Thomas Green

Thomas Green: Power, Office Politics, and a Career in Crisis

PROBLEM

Thomas Green, Frank Davis, and Shannon McDonald have fallen into a crisis within the Marketing department at Dynamic Displays. An environment of uncertainty and struggles for power has produced job insecurities in the workplace. Thomas Green is unsure about the future of his career that once appeared to be a quick rise to the top. Frank Davis is struggling to find his place in his new position as Marketing Director. Shannon McDonald must make sense about what the situation implies about her organization and management repute.

CAUSES

The political tactics used by Thomas Green are triggered by uncertainty about what it takes to get ahead at Dynamic Displays. The unclear performance-reward linkages and vague performance measures are evident, especially with the recent major changes in the Marketing organization. Even as McDonald promotes Green, she cites her reservations about Green’s lack of experience and acknowledges that she is “taking a chance” on him. The rules for promotion are bent to fit the situation as McDonald pleases for her mentee, Thomas Green. As Travel Division Vice President, McDonald has responsibility to define direction and structure for her organization. Her decision to promote Green undermines the decision-making authority in the organization because the newly promoted Frank Davis is not involved in the decision to promote Green. This places the manager-employee relationship in an undesirable position of uncertainty from the very beginning.

The relationship is strained further as it becomes apparent that Green and Davis have very different work styles. Frank Davis is experienced and deliberate about his work, gathering the necessary market data required to provide customers a complete marketing analysis. Green, on the other hand, relies on his referent power with his clients and his ability to dazzle with new ideas. Davis makes it clear...