Understanding Organizational Behaviour

Oxford University Press Malaysia, 2009

All Rights Reserved

Ch10: 1

Power, Influence and

Politics
CHAPTER

10

Understanding Organizational Behaviour

Oxford University Press Malaysia, 2009

All Rights Reserved

Ch10: 2

Learning Objectives
In this chapter, you will:

Define power and influence.

Identify differences between leadership
and power.
Identify differences between authority and
power.
Understand the bases of power.
Describe dependency as the key to power.
Identify power tactics in influencing others.
Understanding Organizational Behaviour
Oxford University Press Malaysia, 2009

All Rights Reserved

Ch10: 3

Learning Objectives
(cont.)
In this chapter, you will:

Understand power in groups: coalitions.

Discuss sexual harassment in the
workplace.
Understand politics: power in action.
Identify power and political tactics in
organizations.
Define empowerment.
Understanding Organizational Behaviour
Oxford University Press Malaysia, 2009

All Rights Reserved

Ch10: 4

10.1

Definition of Power

Power is the ability which someone has

in influencing others.
An individual is said to have power
when there are other people who are
willing to follow the instruction or
direction given to them.

Understanding Organizational Behaviour

Oxford University Press Malaysia, 2009

All Rights Reserved

Ch10: 5

10.1.1 Differences between

Leadership and Power
Leadership: It is an ability to lead someone
towards certain direction.
Power: It is the ability which someone has in
influencing others.
Authority: The power which is vested in the
position held by an employee.

Understanding Organizational Behaviour

Oxford University Press Malaysia, 2009

All Rights Reserved

Ch10: 6

10.2

Bases of Power

Formal power

Personal power

Coercive power

Expert power

Reward power

Referent power

Legitimate power

Charismatic power

Information power
Understanding Organizational Behaviour
Oxford University Press Malaysia, 2009

All Rights Reserved

Ch10: 7

10.2.1 Formal Power

Coercive power: This category of power is a result
of fear.
Reward power: For reward power, people are
willing to comply with the directives of another
due to the positive benefits.
Legitimate power: In some situations, someone
has a power over other due to the position.
Information power: Information power referred to
types of power that someone has due to the
information that he or she has.
Understanding Organizational Behaviour
Oxford University Press Malaysia, 2009

All Rights Reserved

Ch10: 8

10.2.2 Personal Power

Expert power: Power that someone has due to
the skills or knowledge.
Referent power: A type of power which
someone has due to the desirable resources
that he or she has.
Charismatic power: This is type of power
possessed by an individual because of the
personality and interpersonal styles.

Understanding Organizational Behaviour

Oxford University Press Malaysia, 2009

All Rights Reserved

Ch10: 9

10.3
Dependency: The Key to
Power
Important: The resources are important.
Scarce: The resources also have to be scarce.
If the information is too much, then the rate of
dependency will decrease.
Non-substitutable: The resources that we have
are difficult to find.

Understanding Organizational Behaviour

Oxford University Press Malaysia, 2009

All Rights Reserved

Ch10: 10

10.4
Tactics

Power Tactics
Description

Example

Reason

Use of facts and data to Ali sees his superior and inform
make a logical or
his superior about his performance
rational presentation.
and achievement as a reason for
him to get a promotion.

Friendliness

Create a relationship by
using strategies such
as acting humble, being
friendly and create
goodwill.

Ahmad invites his boss for a lunch

at one of the expensive hotels
when he knows that the boss has
a final say in promoting someone
as a new general manager.

Coalition

Getting a support from

someone in the
organization to back up
the request.

Siti asks few of her friends to

recommend her to the boss to get
the promotion.

Understanding Organizational Behaviour

Oxford University Press Malaysia, 2009

All Rights Reserved

Ch10: 11

10.4
Tactics

Power Tactics (cont.)

Description

Example

Bargaining

Use negotiation
tactics through the
exchange of benefits
or favours.

When Lingam heard about the

promotion, he went to see his boss
and highlighed the favour that he
had done to the company and
asked the boss to promote him to
return the favour.

Assertiveness

Use a direct and

forceful approach.

Higher
authority

Gaining a support
from higher position
to back up requests.

Understanding Organizational Behaviour

Oxford University Press Malaysia, 2009

Roslan went to see his general

manager and asked the general
manager to put up good words to
the manager to support Roslans
promotion.
All Rights Reserved
Ch10: 12

10.4
Tactics
Sanctions

Power Tactics (cont.)

Description
Use of
organizationally
derived rewards and
punishment.

Understanding Organizational Behaviour

Oxford University Press Malaysia, 2009

Example
Sue told her superior that if she
did not get the promotion, she will
withhold any information.

All Rights Reserved

Ch10: 13

10.5
Power in Groups:
Coalition
A coalition is one of the influence tactics used in
the organization to gain power.
Coalition is a strategy when informal groups
bind together to achieve certain objectives.
The strength behind this strategy is number.
When a group starts to bound together and
back up each other, their words will be more
stronger and difficult to be ignored by the
management.
Understanding Organizational Behaviour
Oxford University Press Malaysia, 2009

All Rights Reserved

Ch10: 14

10.6

Sexual Harassment: Unequal

Power in the Workplace

Sexual harassment is referred as unwelcome

advances, requests for sexual favours, and
other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual
nature.
Sexual harassment is the result of a situation
whereby an individual controls or threatens
another individual because of the power he or
she has.

Understanding Organizational Behaviour

Oxford University Press Malaysia, 2009

All Rights Reserved

Ch10: 15

10.7

Politics: Power in Action

Political behaviour: A set of behaviours which do

not require ones formal role in the organization, but
the influence or attempt to influence any distribution
activity in the organization.
Legitimate political behaviour is the normal
everyday politics which will not cause harm to
anyone.
Illegitimate political behaviour is viewed as extreme
political behaviour that violates the implied rules in
the organization or in the country.
Understanding Organizational Behaviour
Oxford University Press Malaysia, 2009

All Rights Reserved

Ch10: 16