POWER
• Power is one of the means to influence others for 
getting results. Influence process occurs in a 
particular way when it is attempted by the use of 
power. 
• Power is used not only in getting certain result 
achieved but also includes negative decisions or 
the action of non decisions. 
• Power is not the act of changing the other persons 
attitudes or behaviour, it is only the potential to do 
so.
• Power is one of the essential components of 
practically every organization. 
• Power refers to a capacity that has to influence 
the behaviour of B so B acts in according with ‘A’ 
s wishes.
POWER RELATION SHIPS
• Power variable is a relational one . 
• The possible responses to the user of power may 
vary along the continuum. 
Resistance Obedience Compliance Conformity Commitment
• Resistance: 
The largest person on whom the power is 
exercised may resist the influence and may not 
behave in accordance to influencers wishes. 
The attempt of influence may be threated by the 
person 
Obedience 
The person may succumb to influence though he 
would rather not. 
when people are forced to behave against their 
wishes it is referred to as obedience.
• Compliance: 
the person may comply with the desire of the 
influencer. 
compliance refers to a persons acceptance of influence 
because he is expected to be a rewarded for responding 
to a request or punished for not responding to it. 
Conformity 
The person may conform to the influencer’s desire 
Conformity refers to acceptance of influence because 
people desire to be in mainstream
• Commitment 
The person may shows commitment to the 
desire of the influencer. 
This is the most desirable outcome when the use 
of power as there is enthusiastic release of energy 
and talent to satisfy the influences request
CHARACTERISTICS OF 
POWER
Characteristics of power 
There is no relation ship between the power exercised 
by an individual and the position or the role he holds 
sometimes higher level people may have no power and 
sometimes lower level people may exert more power. 
Those who are in power would like to get more they 
resist any attempt which tries to weaken the hold of 
power. 
An individual cannot have power at all times at times 
he may have to give up this power if there is a failure in 
performance.
Chara power cont……… 
people who are able to with stand and cope 
with uncertainly in organizations have more 
power. 
people who use power do not want others to 
know of it unless it is legitimate power.
Two faces of power 
There are two types of power 
1. Negative power 
The negative face of power is usually expressed in terms of 
dominance submission transactions. 
It mean “if I win you lose” 
Having power implies having power over some one else who 
does not have it.
2) Positive power 
The positive face of power is shown by a concern 
for group goals by helping to formulate and achieve 
them. 
It involves exerting influence on behalf of rather 
than over others. 
Leaders who exercise this power positively 
encourage their subordinate to develop their competence 
to succeed.
TYPES OF POWER
Types of power… 
1) Formal power. 
2) Personal power. 
1) FORMAL POWER 
formal power is based on an individuals position in 
an organization. 
it can come from the ability to coerce or reward or 
from formal authority.
• There are 3 types of formal power. 
a) Coercive power. 
The coercive power base depends on fear of the 
negative results. 
It rests on the application or the threat of 
application of physical function such as the infliction of 
pain, frustration through restriction of movement. 
b) Reward power. 
 The opposite of the coercive power is reward power 
 It produces positive benefits.
Conti…… 
 Some one who can distribute rewards others view as 
valuable will have power over them. 
 These rewards can be either financial such as 
controlling pay rates, raises and bonuses. 
c) Legitimate power. 
 It represent the formal authority to control and 
organizational resources based on structural position 
in the organization. 
 It includes members acceptance of the authority of a 
position.
• 2) PERSONAL POWER 
It comes from an individual’s unique characteristics 
There are two basis of personal power expertise and 
respect and admiration of others. 
There are two types of personal power. 
a) Expert power. 
It influence as result of expertise special skills or 
knowledge. 
This power is based on the famous proverb ‘knowledge 
is power’. 
Computer specialist tax accountants, economist, and 
other specialist power as a result of their expertise.
• b) Referent Power. 
It based on identification with a person who has 
desirable resources or personal trails. 
This power develops out of admiration of another 
and a desire to be like that person.
POWER TACTICS
Power tactics…. 
1) Legitimacies 
Relaying on your authority position or saying a 
request accords with organizational policies or rules. 
2) Rational persuasion 
presenting logical arguments and factual evidence 
to demonstrate a request is reasonable. 
3) Inspirational appeals 
Developing emotional commitment by appealing 
to a targets values needs hopes and aspirations.
• Power tactics cont….. 
4) Consultation 
increasing the targets support by involving him or 
her in deciding how you will accomplish your plan. 
5) Exchange 
Rewarding the target with benefits or favours in 
exchange for following a request. 
6) Personal appeals 
Asking for compliance or loyalty. 
7) Pressure 
Using warnings, repeated demands and threats.
• Power tactics cont….. 
