Deck 15: Power and Politics

Question 1

Jeffery Pfeffer argues that all organizations are meritocracies.

Answer 1

False
Explanation: Jeffery Pfeffer argues that whilst we like to believe that organizations are meritocracies (that people get promoted on the basis of merit) and things work by fair play, the reality, he claims, is different. Organizations, in Pfeffer's view, are highly political. Rather than trying to ignore this reality we should seek to understand and work with it. Regardless of whether he is right in this assertion, it does highlight the significance of power and politics in everyday organizational life.

Question 2

Manipulating other people for personal gain is often labelled as being _____

Answer 2

Machiavellian.
Explanation: Niccolό Machiavelli was one of the first people to identify the power and politics that occur in organizations. He challenged the idealist view that rulers get to their position through it being 'God-given'; rather they achieved it through the manipulation of power. The word 'Machiavellian' describes someone that is controlling and getting their own way through manipulating others, but this does not do justice to the quality of his thinking.

Question 3

Kane-Frieder et al. argue that engaged employees often see organizational politics not as a hindrance but as something to be worked through.

Answer 3

True
Explanation: Whilst organizational politics is often seen in negative terms, particularly because rewards are not properly linked to effort, Kane-Frieder et al. argue that engaged employees can see them as beneficial as they are more likely to take part in office politics, whereas less engaged employees are not going to.

Question 4

According to the textbook what power do employees have? Please select all that apply.

A) Withhold labour
B) Collective power through going on strike
C) Withholding information
D) Withholding time

Question 5

Match the titles of French and Raven's five bases of power with their examples.
-You respond to a request because it is a manager telling you rather than because you think it is a good idea.

A) Legitimate
B) Reward
C) Expert
D) Referent

Question 6

Match the titles of French and Raven's five bases of power with their examples.
-You take on a task because you believe that you will get a promotion out of it.

A) Legitimate
B) Reward
C) Expert
D) Referent

Question 7

Match the titles of French and Raven's five bases of power with their examples.
-You require an IT specialist in order to fix your computer.

A) Legitimate
B) Reward
C) Expert
D) Referent

Question 8

Match the titles of French and Raven's five bases of power with their examples.
-A colleague you want to emulate asks you to take on a task which you do not want to do but, because you want to emulate them, you do it anyway.

A) Legitimate
B) Reward
C) Expert
D) Referent

Question 9

When employees comply with the leaders' demands, and thus are constrained, this is an example of _____ power.

Question 10

Match the three titles of Weber's ideal types of authority with their descriptions, and spot the one incorrect description.
-based on a heroic leader, where people unquestioningly follow the leader. One of the problems with this type of authority is that it relies on a single leader for its survival. The followers also become subservient.

A) Charismatic
B) Traditional
C) Rational-legal
D) The incorrect description

Question 11

Match the three titles of Weber's ideal types of authority with their descriptions, and spot the one incorrect description.
-based on tradition or custom. The leader holds their authority based on the status they are given or inherited (such as the monarchy).

A) Charismatic
B) Traditional
C) Rational-legal
D) The incorrect description

Question 12

Match the three titles of Weber's ideal types of authority with their descriptions, and spot the one incorrect description.
-based on formalized laws and regulation, akin to bureaucracy. Weber saw this form as superior, as it does not rely on the charisma of a single leader or the unquestioning following of tradition.

A) Charismatic
B) Traditional
C) Rational-legal
D) The incorrect description

Question 13

Match the three titles of Weber's ideal types of authority with their descriptions, and spot the one incorrect description.
-based on personality of the leader. The leader inspires their followers through the force of their personality in a way that makes the followers enjoy their job more.

A) Charismatic
B) Traditional
C) Rational-legal
D) The incorrect description

Question 14

According to Lukes, what are the problems with the Dimension 1 (observable conflict): Please select all that apply.

A) It includes behind the scenes agenda setting
B) Ignores covert power
C) Is too narrow in what it looks at
D) It ignores conflict

Question 15

For Lukes the absence of conflict is a sign that there is no power at work.

Question 16

Marxists, such as Steven Lukes argue that workers who do not know their true interests are suffering from false _____

Question 17

For Foucault where there is power there is always _____

Question 18

What are the implications of Stanley Milgram's experiment: Please select all that apply.

A) People accept authority and therefore often act against their own judgement
B) People will only follow orders by authority figures if they think they are rational
C) Ordinary people can do terribly destructive things
D) People are uncaring and will continue to give electric shocks if someone in authority tells them to

Question 19

What are some of the criticisms that the Milgram and Zimbardo's experiments have received? Please select all that apply.

A) The studies have not been replicated
B) The research has been criticized for being unethical
C) They are outdated
D) The studies falsified their data

Question 20

According to Kanter what are some of the consequences of people feeling powerless? Please select all that apply.

A) They can become simply compliant and follow managers orders unquestioningly
B) They become critical, bossy, and controlling
C) They can become neurotic
D) They overly focus on rules

Question 21

Kanter argues that to overcome powerlessness, the more people are _____ the more work is accomplished.