Academic Analysis of Power, Politics and Conflict in Organizations

This report provides an academic analysis of power, politics, and conflicts in organizations, with a focus on Aston Martin. It discusses the six forms of power according to French and Raven's theory, the role of politics in organizations, and the types of conflicts that can arise. The report also links theory to practice and includes a reflective statement.

Academic analysis

Contents
Contents...........................................................................................................................................2
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
Academics analysis..........................................................................................................................1
Power...........................................................................................................................................1
Politics.........................................................................................................................................3
Conflicts.......................................................................................................................................4
Linking theory to practice:...........................................................................................................5
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................5
REFLECTION.................................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTION
Power, politics and conflicts plays an important role in the context to businesses (Schaffer,
2019). Power includes the task assigning to the employees according to their abilities, skills and
knowledge so that they can perform their task effectively and efficiently. French and Raven’s
theory is applied by the leaders for analysing the behaviour of workforce. In politics, leaders of
the enterprise make strategic plans are made as well as executed in order to achieve the
organisational goals. Conflicts develops in the company when many people work together to
complete the given task, without sharing their views with each other, which results in not
achieving the common goal. For better understanding of these theories, power, politics and
conflicts Aston Martin is the company taken into consideration. It is an English manufacture of
luxury sports cars, founded by Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford on 15 January 1913. It
headquarters are located in Gaydon, Warwickshire, United Kingdom and serve their products
worldwide.
This report highlights the academic analysis of the concepts of power, politics as well as
conflicts. It also includes the reflective analysis considering the module given in reference to
business.
Academics analysis
Power
Power is the ability of an individual in an organisation to make the subordinates work for
attainment of desired goals (Peters, 2018). Power in context to Aston Martin refers to the
capability of a leader to influence the workforce in the firm to achieve its goals effectively and
efficiently. The leadership power is the impact that managers have on the people who follow
them in daily lives. A leader of Aston Martin attains its power in the enterprise by both
organisational and personal point of view so that both the goals are achieved.
Elements of French and Raven's form of power in context to Aston Martin are as follows:
Coercive power: It is the power where an individual is being forced to do any work
without their concerned in the organisation by the leaders (Olsen, 2019). In context to Aston
Martin, workforce has to follow the rules and regulations for adopting coercive power. The
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current position of an individual is replaced with other if any mishappening occur and people are
not happy with the present situation in the organisation.
Reward power: In this power of reward, people are offered with the reward, recognition
or appreciation for their work by the leaders in the firm (Hurd, 2020). In Aston Martin, an
individual is motivated because of the facilities and rewards provided by the leaders. If Aston
Martin leaders adopt this power, then people are able to survive for a long time in the enterprise
for achievement of the desired goals.
Legitimate power: This power refers to the formal responsibility given to an individual in
the entity in order to attain the organisational goals (Hawkins and Et Al, 2018). If the leaders of
Aston Martin, use this power in the company then they need to assign one person for leading
them and will be responsible for anything happen because of them in the organisation.
Expert power: This power obtains from a person's expertise in something by which they
can influence other in the firm (Harrison, 2019). If the leaders of Aston Martin, accept this power
of expert in the company then they can influence the workforce in order to achieve the
organisational goals. Through this power an individual's willingness to learn new things arises
which is anyhow fulfilling the business as well as personal goals.
Referent power: The power of referent is the respect, value a person expects from the
organisation. It is obtained by an individual's perceived worth, value and attractiveness
(Dahrendorf, 2022). If this power is adopted by the leaders of Aston Martin in the company, then
they need to take care of the values possessed by the workforce while working in the enterprise.
Informational power: It is the capability of an individual to take the control over the
flow of information that is required in the firm to get things done (Dahrendorf, 2019). If the
leaders of Aston Martin use this power in the company, then they need to select one person who
know everything about the company which is not discussed with the other.
From the above analysis, it is determined that reward power will be effective for the
company, as an individual is motivated to work hard and stay for long time in the company only
if they are rewarded or appreciated for their work. This creates a positive environment in the firm
which results in achieving both the individual as well as organisational goals.
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Politics
Politics includes the use of social media as well as power in the firm to attain changes
that is beneficial for the business or individual within it (Chambliss, 2018). Organisational
politics refers to the self-serving behaviours that the subordinates make use for increment of
profit of deriving positive results in the company. In Aston Martin, the politics is the purposeful
encouragement of the self-interest of an individual in the enterprise. It affects the decision-
making of the company as it is not mutually taken which leads to fights between the people.