8) Ingratiation 
Using flattery, praise or friendly behaviour prior to 
making a request. 
9) Coalitions 
Enlisting the aid or support of others to persuade 
the target to persuade the target to agree.
organizational behaviour power

organizational behaviour power

  • 1.
  • 2.
    • Power isone of the means to influence others for getting results. Influence process occurs in a particular way when it is attempted by the use of power. • Power is used not only in getting certain result achieved but also includes negative decisions or the action of non decisions. • Power is not the act of changing the other persons attitudes or behaviour, it is only the potential to do so.
  • 3.
    • Power isone of the essential components of practically every organization. • Power refers to a capacity that has to influence the behaviour of B so B acts in according with ‘A’ s wishes.
  • 4.
  • 5.
    • Power variableis a relational one . • The possible responses to the user of power may vary along the continuum. Resistance Obedience Compliance Conformity Commitment
  • 6.
    • Resistance: Thelargest person on whom the power is exercised may resist the influence and may not behave in accordance to influencers wishes. The attempt of influence may be threated by the person Obedience The person may succumb to influence though he would rather not. when people are forced to behave against their wishes it is referred to as obedience.
  • 7.
    • Compliance: theperson may comply with the desire of the influencer. compliance refers to a persons acceptance of influence because he is expected to be a rewarded for responding to a request or punished for not responding to it. Conformity The person may conform to the influencer’s desire Conformity refers to acceptance of influence because people desire to be in mainstream
  • 8.
    • Commitment Theperson may shows commitment to the desire of the influencer. This is the most desirable outcome when the use of power as there is enthusiastic release of energy and talent to satisfy the influences request
  • 9.
  • 10.
    Characteristics of power There is no relation ship between the power exercised by an individual and the position or the role he holds sometimes higher level people may have no power and sometimes lower level people may exert more power. Those who are in power would like to get more they resist any attempt which tries to weaken the hold of power. An individual cannot have power at all times at times he may have to give up this power if there is a failure in performance.
  • 11.
    Chara power cont……… people who are able to with stand and cope with uncertainly in organizations have more power. people who use power do not want others to know of it unless it is legitimate power.
  • 12.
    Two faces ofpower There are two types of power 1. Negative power The negative face of power is usually expressed in terms of dominance submission transactions. It mean “if I win you lose” Having power implies having power over some one else who does not have it.
  • 13.
    2) Positive power The positive face of power is shown by a concern for group goals by helping to formulate and achieve them. It involves exerting influence on behalf of rather than over others. Leaders who exercise this power positively encourage their subordinate to develop their competence to succeed.
  • 14.
  • 15.
    Types of power… 1) Formal power. 2) Personal power. 1) FORMAL POWER formal power is based on an individuals position in an organization. it can come from the ability to coerce or reward or from formal authority.
  • 16.
    • There are3 types of formal power. a) Coercive power. The coercive power base depends on fear of the negative results. It rests on the application or the threat of application of physical function such as the infliction of pain, frustration through restriction of movement. b) Reward power.  The opposite of the coercive power is reward power  It produces positive benefits.
  • 17.
    Conti……  Someone who can distribute rewards others view as valuable will have power over them.  These rewards can be either financial such as controlling pay rates, raises and bonuses. c) Legitimate power.  It represent the formal authority to control and organizational resources based on structural position in the organization.  It includes members acceptance of the authority of a position.
  • 18.
    • 2) PERSONALPOWER It comes from an individual’s unique characteristics There are two basis of personal power expertise and respect and admiration of others. There are two types of personal power. a) Expert power. It influence as result of expertise special skills or knowledge. This power is based on the famous proverb ‘knowledge is power’. Computer specialist tax accountants, economist, and other specialist power as a result of their expertise.
  • 19.
    • b) ReferentPower. It based on identification with a person who has desirable resources or personal trails. This power develops out of admiration of another and a desire to be like that person.
  • 20.
  • 21.
    Power tactics…. 1)Legitimacies Relaying on your authority position or saying a request accords with organizational policies or rules. 2) Rational persuasion presenting logical arguments and factual evidence to demonstrate a request is reasonable. 3) Inspirational appeals Developing emotional commitment by appealing to a targets values needs hopes and aspirations.
  • 22.
    • Power tacticscont….. 4) Consultation increasing the targets support by involving him or her in deciding how you will accomplish your plan. 5) Exchange Rewarding the target with benefits or favours in exchange for following a request. 6) Personal appeals Asking for compliance or loyalty. 7) Pressure Using warnings, repeated demands and threats.
  • 23.
    • Power tacticscont….. 8) Ingratiation Using flattery, praise or friendly behaviour prior to making a request. 9) Coalitions Enlisting the aid or support of others to persuade the target to persuade the target to agree.