Question 1

Is it true that organizations are based around power and the structure of organizations explicitly denotes a power structure via its hierarchy?

Accepted Answer

Organizations inherently have a power structure that is often reflected in their hierarchical setup, where individuals or groups at higher levels have more authority and control over those at lower levels. This hierarchy helps in organizing work, making decisions, and coordinating activities efficiently.

Question 2

In a leadership sense, there is a link between power and leaders - what best describes the power by way of the capacity or potential to influence of leaders?

Accepted Answer

Power in a leadership context is often defined as the capacity of an individual to influence others' behaviors or attitudes. This definition emphasizes the potential of leaders to affect change in others, whether through persuasion, authority, or other means, at a specific time.

Question 3

Power has some interesting variable dimensions - the word 'agent' refers to the body attempting to exert influence, that of 'target' which is the focus of the agent's influence. Is it true that power can be relative as well as absolute?

Accepted Answer

Power is often relative because its effect and extent can vary depending on the relationship between the agent and the target, and the specific context in which they interact. It can also be seen as absolute in scenarios where an agent possesses complete control or influence over a target without any significant challenge.

Question 4

Disobedience is a defining characteristic of human behaviour according to Guttridge (1992), what three possible options available to the worker?

Accepted Answer

The three possible options available to the worker according to Guttridge (1992) are Commitment, Compliance, and Resistance. These options reflect different ways individuals can respond to authority or organizational structures.

Question 5

In 1959, French and Raven reported a series of experiments from which they concluded that an individual's power stemmed from one of five possible sources. What are those five possible sources?

Accepted Answer

French and Raven's five bases of power are legitimate power, coercive power, reward power, expert power, and referent power. These categories describe the different ways individuals can exert influence over others in various social and organizational contexts.

Question 6

'Knowledge is power', Green (1999) points out, the solution
 proposed must also appear rational to the target at the time, and it operates successfully when the target believes the agent has access to knowledge-inaccessible to them-which will solve a problem. Does this clearly articulate Referent Power?

Accepted Answer

The quote describes Expert Power, not Referent Power. Expert Power is based on the perception that someone has a high level of knowledge or a specialized set of skills that others do not possess. Referent Power, on the other hand, is derived from the personal admiration, respect, or desire to be like the influencer.

Question 7

Clayton (2010) suggested two more refinements to sources of power; connection and resource power. Does networking as a skill that can be developed to make connections, considered a vital part of the modern manager's skill set, reflect resource power?

Accepted Answer

Networking reflects connection power, as it is about building and leveraging relationships, rather than controlling or owning resources, which is what resource power pertains to.

Question 8

Highly controversial experiments were carried out by Stanley Milgram in 1960s where seemingly normal, well-adjusted men could be made to
 perform acts that challenged their own personal values - what was the main point that Milgram's work sought to demonstrate?

Accepted Answer

Milgram's experiments aimed to show how ordinary people could commit extraordinary acts under the influence of authority, challenging their personal values due to the situation's context and the authority figure's directives.

Question 9

Can Reward Power, as defined by Handy in 1985, be best described?

Accepted Answer

Reward Power is about offering something desirable to influence behavior or decisions, fitting the description in option A, where access to resources like money or love is used as an incentive.

Question 10

Kanter (1979) sums up, 'it is easier to talk about money and much easier to talk about sex, than it is to talk about power'. However, most of us live in societies that are governed by rules, regulations, what best describes the aspirations of these laws?

Accepted Answer

Laws and regulations are designed to ensure that individuals act in ways that benefit the collective society, promoting order and the greater good.

Quiz 12: Power, Influence, and Authority