Every business faces politics in the market as everyone wish to grab the opportunity coming in
the marketplace. Politics plays important role in increasing productivity through which the
subordinates will involve with each other as well as with organisational politics.
This also resist indiscipline in the organisation, influence the personnel, gain dignity as
well as recognition and also successful bargaining. This helps them in enhancing the interest of a
group of people or an individual (Young, 2020). In Aston Martin, most of the people are
involved in the organisational politics and gets support from other parties as well. The leaders
provide with the hopes and aspiration to the workforce in order to achieve the organisational
goals of the enterprise. Aston Martin, use the politics of group efforts which benefits them in
satisfying the customers’ needs and demands, as well as fulfil the set target for future growth.
Selecting the suitable leaders also involves the people in politics as qualified candidates are
recruited for the firm to run well in the future. It is essential for them to grow in future and
achieve the sustainable competitive advantage so that people can get aware of the company.
Conflicts
Conflicts occurs in every organisation when the subordinates are not known to each other
as well as have different mind sets and they need to work together to achieve one common goal
in the company (Borchorst, and Siim, 2018). In Aston Martin, conflicts can be in the form of any
disagreement, argument or any miscommunication may happen between the workforce while
working. The leaders of Aston Martin, creates a positive surrounding for the subordinates so that
they conflict between them can be avoid and people can work again for the organisational goal
assigned to them. The various types of conflicts in context to Aston Martin are discussed below:
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Relationship conflict: In Aston Martin, the situation of relationship conflicts occurs
when any personnel is behaving negatively with other people in the organisation. When there is
no bonding, interactions and adjustment nature of the employees then they cannot work together,
hence, organisational goals cannot be achieved. This impacts the firm in negative way as the
team do not have coordination and cannot give good performance while working. The entity
cannot compete its competitors with the people having negative thoughts for each other (Kurtz,
2018).
Value conflict: All the people do not contain that value in the organisation, as the value
conflicts arises at this place only (Archer, 2018). In Aston Martin, the situation occurs when two
or more people have different views on moral values possessed by the company. An individual
has various views on the things which every time cannot be fulfilled, but a mutual decision can
be taken into consideration. It impacts the on the leaders of Aston Martin, as they face issues in
decision-making where it is open for everyone to give suggestions. It is the most subjective type
of conflicts as it totally depends on the feeling of an individual about any situation.
Interest conflict: This conflict of interest arises in Aston Martin when a person's desired
result is conflict with the other individual's interest. If an employee is not interested in putting
their efforts for something so no one can force them to do so. The leaders work as a part of the
team in order to make common interest of the people in the firm that is the achievement of
organisational goals. This interest conflicts impacts the Aston Martin leaders as they lack in
making the similar interest of the personnel in the enterprise. This stops them in attaining the
desired goals on time which results in not getting the competitive advantage in the marketplace.
Linking theory to practice:
When French and Raven's form of power is applied in Aston Martin, it contributes in
business life in both the ways either positively or negatively. People in the organisation are not
similar, everyone have different perceptions about things which makes them unique while
working. This impacts the leaders of Aston Martin, in managing the subordinates properly so that
everyone can be satisfy with the work they are doing. It is very important for them to ensure the
point of view of each personnel as it makes them dedicated towards the set target more
effectively. The reward power specifically can keep the employees motivated towards the
assigned task as appreciating them for their work will remain them stay for a long time in the
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firm. One of the power of legitimate may affect the organisation negatively as they are being
punished for what wrong they have done. And also they can be terminated if any big argument
happens with the leaders. Organisational politics affects the leaders of Aston Martin in selecting
an effective candidate for the right job, it is important for them to look after this. Employees are
usually involved in the politics in all the ways such as decision-making, suggestions, discussion
and many more. This also influence an individual to be convinced for the set goals and targets to
be achieved on time. Behaviour of a personnel is equally essential for a person to stay for long
term in the company. Conflicts in the firm occurs when the people are always ready to fight with
each other in any case and no mutual decisions are taken. In Aston Martin, the leaders may face
issues in attaining the set organisational goals with the workforce. As the conflicts impacts the
firm negatively, where people cannot adjust with each other to achieve the common goals in the
enterprise. The interest conflict occurs when a group of people working toge5ther for
achievement of one goal have different interest while working.
