BA 152

Conflict, Power, and Politics

High

Low

Low

HighConflict Levels

PerformanceLevels

Conflict and Performance

Types of Intergroup Conflict?

Horizontal Conflict -

Vertical Conflict -

Potential Causes ofInterdepartmental Conflict

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

Possible Consequences ofInterdepartmental Conflict

What will likely happen within each group and between the groups?

WITHIN EACH WORK UNITIncreased cohesivenessGreater focus on tasks

More autocratic leadershipCommunication/roles become more formalized

Possible Consequences ofInterdepartmental Conflict

BETWEEN EACH WORK UNITPerceptions become distorted

Stereotypes turn negativeReduced communication between units

Vicious cycle is perpetuated.

Possible Consequences ofInterdepartmental Conflict

Managing ConflictBetween Groups

Change Structures– Restructure the organization– – Buffer the workflow–

Managing ConflictBetween Groups

Change Behaviors– Change policies and procedures– – Clarify individual responsibilities–

Managing ConflictBetween Groups

Change Attitudes– Rotate group members– – Provide inter-group training–

Power and Politics

POWER!

1.

2.

3.

Sources of Individual PowerIn the Person

Expertise

Effort

Charisma/Referent

Sources of Individual PowerIn the Position

Legitimate

Reward

Coercive

Power and Authority

Power - A relationship between two or more people exercised in multiple directions.

Authority - – – –

Types of Authority

Line Authority - authority associated with

Staff Authority - authority to

Functional Authority - staff authority

Operative Authority - individual rights to make decisions about how to do work

Acquisition of scarce resources

Centrality in work flow

Criticality/Non-substitutability

Flexibility/Coping with Uncertainty

Sources of Work Unit Power

1. Acquire scarce/important resources2. 3. Try to make unit’s contributions critical to

firm success4.

5. Make the unit as flexible as possible6.

Increasing Work Unit Power

Political Processes in Organizations

Politics -

Rational & Political Models of Organization Actions

Characteristic Rational Model Political Model

Goals

Power

DecisionProcessesRules

Information

Cause & Effects

Decisions

Ideology

Consistent

Centralized

Logical - Rational

Optimization

Accurate

Known

Maximizing

Efficiency

Inconsistent

Diffuse & Shifting

Disorderly

Satisfysing

Ambiguous

Disagreements

Satisfysing/Bargaining

Conflict

Dimensions of Organizational Politics

Influence EndsAppropriate Inappropriate

Appropriate

InfluenceMeans

Inappropriate

Domains of Political Activity

Reorganization and/or re-structuring

Interdepartmental coordination efforts

Management succession events

Resource allocation activities

Political Tactics for Using Power

1. Build coalitions with appropriate partners

2.

3. Control meeting agendas and decision premises

4.

5. Make preferences explicit, but keep power implicit