OGL 481 Pro-Seminar I:

PCA-Political Frame Worksheet

Worksheet Objectives:
1. Describe the political frame
2. Apply the political frame to your personal case situation

Complete the following making sure to support your ideas and cite from the textbook and other
course materials per APA guidelines. After the peer review, you have a chance to update this and
format for your Electronic Portfolio due in Module 6.

1) Briefly restate your situation from Module 1 and your role.

In Module 1, I described my role with tech consulting company tasked with

implementing a new software system for a client. The project faces numerous challenges,
including tight deadlines, resource constraints, and conflicting stakeholder interests.

2) Describe how the politics of the organization influenced the situation.

The politics within the organization significantly impact the dynamics of the project.
Firstly, competing interests among various departments and stakeholders create power
struggles that affect decision-making processes. For instance, the sales team pushes for
the inclusion of additional features to meet client demands, while the development team
emphasizes the need to adhere to the project scope to ensure timely delivery. This tug-of-
war for influence often leads to delays, scope creep, and increased tensions among team
members. The allocation of resources is heavily influenced by internal politics.
Departments with stronger political clout often receive preferential treatment, resulting in
resource imbalances across different project phases. This not only affects the project's
progress but also undermines team cohesion and morale, as individuals feel undervalued
or overlooked.

3) Recommend how you would use organizational politics for an alternative course of
action regarding your case.

To navigate the complexities of organizational politics and drive the project towards
success, I would leverage political tactics strategically. Firstly, I would focus on building
coalitions and alliances with key stakeholders across departments. By fostering open
communication and collaboration, I can mitigate power struggles and align conflicting
interests towards common project goals.

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 Additionally, I would invest time in understanding the informal networks and power
dynamics within the organization. By identifying influential individuals and
understanding their motivations, I can tailor my approach to garner support and overcome
resistance effectively. Furthermore, I would actively engage in negotiation and
persuasion techniques to secure necessary resources and consensus on critical project
decisions.

4) Reflect on what you would do or not do differently given what you have learned
about this frame.

Reflecting on the political frame, I realize the importance of recognizing and navigating
organizational politics to achieve project objectives effectively. Moving forward, I would
prioritize relationship-building and stakeholder management as integral components of
project management. By fostering a culture of transparency, trust, and collaboration, I can
mitigate the negative impacts of organizational politics and create an environment
conducive to innovation and success.
I would remain vigilant against the pitfalls of power struggles and favoritism, ensuring
equitable resource allocation and decision-making processes. By embracing a proactive
and adaptive approach to organizational politics, I can position myself as a strategic
leader capable of driving positive change and delivering results amidst dynamic and
challenging environments.

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 Reference

Bolman, L. G., & Deal, T. E. (2021). Reframing organizations: Artistry, choice, and leadership
(7th ed.). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.