Exam 13: Conflict, Power, and Politics

Which term is defined as the behaviour that occurs among organizational groups when participants identify with one group and perceive that other groups may block their group's goal achievement or expectations?

Two of the four tactics suggested in the textbook for increasing management's power are (1) answer every challenge and (2) get those who can help you indebted to you.

Which of the following denotes the ability of one person/department to influence other persons/departments to carry out orders or do something they would not otherwise have done?

Explain what is meant by strategic contingencies that influence horizontal power among departments, and provide examples.

Contrast three tactics for enhancing collaboration with three tactics for increasing power.

Limited resources refer to the dependence of one unit on another for materials, resources, or information.

Which of the following is probably the greatest cause of intergroup conflict in organizations?

Which of the following is a tactic to increase power?

What term is used for being located in a part of the organization giving one access to information and people who are critical to the company's success?

When faced with uncertainty, some departments end up losing power, and others end up gaining power. What makes the difference? What are the actions and techniques of those departments that end up gaining power?

Where does legitimate power come from?

Working in the offices of the provincial legislature was an aspiring young man who provided clerical research services for legislators on a wide range of issues. He always provided easy-to-read summary sheets on current issues at the top of their in-baskets, and always tried to attend every social event so that they would know him personally. When he realized that water safety was a key issue in the province, he became an expert on water safety. Finally it got to the point that whenever legislation came up that dealt with water safety, he provided information that was exclusive because they did not look elsewhere for detail. Analyze this young man's use of power, utilizing principles from the textbook.

In most organizations, are decisions more likely to be made using the rational or political model of organization? Explain and defend your position.

What was uncovered by surveys of managers regarding what they think about political behaviour?

Which of the following is a political tactic for using power?

Which of the following best describes how network centrality relates to lower-level employees?

Why is it that some employees may obtain power disproportionate to the level of their formal position?

Why will the rational choice model not always work? Under what circumstances will it work?

Which of the following is a vertical source of power?

Describe the conditions under which a rational model of behaviour might work. How does the rational model compare to the political model?