Power Conflict
MGT4110: Organizational Behavior
Power & Politics
Professor Dr. AAhad M. Osman-Gani, MBA, MA, PhD (USA)
Director, Graduate School of Management
Power
Power refers to a capacity that A has to influence the behavior of B, so that B acts in accordance with A’s wishes.
Power may exist but not be used.
Probably the most important aspect of power is that it is a function of dependency.
A person can have power over you only if he or she controls something you desire.
13-2
Power and Dependence
Person B’s countervailing power over
Person A
Person A
Person A’s control of resource valued by Person B
Resource desired by person B
Person B
Person A’s power over
Person B
10-3
Contrasting Leadership and Power
• Leaders use power as a means of
attaining group goals.
• Leaders achieve goals, and power is a means of facilitating their achievement. 13-4
Differences Between Leadership &
Power
- Goal compatibility
Power does not require goal
compatibility, merely dependence.
- The direction of influence
Leadership focuses on the downward influence on one’s followers.
13-5
Five Bases of Power
Formal Power:
Legitimate Power
Reward Power
Coercive Power
Personal Power:
Expert Power
Referent Power
13-6
Bases of Power
Legitimate
Agreement that people in certain roles can request certain behaviors of others
Based on job descriptions and mutual agreement
Legitimate power range varies across national and org cultures. 10-7
Bases of Power
Legitimate
Reward
Ability to control the allocation of rewards valued by others and to remove negative sanctions
Operates upward as well as downward (360 feedback)
10-8
Bases of Power
Legitimate
Reward
Coercive
Ability to apply punishment
Exists upward as well as downward Peer pressure is a form of coercive power
10-9
Bases of Power
Legitimate
Reward
Coercive
Expert
The capacity to influence others by possessing knowledge or skills that they value Employees
Power & Politics
Professor Dr. AAhad M. Osman-Gani, MBA, MA, PhD (USA)
Director, Graduate School of Management
Power
Power refers to a capacity that A has to influence the behavior of B, so that B acts in accordance with A’s wishes.
Power may exist but not be used.
Probably the most important aspect of power is that it is a function of dependency.
A person can have power over you only if he or she controls something you desire.
13-2
Power and Dependence
Person B’s countervailing power over
Person A
Person A
Person A’s control of resource valued by Person B
Resource desired by person B
Person B
Person A’s power over
Person B
10-3
Contrasting Leadership and Power
• Leaders use power as a means of
attaining group goals.
• Leaders achieve goals, and power is a means of facilitating their achievement. 13-4
Differences Between Leadership &
Power
- Goal compatibility
Power does not require goal
compatibility, merely dependence.
- The direction of influence
Leadership focuses on the downward influence on one’s followers.
13-5
Five Bases of Power
Formal Power:
Legitimate Power
Reward Power
Coercive Power
Personal Power:
Expert Power
Referent Power
13-6
Bases of Power
Legitimate
Agreement that people in certain roles can request certain behaviors of others
Based on job descriptions and mutual agreement
Legitimate power range varies across national and org cultures. 10-7
Bases of Power
Legitimate
Reward
Ability to control the allocation of rewards valued by others and to remove negative sanctions
Operates upward as well as downward (360 feedback)
10-8
Bases of Power
Legitimate
Reward
Coercive
Ability to apply punishment
Exists upward as well as downward Peer pressure is a form of coercive power
10-9
Bases of Power
Legitimate
Reward
Coercive
Expert
The capacity to influence others by possessing knowledge or skills that they value Employees