Introduction
Organization politics is a complicated concept in the management system in which issues of work relationship, ethics, norms, performance and outputs are controlled and influenced by it (Vigoda, 2003).
Generally, it is a manipulative behavior by some individuals aimed at promoting their own interest at the expense of others; to some point, organization politics may also affect the organization’s objectives (Allen and Madison, 1988). This paper will evaluate a case study and discuss the notion of organization politics in a broad way.
Discussion
Organizational politics is noticeable and it does manifest itself in several ways. First, it does manifest itself through struggle for power and leadership (Vigoda, 2003).
Individuals usually make up stories, spread rumors, create innuendos, and make negative remarks about their work colleagues with an aim of destroying the reputation of such colleagues. By so doing, it compromises individual’s position in a firm which may lead to one being terminated from job or being demoted in some cases.
Secondly, organizational politics is evident through struggle for resources. In a firm for instance, when a junior manager insists on being assigned certain individual or group of workers who are usually assigned to another manager of a higher position; this is a clear case of struggle for human resource and hence can be treated as organizational politics.
Thirdly, organizational politics also is observable through influencing other workers within the firm to struggle for power (Vigoda, 2003). Such a case can be observed when workers organize themselves in groups and scheme to over through a manager or any other personnel in a higher position.
Furthermore, organization politics also manifest itself through developing personal stature (Cohen and Bradford, 2005). An individual will create a positive reputation about him/herself before others in order to appear an upright person; an individual would do this so that he/she will appear as the favorite candidate for a certain position.
Finally, organizational politics is also evident through developing coalitions (Cohen and Bradford, 2005). In a firm, some individual will form strong bonds with fellow colleagues at the work place with an aim of creating personal supporters (Bacharach and Lawler, 2000). Alternatively, it can also manifest itself through controlling certain information within an organization and so forth (Allen and Madison, 1988).
Analyses of the case study
In the case study we come across Steve Jobs who is invited as an advisor, however, Steve takes advantage of this opportunity and he develops a strong bond with Apple’s employees; he makes himself to appear as a credible leader and also digs deep to expose the current CEO through revealing how he sold his shares.
This is a clear case in which Steve Jobs portrays the current Apple’s CEO as a negative leader who is not competent enough for managerial position. On the other hand, Steve Jobs seems to have enough support from the Apple staff with whom he had earlier formed a strong bond with.
This is also a clear case of scheming in which it evidently appears that Jobs Steve had planned the happening which finally yields fruits and he is appointed as the new CEO of Apple Computers.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is quite clear that the case presented is a case in which organization politics manifest itself clearly. Steve Jobs appears to have plotted the whole scenario to ensure that he was awarded with the CEOs position which goes as planned.
This may have positive or negative impact to the organization and there it is necessary that the board of directors should be very keen before making such an important decisions to avoid negative results at all times.
References
Allen, R & Madison, L (1988). Organizational politics: tactics and personal characteristics of political actors. California: California State University.
Bacharach, B. S. & Lawler, J. E. (2000). Organizational Politics. New york: Jai Press.
Cohen, A. R. & Bradford, D. (2005). Influence without Authority. New York. John Wiley and sons.
Vigoda, E. (2003). Developments in organizational politics: how politics affect Organizations. Cheltenham: Edward Elgars Publishing Ltd.