Chapter 13: Power and Organizational Politics

Question 1

What is power?

Answer 1

: The capacity that A has to influence the behavior of B so that B acts in accordance with A’s wishes
Dependence!

Question 2

What are the Contrast of leadership and power?

Answer 2

Leadership: Requires goal congruence, Focuses on downward influence
Power: Only needs dependence, Concerned with influence in all directions

Question 3

What are the five bases of power?

Answer 3

Formal: 
Coercive Power (fear)
Reward Power (desire) 
Legitimate Power (authority) 
personal: 
Expert
Referent 

Personal all impactful to perfromance

Question 4

What are the nine power or influence tactics and their contingencies?

Answer 4

Used to translate power bases into specific actions :
Legitimacy (authority)
*Rational persuasion (Logics and facts)
*Inspirational appeals (emotion & value)
*Consultation (Involvement)
Exchange (benefits & favors)
Personal appeals (Friendships & loyalty)
Ingratiation (Flattery & praise)
Pressure (warning & threats)
Coalitions (significant others)

Direction, sequencing, individual skill, and organizational culture modify effectiveness

Question 5

How does power affect people?

Answer 5

Put their interests ahead of others
Objectify others
React to threats against their competence
Tend to be overconfident

Can be positive though

Question 6

What are organizational politics and describe why politics exist in organizations?

Answer 6

Activities attempting to influence, the distribution of advantages and disadvantages within the organization

Arise because of Conflicting interests, Limited resources, Ambiguity in decision making

Question 7

What are the causes and consequences of political behavior?

Answer 7

Traits encourage political action: self-monitoring, internal locus of control
Organizational: Organizational resources declining or distribution shifting
Opportunity for promotion exists

Consequences: Turnover, low trust, stress, low performance, decrease job satisfaction

Question 8

Is a a political action ethical?

Answer 8

How does the utility of engaging in the political behavior balance out any harm it will do to others?

Question 9

Political skills?

Answer 9

ability to influence others to enhance one’s own objectives

Question 10

Impression Management:

Answer 10

The process by which individuals attempt to control the impression others form of them