Organizational Politics

Submitted by:
Group 3
 What is Political
Behavior?
Political behavior refer to those activities
that are not required as a part of one’s
formal role in the organization but that
influence, or attempt to influence the
distribution of advantages and
disadvantages within the organization.
Dimensions in Political
Behavior :
• Legitimate political behavior : refers
to normal everyday politics.

• Illegitimate political behavior : refers

to extreme political behavior that
violates the implied rules of the
game.
 Why do politics exists
in organizations?
• Difference in values; goals and
interests of the employees.
• Scarce organizational resources.
• To acquire the power .
 Factors influencing
political behavior
Individual factors
• High self monitors
• High mach personality
• Organizational investments
• Perceived job alternatives
Low political behavior High
• Expectations of success

Organizational factors
• Reallocation of resources favorable outcomes:
•Rewards
• Promotion opportunities
•Averted
• Low ambiguity punishments
• High performance pressures
• Unclear performance evaluation system
 Employee Responses
to Organizational
Politics
Organizational
politics
may threaten
employees

Increased anxiety
Decreased job Increased Reduced
And
satisfaction turnover performance
stress
Case discussion
Politics is in the eye of
the beholder!
A behavior that one person labels as “organizational politics”
is very likely
to be characterized as an instance of “effective
management” by another. A person’s reference point
determines what he or she classifies as organizational
politics. Following labels used to describe the same
• POLITICAL LABEL • EFFECTIVE
phenomena
MANAGEMENT LABEL
 Blaming others  Fixing responsibility
 Apple polishing  Demonstrating
responsibility
 Passing the buck
 Delegating authority
 Forming coalitions
 Facilitating teamwork
 Scheming
 Planning ahead
 Cunning
 Practical minded
 Arrogant
 Confident
 POWER
• Organizational politics may exist to
acquire the power .
POWER

FREEDOM INFLUENCE&
ADVANCEMENT

SUBORDINATES SENIORS
 The Evolution of
Power: From Domination
High to Delegation Power Distribution
Followers: granted
authority to make
Degree of Empowerment

decisions.
Power Sharing
Manager: leader &
followers jointly
Influence Sharing
make decisions.
Manager: leader
consults followers
Authoritarian when making
Power Manager: decisions.
leader imposes
decisions.
None Domination Consultation Participation Delegation
THANK YOU !!!