Republic of the Philippines
Laguna State Polytechnic University
San Pablo City Campus
Del Remedio, San Pablo City
Graduate Studies and Applied Research
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COGNATE 208
Human Behavior in Organization
Power and Political Behavior
Ruby B. Brion, Ph. D.
Eduardo M. Talaman (Deped-MSEMSAT)
Power and Political Behavior
Power
 is the ability to get someone to do something you want done.
 is the ability to make things happen in the way you want.
Influence
 what you have, when you exercise power.
 expressed by others’ behavioral response to your exercise of power.
Power and Dependence
Person
B’s
Power
counter power
Person A
A capacity that A
over Person A
has to influence the
behavior of B so that
Person A’x
B acts in accordance
power over
Person B’s
Person B
Person B
Goals
with A’s wishes.
Dependency
B’s relationship to A
when A possesses
something that B
requires.
Faces of Power in Action




POSITIVE
Leading
Influencing
Selling
Persuading




NEGATIVE
Coercing
Forcing
Hurting
Crushing
Interpersonal Forms of Power
Forms of Power
Definition
Advantages
REWARD POWER
Reward power is the  Promotes good behavior 
- when someone is
power to give someone a  Increases sales
given an reward for reward. This could be  Promotes loyalty to the
good work. To
because they have done a business they work for.
motivated
good job or all employees

employees to work get a basic level of
harder.
rewards. Rewards can be
given in bonus or money
off products that the

business, that they work
for make.
Disadvantages
Rewards can loses
value if the same
reward is keep given
out
Some things which
people may consider
a reward others may
not
It also costs the
business money as it
pays for the rewards
COERCIVE POWER It’s often considered the  Some (however few), can 
- is based on the most extreme form of be motivated to work
subordinates fear of autocratic
leaders. hard
under
these
the
leader; Frequent
use
of conditions.
maintained by the reprimands and a hostile  If employees respond
use of threats and attitude,
threatening positively
then
the 
punishment.
subordinates with the loss workforce can have a
Few
people
can
handle it. Some will
not
tolerate
it,
leading to a high
labour turnover
Subordinates
feel
isolated and unable
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of
status,
loss
of very positive, productive
employment or in extreme output.
cases physical force. Staff  Employees
can
be 
are often scared of being motivated to acquire
shouted at or being similar levels of power. 
sacked.
This
fear
empowers the manager.
to communicate any
ideas.
Limited
communication
No sense of positive
motivation
and
reinforcement
LEGITIMATE
For example, the leader  enables for a clear 
POWER
of an organization had hierarchy
- Legitimate power is certain powers because of /organizational
the sense of power the position they holds structure
so
based on law and within the organization.
subordinates
know
other
formal
exactly.
authority such as
 many people are used to
terms of reference
accepting
and using
for a specific role or
legitimate power
position.

leaders
can
sometime abuse their
powers, for example
miss deadlines or
tries to exercise their
power over those
whom they do not
have
legitimate
power over.
It does not always
result in effective and
flexible
organizations,
it
gives
employees
power because of
their role, rather
than because they
have particular skills
and talents.
To be able to have
this
kind
of
leadership you need
to be able to have a
friendly yet business
like relationship with
your employers, so a
Boss that doesn’t
have
that
relationship won’t be
able
to
have
a
reference
relationship
with
their employers.
Too bossy
overconfidence
if
the
expert's
knowledge is shared,
his
power
will
probably
diminish
over time.
if the expert does not
share his knowledge,
then the organization
will
not
be
as
effective.
REFERENT POWER
- refers to the ability
of a leader to
influence a follower
because
of
the
follower's
loyalty,
respect, friendship,
admiration,
affection, or a desire
to gain approval.
Power of an individual  The
advantages
to 
over
the
Team
or reference power means
Followers, based on a that people want to
high
level
of follow you because they
identification
with, like a respect you.
admiration of, or respect  It will show that you have
for the power holder/ a very loyal band of
leader.
followers.
EXPERT POWER Ability to influence other  prevent other employees 
- a person who is very parties
based acquiring their particular 
knowledgeable
on expertise and knowled
knowledge and skills

about or skilful in a ge. Expert power in  Offer subordinates some
particular area.
an organization is
the elements
of
their
- Possession
of ability
to
influence particular
knowledge
particular
the behavior of others in and skills to gain their
expertise, skills and the organization based support and respect.

