Aderhold Learning Center, Room 212

MGT 8435 Power in Organizations Spring 2003 Thursdays, 4:30 – 7:00 p.m. Aderhold Learning Center, Room 212

Professor: Deborah E. Gibbons, Management Department 404-651-2923 [email protected]

Prerequisite: MBA 8412, Organizational Behavior, or equivalent

Course Description:

Power is a fascinating, ever-present aspect of life in a social environment. Everyone encounters situations involving power, but different people have different attitudes toward it. Some invest considerable effort to develop power; others feel uncomfortable even discussing it. Many people are blindsided by manifestations of power in their organizations or communities. This interferes with their ability to accomplish goals and lead teams toward success. Even those who do not want to exercise personal influence in their organizations benefit from understanding the means that others may use to influence them. By analyzing foundations and applications of power, they will be better equipped to succeed.

In this course, students examine sources of personal and organizational power, then develop skills for obtaining and using power. To do this, we study management-oriented views, as well as historical approaches to power. These include resource control and dependency, social relations and networking, strategic use of information and environment, cooperative change through servant leadership, and the relation between technology and power. Students learn to apply the various approaches to power through case studies, self-tests, group exercises, and in- depth discussions.

Course Objectives:

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

1. Select appropriate theoretical approaches to power, then use them to implement strategic, political, and service-based action in organizations

2. Apply theories of power, as well as managerial techniques, to current situations

3. Diagram power structures and formulate a plan to increase empowerment as needed

4. Analyze interactions between power and other aspects of organizations

5. Recognize personal inclinations regarding acquisition and use of power, and learn to compensate for them when necessary

6. Build personal power and facilitate accomplishment of goals within group settings Required Texts:

Power and Influence in Organizations, by Roderick M. Kramer & Margaret A. Neale (editors)

The Prince, by Machiavelli

The Message, books of the New Testament translated by Eugene Petersen

Hartwick Humanities in Management Institute (1996). Classic Leadership Cases: Hitler.

Hartwick Humanities in Management Institute (1995). Classic Leadership Cases: Lord of the Flies.

Hartwick Humanities in Management Institute (1994). Classic Leadership Cases: Sun Tzu’s The Art of War.

One selection from the following list of theoretical/philosophical writings on power, and one from the list of practical/organizational writings on power:

List 1, Theoretical/Philosophical Books List 2, Practical/Organizational Books

Author Title Author Title

Marx & Engels Communist Manifesto/ Robert J. Winning through R. Wurmbrand Tortured for Christ Ringer Intimidation Desmond Tutu No Future Without Roger Fisher & Getting to Yes Forgiveness William Ury Managing with Power, George Orwell 1984 Jeffrey Pfeffer Parts I & II, plus any 3 chapters John, Luke John’s Gospel, Acts of R. Richard Ropes to Skip and Ropes One N.T. author Apostles, one N.T. book Ritti to Know, Sections 1, 2, 5, or sequence 6, 7, 8 Sun Tzu The Art of War Zemke, Generations at Work Raines, & Filipczak Jean Sasson Princess Sultana’s D. Carnegie How to Win Friends and Daughters Influence People Grading:

Mini-quizzes 50% (5 at 10% each) Book reports and presentations 30% (2 at 15% each) Personal case analysis 10% Participation 10%

Mini-quizzes: Short quizzes will be given during the semester. Each will cover classroom activities and readings since the previous test. Missed quizzes cannot be made up, but an extra case analysis may be written to substitute for a quiz.

Book reports and presentations: For each of two books: With one or more others who have chosen to read the same book, the student will present an overview to the class and lead a discussion of the primary concepts. Presenters should be prepared to answer questions, identify strengths and weaknesses of the writing, relate the book to course content, and apply the information to current situations. Each individual is required to submit a written summary on the day of the presentation.

Individual case analysis For the individual case analysis, the student will choose an aspect of power and analyze its role in a personal circumstance or experience. The situation may be current or past, within or beyond formal organizations. Case analyses must be typed, including an overview of the circumstances and theoretical analysis. Analyses may range in length from 3 to 4 double-spaced pages.

Participation: Students participate in class discussions and activities throughout the semester. Some external research is expected, and occasional journals will be required. In addition, students are asked to bring to class interesting and relevant articles that they find in newspapers, magazines, or online. Participation points will reflect contributions to the class along these dimensions, as well as involvement in small group book discussions and reports. Tentative Course Outline

Date Topic Required Readings January 9 Introduction of Power Concepts None Select books for reports January 16 Understanding Resource-Based Power Power in Organizations, Intergroup negotiation exercise (office space) chapter 1 January 23 Assessing Dependencies & Resources Power, chapter 7 Coalition bargaining exercise Quiz 1 January 30 Power Sources and Dynamics Power, chapter 11 Courage under Fire video February 6 Managing Dependencies and Resources Power, chapter 9 Kieretsu video Current event discussion February 13 Social Power and Influence, Part 1 Power, chapter 8 Communist Manifesto Report Tortured for Christ Report Creativity and Info Sharing exercise Quiz 2 February 20 Beyond Interdependencies Power, chapter 15 Not Without My Daughter video Quran, surah 4 Princess Sultana’s Daughters Report February 27 Social Power and Influence, part 2 Hartwick, Lord of the Flies No Future Without Forgiveness Report The Art of War Report Discuss Journals Quiz 3 March 5 Spring Break – no class March 13 Handling Conflict & Obtaining Commitment Salancik article St. John in Exile video John’s Gospel, Acts of Apostles, NT Book Report 1984 Report March 20 Power Through Strategic Maneuvers Hartwick, Sun Tzu case Art of War and McCaw case analysis Greeting Cards Trading Game Quiz 4 March 27 Power Through Politics Machiavelli, chapters 8 Wall Street through 23 April 3 Power Through Service The Message, Book of Mark Jesus and Chick-fil-a case analysis Galatians, intro & chpts. 1 & 2 Quiz 5 I John, chapters 2 & 3 April 10 Amoral versus Moral Approaches to Power Hartwick, Hitler case Martin Luther King and Hitler cases April 17 Reprise – Compare and contrast power views The Sinking Seagull Current events April 24 Winning Through Intimidation Finish final book report Getting to Yes Managing with Power Ropes to Skip and Ropes to Know Generations at Work How to Win Friends and Influence People