Organizational Politics

What Does Organizational Politics Involve?

The pursuit of self-interest at work in the face of real or imagined opposition

Why Do Employees Use Organizational Politics?

Employees resort to political behavior when they are unwilling to trust their career solely to competence, hard work, and luck. Whether employees will fall back on political tactics has a lot to do with an organization’s climate or culture.

Research on Organizational Politics

•         The higher the level of management, the greater the amount of politics.

•         The larger the organization, the greater the politics.

•         Staff personnel are more political than line managers.

•         Marketing people are the most political; production people are considered the least political.

•         “Reorganization changes” reportedly prompted more political activity

•         61% of employees believe organizational politics helps advance one’s career.

•         45% of employees believe that organizational politics detracts from organizational goals.

Political Tactics

Posturing: “One-upmanship” and taking credit for others’ work

Empire building: Gaining control over human and material resources

Making the supervisor look good: Engaging in “apple polishing” or “brown nosing”

Collecting and using social IOUs: Exchanging reciprocal political favors by making someone look good or covering up someone’s mistakes

Creating power and loyalty cliques: Facing superiors as a cohesive group rather than alone

Engaging in destructive competition: Sabotaging the work of others through character assassination