This document discusses power and politics in organizations. It defines power as the ability to get someone to do something you want or make things happen the way you want. There are different bases of power, including legitimate, reward, coercive, expert, and referent power. Power can lead to consequences like compliance, resistance, and commitment. The evolution of power in organizations moves from domination to delegation, with increasing empowerment. Organizational politics involves intentional actions to develop and use power and resources to achieve preferred outcomes when there is uncertainty. Sexual harassment uses power through coercion or legitimacy to create a hostile work environment. Political tactics include attacking others, creating a favorable image, developing support, and using consultation, exchange, coalitions,

1. Power & Politics
Presented by,
•Siddeshwar Sawant
•Devang Tailor
•Dipti Mhatre
•Prateek Gupta
•Karishma Shekhawat
•Liza Tauro
•Pritesh Darji
•Darsh Parekh

2. What is power?
Power is the ability to …
▫ Get someone to do something you want done.
▫ Make things happen in the way you want
“Power is the opportunity to build, to create, to
nudge history in a different direction."
Richard Nixon
2

3. Bases of Power in Organizations
PowerPower
over Othersover Others
Legitimate PowerLegitimate Power
Reward PowerReward Power
Coercive PowerCoercive Power
Expert PowerExpert Power
Referent PowerReferent Power

4. CommitmentCommitment
Consequences of Power
RewardReward
PowerPower
LegitimateLegitimate
PowerPower
CoerciveCoercive
PowerPower
ExpertExpert
PowerPower
ReferentReferent
PowerPower
ResistanceResistance
ComplianceCompliance
Sources of
Power
Consequences of
Power

5. The Evolution of Power: From Domination
to Delegation
None
High
DegreeofEmpowerment
Domination Consultation Participation Delegation
Influence
Sharing
Manager/leader
consults
followers when
making
decisions
Power Sharing
Manager/leader
and followers
jointly make
decisions
Power
Distribution
Followers are
granted
authority to
make decisions
Authoritarian
Power
Manager/leader
impose
decisions

6. Organizational Politics
Organizational
Politics
intentional
enhancement of
self-interest

7. Organizational Politics
“Organizational politics
involves those activities by
organizations to acquire,
develop, and use power and
other resources to obtain
one’s preferred outcomes in
a situation in which there is
uncertainty or dissent about
choices.”
(Pfeffer, 1981)

8. Sexual Harassment and Power
• Harasser stereotypes the
victim as subservient and
powerless
• Harasser threatens job
security or safety through
coercive or legitimate
power
• Hostile work environment
harassment continues
when the victim lacks
power to stop the
behaviour

9. Political Tactics
• Attacking or blaming others.
• Creating a favorable image.
• Developing a base of support.
• Inspirational appeal
• Consultation
• Exchange
• Coalition
• Pressure

10. 2P’s - Power & politics
To direct and
control behavior
of organizational
members to
achieve
organizational
goals

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