CONCLUSION
From the above report, it is concluded that academic analysis includes the concepts of
power, politics, conflicts and linking theory to practice. Power is the potential of a person to
ensure that the workforce effectively work for achieving the set organisational goals. For better
understanding the six French and Raven’s form of power is used in the organisation which
includes coercion power, reward power, legitimate power, expert power, referent power and
informational power. Reward power is the most effective power which is used by entity
nowadays in order to keep the employees for a long time and achieve the sustainable advantage
in future. Politics involves the usage of social media and power in the enterprise for the
achievement of changes which is beneficial to the businesses. Role of organisational politics
plays an essential role on context to firms for attainment of the set targets. Conflicts usually
appear in all the business organisations when there are many people working for a single goal.
The creation of conflicts and its impacts on the organisations are also mentioned in the following
module. The conflicts included are relationship conflicts, value conflicts and interest conflicts.
Linking theories with the practices in the company is also discussed, power, politics and conflicts
are essential element for them, helps them to increase the brand image of the company.
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REFLECTION
Power, politics and conflicts plays an important role in the businesses as every firm needs to
follow some rules and regulations in order to achieve the organisational goals. I have learned a
lot from this module as this highlights the points that a company require power while working. I
have also seen that reward power is the most effective one which companies use for the
motivation of the subordinates. In politics, I have learned that every person is involved in the
politics happening in the firm. When the task is assigned, rules are set and everything is fix but
then also there are some people in the entity who have issues. Conflicts arises in all the business
so the leaders are responsible to sort out their things. It impacts negatively on the enterprise as
the set organisational goals cannot be achieved as well as people cannot make good and healthy
bonds with each other. My knowledge for the powers, politics and conflicts which may arise in
the entity has improved as I know what all consequence needs to face while working. Also from
this module I get to know about the how conflicts are created and what are the impacts of those
conflicts current businesses are facing. This module has guide me to work with effective and
efficient employees so that the set goals can be achieved on time. This module helped me in
improving my research skill, academic writing skills, critical analysis and many more. This
module taught me how to write a report including the power, politics and conflicts in context to
businesses. It also benefits me in improving my personality development as if in future I want to
open my own business then it will help me in that. I have also learned many new things such as
the theory of French and Raven’s form of power. My knowledge, skills, abilities, level of
confidence is increased which is going to help me in my future. It is also helpful for me in my
future growth as whenever I want to become an entrepreneur I can keep these things in mind.
And will not make any mistakes by which I need to face any loss for my business. I have also
seen that it is important to take proper feedbacks from the employee so that they cannot face any
difficulties while working in the firm and stay for a long time. Through this module I have
started thinking wisely while working with people so that I can open my own business in future.
With all the powers, politics and conflicts keeping in mind I will take steps and become
successful. It is very advantageous for me as I got to know about the things which a leader need
to perform to ensure the needs and wants of the subordinates and customers.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals:
Archer, M. S., 2018. Educational politics: a model for their analysis. In Politics and educational
change (.pp. 29-56). Routledge.
Borchorst, A. and Siim, B., 2018. Women and the advanced welfare state–a new kind of
patriarchal power?. In Women and the State (.pp. 128-157). Routledge.
Chambliss, W. J., 2018. Power, politics, and crime. Routledge.
Dahrendorf, R., 2019. Class and class conflict in industrial society. In Social Stratification (pp.
105-111). Routledge.
Dahrendorf, R., 2022. Class and conflict in an industrial society. Routledge.
Harrison, R. J., 2019. Pluralism and corporatism: The political evolution of modern
democracies (Vol. 27). Routledge.
Hawkins and Et Al, 2018. The ideational approach to populism: Concept, theory, and analysis.
Routledge.
Kurtz, D. V., 2018. Political anthropology: power and paradigms. Routledge.
Olsen, J. P., 2019. Political Science and Organization Theory Parallel Agendas but Mutual
Disregard. In Political choice (pp. 87-119). Routledge.
Peters, B. G., 2018. Government reorganization: A theoretical analysis. In Handbook of
bureaucracy (pp. 165-182). Routledge.
Schaffer, B., 2019. The administrative factor: Papers in organization, politics and development.
Routledge.
Young, I. M., 2020. Together in Difference: Transforming the Logic of Group Political Conflict
1. In Undoing Place? (pp. 332-342). Routledge.
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