MANA 4397: Surviving Organizational Politics

 

POWER & POLITICS IN ORGANIZATIONS

Room:              116/110 Melcher Hall

Course:            Sections #12605/6, Spring 2004.

Time:                11:30-1:00pm; 1:00pm-2:30pm; Tuesday & Thursday.

Professor:         Dr. Steve Werner

Office:              315G Melcher Hall

Phone:              743-4672

Fax:                  743-4652

Email:               swerner@uh.edu

Website:           www.cba.uh.edu/~werner

Office Hours:    11:00-11:30am, Tuesday & Thursday, or by appointment.

 

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.  Boston, Mass.: Harvard Business School Press.

 

Caldini, R.B.  2001.  Influence:  Science and Practice, 4th Edition.  Boston, Mass.:  Allyn and Bacon.

 

 

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;                                                                         Readings                                   Pages  

 

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;                                                                         Readings                                   Pages  

 

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.                      Readings to be assigned

 

 

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.