Ch 13: Power and Politics
The most important aspect of power is that it is a function of ___________. A. dependence B. exchange C. coalitions D. political behavior E. ingratiation
A. dependence
Leadership focuses on ____________, whereas power focuses on _________. A. goal congruence; dependence B. rewards; style C. compliance; coercion D. punishment; rewards E. downward influence; lateral influence
A. goal congruence; dependence
what are the 2 bases of personal power?
expertise and the respect and admiration of others
how effective is speed in a wheel network?
fast
how effective is speed in an all-channel network?
fast
how effective is accuracy in a chain network?
high
how effective is accuracy in a wheel network?
high
how effective is member satisfaction in an channel network?
high
how effective is the emergence of a leader in a wheel network?
high
consultation (influence tactic)
increasing support by involving the target in deciding how to accomplish your plan
leadership is all about _________________
influence
referent power
influence based on identification with a person who has desirable resources or personal traits
what is an all-channel network?
it permits group members to actively communicate with each other; it is most often characterized by self-managed teams, in which group members are free to contribute and no single person takes a leadership role
what is chain network?
it rigidly follows the formal chain of command; this network approximates the communication channels you might find in a rigid three-level organization
what does power require?
just dependence
how effective is member satisfaction in a wheel network?
low
how effective is accuracy in an all channel network?
moderate
how effective is member satisfaction in a chain network?
moderate
how effective is speed in a chain network?
moderate
how effective is the emergence of a leader in a chain network?
moderate
referent power tends to be a powerful ___________________
motivator
Does power require goal compatibility?
no
how effective is the emergence of a leader in an all-channel network?
none
authority
people are more likely to say yes to requests from power-holders
Reciprocity
people are motivated to give back to other who have done something for them
consistency/commitment
people are motivated to remain consistent with and committed towards decisions or choices they have already done
social proof
people look others for proof, verification, and validation that they have acted in the right way
liking
people who like one another tend to agree with one another
if a person converts their power into action, they are engaging in what?
politics
legitimate power (most common way to access power)
power based on a person's position in the formal hierarchy of an organization
reward power
power based on the ability to distribute rewards that others view as valuable
what does power focus on as opposed to leadership?
power focuses on tactics for securing compliance
the more people rely or depend upon the _______________________________ person, the more powerful that person becomes.
powerful
when people begin to have more alternatives, and options or begin to rely on themselves or different people, the ______________ person loses power.
powerful
Rational Persuasion (Influence Tactic)
presenting logical arguments and factual evidence to demonstrate a request is reasonable
what is the least effective influence tactic?
pressure
what influence tactic is both upwardly and downwardly influencing?
rational persuasion
What is a wheel network?
relies on a central figure to act as the conduit for all group communication; simulates the communication network you might find in a work group directed by a manger
Legitimacy influence tactic
relying on your authority position or saying a request accords with organizational policies or rules
exchange influence tactic
rewarding the target with benefits or favors in exchange for following a request
political skill
the ability to influence others so that one's objectives are attained
power
the capacity, discretion, and means to enforce one's will over others
what does power focus more on?
the downward influence on followers
dependence
the extent to which people depend or rely upon a powerful person
how does the social network analysis work?
this method examines patterns of communication among organizational members to identify how information flows between them
The greater B's dependence on A, the more power A has over B. True or false?
true
organizational politics
use of power to affect decision making in an organization or on self-serving and organizationally unsanctioned behaviors
Ingratiation (Influence Tactic)
using flattery, praise, or friendly behavior prior to making a request
Pressure (Influence Tactic)
using warnings, repeated demands, and threats
reluctant politics
viewing it as a necessary evil
strategic politics
viewing politics as a useful way of getting things done
integrated perception politics
viewing politics as central to reality of decision making
influence tactics
ways in which individuals translate power bases into specific actions
which channel structure facilities the emergence of a leader
wheel
when does dependence increase?
when the resources you control is important, scarce, and nonsubstitutable
can expert power occasionally have detrimental affect on knowledge worker team performance
yes
can external factors like environmental competition and the skill and ability of competitors lead to power loss?
yes
can people have power even if they are not managers?
yes
does leadership require congruence between the goals of the leader and those being led?
yes
coalitions (influence tactic)
enlisting the aid or support of others to persuade the target to agree
Which of the following is an example of personal power? A. Expert B. Legitimate C. Coercive D. Reward E. Political
A. Expert
what are the 9 distinct influence tactics
- legitimacy - rational persuasion - inspirational appeals - consultation - exchange - personal appeals - ingratiation - pressure - coalitions
Which type of power has to do with how much a person connects with, likes, respects, and admires another person? A. Referent power B. Reward power C. Legitimate power D. Formal power E. Coercive power
A. Referent power
Which of the following describes automatic processing? A. A relatively superficial consideration of evidence and information making use of heuristics B. A detailed consideration of evidence and information relying on facts, figures, and logic C. A sender's use of a graphical illustration to demonstrate associations among individuals in a group D. A condition in which information inflow exceeds an individual's processing capacity E. Undue tension and anxiety about communication
A. A relatively superficial consideration of evidence and information making use of heuristics
Which of the following describes coercive power? A. Coercive power depends on fear of the negative results from failing to comply. B. Coercive power is based on the ability to distribute rewards that others view as valuable. C. Coercive power is based on a person's position in the formal hierarchy of an organization. D. Coercive power is based on identification with a person who has desirable resources or personal traits. E. Coercive power is based on expertise, special skills, or knowledge.
