Political Frame 

Assignment 3 – Political Frame

All organizations deal with politics within and outside their boundaries.  In this analysis, you are going to look at the degree and what type of politics (good vs. bad) its members experience.  Are the members contributing to the politics or are they controlled by it? What type of power do the members have?  Do they use political skills?  You will also examine the effect of these politics. Is the political atmosphere constructive or destructive or is it a mix?

For this assignment, you will look at 5 aspects:

1. Sources of Politics
2. Types of Power

• Overbounded verus Underbounded or Balanced Power

1. Political Skills
2. The Effect of Politics

1. SOURCES OF POLITICS

First, look at and identify the sources of politics for you organization, such as

1. lack of resources (competing for money, space, people, time, allies)
2. diversity – different values, beliefs, ways of doing things
3. various opinions and ideas
4. accumulating or garnering power; seeing power as an asset
5. coalitions, groups of people

1. TYPES OF POWER

The text identifies 9 sources or types of power as follows:

1. Position power
2. Control of rewards
3. Coercive power
4. Information and expertise
5. Reputation
6. Personal power
7. Alliances and networks
8. Access and control of agenda
9. Framing: Control of meaning and symbols

Determine and identify the types of power for one person in your organization.  For example, the powers

1. you have
2. the person you are interviewing has,
3. the manager (supervisor or leader) has,
4. or a subordinate or coworker has.

Part II Continued:  Discuss the Types of Power with Details.

After identifying the types of power for a person, discuss in detail two types of power for that person by providing examples of how the person can use or did use these powers.

III.  OVERBOUNDED OR UNDERBOUNDED OR BALANCED

Discuss whether the power is overbounded or underbounded or is balanced with an example.  Underbounded and overbounded sytems can resultant in their own respective problems.  (too much control versus too little) (no room for innovation or adjustments versus working aimlessly with no concrete goals).

For smaller organizations, employees may have to contend with a strong authoritative power (overbounded).   What powers may a worker have or lack in this situation and what is the consequence.  On the other hand, large hierarchical organizations may face overbounded or underbounded control.  What is the consequence of a leader or a supervisor having too much power.

1. POLITICAL SKILLS – YOU HAVE THREE CHOICES. DO ONE ONLY.

Choice 1.

In Chapter 10, four key political skills were discussed.

Four Political Skills

1. agenda setting
2. mapping the political terrain
3. networking and building coalitions
4. bargaining and negotiating

Discuss two of these political skills for a person in the organization.  The person can be you, your interviewee, a coworker or a manager.  Note, the person may use these skills effectively or ineffectively, or may use only one of the skills or none at all.  If only one or none are used, note any consequences you can determine by not using other political skills or any of these skills.  You may then want to discuss if the person is doing any of the following.

1. Avoiding Action: 2. Avoiding Blame:

• Over-conforming • Buffing
• Passing the buck • Playing safe
• Playing dumb • Justifying
• Stretching it out. • Scapegoating
• Stalling • Misrepresenting

3. Avoiding Change: 4. Playing the Blame Game

• Prevention • Blaming others
• Self-protection • Blaming the system or the bureaucracy

Choice 2.

As above, discuss two other political skills presented in the lecture notes for a person.

6 Political skills:

1. Think before you speak.
2. Manage up–and down.
3. Influence effectively.
4. Get your cues right.
5. Network well.
6. Be sincere.

From:  https://www.forbes.com/2010/05/25/office-politics-psychology-leadership-managing-ccl.html

Or from, 7 Political skills:

1. See the pressures clearly
2. Formulate contracts
3. Create a vision of the future
4. Develop high-integrity strategies
5. Resolve within ourselves
6. Discover the courage
7. Develop a strategy for change

From: The empowered manager: Positive political skills at work.

by Block, P. (1988) San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Choice 3.

Instead of discussing political skills, revisit Roselinde Torres’ Ted Talk on leadership, which looks at 3 concepts to be a good leader.  Does your manager or leader use any of these concepts?  Discuss one of the concepts.  In your discussion, it may be helpful to consider the political skills needed for the concept.

Roselinde Torres

Three Crucial Questions to Make a Great Leader

1. Where are you looking to anticipate change?
2. What is the diversity of your network?
3. Are you courageous enough to abandon the past?

https://www.ted.com/talks/roselinde_torres_what_it_takes_to_be_a_great_leader

1. THE EFFECT OF POLITICS

As discussed in class an organization may have a low, mid or high-level political atmosphere.  Very briefly discuss, if politics or politicking works favorably or unfavorably in your organization.  Your organization may have a low level of politicking and resulting effects are little.  For others, politics play a role or are seemingly ignored.  In a favorable political situation, are decisions made towards a win-win outcome?  Does it sparks creativity?  Are interests trying to serve your group and hopefully the organization?  Conversely, in an unfavorable situation, does it create an unwelcoming atmosphere of distrust and low moral, too much strife and conflict, a win-lose situation, or a situation where the leader is out for his or herself? You may see in a negative situation where a person or group is trying to get ahead just for their own sake and not for the sake of the organization or others.

See the following link for additional information.