Political behavior

In organization

“You have to learn the rules of the game. And then you have to play better than

anyone else.”

- Albert Einstein

Political behaviour Political behaviour

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Political behavior

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 or disadvantages within the organization.

• Legitimate Political Behavior :Normal everyday politics.

• Illegitimate Political Behavior :Extreme political behavior that violates the implied rules of the game.

Organizational Politics - the use of power and influence in organizations

Political Behavior - actions not officially sanctioned by an organization that are taken to influence others in order to meet one’s personal goals

In general

Political behaviour Political behaviour Slide no-2

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The use of power in nonprescribed ways (means) and/or for nonprescribed purposes (ends).

I’ll support your bill if you

support mine

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Political behaviour Political behaviour

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Political behaviour Political behaviour

Factors that include political behavior

Individual Factors•High self-monitors•Internal locus of control•High Mach personality•Organizational investment•Perceived job alternatives

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

Political BehaviorLow High

Favorable Outcomes•Reward•Averted punishments

Slide no-5Slide no-5Political behaviour Political behaviour

Employee Responses to Organizational Politics

Avoiding Action:

• Overconforming

• Buck passing

• Playing dumb

• Stretching

• Stalling

Avoiding Action:

• Overconforming

• Buck passing

• Playing dumb

• Stretching

• StallingAvoiding Blame:

• Buffing

• Playing safe

• Justifying

• Scapegoating

• Misrepresenting

Avoiding Blame:

• Buffing

• Playing safe

• Justifying

• Scapegoating

• MisrepresentingAvoiding Change:

• Prevention

• Self-protection

Avoiding Change:

• Prevention

• Self-protection

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Political behaviour Political behaviour

Defensive behaviour

Organizational Politics: More Organizational Politics: More Likely at the TopLikely at the Top

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Production andProduction andblue collarblue collar

Clerical andClerical andwhite collarwhite collar

Technical andTechnical andprofessionalprofessional

LowerLowermanagementmanagement

MiddleMiddlemanagementmanagement

UpperUppermanagementmanagement

1.31.3

1.21.2

1.11.1

1.01.0

.9.9

.8.8

.7.7

.6.6

.5.5

.4.4

.3.3

.2.2

.1.1

(.18)(.18)

(.50)(.50)(.54)(.54)

(.73)(.73)

(1.07)(1.07)

(1.22)(1.22)Political activityis perceived to

increase at higherorganizational levels

Political behaviour Political behaviour

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Decrease in overall productivity

Affects ConcentrationSpoils the Ambience

Changes the Attitude of employees

Demotivated employees

Increases Stress

Wrong Information

Effect of Politics in Organization and Employees

Political behaviour Political behaviour

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Improve Your Skills through Office PoliticsImprove Your Skills through Office Politics

• Politics motivates individuals to work hard and give their hundred percent.

• Politics makes you more confident

•Politics makes individuals internally strong

• Politics makes you realize your mistakes

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Role of Management in Avoiding Politics

Roles and Responsibilities

Control

Transparency Regular Interactions

 

Avoid Partiality Team Building Activities 

Communication

 

Discussions

 

Partiality Maintain the decorum of the work place

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Political behaviour Political behaviour

"Each player in the organization has a role in the politics that grease the wheels of getting things done”.

Put another way, today we need more input and cooperation from one another to fulfill our job responsibilities.

An individual should know where to draw the line. Politics helps you emerge as a mature professional.

You learn to compromise during difficult times and accept challenges with smile.

Conclusion

Political behaviour Political behaviour

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THANK YOU