Ch 9: Power

Question 1

Describe Power-control.

Answer 1

Power-control: an organization’s structure, at any given time, is to a large extent the result of those in power selecting a structure that will, to the maximum degree possible, maintain and enhance their control.

Question 2

Describe John Child’s strategic choice.

Answer 2

Although manager’s discretion is curtailed to some extent, there is still considerable scope for them to make choices favorable to themselves.

Question 3

What’s John Childs 4 basic points on strategic choice?

Answer 3

1. Decision makers have more autonomy than that implied by those arguing for the dominance of environmental, technological or other forces.
2. Organizational effectiveness should be construed (tolkas) as a range instead of a point. Managers make choices that meet the generalized criterion of effectiveness.
3. Organizations often have the power to manipulate and control their environment.
4. Perception and evaluation of events are an important intervening link between environments and the actions of organizations (ability to define the threats provides a strong power base).

Question 4

What’s a rational choice?

Answer 4

The belief that decisions are goal-directed and consistent, it includes perfect understanding of the problem, adequate information to assess possible alternative solutions, and no emotional attachment.

Question 5

What’s non-rationality?

Answer 5

A process of decision making that does not follow the principles of logical deduction and decision optimisation.

Question 6

What’s coalition?

Answer 6

The individuals who make up the organization coalesce into groups with familiar interests or values. Coalitions reinforce the political nature of organizations and even play a part in deciding what is considered rational and what is not.

Question 7

What’s dominant coalition?

Answer 7

The group within an organization with the power to influence the outcomes of decisions.

Question 8

Define power and authority.

Answer 8

Power - an individual’s capacity to influence decisions.
Authority - the right to act, ro to command others to act, towards the attainment of organizational goals.
One does not require authority to have influence on decisions

Question 9

Describe hierarchical authority.

Answer 9

• Managers jobs comes with certain rights to power (decisions, rewards, punishments)
• Access to more and useful information
• Those higher in the hierarchy have greater power than those lower down

Question 10

Describe control of resources.

Answer 10

• If you have control of resources that is scarce and critical within the organization → power
• Pilots is one example of resources that would be scarce for an airplane company
• e.g. knowledge, expertise

Question 11

Describe network centrality.

Answer 11

• The degree to which a position in an organization allows an individual to integrate other functions or reduce organization dependencies
• e.g. brand managers (much knowledge of the products and its position in the market)

Question 12

What kind of technology and environment does a person in power seek?

Answer 12

Routine technology and a stable environment.

Question 13

What’s organizational slack?

Answer 13

Resources in excess of the minimum required for organizational effectiveness which provides the capacity to respond to environmental change without changing the organization. less slack → greater pressure to optimize structure and tighter decision-making.

Question 14

What kind of structure does a person in power seek and why?

Answer 14

Mechanistic, because the mechanistic structure makes it easier for managers to stay in control comparde to an organic structure.

Question 15

What kind of complexity does a person in power seek?

Answer 15

Low complexity, due to decreased differentiation –> less difficulties in coordination and control.

Question 16

What kind of fomalization does a person in power seek?

Answer 16

Those in power will influence a high degree formalization (rules and regulations).