MANA 4397: Surviving
Organizational Politics
POWER & POLITICS IN ORGANIZATIONS
Room: 116/110
Melcher Hall
Course: Sections
#12605/6, Spring 2004.
Time:
Office: 315G
Melcher Hall
Phone: 743-4672
Fax: 743-4652
Email: swerner@uh.edu
Website: www.cba.uh.edu/~werner
Office Hours:
COURSE DESCRIPTION
More than 93% of managers believe
that organizational politics is common in most companies. The purpose of this
course is inform and instruct the student about power and politics in
organizational settings. Students will learn to identify political situations
and processes, and will learn how to successfully use these situations and
processes to their advantage. We will study topics including how to diagnose
power, organizational and individual sources of power and influence, strategies
and tactics to gain power and influence, interpersonal influence, political
dynamics, international differences in organizational politics, and the art of
persuasion.
ACCOMMODATIONS FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
The Center for Students with
Disabilities provides a wide variety of academic support services to all
currently-enrolled UH students who have any type of mental or physical
disability of either a temporary of permanent nature. These services include assistance with course
accommodations, adaptive equipment, individualized exam administration, taped
textbooks, wheelchair repair, library needs, registration, handicapped parking,
accessible housing and transportation, as well as many other needs. If you feel you may need assistance of this
nature, you should call the Center at 743-5400.
In addition, you should let me know about any special needs as soon as
possible.
ACADEMIC HONESTY POLICY
The CBA is proud of the high quality
of our students and our academic programs.
We recognize the importance of academic honesty in maintaining our high
standards. In the rare situation where
there may be a breach of academic honesty, we would appreciate your assistance
in bringing the situation to our attention.
We will, of course, take appropriate action in all cases. If you have questions about the Academic
Honesty Policy, it is included in the 2003-2004 Student Handbook. The staff
of the Dean of Students Office are also available to answer questions.
COURSE EVALUATIONS
The CBA has a policy that requires
all of its instructors to be evaluated by their students. The results of these evaluations are
important to provide feedback to instructors on how their performance can be
improved. In addition, these evaluations
are carefully considered in promotion, salary adjustment, and other important
decisions. We openly encourage students
to provide feedback to the instructors and the CBA through the evaluation process.
REQUIRED TEXTS
Pfeffer, J. 1992. Managing
with power: Politics and influence in organizations.
Caldini, R.B.
2001. Influence: Science and Practice,
4th Edition.
DETERMINANTS OF THE TERM GRADE
Three mid-term
exams = 75%
Group Performance = 5%
Contribution = 20%
__________________________________________________________
Total = 100%
POINTS
Point values are as follows:
Mid-term .
.................50 points
Mid-term
..50 points
Mid-term
.......
....50 points
Group Performance
...10 points
Contribution
..
.40 points
_____________________________________
Total...........
...........200 points
GRADES
Grades will be based on the following
point totals:
A ..........................186.0 - 200.0
points
A-..........................180.0 - 185.9
points
B+.........................174.0 - 179.9
points
B ...............
.......166.0 - 173.9
points
B-..........................160.0 - 165.9
points
C+.........................154.0 - 159.9
points
C .....................
.146.0 - 153.9
points
C-..........................140.0 - 145.9
points
D+.........................134.0 - 139.9
points
D ..........................126.0 - 133.9
points
D-..........................120.0 - 125.9
points
F .....................
..000.0 - 119.9
points
MIDTERM EXAMS
Four midterms will be given. Exams will consist of 50 multiple choice
questions worth 1 point each. A missed
exam will count as zero. Tests will be
collected 75 minutes after the start of the class. There will be no make-up exams. The lowest
midterm grade will be dropped. Students
who are happy with their first three midterm grades need not take the fourth
midterm. No one should enroll who cannot
take the exams as scheduled. Half of the
test questions will come directly from the texts, with the remaining 50% coming
from the lectures.
CONTRIBUTION
Classroom lectures, discussions, and group
activities are a vital part of this course. A minimum requirement for each
class meeting is to have read the assigned material from the text and to
participate in all group activities.
Excessive tardiness or absenteeism will negatively affect the
contribution score. Disrupting the class
(cell phones, beepers, talking during lectures, etc.) will seriously reduce
your contribution score. The
contribution score is worth 40 points and will also reflect students'
contributions in the group analysis exercises.
GROUP PERFORMANCE
Groups will be comprised of 6-8
students. Throughout the course, groups
will be asked to analyze a social/political situation. Each group will then briefly and informally
present its view of the situation including a prediction. These informal presentations should last
about 2 minutes. Group performance will
be measured on all presentations throughout the semester by the quality of the
analysis of the group. Group performance is worth 10 points. High quality analysis will show considerable
thought and the appropriate application of course material. Extra credit of 2 points will be given to the
group with the most accurate predictions throughout the semester. More detail of the social/political
situations will be given in class.
ASSIGNMENT SCHEDULE
Date: Topic;
Jan. 20: Introduction to course; ------------
Jan. 22: Overview of Power & Politics in
organizations Pfeffer, chpts. 1,2,3 pp.3-68
Jan. 27: Organizational
sources of power Pfeffer,
chpts. 4,5,6 pp.69-125
Jan. 29: Individual sources of power Pfeffer,
chpts. 7,8,9 pp.127-185
Feb. 3: Socio-political
group case
Feb. 5: MIDTERM #1
Feb. 10: Socio-political
group case
Feb. 12: Influence
weapons, part 1; Cialdini,
chpts. 1,2,3, pp.1-96
Feb. 17: Socio-political
group case
Feb. 19: Influence
weapons, part 2; Cialdini,
chpts. 4,5 pp.98-176
Feb. 24: Socio-political
group case analysis
Feb. 26: Influence
weapons, part 3; Cialdini,
chpts. 6,7,8 pp. 178-240
March 2: Socio-political
group case analysis
March 4: MIDTERM #2
March 9: Socio-political
group case analysis
March 11: Strategies to
gain individual power Pfeffer,
chpts. 10,11,12 pp.187-245
Date: Topic;
March 16: SPRING BREAK
March 18: SPRING BREAK
March 23: Socio-political
group case analysis
March 25: Organizational
strategies to gain power; Pfeffer,
chpts. 13,14,15 247-298
March 30: Socio-political
group case analysis
April 1: Power dynamics Pfeffer,
chpts. 16,17,18 299-345
April 6: Socio-political group
case analysis
April 8: MIDTERM #3;
April 13: Socio-political
group case analysis
April 15: Ethical and
other issues of power in orgs.
April 20: Socio-political
group case analysis
April 22: 48 Laws of
Power Readings to be
assigned
April 27: Socio-political
group case analysis
April 29: MIDTERM # 4
The schedule is tentative and may change due to situational factors.