The Impact of Culture, Politics, and Power on Organizational Behavior

The assignment discusses the importance of managing culture, politics, and power within an organization to improve performance. It highlights the need for teams and groups to be structured based on requirements and skills, and mentions the use of theories like content and process theory to enhance employee efficiency. The Path-Goal Theory is also mentioned as a means to improve working conditions and increase employee efficiency.

Organizational Behaviour

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................4
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................4
Organizational Culture...........................................................................................................4
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................6
a) Content and Process theories of motivation.......................................................................6
b) Improved level of motivation.............................................................................................8
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................8
a) Different types of teams and their importance...................................................................8
b) Effective team in the BBC...............................................................................................10
TASK 4..........................................................................................................................................11
a) Team performance and productivity could be improved within the BBC.......................11
b) Main barriers to effective performance............................................................................13
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................13
References......................................................................................................................................15

INTRODUCTION
Organizational behaviour is the study of way people interacting within groups in an
organization. It shows the intensity, potential and ability to work of an individual in an
organization(Mester and et. al., 2018). Management of workers can be done with the help of this
scientific approach. This report is based on the behaviour of an individual and team in British
Broadcasting Corporation. BBC is a British public service broadcaster which broadcasts news
and articles on its channel. It has its headquarter in Westminster, London. In this report, a study
of culture, politics and power of managers is discussed which has influenced the working of
BBC workers. Apart from that different motivational theories to motivate individuals and teams
are also discussed. In the end content and process theories of motivation and cooperation among
employees along with philosophy of organizational behaviour is also discussed.
TASK 1
Organizational Culture
Organizational culture is the combination of beliefs, values, perception of the employees
in the work place. A study of behaviour of staff in the context of BBC is discussed with culture,
power and politics of organization. To discuss the cultural issues related with BBC here Handy's
typology is taken into consideration.
Handy's Typology
It has four types of cultures from which BBC should follow:
Power Culture:
This is a type of culture in which power is divided among a few individuals. In this
culture bureaucratic form of structure is followed. It influence the working of employees as what
is expected from them from the power holders. This culture helps in taking quick decisions
because power is in the hands of a few individual. BBC can overcome it's issues by using this
culture (Pennington, 2014).
Role culture:
In this culture roles and responsibilities of each and every individual is divided in
organization. It affects performance of employees to a required standard set by the company. In
the context of BBC, role of each individual is divided according to their educational

qualifications and specializations so as to complete is a given task. This culture shows a merit of
allotting responsibilities of employees accordingly.
Task Culture:
In this culture task is divided among individuals and group of teams. It helps employees
in gaining rewards for results and merge the objective of groups and individuals. In the context
of BBC, teams can be formed to address a specific task. This helps in creating good
understanding among employees.
Person Culture:
This culture focuses on a particular individual rather than on business. In this culture,
individual pretend to work for the organization. Using this culture the employee recognise goal
of itself rather than of company. In the context of BBC, this culture allows a person to think itself
superior to the organization. Therefore this culture affects the working of an employee.
From the above cultures explained, Task culture is the one which should be followed by
BBC to overcome the issues related with its employees performance (Forsyth, 2018). This
culture helps in allotting the task according to the ability and capability of a person. Therefore,
this culture will help BBC in improving the culture of its organization.
Power of managers
Power is the impact of authority, influence and certain skills over others. Power of
managers affect the working of an employee or team in an organization by forcing them to do
what their senior wants. There are five sources from where French and Raven have derived these
power.
Legitimate Power:
This power is hold by a person who is having position in the organization. It can be
power of managers or leader over the followers by which they influence them to do their work.
In the context of BBC, this power affects the working of its employees, as they feel pressure for
working under person having such power.
Expert power:
This power is derived from knowledge of an individual which has expertise of a specific
field. This expertise can help BBC by giving preference to the experts over others and thus it
influence the working and performance of other employees within firm. (Thibaut, 2017).
Referent power:

