Submitted by: Submitted by chewyfrdabluff
Views: 459
Words: 781
Pages: 4
Category: Business and Industry
Date Submitted: 01/14/2011 05:37 PM
Power and Politics in Organizations
JA
MGT 307
Power and politics in an organization is something that no company can avoid. Even in small companies that are family run politics and power exist. These two things can be apparent or subliminal. Power is not something that owners or management automatically have. Employees must empower them. Politics can be fair and unbiased, but then things get personal, and that is when things get ugly. Power and politics are two necessary evils of the business world, but without them does not mean a nirvana would exist either.
Previously stated was that empowerment is given to the owners and managers by the employees and that is how power comes to exist in business. Now, it is up to the owners/shareholders how to delegate the power. “The separation of ownership from control, the expansion of the corporation, the rise of the multinationals and the state bureaucracies, and the complexities of modern organizations have all contributed to the process that has placed the manager at the centre of power.”(Macmillan, 2007) Generally in a vertically aligned organizations, power will be passed down to each level, with each level getting less power at each decent. With this setup, every level has a boss and sometimes levels have multiple bosses. When power is delegated each level has to be able to understand the responsibility that comes with that power, even if it is just a little power, management must understand the limits and controls. In any organization, power and ethics, are in a very intimate relationship. Power can be used in an unethical way in which employees fear owners and managers, or power can be used in an ethical manner in which employees will respect owners and managers. Unethical use of power is not necessarily making employees do unethical things, but managing in cruel and unusual way. Simply put, hazing in the work place can be very unethical, but because of the culture of the...