Ron Brown Plane CrashRon Brown Plane Crash

AccountabilityAccountability

Talking points …Talking points …

Hierarchy – Efficiency (Obedience)Hierarchy – Efficiency (Obedience) Legal – Rule of Law (Compliance)Legal – Rule of Law (Compliance) Professional – Expertise (Deference)Professional – Expertise (Deference) Political – Responsiveness (Responsive)Political – Responsiveness (Responsive) Military … C3 / Can Do / Military … C3 / Can Do / GotchaGotcha Goal conflictGoal conflict Accountable for behaviors or outcomes?Accountable for behaviors or outcomes?

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After-Action ReviewAfter-Action ReviewCapture the LessonsCapture the Lessons

Extract lessons learned after an event in Extract lessons learned after an event in order to apply them to future activities.order to apply them to future activities.– Emergency Response – each dayEmergency Response – each day– Product Development – each stageProduct Development – each stage– Entering into new Business – test / reflectEntering into new Business – test / reflect– Sales – learn from wins and lossesSales – learn from wins and losses– M & A – after strategy, negotiations, due M & A – after strategy, negotiations, due

diligence, and execution stagesdiligence, and execution stages ““Sustain” or “Improve”Sustain” or “Improve”

Learning in the Thick of it, Darling, 2005; HBRLearning in the Thick of it, Darling, 2005; HBR

The rest of the StoryThe rest of the Story

Rising Star – Secretary of CommerceRising Star – Secretary of Commerce Campaign fund raiser for Clinton (three Campaign fund raiser for Clinton (three

others died too)others died too) No Storm – No Plane Turning sited – power No Storm – No Plane Turning sited – power

out 7 miles from crash scene (bomb on out 7 miles from crash scene (bomb on board)board)

Crash announced via Pentagon (not airport)Crash announced via Pentagon (not airport) Stewardess alive at crash scene – dead after Stewardess alive at crash scene – dead after

a flight (Brown too? Shot by cleanup crew)a flight (Brown too? Shot by cleanup crew)

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BackgroundBackgroundPolitical BehaviourPolitical Behaviour

Those activities that influence, or Those activities that influence, or attempt to influence, the distribution attempt to influence, the distribution of advantages and disadvantages of advantages and disadvantages within the organization.within the organization.– Legitimate: normal everyday behaviourLegitimate: normal everyday behaviour– Illegitimate: extreme political behaviours Illegitimate: extreme political behaviours

that violate the implied rules of the gamethat violate the implied rules of the game

Why Do We Get Politics?Why Do We Get Politics?

Organizations are made up of groups Organizations are made up of groups and individuals who have and individuals who have differing differing values, different goals and values, different goals and different interestsdifferent interests

Resources in organizations are Resources in organizations are limitedlimited

Performance Performance outcomesoutcomes are are notnot completelycompletely clear and objectiveclear and objective

Factors Influencing Political Factors Influencing Political BehaviourBehaviour

Political behaviour

Low High

Individual factors

• High self-monitors• Internal locus of control• High Mach• Organizational investment• Perceived job alternatives• Expectations of success

Organizational factors

• Reallocation of resources• Promotion opportunities• Low trust• Role ambiguity• Unclear performance

evaluation system• Zero-sum reward practices• Democratic decision making• High performance pressures• Self-serving senior managers

Favourable outcomes

• Rewards• Averted punishments

What Individual What Individual Factors Contribute to Factors Contribute to Politics?Politics? High self-monitors (more aware of High self-monitors (more aware of

situations)situations) Internal locus of control (can control Internal locus of control (can control

environment)environment) High machs (high desire for power)High machs (high desire for power) Organizational investment (put lots of Organizational investment (put lots of

time and effort into organization)time and effort into organization) Perceived job alternatives (lots of Perceived job alternatives (lots of

opportunity)opportunity) Expectations of success (high belief it Expectations of success (high belief it

will work)will work)

What Organizational What Organizational Factors Contribute to Factors Contribute to Politics?Politics?

Reallocation of rewards (change Reallocation of rewards (change occurring)occurring)

Zero-sum reward practicesZero-sum reward practices Promotion opportunitiesPromotion opportunities Role ambiguity (unclear responsibilities)Role ambiguity (unclear responsibilities) Unclear performance evaluation system Unclear performance evaluation system

(subjective)(subjective) High performance pressure (blame others)High performance pressure (blame others) Political senior managers (they watch and Political senior managers (they watch and

learn)learn) Low trustLow trust

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Types of Political Types of Political ActivityActivity

Attacking or blaming othersAttacking or blaming others Controlling informationControlling information Forming coalitions (Forming coalitions (inin and and outout

crowds)crowds) Creating obligationsCreating obligations Managing impressionsManaging impressions

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Small Group ChatSmall Group Chat

Describe an incident where you saw Describe an incident where you saw someone engaging in politics. someone engaging in politics.

What was your reaction to observing the What was your reaction to observing the political behaviour? political behaviour?

Under what circumstances do you think Under what circumstances do you think political behaviour is appropriate? political behaviour is appropriate?

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Removing PoliticsRemoving Politics

Leaders Go First by:Leaders Go First by:– Sharing powerSharing power– Sharing knowledgeSharing knowledge– Asking for inputAsking for input– Making decisions based on objective Making decisions based on objective

datadata Continually remind everyone that Continually remind everyone that

the competition is located outside the competition is located outside of the organization of the organization

Next WednesdayNext Wednesday

Wednesday … Recognize Wednesday … Recognize Contributions (cpt. 10)Contributions (cpt. 10)

Friday? Friday? Exam Day (following Wednesday)Exam Day (following Wednesday) Distinguished Leader Day Distinguished Leader Day

(Thursday 3:30-5:00)(Thursday 3:30-5:00) No class on the FridayNo class on the Friday