Exam 5: Gaining Power and Influence

Which is a characteristic of a powerful manager?

During the interview process,the interviewer told you that the position you have applied for has been in this organization for over 50 years.You having been looking for a job that affords you discretion.Which statement describes your reaction to the news from the interviewer?

Which of the following is not an organizational trend that has caused a shift in the definition of power from "having authority over others" to "being able to get things done"?

Your boss is discussing power and influence and states,"Power is a necessary precondition for influence." Should you agree or disagree?

River Woods Plant Manager Heritage Appliance Company recently announced plans to construct the River Woods manufacturing plant,replacing the company's original,flagship facility adjacent to the company headquarters in Edgemont.In announcing the new plant,the company stated that to the extent possible it would be staffed by Edgemont plant personnel and that the excess personnel would be transferred to other Heritage plants in neighboring states.Heritage management views the River Woods facility as the plant of the future,featuring new methods of production and lower processing costs and manpower requirements. In a recent press release,the Heritage CEO noted that they were replacing one of the least automated plants in the industry with a plant using new forms of production not previously seen in appliance manufacturing.Heritage Appliance is also using the River Woods plant to pilot a new decentralized management structure.In the past,the firm's marketing activities were directed from the home office by a vice president.Manufacturing operations and certain other departments were under the control of the company's senior vice president.In this centralized,functional arrangement,none of the company's four plants had a general manager.Instead,each department in a plant reported on a line basis to its functional counterpart at the home office (e.g. ,director of production,director of engineering).In contrast,the new River Woods plant manager will be responsible for the management of all functions and personnel except marketing and sales. There is general consensus among the top management team that the long-term viability of the firm depends on the success of this initiative.However,some have expressed concerns about the difficulty of the task facing the River Woods general manager.They point to the shift from functional lines of communication and accountability to a plant-level focus,as well as the challenges of upgrading the skills of the Edgemont plant personnel,working out the bugs in new applications of advanced manufacturing processes to appliance design and production,and dealing with the inevitable complaints from employees in a small company town who are not satisfied with their new assignments and who might serve as the catalyst for unionizing the only nonunion U.S.appliance manufacturing firm. -Using the information on influence strategies in the second half of this chapter as your guide,strategize how you would address the challenges you are likely to encounter if you accepted the position of River Woods plant manager.

Disadvantage(s)to using reciprocity are (1)considerable time required to build trust, (2)engenders resentment,and (3)encourages people to feel the terms of assignments are open for negotiation.Which statements are correct?

If your behavior (the kind of behavior one would normally associate with friendship)improves your influence with your employees,you are most likely practicing which type of power?

Robert is a manager at a car sales dealership.He was concerned about a new line of cars that were not selling well.He wanted to discuss the issue with other managers and asked the secretary for the senior executive of the dealership to put the issue on the agenda for the next all managers meeting.She responded,"Sorry,the agenda is already full for the next three months of meetings.Would you like me to put the issue on the agenda four months from now?" At that moment,the senior executive came out of his office and stopped to say hello to Robert.After greeting the executive,Robert explained his concern over the low sales with the line of cars and asked if it could be discussed at the next meeting.The senior executive turned to the secretary and asked her to put it on the agenda for the next meeting.Then,he said to Robert,"Just so you know,we are considering elimination of that line of cars at our dealership.No one knows that yet,but think about that before our next meeting." Which key indicators of Robert's upward and outward power in an organization are apparent in the above example? Which key indicators are not apparent in the above example?

You have been told that in order to advance your career you must be overly ambitious and be indifferent to problems others face.Is this good or bad advice?

Members of a work team are in a meeting where the director of the department is present.At the end of the meeting,the presenter asks,"What are your reactions to my presentation?" The members of the work team look at the director and wait for his response.Which factors most likely determine a person's power in this organization?

The trend in American firms is toward position-based views of power.

Which influence strategy respects the rights of others,honors the concept of fairness,and attempts to strengthen the ongoing relationships between parties?

A negative view of "personal power" is held by cultures that place a high value on ascription and on individualism.

The ability to influence another person's behavior through the possession of knowledge,experience,or judgment is based upon the power base of legitimacy.

One should use reciprocity when (1)there is sufficient time to reach satisfactory agreements, (2)no other alternatives exist,and (3)quality and innovation are not important.Which statements are correct?

Getting rid of routine activities,expanding task variety,and initiating new ideas may allow one to gain position power in an organization because flexibility has been increased.

What is included in ways to gain visibility?

The most appropriate strategy to neutralize a retribution strategy used by your boss would be to focus your boss's attention on your independence.

In a company that sells golf clubs,a job in which department has more relevance power?

Going to lunch with other departments can increase your centrality power.