POWER AND POLITICS IN ORGANIZATIONS

Power and Politics in Organizations



Power and Politics in Organizations

Introduction

The main purpose of this research is to make an analysis on the influence of power and politics in organizations and to elaborate that how this relates to management and leadership practices.

Discussion

The use of politics and power is endemic to organizations. People come to work situations with many goals, not just one unified goal. These goals invoke conflict and competition among workers for the expenditure of scarce resources. This competition, in turn, affects the use of power and politics Wildavsky (2004), Harvey and Mills (2000).

Power is defined as the ability to get someone to do something you want done or the ability to make things happen in the way you want them. (Schermerhorn, Hunt, and Osborn, 2001). Power is important within organizations because it is the way in which management influences individuals to make things happen(French, 2009). When power and influence combine, most of the time 'politics' become involved in some manner which may pose some problems. Organizational politics is best described as management influenced by self-interest through the use of means not necessarily authorized by the organization. Organizational politics have been viewed as an organizations enhancement tool to survive and fulfil goals(Cialdini, 2003). Power and Politics, though closely related, share similarities and differences but ultimately work together for the success of an organization.

Power and politics are ever-present and necessary features of organizational life (Pfeffer, 2002). Without them, much of what gets done in organizations could never be accomplished. However, power can also be abused, and personal or political goals can overshadow organizational ones.

If an organization makes people do things they normally wouldn't do, power must be the central issue. Many potential sources or bases of power have been listed, including information; expertise; credibility; stature and prestige ...