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ORGANIZATIONAL OR OFFICE POLITICS

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Politics – closely related to the

concept of power, authority and influences.

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ORGANIZATIONAL POLITICS

- due to behavioral changes among organizational members

- in organization-leaders are selected based on their credentials.

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BEHAVIORAL CHANGES

Could lead to: interpersonal conflicts inter-group conflict

This phenomena indicate the political condition in an organization.

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PERCEPTION TOWARDS POLITICSIn general- politics are tarnished by

activities like:SuppressionIndividuals negative attitudeCompetition for power , influence and

statusInjustice

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DEFINITION OF ORGANIZATIONAL POLITICSRelationship between power and influence,

involving certain individuals and group from within or outside of the organizational environment.

-It also refers to the tactics and activities done by members of the organization in order to fulfill their own objectivities and interests in the workplace.

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THE NEED FOR ORGANIZATIONAL POLITICS

To solve organizational conflict

To create rules and order among organizational members.

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ORGANIZATIONAL POLITICS (OP)

Decision making process in an organization is also a political process.

This is because actors (employess) in an organization tend to fulfill both the organizational interest and their own interest.

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Political behavior is not rational in nature, in terms of decision making.

-OP management prioritize management skills.

-Effective OP management will lead to a win-win situation – jeopardizing professional and personal ethics.

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FACTORS INFLUENCING POLITICAL BEHAVIOR

To understand the behavior of OP, Farrell and Peterson (1982) introduced a three – 1 dimentional typology

1. the place where political activities happen- in or outside of the organization

2. the direction of influence – vertical or lateral

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3. the legitimacy of political action

Political activities within in or outside of the organization effect the organization and its members

-Tendency among members to be influenced either vertical or laterally

-Actions taken must be legitimate. Otherwise, members of the organization will not give their support.

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FACTORS INFLUENCING CHANGES OF OP1. INDIVIDUAL FACTORS-Machiavellianism -Locus of control-Need for power -Individual values

2.ORGANIZATIONAL POLITICS.-Organizational values-Ambiguity-Opposing norms-CompetitionLevel in organization

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INDIVIDUAL FACTORS1.Machiavellianism

This stream believes that political behavior is pragmatic

Managers with high needs will be pragmatic and engage in the “ends will justify means” approach.

Therefore, those who adopt this thought may use others and even sacrifice their own morals to achieve their interests.

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2.Locus of control

able to change and adopt in different circumstances and avoid threats.

Behavioral changes could lead to positive reaction from others

able to present oneself accordingly and communicate effectively with various level and others in organization

able to adjust to change in the leadership in organization – align oneself with the head of department

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3.Need for power

Politics and power are closely related in an organization

Power has certain needs/relationship with specific activities in organization

Power is needed to influence and control the behavior of others.

Power may enable an individual to act and make decision effectively

May influence political behavior eg. Unethical.

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INDIVIDUAL VALUESValues:Basic beliefs that individuals have formally

or informallyCould lead to conflict if attempt is made to

change themVery important to individuals societyValues could act as a strong guidance on

individuals behavior

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ORGANIZATIONAL FACTORS1.Organizational Values

An organizational influence on political behavior

Strength- exist in an organization due to its development aspect on to groups.

eg. Organization that focus on handwork-affect changes in political behavior.

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2. Ambiguity

Ambiguity results in poor organization mission and objectives

Ambiguous and unclear changes in organization lead to employees unable to adjust and in turn exploits the poor decision

-Making in to their personal advantages and influence.

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3. Opposing Norms

Situation where norms are opposite one another (counter norms)

Positive norms-factor rules, honest, open

Negative norms- not disciplined, bribery, autocratic

In organization-positive and negative norms may occur separately but they affect organizational development tremendously.

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4.Competition

Behavior in organization is also influenced by competition to achieve one’s objectives, interests and needs.

-Individuals will want to win against their opponent in order to achieve their goals- this problem will influence organizational politics.

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5.Levels in organization

Hierarchy and levels in an organization may influence political behavior in organization

e.g transmission and delivery of information from top management to employees/bottom management

Any interference (e.g unclear information, misconception, delay) may create confusion-organizational politics factors

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POLITICAL STRATEGY3 Political strategies in an organization Jeffrey Pfeffer (1981)

1.Develop power

The leader used power for controlling through the rules, procedure and instruction.

The leader used maximum power and autocratic.Used power rightful–output in organizational will

increase.

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2. Develop Legitimacy

Legitimacy- followers accept a leader’s power because they believe it to be sufficiently just and rightful to comply willingly, rather than to submit grudgingly or to oppose the leader.

Legitimate power – the power that someone has because others recognize and accept his or her authority.

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The manager’s action is consistent with the organizational values.

Legitimacy is essential to the successful conduct of leadership.

The power of managers may appear to flow from higher authorities in the organizations, but true power ultimately is obtained by gaining the support of subordinates.

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Legitimacy of supervisors influencing various types of subordinate behaviour.

Legitimacy can fulfill the needs of democratic values in the organization.

When legitimacy is lost, the influence of the leader will usually wane.

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3. Develop Base Support

The strategy to build basic support- important in the organizational to increase the power of the managers.

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TACTICS OF ORGANIZATIONAL POLITICS.

To understand organizational politics, we must recognize the various forms political behavior can take. Five major techniques of organizational politics are used most often.

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1. Restricting access to information

People can control access to information in ways that enhance their organizational position.

Some of the information are secret but some are open.

The person that can withholding information be able to control the power.

The person who has crucial knowledge and information in an organization may as well develop power.

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2. Cultivating a favorable impression

People interested in being highly influential tend to go out of their way to engage in some degree of image building-attempts to enhance the goodness of one’s impressions on others.

Associating oneself with the successful accomplishments of others.

Drawing attention to one’s own successes and positive characteristics, making others are aware of them.

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3. Developing a base of support

To successfully influence people, it is useful to gain the support of others within the organization.

Support from employee to the managers.

1.Managers may lobby for their ideas before they present at meeting.

2.Doing favors for others who may feel obligated to repay them in the form of supporting their ideas.

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4. Blaming and attacking others.

A scapegoat-someone who could take the blame for some failure or wrongdoing.

Ex: A supervisor, may explain that the failure of a sales plan designed was based on the serious mistakes of a subordinates-even if this is not entirely true.

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5. Aligning oneself with more powerful others

One of the most direct ways to gain power is by connecting oneself with more powerful others.

Finding a very powerful mentor who can protect one’s interest

Relatively powerless groups or individuals that derive strength by banding together to achieve some common goal.

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ETHICAL BEHAVIOR IN ORGANIZATIONS

1. Managers have to prioritize employees’ welfare

2. Managers have to uphold justice

3. Managers have to respect employees’ fundamental rights

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COST AND BENEFITS OF POLITICAL IN ORGANIZATIONS Minimize Political organizational

Managers must consider ways to minimize the effect of political behavior- do several things to limit its effects.

1. Do not turn a blind eye to game players. 2. Suppose you see one of your

subordinates attempting to gain power over another by taking credit for that individual’s work. Do not ignore what he or she did.

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3. Confront political behavior4. Decrease ambiguity5. Fulfill pledges 6. Minimize political behavior7. Clarify job expectations

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SUMMARYManagement or the leader and workers

needs to master the skills of OPThe best OP management can avoid

conflicts that might jeopardize the organization performance

Consultation and patience is important to achieve a win-win situation