Power and Politics

Power and Politics

This paper will discuss the power and politics of the WA Health Department regarding preference in leadership.

Introduction

Power and politics are intricate forces that affect human behaviour and decision making in an organisation. Power is the capacity to influence others and politics is the process of a group of people making collective decisions (Drory and Vigoda-Gadot 2010). Power is exercised during the political process and the outcome of an organisational decision is the evidence of political forces (Buchanan and Huczynski 2004). As results, organisational choices and decisions are made based on groups and individuals that have the greatest ability to exercise their influence on others.

Organisational Overview

The Western Australia (WA) Health Department employs 40 000 staff and provides services to 2.3 million people state wide. In 2009 women represented 44.3% of management positions with an aim to achieve 47% by 2012 part of the WA Health Equity and Diversity Plan for 2010 to 2015. The governing body of WA Health consists of 8 men and 6 women, with a male Director General (About Us). In this particular case a small department within a hospital setting had an opening for a Team Leader to manage the emergency service. Two existing staff members applied for the position; a male who had been at the agency for approximately 6 months, held a four year degree in Psychology, and had some past experience working with persons in crisis, and a female with 3 years experience at the agency, a Masters level psychology degree, and similar past experience working with people in crisis. The male applicant was successful. Power and politics, and the way this is used differently by men and women, appeared to be involved in the final decision.

Bases of Power

Power is an individual property, and the sources of individual power include; energy, ability to focus, sensitivity to understand others, flexibility with varied means to achieve goals,...