Power , Authority &

Influence
A Definition of Power

A B
Bases of Power
Bases of Power
Personal Power
Personal Power
 Dependency: The Key To
Power
• The General Dependency Postulate
– The greater B’s dependency on A, the greater the power A
has over B.
– Possession/control of scarce organizational resources that
others need makes a manager powerful.
– Access to optional resources (e.g., multiple suppliers) reduces
the resource holder’s power.
• What Creates Dependency
– Importance of the resource to the organization
– Scarcity of the resource
– Nonsubstitutability of the resource
Power Tactics

Tactical
TacticalDimensions
Dimensions: :
• • Reason
Reason
• • Friendliness
Friendliness
• • Coalition
Coalition
• • Bargaining
Bargaining
• • Assertiveness
Assertiveness
• • Higher
Higherauthority
authority
• • Sanctions
Sanctions
Power in Groups: Coalitions

• • Seek
Seektotomaximize
maximizetheir
their
size
sizeto
toattain
attaininfluence.
influence.
• • Seek
Seekaabroad
broadand
anddiverse
diverse
constituency
constituencyforforsupport
support
of
oftheir
theirobjectives.
objectives.
Politics: Power in Action
 Using Power Ploys
• Upward Strategies
Adopting a style which superiors approve
• Downward Strategies
Forming groups with subordinates
• Lateral Strategies
Creating a relationship of Obligation
 Employee
Responses to
Organizational
Politics
Impression Management (IM)

IM
IMTechniques
Techniques: :
• • Conformity
Conformity
• • Excuses
Excuses
• • Apologies
Apologies
• • Self-Promotion
Self-Promotion
• • Flattery
Flattery
• • Favors
Favors
• • Association
Association
 Ethics of Power & Politics
• Self Interest Vs Organizational Interest
• Rights of Other Parties
• Conformity to the standards of Equity &
Justice
• THANK YOU