This power is the resultant of personality of a person. The way in which a person is
representing itself helps in maintaining respect at certain levels. Thus this power can also
influence the power of others in BBC. This power helps manager in maintaining trust among its
team members which influence on their behaviour and performance.
Coercive Power:
This is the power when a manager threats follower by punishment, sanctions, in order to
do its work. This power also affects the working of an employee in BBC so, this power is should
be avoided. The working of employees affected as the person having such power force
employees to work according to the need of that person.
Reward Power:
This is also a power of managers which affects the working of an employees positively.
In this power type, an employee is motivated well enough by getting rewards or incentives etc.
This power type help BBC to enhance their productivity.
Political behaviour of managers
It includes the internal influence of gossips and tasks which are not related to the
organisations goal. This influence the working of an employee to a great extent. Since an
employee who does not willing to work will engage itself in this gossips. These politics have
negative impact over the performance of employee. It de motivates the employees and hinder
their performance . According to Chanlat's, politics in organization affects the working of an
employee by spoiling it's ambience, demotivation, increase the stress and provides wrong
information (Levi, 2015). There are three key dimensions of political behaviours: internal-
external, vertical-lateral, legitimate-illegitimate.
TASK 2
a) Content and Process theories of motivation
Motivation is the process by which an employee is inspired enough to work more
efficiently and effectively. It gives strength in an employee to work hard with full potential when
things are not going on way. It helps in managing the performance in an organization. Here
motivational theories are explained with the context of BBC which can help to improve the
performance of its employees.
Content Theory of motivation

This theory defines the changes required for an employee in an organization. It deals with
the factors which affect the motivation of an employee. Each and every employee in organization
work for some basic needs such as food, wealth, health safety etc. To capture these needs
Maslow's hierarchy of needs is taken to explain the basic needs of an employee which can
motivate it.
Maslow’s need hierarchy theory:
Psychological needs:
This is the basic need that an employee require. This need require the basics such as food
shelter and cloths. Therefore, BBC managers focus on completing this need by providing them
appropriate wages to employees which help them in working efficiently (Chemers, 2014).
Safety and security:
This need is require after the completion of psychological need. Since each and every
employee in organization require safety and security of itself and its belongings. Therefore BBC
can motivate it's employees by fulfilling the needs of an employee by providing them job
security and safety at workplace.
Social need:
Each and every individual needs love and affection from others. Therefore this need is
the another requirement of an employee after safety and security. Therefore BBC has to
complete the need of its employees by arranging informal meetings and gathering in order to
motivate them.
Esteem motivators:
This motivating style allows the employee to feel itself an important asset for the
organization. This motivational theory suggests that each and every employee is valuable to the
company. BBC should also make their employees to feel that they are important for their
organization by offering them promotions and rewards (Dinh and et. al., 2014). This will
increase job responsibility. This will help in improving performance of employees and enable
them to perform in more better manner.
Self-actualization:
It is a psychological process which focus on maximizing the use of person's abilities. It
can vary from person to person. In the context of BBC, this process allows an employee to reach
to its full potential by varying its goals and objectives accordingly.

Since BBC is facing an issue of motivating its employees to work for the organization,
implementation of motivation theories helps company in satisfying them and improving their
motivation level. This will help them in encouraging them towards attaining goals and objectives
of company (Balmer, 2015).
Process theory of motivation
The psychological and behavioural processes that motivate a person to act in a particular
way are referred to as process theory of motivation. Here an example of Equity theory is taken
into consideration.
Equity theory:
Equity theory suggests that resources should be distributed among the rational power.
The core of this approach is principle of equity or balance. This will enhance the output also and
help to achieve the target of its organization. This will result in increase the motivational power
of an employee. This theory suggests that employee affected by its own rewards and also what
others get in their comparison. In reward, employee expect a fair and equal return to its
contribution to the job.
b) Improved level of motivation
As different motivational theories have applied in BBC it will help in increasing their
motivation level so that BBC can increase its productivity and performance (Burghausen, 2015).
The content and process theories of motivation helps employees to get their confidence,
performance back to the organization. This will help the company to make most out of its
employees. This is possible with different model used in above report such as Maslow's
hierarchy and Equity theory. BBC can motivate its employees by reward, job rotation, incentives
and promotions according to their performance. Improved performance level of employees helps
in attaining predetermined goals and objectives of company.
TASK 3
a) Different types of teams and their importance
Teams plays an important part in the success of the organization. Productivity of the team
increase if the team members works together to achieve a collective purpose. Synergy concept is
used in the team where overall productivity is high and employees can perform better in team

