Organizations are made up of both human and material resources. It is the human resources of an organization that transform or convert the material resources of the organization into finished or consumable products. In trying to transform/convert the material resources of the organization, choices have to be made. Choices as to the type or kind of product to be produced, different materials to be used in order to have the desired product, the type of machinery to be adopted for production efficiency, the financial resources to be involved and its sources, etc. In any of these decisions, choices have to be made. These decisions or choices involve some kind of politics while the person making the choices or decisions uses some power to ensure that his/her choices or decisions are accepted. Thus, the influence of power and politics in organizations presents a political analysis of intraorganizational relations in which power play and politics is normal. In any organization, we look up to people/human resources for support. This accounts for the inevitability of organizational politics and power play. An understanding of organizational politics requires an analysis of power, coalitions, and bargaining. The power relationship is the contest for political action and encompasses the most basic issues underlying organizational politics. Infact, survival in an organization is a political act.
Aldrich, H.E. (1979), “Organizations and Environments.” Englewood Cliffs, N.J. Prentice – Hall.
Aldrich, H.E., and Pfeffer, J. (1976) “Environments of Organizations. “In A.Inkeles (Ed.), Annual Review of Sociology. Vol. 2. Palo Alto: Annual Reviews,.
Barcharach, S.B., and Lawler, E.J (1976). “The Perception of Power.” Social Forces, 55, 123-134.
Barcharach, S.B., and Lawler, E.J. (1980) “Power Tactics in Bargaining>” Ithaca, N.Y.; New York State School of Industrial and Labor relations, Cornell University.
Barcharach, S.B., and Lawler, E.J.(1980), “Power and politics in Organizations. The Social Psychology of Conflict, Coalitions and Barganing”. Jossey – Bass Publishers, San Francisco, California 94104.
Casteel, John L. (1968), “The Creative Role of Interpersonal groups in the Church Today.” New York: Association.
Chester, Bernard (1968). ‘The Functions of Executive’, Cambridge Mass. Harvard University Press.
Cook, K.S., and Emerson (1978), R.M. “Power, Equity, Commitment in Exchange Networks.” American Sociological Review, 43, 721-739.
Dahl, R.A (1957). “The Concept of Power.” Behavioural Science, 2,201-218.
DeSwann, A.~(1973), “Coalition Theories and Cabinet Formation.” San Francisco: Jossey – Bass.
Deutsh, M. (1969), “Conflicts: Productive and Destructive.” Journal of Social Issues, 25,7-41.
Deutsh, M. (1973), “the Resolution of Conflict.” New Haven, Connecticut: Yale University Press.
Dill, W. (1958), “Environment as an Influence on Managerial Autonomy.” Administrative Science Quarterly, 2, 409-443.
Emerson, R.M. (1962), “Power-Dependence Relations.” American Sociological Review, 27,31-40.
Fielder, F. (1967), ‘A Theory of Leadership Effectiveness, “McGraw Hill Book, New York.
Gamson, W.A. (1968), “Power and Discontent.” Homewood, III.: Dursey Press.
Gbadamosi, G., (1996). “Organizational Behaviour: A Basic Introduction,” Pumark Nigeria Ltd, Lagos.
Kipnis, D. (1974),“The Powerholder.” In J.T. Tedeschi (Ed.), Perspectives on Social Power. Chicago: Aldine.
Mechanic, D, (1962). “Sources of Power of Lawer Participants in Complex Organizations.” Administrative Science Quarterly.
Meyer M. W., et al (1978), “Environments and Organizations.” San Francisco, Jossey-Bass.
Michener, H.A., and Suchner, R. (1972), “the tactical Use of Social Power.” In J.T Tedeschi (Ed.), Social Influence Processes. Chicago: Aldine-Atherton.
Obisi, C. (2003)., “Organizational Behavior Concepts and Applications”. Malthance Press Ltd, Lagos.
Obisi, C. (1996) “Personnel Management”. Freeman Publications, Ibadan.
Pettigrew, A. (1973) “the Politics of Organizational Decision-Making. London Tavistock.
Pfeffer, J. (1978), “The Micropolitics of Organizations.” In M.W. Meyer (Ed.), Environments and organization’s, San Fracisco: Jossey-Bass.
Robbins, S. (1991). Organizational Behavior: Concepts, Controversies and Applications, Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ.
Copyright: © 2014 The Author(s)
Published by Human Resource Management Academic Research Society (www.hrmars.com)
This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license. Anyone may reproduce, distribute, translate and create derivative works of this article (for both commercial and non-commercial purposes), subject to full attribution to the original publication and authors. The full terms of this license may be seen at: http://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0/legalcode
