Exam 12: Power and Politics

A manager's personal power can be enhanced by demonstrating to others that his or her work unit is highly relevant to organizational goals and can respond to urgent organizational needs.

Which one of the following strategies for exercising relational influence can be defined as "using a direct and forceful personal approach?"

The Machiavellian tradition of organizational politics considers managers to be political when they seek their own goals or use means that are not currently authorized by the organization or that push legal limits.

A zone of indifference is the range of authoritative requests to which a subordinate is willing to respond without subjecting the directions to critical evaluations or judgment.

Influence is the ability to get someone to do something you want done or the ability to make things happen in the way you want them to.

What are the two traditions in organizational politics? Suggested

By providing opportunities for creative problem solving coupled with the discretion to act,real empowerment increases the total power available in the organization.

Organizational politics are inherently bad.

Empowerment is the process by which managers help others to acquire and use the power needed to make decisions affecting themselves and their work.

__________ theory suggests that public corporations can function effectively even though their managers are self-interested and do not automatically bear the full consequences of their managerial actions.

To place appropriate controls on agents,stockholders with a large stake in the firm take an active role on the board of directors and a strong,independent board is established.

__________ power resides in the individual and is independent of that individual's position.

Expert power is absolute,not relative.

What are the six forms of position power and the four forms of personal power? Briefly describe each form. Suggested

Having the formal authority to approve or deny employees requests for job transfers,equipment purchases,overtime,or personal time off are examples of a manager's legitimate power.

Defending turf is a method of political self-protection that can result from one of the following situations __________.

The presence of unions and organizational policies on employee treatment can weaken the ability of a manager to use coercive power.

Describe the zone of indifference. Suggested

A manager's referent power is increased by characteristics that enhance his or her "likeability" and create personal attraction in relationships with other people.

According to research by Hillman,Shropshire,and Cannalla,which of the following is true?