Question 1

Complex and ambiguous rules in resource allocation decisions cause employees affected by those decisions:

Accepted Answer

Complex and ambiguous rules in resource allocation decisions can often create uncertainty and a sense of unfairness among employees. As a result, some may feel the need to engage in organizational politics in order to influence the outcome of these decisions in their favor. This can lead to increased political behavior and maneuvering within the organization.

Question 2

People who frequently use power to manipulate others towards their own personal goals and believe that deceit is a natural and acceptable way to influence others have:

Accepted Answer

People who frequently use power to manipulate others towards their own personal goals and believe that deceit is a natural and acceptable way to influence others have strong Machiavellian values. Machiavellianism is a personality trait characterized by cunning, manipulation, and a lack of morality. People with high levels of Machiavellianism tend to prioritize their own interests above those of others and will use any means necessary (including deceit and manipulation) to achieve their goals.

Question 3

Organizational politics tends to result in ________ among those affected by the tactics

Accepted Answer

Organizational politics can create a negative work environment that can lead to reduced work effort, lower job satisfaction, a reduction in organizational citizenship, and lower organizational commitment. All of these choices are correct as they capture the different negative impacts of organizational politics on employees and their work.

Question 4

You have just been hired as a brand manager of toothpaste for a large consumer products company. Your job mainly involves encouraging the advertising and production groups to promote and manufacture your product more effectively. These departments aren't under your direct authority, although company procedures indicate that they must complete certain tasks requested by brand managers. Describe the sources of power you can use to ensure that the advertising and production departments will help you make and sell toothpaste more effectively.

Accepted Answer

The answer of You have just been hired as a...

Question 5

People with high Machiavellian values tend to

Accepted Answer

People with high Machiavellian values are known to be manipulative and use power to achieve their personal goals. They often lack empathy and use deceit to gain advantage over others.

Question 6

Which of the following is considered a form of organizational politics?

Accepted Answer

Organizational politics often depend on perception; actions like forming coalitions, distributing information selectively, and cultivating networks can be seen as political if perceived as self-serving rather than beneficial for the organization.

Question 7

The most appropriate influence strategy

Accepted Answer

The most appropriate influence strategy depends on personal, organizational, and cultural values. Each situation requires a different approach based on these factors, so there is no one-size-fits-all answer. A leader or employee must gather information on the individual or group they are trying to influence and tailor their strategy accordingly. Other factors such as the desired outcome, the level of urgency, and the relationship between the influencer and the person being influenced should also be considered. There is no definitive answer to this question, as the most appropriate influence strategy is highly dependent on the specific circumstances of the situation.

Question 8

Advanced Systems Ltd. (ASL), a high-technology company with 20,000 employees, has just acquired LiteForce Ltd., a 5,000-person company where you work as a photonics (fibre optics) engineer. ASL mainly acquired LiteForce to reduce its competitive threat in the marketplace, as well as to increase the number of engineers and researchers in lightwave technology. You and five other engineers and scientists at LiteForce were working on new technology that would dramatically improve lightwave transmission to communicate data across the Internet. Your team's discovery occurred just before the acquisition and was not well known in the organization. Also, the key executives who strongly supported your team's research have left the company through generous buyout packages during the acquisition. (ASL offered share options to encourage you and other engineers and researchers to remain.) The result is that only your team members and a few other people are aware of the potential benefits of the project. Your team has similar education and experience as many other engineers in the combined organization. Moreover, your team's authority is limited to expenditure within the existing project budget, which ends in a few months. Further support would require executive approval. Describe the sources and contingencies of power that you and your team have in this situation to continue the project.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Advanced Systems Ltd. (ASL), a high-technology company...

Question 9

Organizational politics is more common where decisions are

Accepted Answer

Organizational politics tend to be more common in situations where decision-making is based on complex and ambiguous rules, as this can create opportunities for individuals or groups to manipulate the decision-making process in their favor. In situations where decisions are based on clearly defined rules, there is generally less room for political maneuvering.

