6. Behind Closed Doors: Decoding the Interplay of Power and Politics in Organizational Dynamics

POWER AND POLITICS IN ORGANIZATION

Figure 1

Power and politics play key role in organization. There needs to some source of power which directs and control organization activities to achieve goal. Without power, employers will not co-operate, there will be a lack of vision, ans enthusiasm confusion about their roles and responsibilities. 

Power is seen by many theorists as a desirable force within organizations. According to George and Jones when one group of people gets another group of person or people to do something perhaps that person would not done the task naturally referred as power. 

Politics is another concept use within the organizations to achieve common or person goals and interests. Management or people from a higher position use their power to influence work politics to control decision making. When some people within an organization have power and they may be able to use that power to get other staffs to work in particular ways, where reorganize the business in a certain way or like in develop a new application, whatever it is they have got what they want by virtue of their position because they have power, and they able to manipulate the employers to perform in a way they want by using the power, wielding the power, and getting staff on their side sometimes to agree with them. 

Workplace politics is a common activity pursued by employees from a position of power. For example, the use of political behavior to gain promotion. 

Figure 2

Power Cultures have 5 different types. Legitimate, Expert, Reward, Information, and Coercive. 

In Legitimate Power, the top-level leader/ CEO/ Board of Directors in company has authority over all staff underneath them. Each of the leaders at the Middle level/ Superior or senior managers has authority over their individual team. Finally, those at the bottom of the organization like minority employers have no power and no authority over anyone. 

Legitimate Power is emphasized by rules and regulations. Implementation new changes in organization, specially designed for employers of the organization. The company CEO ensure that everyone in the organization should understand the necessary change in organization which operates globally, and they ensure to motivate middle level and lower level as well as makes them follow the instruction to work in a desire direction, and ensure to implement the required technical solutions as soon as possible to run the organization effectively. 

Expert Power, is the skill of a person has regardless of position to show knowledge in a subject matter or state. Sometimes an employee may have expert power in organization. For example, in company, influencer leader have high authority to affect the obtaining decision of others due to their knowledge or position or connection with their viewers. They actively involve with a different position. Specially in marketing and promoting new services in the organization. 

Reward power is a formal power given to an organization manager, project managers, to give out rewards to other employers in organization. Generally organizations across the world engages with external auditors and survey firms that carry out evaluations and analyses of a wide range of company functions, such as salary and benefits compliance issues. Most of the time companies perform a yearly salary increase procedure that considers salary incremental, promotions, annual assessments based on employers’ performance. 

Information Power, is about having an authority to specific types of information in organization. For example while implementing new cyber security program, company's special Information Security unit hold the power to uses cutting-edge technological explanations to deliver end-to-end information and cyber-security analysis for organization's IT and system infrastructure. These activities involve of setting up an enhanced Cyber Security Operation Center which examines, responds to, and investigates cyber risks. 

Coercive Power, most of the time coercive power of method used in companies to simply initiate of the need for urgency. For example introducing new upgrade version of cyber security had impact on organization in a wide range, rather than impact on employee. Leader of companies  ensure to apply coercive power to make a change in the organization because, the need of introducing cyber security upgrade will protect the organization from going pitfall. Therefore, the organization introduces a strict data protection policy with respect to personal data that collects, processes, and stores during its business activities.

Figure 3

Organizations are dedicated to safeguarding the personal data. Data privacy are protected in accordance with the best practices available, as well as according to respective company's relevant lawful obligations. 

Management using power and politics for own interests can cause harm to the interests of other people/ employees, the organization, and its resources. It can improve organization's decision making, healthy competition, bring new ideas and solution through individual power. Politics can only be successful if management/ employees possess the power to influence decision. Level of power can be seen from organization structure and often flow downwards. The increased power enables them to engage in political behavior and effectively influence decision making. 

In political tactics the very first thing to recognize is who has the power. There is no point in trying to influence people without power because they can’t deliver. Therefore, in organization it’s very important to recognize who has power in different situations. Manager can increase their power by making themselves irreplaceable. For example, organizations are developing specialist skills or knowledge which benefits their business activities. Managers can also develop key relationships with customers/clients/suppliers which help them to limit uncertainty. Managers can make themselves more central to the organization by taking on more responsibility, and  securing their position. 

Especially if we consider the marine industry and if we look into the company called ZIM integrated shipping company, their security profile incorporates with internal security methods on ships, in offices and logistic areas, and external safety measures taken with corporate partners such as suppliers and consumers. Considering Tax policy, the company is conscious of its responsibility to ensure settlement of reasonable and clear corporate taxes wherever the company manages. Anti-trust laws related to shipping industry and ZIM’s zero-tolerance methodology to breaches of antitrust laws, the company takes ongoing legal action to identify and reduce any antitrust risks and enhance employee perception and knowledge of antitrust laws. Also, their employees are encouraged to rapidly report to the Legal Unit for any alleged violation of the Antitrust Policy or any antitrust law.

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Stephen J Perkins & Raisa Arvinen-Muondo, 2013. Organizational behaviour.

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