit himself that disadvantage the rest of the organization.

2. Scientist A, with the powers and politics mentioned above, already has an advantage in this situation. She, however, might use association power—which arises from influence with a person who is powerful on whom people depend—connection power, and information power to increase even more the advantage in this competition for an internal new product development award worth $300,000 and a resume boost.

Incident 2: Career Advancement

1. Power and politics are already at play to an extent where the young woman can get the male colleague to lose his job within the firm.

2. The young woman can indeed use power and politics to achieve advantage in this situation. Since she is been with the financial services for two years, she has already built strong relationships and networks. Based on her position power, she can ask for the reward because she has always matched expectations. She has always been responsible for her duties. Not only expert and referent powers can be used in this situation, but connection and information powers can be manipulated by the young woman to get more pay. She can absolutely use organizational politics to achieve what she wants. If the CEO has made public statements supporting career advancement for women, and he has stated that the culture is that no person talks about their pay with anyone, she can approach the CEO with the power and politics said earlier to get things done.

Incident 3: Headphones On in the Office

1. Power and politics are already at play to an extent where Saul can still keep his headphones on.

2. He might use expert power—the power he has because of his computer skills and getting every work done—referent power, a skill to change other’s behavior, and connection power—calling for support—to still wear his headphones while working on the computer. He has been to this new job for more than three weeks doing the same thing, even at the interview, wearing headphones while working and nobody said anything. He might be interested in self-interested politics to achieve advantage in this situation. After all, the outcome can be beneficial for him without harming others. He gets his work done because “he thinks the music helps him stay relaxed and focused while doing detailed computer work.” I feel like the colleague is only jealous about Saul’s headphones and is not used to work with headphones. She should try it, perhaps it makes her work easier.

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