A. Coercive power depends on fear of the negative results from failing to comply.
Which of the following is not a way people construe politics, according to research? A. Reluctant B. Impassive C. Strategic D. Reactive E. Integrated
B. Impassive
Which of the following involves activities that are not required as part of an individual's formal role in the organization but that influence, or attempt to influence, the distribution of the advantages and disadvantages within the organization? A. Social network analysis B. Political behavior C. Individual factors D. External locus of control E. Organizational factors
B. Political behavior
Which of the following statements does not identify a corrupting aspect of power? A. Individuals in power positions are more willing to denigrate others. B. The powerful detect anger more slowly because they are more inwardly focused. C. Power leads to overconfident decision-making. D. Power leads people to react to any threats to their competence or power. E. Power leads individuals to place their self-interests ahead of others' needs or goals.
B. The powerful detect anger more slowly because they are more inwardly focused
Which of the following small-group network structures results in the highest member satisfaction? A. Chain B. Sociogram C. All channel D. Wheel E. Informal
C. All channel
Which of the following would not be an appropriate management action to take to help eliminate sexual harassment claims in the workplace? A. Train employees on awareness of sexual harassment issues B. Terminate or discipline sexual harassment offenders C. Covertly investigate severe complaints and collect proof to present to legal and HR D. Prepare a comprehensive and definitive sexual harassment policy E. Reassure employees they will not encounter retaliation if they file a complaint
C. Covertly investigate severe complaints and collect proof to present to legal and HR
Which of the following describes the nonsubstitutability of a resource? A. Several substitutes are available for a resource. B. Others want resources you possess. C. Few viable substitutes are available for a resource. D. The supply is high related to demand. E. The supply is low related to demand.
C. Few viable substitutes are available for a resource.
Which of the following describes the informal communication network in a group or organization? A. Sociogram B. Communication apprehension C. Grapevine D. Controlled processing E. Information overload
C. Grapevine
Which influence tactic involves the use of praise, flattery, or friendly behavior before making a request? A. Personal appeals B. Coalitions C. Ingratiation D. Consultation E. Exchange
C. Ingratiation
Which of the following is the definition of power? A. The ability to be managed, directed, and controlled to perform activities with or without consent B. Coercion, manipulation, persuasion, and falsification for one's own advantage C. The capacity, discretion, and means to enforce one's will over others D. The state of relying on or needing someone or something for aid, support, or the like E. Strength at its best and corruption at its worst
C. The capacity, discretion, and means to enforce one's will over others
Dependence increases when the resource you control is important, scarce, and __________. A. powerful B. legitimate C. nonsubstitutable D. routine E. expensive
C. nonsubstitutable
Although __________ research focuses on the importance of downward influence, _________ research takes all influence factors, including lateral and upward influence, into consideration. A. inspiration; power B. power; coercion C. power; leadership D. leadership; coercion E. leadership; power
C. power; leadership
Which type of power is analogous to formal authority? A. Reward power B. Coercive power C. Personal power D. Legitimate power E. Referent power
D. Legitimate power
Which of the following is the concept central to our understanding of sexual harassment? A. Influence B. Leadership C. Politics D. Power E. Anger
D. Power
Which of the following is the preferred influence tactic for upward influence? A. Pressure B. Ingratiation C. Coalition D. Rational persuasion E. Personal appeal
D. Rational persuasion
Which of the following influence tactics involves increasing the target's support by involving them in deciding how to accomplish your plan? A. Coalitions B. Personal appeals C. Exchange D. Ingratiation E. Consultation
E. Consultation
Which of the following is true about power dynamics in organizations? A. Clear accountability has little effect on reducing corruption. B. Other people are most often responsible for power holders' loss of power. C. Collectivist values make power holders more likely to become corrupted. D. Weak moral identities reduce the corrupting effect of power. E. Followers play a clear role in keeping power holders in power.
E. Followers play a clear role in keeping power holders in power.
Which of the following tools is used to assess the exchange of resources and dependencies within organizations? A. Rational persuasion B. Nonsubstitutability C. Scarcity D. Political skill E. Social network analysis
E. Social network analysis
Politicking occurs in our organizations because most operate within a climate of __________. A. ingratiation B. scarcity C. legitimacy D. nonsubstitutability E. ambiguity
E. ambiguity
Inspirational Appeals (Influence Tactic)
developing emotional commitment by appealing to a target's values, needs, hopes, and aspirations
controlled processing
a detailed consideration of evidence and information relying on facts, figures, and logic
need for cognition
a personality trait of individuals depicting the ongoing desire to think and learn
coercive power
a power base that depends on fear of the negative results from failing to comply
automatic processing
a relatively superficial consideration of evidence and information that takes little time or effort and makes use of heuristics
what is a tool to assess the informal exchange of resources and dependencies within an organization?
a social network analysis
political behavior
activities that are not required as part of a person's formal role in the organization but that influence, or attempt to influence, the distribution of advantages and disadvantages within the organization
which channel structure is most desirable for high member satisfaction?
all-channel
zero-sum approach
an approach to reward allocation that treats the reward "pie" as fixed, so any gain one person or group achieves comes at the expense of another person or group
grapevine
an organization's informal communication network
sexual harassment
any unwanted activity of a sexual nature that affects an individual's employment and creates a hostile work environment
Personal Appeals (Influence Tactic)
asking for compliance based on friendship or loyalty
formal power
based on an individual's position in an organization. It can come from the ability to coerce or reward, or from formal authority
reactive politics
believing that it involves engaging in destructive and manipulative behavior
what channel structure is best for accuracy?
chain
what are the 3 common small-group networks?
chain, wheel, and all channel
personal power
comes from an individual's unique characteristics
