Power and Politics

Power can be defined as personal characteristics by which one person can influence or dominate another person. In organizations, power is the ability of one person or department, to influence other people or departments, in order to bring about the desired results. Without power, organizations will not be able to achieve their goals, because managers exert influence to force people to do things that they want. Another element in organization is politics.

Politics is about controlling resources (material, human, financial, information etc.). It is also about distribution of resources. Who gets what, how, when and where. Politics is often understood as undesirable, because it is perceived as “maneuvering” and manipulation” by people.

Power is synonymously defined with authority. Authority comes with the job that one is holding, and power and authority are perceived as one, although power subsumes authority. “Power and Politics School” views authority as only one of the available sources of organizational power.

It may be mentioned that power is aimed at in all directions in the organizations, i.e. the top managements power would be felt from top to bottom sideway as well. It can be understood as the presence of an individual being felt.

Look at the figure and comment on it.

There are various types of power that managers use in the organization. These are:

· Legitimate Power

· Reward/Punish Power

· Expert Power

· Referent Power

Now read the following passages and choose the appropriate type of power for each.

A)_____________

The power which stems from the ability to bestow rewards which include benefits like food allowance, overtime cash allowance and other fringe benefits. Example: Adults can reward or punish children; managers give cash awards to their sub-ordinates for good performance.

B)_____________

Organizations are always finding ways of using the effective and suitable way of utilizing the experience and knowledge of reputable managers as far as employee referrals are concerned.

C) _____________

There are three passages below. Read them and match them with the appropriate type of power.

It is the authority given by the organization to the formal management position a manager holds. For example: Power of DCO, Nazim, and Policeperson. These personnel have power because they hold certain position.

D)______________

It is the power possessed by an individual based on experience, or some skills and ability. Example: computer expert, specialist doctor

10. Translate the following text into English.