Question 10

Comment on the accuracy of the following statement and explain your answer:
"Legitimate power isassigned by the organization to job holders".

Accepted Answer

The answer of Comment on the accuracy of the following...

Question 11

Scholars tend to describe influence tactics as, whereas they describe office politics as_.

Accepted Answer

Influence tactics are often described as specific behaviors used to affect others, while office politics are seen as perceptions of these behaviors and their implications within an organization.

Question 12

Suppose you have formal authority to allocate performance bonuses to your employees. What contingencies must exist before this source of power will translate into actual power?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Suppose you have formal authority to allocate...

Question 13

Unions and professional associations explicitly or implicitly try to increase the nonsubstitutability of their members. Identify three strategies used by these groups to increase nonsubstitutability and provide an example related to professions or unions for each strategy.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Unions and professional associations explicitly or implicitly...

Question 14

Coping with uncertainty is an important source of power in organizational settings. Identify two jobs in your university that have power because they cope with uncertainty. Be sure to discuss the reasons why this power exists.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Coping with uncertainty is an important source...

Question 15

Cultural values and the person's position in the organization are

Accepted Answer

Cultural values and the person's position in the organization may influence the choice of influence tactics to be used. For example, in a culture that values loyalty and seniority, a leader may use the tactic of consultation to gain buy-in from subordinates, while in a culture that values individualism and entrepreneurship, a leader may use the tactic of inspirational appeal. Hence, understanding cultural values and individual positions in an organization can help determine the best influence tactic to use.

Question 16

Organizational politics may be reduced by

Accepted Answer

Encouraging leaders to become role models of organizational citizenship instead of symbols of successful organizational politicians can help reduce organizational politics. This means promoting ethical behavior and emphasizing the importance of teamwork, collaboration, and open communication. Tolerating political tactics or selecting employees with a high need for personalized power can actually exacerbate organizational politics. Cutting back resources can lead to more competition and infighting, further fueling political behavior.

Question 17

A senior executive wants to introduce a new reward system for salespeople. To support this change, the executive retained a consultant to determine the benefits of the reward system for salespeople in this organization. However, the consultant's report determined that the reward system would not work well for a variety of reasons. When the executive received the report, she discarded it without notifying others of its existence. Meanwhile, the executive continued to push for the reward system. What political tactic did the executive use?

Accepted Answer

The executive used the political tactic of controlling information by discarding the consultant's report without notifying others of its existence, in order to maintain support for the new reward system despite evidence that it would not work well.

Question 18

A bread products manufacturer relies on maintenance employees to keep its rather old production equipment operating. Whenever the equipment breaks down, the maintenance team is able to repair the equipment quickly. However, they are less effective at avoiding these breakdowns and cannot predict when the equipment will break down. The maintenance group has modified the equipment over the years and, in any event, the manufacturer of the production equipment is no longer in business. The maintenance employees teach each other how to repair the equipment, but have refused to document any of this information (saying that it is too difficult to document these details). The company owner has thought about firing the maintenance staff unless they document the maintenance procedures, but realizes that there is no one else who can repair the equipment. Discuss the sources of power among the maintenance employees in this situation.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A bread products manufacturer relies on maintenance...

Question 19

You have just graduated from a specialized program in an emerging and little-known field of engineering and are currently looking for a job that will apply your valuable skills. This is the only program of its kind in your country and has very limited enrolment. Your recently acquired knowledge offers great potential for organizations, although few people are aware of this. Describe the sources and contingencies of power you and other graduates from this program have in the labour market.

Accepted Answer

The answer of You have just graduated from a specialized...

Question 20

Organizational politics typically involves

Accepted Answer

Organizational politics refers to the use of power and influence tactics by individuals or groups within an organization to promote their own personal interests or agendas, rather than the interests of the organization as a whole. It is often seen as a negative behavior that can result in conflicts and manipulation.

Quiz 10: Power and Influence in the Workplace