knowledge can give solely
on
power.
past experience and exper
- personal expertise tise in a specific area.
and knowledge
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SYMBOLS OF POWER AND POWERLESSNESS
KANTER’S SYMBOLS OF POWER
KANTER’S POWERLESSNESS
 Ability to intercede for someone in trouble
First-line supervisors
 Ability to get placements for favored  Overly close supervision
employees
 Inflexible adherence to the rules
 Exceeding budget limitations
 Tendency to do the job themselves
 Procuring
above-average
raises
for
Staff professionals
employees
 Resist change
 Getting items on the agenda at meetings
 Try to protect their turf
 Access to early information
Top executives
 Having top managers seek out their opinion  Focus on budget cutting and punishing
others
 Use dictatorial, top-down communication
Managers
 Make external attributions for negative
events
KORDA’S POWER OF SYMBOLS
MICHAEL KORDA
Office furnishings
- Convey messages about power
Time power
- Using clocks and watches as power symbols
Standing by
- Game in which people are obliged to keep their
cell phones, pagers, and so forth with them at
all times so executives can reach them
Organizational Politics
 Attempts to influence others using discretionary behaviours to promote personal objectives.
 Discretionary behaviours - neither explicitly prescribed nor prohibited.
 Politics may be good or bad for the organization.
Attacking
and Blaming
Managing
Impressions
Creating
Obligations
Types of
Organizational
Politics
Controlling
information
Forming
coalitions
Cultivating
networks
Internal
locus of
control
Internal
locus of
control
Scarce
Resources
Personal
Characteristics
Conditions
Supporting
Organizational
Politics
Deceit is
appropriate
Tolerance of
Politics
It works
here
Deceit is
appropriate
Complex and
Ambiguous
Decisions
Democratic
decision
making
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SUMMARY / BOTTOMLINE:
Power is the ability to influence others. Influence is the process of affecting the thoughts,
behaviour, and feelings of others. Authority is the right to influence others. Power, influence and
authority are correlated to each other. With the proper use of power you can influence or inspire
others to have perspective in life, a person whose have the authority to implement the power makes
difference to become a good person and to achieve goals in life. Power are subdivided into five forms
each has advantages and disadvantages. I believe the forms of power are applied on different situation
the most important of it is you know how to handle your subordinates with respect and the key of
using all of these types is to use them ethically. Recognizing symbols of both power and powerlessness
is key diagnostic skill for managers. Key to overcoming powerlessness: share power & delegate
decision making. It is true that “the great power comes with great responsibility”. As leader you have
a big responsibility to your subordinates on how you utilize the power as a leader to make difference
with their lives of your subordinates. Power can also be destroy you, your subordinates or even the
organization you were belong. When we encounter the term Organization politics we conjure up
negative images but it should not take it that way; instead it is appropriate practice of power and
influence in organizations. Organizational politics plays vital role as the central to managing. To utilize
the power effectively we must apply the following:
 Use power in ethical ways.
 Understand and use all of the various types of power and influence.
 Seek out jobs that allow you to develop your power skills.
 Use power tempered by maturity and self-control.
 Accept that influencing people is an important part of the management job.
References:

Davis, Keith and J.. Newstrom, Human Behavior on Behavior,on Organization 8th Ed. Philippines Copyright: Inc.
Graw - Hill International Book Co., 1989

Levenza, Jose P., Human Behavior on Organization, Multi-Disciplinary approach, Q.C. New Galaxies Printing Press
1983

Martinez, Conception P. , Human Behavior in Organizations. Q.C., Kalayaan Press Mktg. Ent., Inc., 1992

Nelson, Debra L. and J.C. Quick., Organizational Behavior, Foundations Realities and Challenges 2nd Ed. MN: West
Publishing Co., 1997

Pilar, Nestor R. and R.A. Rodriguez, Editors, Readings in Human Behavior in Organizations, Q.C.: JMC Press Inc.,
1981
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