Griner and Sheen, and Directional Power

Question 1

3 Models of Organizations

Answer 1

i-Rational Bureaucratic (traditional top-down)
ii-Collegial Consensus (One big happy family)
ii-Pluralistic Political Model

Question 2

4 Areas of Power that Directly Apply to the Pluralistic Model

Answer 2

1-Myths about Power
2-Power of the Bosses (downward)
3-Power of Subordinates (upward)
4-Power of Peers/Other Departments (lateral)

Question 3

Pfeffer Probs with Rational Bureaucratic

Answer 3

• Out of Fashion
• Work in positions where jobs need the cooperation of someone not under my direct control
• Too dependent on the head person - if they are wrong, the whole thing crashes and burns

Question 4

Pfeffer Probs with Collegial Consensus

Answer 4

• Takes time effort and years to get cooperation
• Too strong of a consensus falls into group think
• Can talk ppl into things

Question 5

Myths of Power

Answer 5

• Orgs are rational/work toward common goal
• All orgs are equal in how politics happen (High Slack/Low Slack)
• Most power is downward in an org

Question 6

Power of Bosses

Answer 6

• Resources
• Decision making
• Information
• Law of Reciprocity
• Get them to identify with you

Question 7

Power of Subordinates

Answer 7

• Bosses can only exert as much power as the subs are willing to accept
• Alliances/Coalitions
• Go over the bosses head
• Playing it Straight
• Be persistent
• Learn your boss

Question 8

Power over Peers/Other Depts

Answer 8

• Chickey Poo (get them fired)
• Solve the firms main problem (strategic contingency)
• Be close to where the action is (centrality)
• Make yourself hard to replace (substitutionality)

Question 9

The Trouble with Power

Answer 9

The more you have the less you can use (why?)