Deck 12: Power, Influence, and Authority

Question 1

Is it true that organizations are based around power and the structure of organizations explicitly denotes a power structure via its hierarchy?

Answer 1

True

Question 2

In a leadership sense, there is a link between power and leaders - what best describes the power by way of the capacity or potential to influence of leaders?

A) It is the absolute capacity of an individual agent to influence the behaviour or attitudes of one or more designated target persons at a given point in time.
B) It is the capabilities of individuals who could strike terror into the minds of foes and love in the hearts of friends in biblical terms.
C) It is the capability and capacity to get people to do things they otherwise would have done anyway.
D) It is the infinite incapacity of an individual agent to influence the beliefs or acts of one or more designated target persons at a given point in time.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Power has some interesting variable dimensions - the word 'agent' refers to the body attempting to exert influence, that of 'target' which is the focus of the agent's influence. Is it true that power can be relative as well as absolute?

Answer 3

True

Question 4

Disobedience is a defining characteristic of human behaviour according to Guttridge (1992), what three possible options available to the worker?

A) 1. Commitment, 2. Compliance 3. Resistance
B) 1. Commitment, 2. Compliance 3. Reassurance
C) 1. Contentment, 2. Compliance 3. Resistance
D) 1. Commitment, 2. Complication 3. Resistance

Question 5

In 1959, French and Raven reported a series of experiments from which they concluded that an individual's power stemmed from one of five possible sources. What are those five possible sources?

A) Legitimate power, Coercive power, Reward power, Expert power, Referent power.
B) Legitimate power, Expert power, Referent power, Consistent power, Reward power.
C) Reward power, Expert power, Referred power, Logistical power, Consistent power.
D) Reward power, Received power. Logistical power, Coercive power, Expert power.

Question 6

'Knowledge is power', Green (1999) points out, the solution
proposed must also appear rational to the target at the time, and it operates successfully when the target believes the agent has access to knowledge-inaccessible to them-which will solve a problem. Does this clearly articulate Referent Power?

Question 7

Clayton (2010) suggested two more refinements to sources of power; connection and resource power. Does networking as a skill that can be developed to make connections, considered a vital part of the modern manager's skill set, reflect resource power?

Question 8

Highly controversial experiments were carried out by Stanley Milgram in 1960s where seemingly normal, well-adjusted men could be made to
perform acts that challenged their own personal values - what was the main point that Milgram's work sought to demonstrate?

A) Men who are in everyday life responsible and decent were seduced by the trappings of authority, and by the uncritical acceptance of the experimenter's definition of the situation into performing harsh acts.
B) The 'banality of evil', which suggested that most Nazis were extraordinary men and few majorities maintained they would commit such evil acts if they could.
C) The 'banality of evil', which suggested that most Nazis were quite ordinary men and and the vast majority maintained they would commit such evil acts if they could.
D) Men who are not in everyday life responsible nor decent weren't seduced by the trappings of authority, yet by the uncritical acceptance of the experimenter's definition of the situation did not perform harsh acts.

Question 9

Can Reward Power, as defined by Handy in 1985, be best described?

A) It is used by an agent to reinforce a desired behaviour or to change a course of action towards something wanted by the agent. This means that, if the target agrees to the agent's request, they will be granted access to that resource, which may be as varied as money, love, or freedom.
B) The wielder of such power is capable of either punishing or withholding benefits from the follower. Or at least the follower must perceive this to be the case-remember power does not have to be exercised to be influential.
C) This form of power is associated with a role and perceived authority. Any hierarchical organization, such as an army or civil service, will have the manifestations of this present throughout the organization.
D) This form of power correlates closely to the theme of charisma and more of a psychological nature. It may be for the purpose of being able to claim to be close to the person or be seen by others as having similar traits.

Question 10

Kanter (1979) sums up, 'it is easier to talk about money and much easier to talk about sex, than it is to talk about power'. However, most of us live in societies that are governed by rules, regulations, what best describes the aspirations of these laws?

A) They compel us to act and behave in a certain way for the greater collective good.
B) They constrain us from acting and behaving in a better way which might not be for the greater collective good.
C) They have a codified set of standards that must be adhered to in order we want to remain members of that cohort or club.
D) They compel us to act within a codified set of standards that must be adhered to and behave in a certain way because they can.