Exam 5: Gaining Power and Influence

Power can be viewed as a sign of personal efficacy,the ability to mobilize resources to accomplish productive work.

What will a performance appraisal system that rewards initiative and innovation do?

If you increased your influence with your boss by drawing her attention to problems that concern you,what have you done?

One should use reason when (1)adequate time for extensive discussion exists,(2)parties share mutual respect and credibility,and (3)needs are specific and short term.Which statements are correct?

What does it suggest about an organization if people are rewarded for being reliable and predictable?

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?

What are the two basic factors that influence a person's power in an organization?

If a person desires to move up in the general management hierarchy,what should he/she do?

Your supervisor remarks,"If you do not complete the project by 5:00 p.m.on Friday,you will not be able to go on vacation next week." This is an example of the retribution influence strategy.

How is power accrued via horizontal and vertical network relationships?

A co-worker tells you that an effective strategy for capturing managers' attention is to make it clear the issue can be resolved.Is this good advice?

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. -What organizational issues (River Woods Plant issues)will require strategies to help the plant manager maintain power and influence? Why will the issues affect the plant manager's influence?

Influence strategies used by managers to obtain compliance fall into three categories: retaliation,reciprocity,and reason.

What does relevance as a power base refer to?

If you took on functions essential for the performance of other activities,how have you expanded your 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?

Which of the following is true about neutralizing retribution strategies?

Mini-Case: A Day at the Office. Your boss has called you into his office. It's 9:00 a.m. Friday morning. He asks, "I've talked to others in your group, and they have agreed to work this weekend to get the project out the door by next Monday. I had better be able to count on you. It's not going to pretty if you can't make it work." You respond, "Let me check my calendar and get back to you by 11:00 a.m. I need to double-check my calendar before I commit." Your boss grudgingly agrees. In checking your schedule, you see that you have a meeting at 2:00 p.m. with one of your company's major clients to review the latest shipment. If you work this weekend, you will have to cancel the meeting because you will have some preparation work to do prior to working on the project this weekend. The client will not be pleased if you cancel the meeting. You immediately find Max and say, "Max, good friend, remember that time I pulled your shift last May when your wife had the baby? Well, I need for you to cover for me this weekend. Can you?" Max agrees. You go to your boss's office and before you have an opportunity to speak, he says, "I was a little brusque with you earlier. The fact is, I really need for you to see this project through for me. You are the only one in the group that fully comprehends what this project means to the company. I need your expertise and judgment on this." -In your first meeting with your boss,at 9:00 a.m.,which influence strategy did he employ?

You are graduating this summer and are seeking an influential position.Your major is finance.Which job should you choose to maximize your relevant power?

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?