Organizational Politics

BY– RAGHAV JHA (M.B.A , M.COM)

Organizational Politics

organizational politics the pursuit of self-interest in an organization, whether or not this self-interest corresponds to organizational goals.

Involves power exercised by people on formal positions and near ones.

Political behavior is self serving in nature.

Politics involves elimination of adversaries.

NATURE OF ORGANIZATIONAL POLITICS

POLTICS USE SOME KIND OF POWER

SELF SERVICING IN NATURE

OUTSIDE ONE’S JOB REQUIREMENT

INFLUENCED BY POWER OF OTHER

NON RATIONAL DECISION

LEVEL OF ORGANIZATIONAL POLITICS

INDIVIDUAL LEVEL :-- Personal self interests are perused by

individual COALITION LEVEL :--

An informal group (co-operative) pursuit of group specific issues

NETWORK LEVEL :-- Political network are people oriented , a co-

operative group pursuit of general issues

Avoiding Action:• Over conforming• Buck passing• Playing dumb• Stretching• Stalling

FORMS OF POLTICAL BEHAVIOUR IN ORGANIZATION

Avoiding Blame:• Buffing• Playing safe• Justifying• Scapegoating• Misrepresenting AVOIDING CHANGE:

• PREVENTION• SELF-PROTECTION

FORMS OF POLTICAL BEHAVIOUR IN ORGANIZATION

OVER CONFORMING :-over conforming sticking to the strict letter of your job description or to organizational regulations.

ex:- sulabh sir asks you for assignment topic, which you know that is not a cup of tea for you but still you say “YES…YES SIR……DON’T WORRY I WILL DEFINATILY COMPLETE IT”. (that mean you are just sticking to your duty only for manipulating things )

BUCK PASSING:- You just pass the action to other/s.ex:- sir asks for assignment to you, but you just answered “DEAR

SIR YASHIKA EXPERTIES OVER THIS TOPIC…..SHE CAN DO VERY WELL”. (that mean you have just pass on your task to other say yashika )

PLAYING DUMB:- You just show innocent behavior that task is not a cup of tea for me, even if it very easy task for you.

ex:- sir asking for an assignment your answer is “SIR I HAVE NEVER SEEN EVEN COMPUTER SO I CAN’T MAKE PPT SIR”.

FORMS OF POLTICAL BEHAVIOUR IN ORGANIZATION

STRETCHING:-it refers to stretching the facts or truth by polling it with the intention to make it too late.

for ex:- you have accepted a presentation topic in class …….now on the presentation day your answer is:1. SORRY MY COMPUTER WAS CURREPTED PLZ GIVES ME ONE CHANCE2. 2ND DAY……OH! SIR I HAVE FORGOTEN PPT AT MY HOME…SIR 1 MOR CHANCE

3. 3RD DAY…. YOU MAY HAVE ANOTHER EXCUSE (That mean u just stretching the presentation but your intention is not for presentation )

STALLING:- stalling moving slowly when someone asks for your cooperation . Your previous tasks are not completed till but still you are taking new task but intensely you are taking tasks with the view to not completing a single task. You just stalling the file.

ex:- you have taken ppt topic of computer, OB, BE but all presentations pending.

FORMS OF POLTICAL BEHAVIOUR IN ORGANIZATION

BUFFING:- Buffing the tactic of carefully documenting information showing that an appropriate course of action was followed.

PLAYING SAFE:- being very careful and not taking any risk.

JUSTIFYING:- You just try to justify your action to be right

SCAPEGOATING:- Blaming others when things go wrongex:- you are a SALES AGENT in an organization “ suppose

in this month you could not achieve target” management ask you reason …..your answer is “sir it is Mr. X’s fault who did not help me”

MISREPRESENTING :- refers to describe (some thing / statement) in a false way in order to deceive some one.

Reasons of organizational politics Competition (struggle) for power

jealousy

unclear roles and responsibility (Ambiguity)

Subjective evaluation of performance

Proximity to powerful personnel

Joint decision making

Management of organizational politics

Clarity of jobs, rules, roles and responsibilities. Effective and open communication Top management should avoid itself not involved

as well as discourage such behavior. Management should take direct actions to curb

political behavior. Setting performance expectations. provide a supportive organizational climate. Creating awareness