rather than working on their own. Different types of teams that are present in the BBC are
describe as follows,
Functional team: It is a group of people who has common expertise in their field and tries
to achieve a purpose which is shared by everyone in the team (Coccia, 2014). Objective of the
team is divided according to the team members as the synergy concept applies here. In BBC,
the work of functional team is to maintain the smooth functioning of the company so that
employee efficiency does not get affected by any hurdle arises in the workplace.
Problem solving team:
These are the specific type of team whose work is to solve the problem arises in the
company and will affect the efficiency if not rectify in the given time. There are different
members in the team who has different roles to play according to their specialization. The team
will be dissolve once the problem is solved. This type of team can help the BBC to improve their
performance as their entire main task is to remove the hurdle between the path of the employees
so that they can attain their goals. This will help company in resolving specific issues that takes
place within firm.
Project team:
These are the group of people who belongs to the distinct department within the company
and has come together to accomplish a given project. All the roles and responsibilities assign to
the team members are according to their skills and knowledge (Schyns, 2015). These teams are
formed to achieve the purpose of the project and one’s it is completed the team are dissolved. It
can help the BBC to achieve their smaller task so to attain the larger one.
Virtual team:
In this type of team, people are working together to accomplish a task but from a
different geographical location. Team members are connected over internet and can contact
through calls. All the team members are expertise or have vast knowledge in their specific field.
This type of team is use by the BBC to solve any different and unique task which is not faced by
the company ever.
Different types of teams is important for the BBC as the external environment is
changing too fast and due to which company has to face many problems in the workplace. To
cope up with that these types of challenges, team are made so that efficiency of firm can be

improve over a time even in the critical situation (Norton and Ashkanasy, 2014). Thus helps the
company to improve their performance.
b) Effective team in the BBC
Effective team’s entire work is to attain the pre set goals of the team within given
deadline. It helps the employees to increase their motivation and performance as leader changes
their style according to their subordinates and environment. Tuckman’s theory of group
development will be considered in BBC context which is described as follows:
Forming:
It is the first stage of development of teams in which new group is formed to accomplish
a given project. The roles and responsibilities of the team member is not cleared, so leader’s role
is to clear the doubts in the mind of members. BBC should appoint the leader who is supportive
in nature and provide every resource to the team so that they can attain their task with full
efficiency.
Storming:
In this stage, members are taking part in the decision making and different opinions are
coming and if it is badly managed than it will be very destructive for the team and company.
Chances of conflicts are high as every individual has different opinions and perception. So its
BBC leader responsibility to manage all the members and their behaviour to improve the
performance of its employees (Zacher, 2015).
Norming:
In this stage, team members are now habitual of each other’s behaviour. Roles and
responsibility of the individuals are now understood by them. BBC leader responsibility is to
manage them together and how they can use their skills and behaviours to enhance the overall
performance of the group. Apart from that, leader work is to make their group cohesive so that
group culture remains motivated.
Performing:
This is the last stage of the development theory in which employees will now perform
their task so to attain the purpose of the team. Leader responsibility is to clear the hurdles that
come in their way to achieving the goals. Through this the productivity of the team increases
gradually.
Adjourning:

