Power and Politics: Influencing Organizational Change Management

This essay delves into the intricate relationship between power, politics, and organizational change management, examining how these forces shape organizational dynamics and influence employee productivity. It discusses both the positive and negative impacts of power and politics, highlighting how they can foster innovation or lead to conflict within an organization. The analysis emphasizes the importance of effective management in navigating these political landscapes to maintain employee productivity and achieve organizational goals. It also considers how organizational structures and policies can mitigate negative political influences, ultimately affecting the success of change initiatives. Desklib provides access to similar essays and resources for further study.

Running head: ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE MANAGEMENT
ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE MANAGEMENT
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE MANAGEMENT
Introduction
Power and politics are able to play a major role in the operations of different business
organizations all over the world. The decisions which are thereby made by the organizations
are affected by the levels of power and politics. Politics is thereby able to affect positive or
the negative levels of power within the workplace. Politics can influence the entire culture of
an organization and encourage the levels of productivity as well. Positive power affects the
levels of productivity in a positive manner and the employees are provided with power to
make effective decisions as well. Negative power can reduce the levels of productivity within
the organizations (Esping-Andersen 2017).
Discussion based on power and politics in organizations
As discussed by Fleming and Spicer (2014), politics within an organization can be
positive or negative in nature. The employees who are able to navigate politics which is
prevalent within the modern organizations become highly productive and those who are not
able to become a part of the politics are not able to show the levels of productivity. The chain
of commands and policies which are set by the organization prove to be effective for the
operations of the employees.
As argued by Hatch (2018), negative politics on the other hand can increase the levels
of conflict within the organization and the employees can suffer due to these issues. The
employees in this case are encouraged in an unethical or dishonest manner and the quality of
work is also improved in the process. The organizations which do not have clear chain of
commands and policies can lead to the wastage of productive time of the employees.
According to Hennessy (2017), in the current business environment, power and
politics is an important part of the operations of the organizations which cannot be ignored by

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the management. The rise of modern business organizations and their strict rules have been
able to reduce the levels of politics However, politics has not been eradicated entirely from
the organizational operations. The different forces which thereby exist within the
organizations act as important factors which can have an immense effect on the operations.
Politics has major effects on the shareholders of the organizations and the ways by
which they are able to operate in the industry. Power and politics are considered to be an
integral part of human nature. Power based struggles can lead to many negative outcomes
which can affect the levels of operations of the modern organizations in the industry
(Nicolson 2015).
According to Pettigrew (2014), politics is however sometimes able to affect the
organizations in a positive manner as well. Politics and differences in opinions between the
employees can lead to the formation of different ideas which are provided to the
management. Different ideas can thereby be implemented by the organizations in such a
manner which can influence the though based process of employees. Power and politics are
however not recognised in an effective manner by the executives of the organizations.
As discussed by Fleming and Spicer (2014), the modern organizations are thereby
able to provide a base for power to the employees who are a part of different operations. The
organizations can thereby be considered as political structures which provide a base to the
employees to develop their careers. The levels of politics which exist within the organizations
can affect the development of employees. A political pyramid is formed in the organizations
when the employees start competing for the levels of power within the economy.
People therefore need to fight for the power which they deserve in the organization.
The psychology based on comparison and scarcity have started taking in the competitive
business based environment in the industry. The mergers and acquisitions by organizations

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are able to increase the levels of politics within the employees. The main reason in this case
being the differences which exist within the employees who are a part of the operations
(Nicolson 2015).
Conclusion
The power and politics in the organizations are able to affect the operations and
development of the employees as well. These factors have positive as well as negative effects
on the productivity of the organizations. The productivity based levels of employees are
affected by politics which exist within the organizations. The analysis has thereby been able
to depict that politics and power can be good, bad and ugly for the operations of different
organizations which are a part of the industry. The management thereby needs to manage the
levels of politics in such a manner which can prevent the activities from affecting the
productivity of employees.

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References
Esping-Andersen, G., 2017. Politics against markets: The social democratic road to
power (Vol. 4877). Princeton University Press.
Fleming, P. and Spicer, A., 2014. Power in management and organization science. The
Academy of Management Annals, 8(1), pp.237-298.
Hatch, M.J., 2018. Organization theory: Modern, symbolic, and postmodern perspectives.
Oxford university press.
Hennessy, B.C., 2017. Politics without power: The national party committees. Routledge.
Nicolson, P., 2015. Gender, Power and Organization: A psychological perspective on life at
work. Routledge.
Pettigrew, A.M., 2014. The politics of organizational decision-making. Routledge.