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5 Bases Of Power And Their Role In the Workplace

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Can you describe how the commitment of its workforce relates to an organization's communication?

Imagine that one of the people in your department at work is engaging in inappropriate political behavior toward you. How might you react to this behavior, in other words, what steps could you take to stop or at least reduce this behavior?

Based on the 5 bases of power
There are five bases of power:
1. coercive power: a power base that is dependent on fear of the negative results from failing to comply
2. reward power: compliance achieved based on the ability to distribute rewards that others view as valuable
3. legitimate power: the power a person receives as a result of his or her position in the formal hierarchy of an organization
4. personal power: influence derived from an individual's characteristics - expert power: influence based on special skills or knowledge
5. referent power: influence based on identification with a person who has desirable resources or personal traits.
which power bases would you say lie with the individual and which are derived from the organization?

Some leadership styles are described as giving the leader power to captivate others.
Talk about how this power may sometimes be self-serving and provide an example.

As a new employee in an organization, why might you want to acquire a mentor? Why might women and minorities have more difficulty in finding a mentor than would white males?

Choose one of the five key dimensions and demonstrate your understanding of what it means by providing a real-life (or made-up) example to illustrate its importance in a working environment.

They mention three common small-group networks, viz. Chain, Wheel and All Channel. Provide an example of one of these networks used by any well-known corporation. Explain its function and the process by which information is communicated.

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The solution discusses 5 bases of power and their role in the workplace.

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ORGANIZATIONAL COMMUNICATION AND POLITICAL BEHAVIOR

Commitment of workforce and organization's communication
According to Certo (2000), formal organizational communication follows the lines of the organizational chart. It is of three types - downward, upward, and lateral. Downward communication emanates from the top. Information transmitted in this type may include job-related information such group and organizational goals, targets, management expectations, and several other information that may guide or give direction to the employees. Once downward communication is effective, the needed information would be clear and would result to better employee performance and commitment to his job and to the organization as a whole. Ineffective downward communication may confuse the employee on what he is supposed to do to meet the management's expectations.
Effective upward and lateral formal communication would have the same effects - they would provide an impression that the employee is really a part of (and is really important to) the organization.

Inappropriate political behaviour and how might it may be reduced
Robbins (1998) defines political behaviour as those activities that are not required as part of one's formal role in the organization, but that influence or attempt to influence the distribution of advantages within the organization. Inappropriate political behaviour may include: influencing decision making, withholding information to adversely affect another, spreading rumors that may destroy another, among others.
There are organizational and individual factors that contribute to political behaviour. These include scarcity of resources, individual's high expectations of success, competition among employees, management's display of political behaviour, and existence of opportunity for promotions.

The following are the suggested ways to reduce or stop inappropriate political behaviour:
1. Avoiding action. According to Robbins, the best political strategy is to avoid action. This means the best action is no ...

Solution provided by:
Elisa Valdez, PhD
Education
  • Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, University of the Philippines
  • Master in Business Administration, Saint Mary's University
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Education, University of the Philippines
  • Doctor in Business Adminstration (IP), Polytechnic University of the Philippines
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