This step will influence the behaviour and overall performance of the team in a positive
way. There should be better communication and transparency among the employees which
motivates them for individual learning so that productivity would increase. This theory will be
help the BBC to remove the conflicts between the employees thus helping them to improve their
performance in the critical time.
TASK 4
a) Team performance and productivity could be improved within the BBC.
The performance of the leader and their employees are vital for the BBC as it directly
affects the profits of the organization. BBC can use Path goal theory which is based on the
environment, employees characteristics and leader working styles which is explained below:
Path goal theory:
This theory emphasises on the behaviour of leader and manager to be fair enough to
inspire them in achieving goal. The goal specifies on increasing the motivation level,
empowerment and satisfaction of employees so that they become productive. Following are the
characteristics of This theory:
Employee characteristics:
Employees are the one who helps the company to achieve their vision. Their working
style should be understood by the BBC leader so to attain the maximum utilization of their skills
and abilities. For instance, if the employee of BBC prefers not to disturb while working than
leader should follow the participative or supportive leadership style (Silberzahn and et. al.,
2018). It will employees the motivate it thus increase their performance and efficiency while
working.
Task and environmental characteristics:
BBC leader work is to assign and design the task to the employees according to their
skills and capabilities. Moreover remove the obstacles that come in their way while performing.
Hurdles which arises are given below
Design of the task:
The leader should design their task so that no hurdle would come across them while
working, Their crucial work is to remove the ambiguity of the task so that employees can
perform at their full efficiency.

Formal authority system:
Leader should give power to the members according to their behaviour and capabilities.
If the power is given to the wrong person than it will demotivate the other team member thus
results in decrease in motivation and performance.
Work group:
BBC leader responsibility is to maintain the peace and harmony of the group. The
working environment of the group should be friendly and transparent so that it will motivate the
employees for working harder (Sosa and Rowles, 2015). Apart from that, group cohesiveness
should be monitor by the leader and takes right decision when requires.
Leadership style:
Directive:
In this, BBC leader prefers to give direction to their subordinates so that roles and
responsibility would be clear in the mind of the employees. This style can demotivate the
employee who does not like to get interfere at the time of working. So its responsibility to use
directive leadership according to the requirement.
Supportive:
A leader should be well supportive in nature to its workers and followers. It should also
be of a friendly and approachable nature. This will help BBC employees in motivating
themselves in situations when tasks and relationships are physically and psychologically
challenging.
Participative:
A leader should be participative well enough to concern to its followers before taking a
task because task is done by its employees (Gargiulo, 2015). Therefore in BBC this behavioural
style should be followed in order to make things happen in favour of organization. They includes
team members in decision making process of company which helps in improving their
motivation level.
Achievement:
A leader should set a specific target for its employees so that they can perform at their
full potential. The target set by them should be achievable. Leaders show confidence in the
ability of its employees which motivates them to work towards achieving goals of firm. This
will help BBC to increase their productivity and efficiency.

b) Main barriers to effective performance
BBC has many different issues due to which the performance of the employees has gone
down to a certain level. Main barriers faced by BBC are as follows,
Gender pay gap
It is one of the serious issue faced by BBC. There was a difference between pay of man
and pay of female which is the main reason of conflicts in the workplace. BBC should not
discriminate the employees on the basis of gender. They should pay their employees according to
their skills and capabilities rather than on gender as it will motivate the employee to work harder
and improve the overall performance of the company.
Diversity
Due to highly diversified culture in the workplace, employees could not manage their
relationship in the workplace due to which conflict arises. But diversity is helpful for the BBC as
it will bring new ideas and perception to the company that can help them to gain the competitive
advantage (Pennington, 2014). Diversity barrier could be removed if company make their
environment working friendly through motivating others and organizing informal parties so that
trust will be made among the employee.
Leadership failure
Leadership and its style plays an important role in the success of the organisation. There
was a leadership failure as they did not manage the company hence creating the conflict and
unhealthy environment in the workplace. Leader should change their style like autocratic,
supportive, participative etc according to that environment and subordinates behaviour. Leader’s
work is to make the team cohesive so that they can achieve their pre set goals and objective.
CONCLUSION
As per the above mentioned report, it has been concluded that Culture, politics and power
influences the behaviour of the individual and it is the responsibility of the company to manage it
to motivate people. Individual can only achieved their goals if they are motivated so company
can use different types of theories like content and process theory to improve their performance.
Apart from that, team and groups should be made according to the requirements and skills so that
maximum utilization would be achieved. Moreover model likes Tuckman can be use to develop
a strong team where they can attain their goal within the given deadline. Thus helping the
company to gain competitive advantage. With the use of Path goal theory, organization can

improve their working condition and make it favourable so that employees and leader efficiency
could increase gradually.

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Online
Organizational Behaviour. 2018. [Online]. Available
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