1. COMM 122: Micro/Macro Organizational Communication Lecture 6b 11/2/09
Dave Seibold
Professor, Department of Communication
Division of Social Sciences (L&S)
Co-Director, Graduate Program in Management Practice
Technology Management Program (CoE)

2. Preview Lecture 6b: Power
1. Definition
2. Assumptions
3. Sources of Power
4. Gaining Power in Organizations

3. Power I. DEFINITION Power is
(a) the ability of one person to carry out her/his will,

4. Power I. DEFINITION Power is
(a) the ability of one person to carry out her/his will,
and
(b) to do so despite resistance of the other.

5. Power I. DEFINITION Stated differently, power is . . . .
the capacity of A to get B to do
what B would not otherwise do

6. Power
II. ASSUMPTIONS
Power is not static (position) or linear (top down)
Power is relative to person and situation

7. Power
II. ASSUMPTIONS
A. Power is relative to person and situation
B. Power is dynamic: It arises from the perceptions of others with whom we interact
Example 1: Role w/ great power in any unit?
Example 2: Unit w /great power in any organization?

8. Power (affecting others through the force of one’s office)
II. SOURCES OF POWER
A. Authority: Positional power
(affecting others through
the force of one’s office)

9. Power II. SOURCES OF POWER A. Authority: Positional power
(affecting others through
the force of one’s office)
= most stable form of power for an organization,
but least stable for an individual

10. Power May create compliance, but not commitment. II. SOURCES OF POWER
A. Authority: Positional power
(affecting others through
the force of one’s office)
May create compliance, but not commitment.

11. Power Key: What bases of power in orgs lead to willingness to comply?
II. SOURCES OF POWER
A. Authority: Positional power
(affecting others through
the force of one’s office)
May create compliance, but not commitment.
Key: What bases of power in orgs lead to
willingness to comply?

12. Power

13. Power B. Influence: Individual power
II. SOURCES OF POWER
A. Authority: Positional power (affecting others through the force of one’s office)
B. Influence: Individual power
(ability to affect others without use of authority)

14. Power B. Influence: Individual power
II. SOURCES OF POWER
A. Authority: Positional power (affecting others through the force of one’s office)
B. Influence: Individual power
(ability to affect others without use of authority)
= power attached to person, not position (office)

15. Power (e.g., expert power, referent power)
II. SOURCES OF POWER
A. Authority: Positional power (affecting others through the force of one’s office)
B. Influence: Individual power
(ability to affect others without authority)
1. Individual characteristics
(e.g., expert power, referent power)

16. Power 2. Resource control (ability to control resources others need)
II. SOURCES OF POWER
A. Authority: Positional power (affecting others through the force of one’s office)
B. Influence: Individual power
(ability to affect others without authority)
1. Individual characteristics
(e.g., expert power, referent power)
2. Resource control
(ability to control resources others need)

17. Power 2. Resource control (ability to control resources others need)
II. SOURCES OF POWER
A. Authority: Positional power (affecting others through the force of one’s office)
B. Influence: Individual power (ability to affect others without authority)
1. Individual characteristics (e.g., expert power, referent power)
2. Resource control (ability to control resources others need)
Others depend on those who secure/control resources!
2 examples: Units in organization
Members in units

18. Power Others depend on those who secure/control resources!
II. SOURCES OF POWER
A. Authority: Positional power (affecting others through the force of one’s office)
B. Influence: Individual power (ability to affect others without use of authority)
1. Individual characteristics (e.g., expert power, referent power)
2. Resource control (ability to control resources others need)
Others depend on those who secure/control resources!
Theories: Exchange (HR); Power-dependency (Systems)
Principles: Dependency is essential element of relationships
Exchange of resources maintains relationships
Dependency and resource exchange are
bases for organizing!

19. Power (in these interdependent org relationships)?
II. SOURCES OF POWER
A. Authority: Positional power (affecting others through the force of one’s office)
B. Influence: Individual power (ability to affect others without authority)
1. Individual characteristics (e.g., expert power, referent power)
2. Resource control (ability to control resources others need)
So, where does power come from
(in these interdependent org relationships)?

20. Power 2. Resource control (ability to control resources others need)
II. SOURCES OF POWER
A. Authority: Positional power (affecting others through the force of one’s office)
B. Influence: Individual power (ability to affect others without authority)
1. Individual characteristics (e.g., expert power, referent power)
2. Resource control (ability to control resources others need)
a. In interdependent relationships, power is directly related to the relative degree
of dependency of each party

21. Power 2. Resource control (ability to control resources others need)
II. SOURCES OF POWER
A. Authority: Positional power (affecting others through the force of one’s office)
B. Influence: Individual power (ability to affect others without authority)
1. Individual characteristics (e.g., expert power, referent power)
2. Resource control (ability to control resources others need)
a. In interdependent relationships, power is directly related to relative degree of dependency of each party
(If one party is more dependent than other,
then the other has more power --
and the relationship is asymmetrical)

22. Power of the resource(s)
II. SOURCES OF POWER
A. Authority: Positional power (affecting others through the force of one’s office)
B. Influence: Individual power (ability to affect others without authority)
1. Individual characteristics (e.g., expert power, referent power)
2. Resource control (ability to control resources others need)
a. relative degree of dependency of each party
b. in such asymmetrical relations, power is
(1) directly related to essentiality
of the resource(s)

23. Power 2. Resource control (ability to control resources others need)
II. SOURCES OF POWER
A. Authority: Positional power (affecting others through the force of one’s office)
B. Influence: Individual power (ability to affect others without authority)
1. Individual characteristics (e.g., expert power, referent power)
2. Resource control (ability to control resources others need)
a. relative degree of dependency of each party
b. in asymmetrical relations, power is
(1) directly related to essentiality of the resource(s)
That is, power is directly proportional to
indiv’s/ grp’s motivation
to obtain what another has . . .

24. Power of the resource(s)
II. SOURCES OF POWER
A. Authority: Positional power (affecting others through the force of one’s office)
B. Influence: Individual power (ability to affect others without authority)
1. Individual characteristics (e.g., expert power, referent power)
2. Resource control (ability to control resources others need)
a. relative degree of dependency of each party
b. in asymmetrical relations, power is
(1) directly related to essentiality of the resource(s)
(2) inversely related to substitutability
of the resource(s)

25. Power 2. Resource control (ability to control resources others need)
II. SOURCES OF POWER
A. Authority: Positional power (affecting others through the force of one’s office)
B. Influence: Individual power (ability to affect others without authority)
1. Individual characteristics (e.g., expert power, referent power)
2. Resource control (ability to control resources others need)
a. relative degree of dependency of each party
b. in asymmetrical relations, power is
(1) directly related to essentiality of the resource(s)
(2) inversely related to substitutability of the resource(s)
Fewer alternatives outside the relationship =
more power inside the relationship

26. Power 2. Resource control (ability to control resources others need).
II. SOURCES OF POWER
A. Authority: Positional power (affecting others through the force of one’s office)
B. Influence: Individual power (ability to affect others without authority)
1. Individual characteristics (e.g., expert power, referent power)
2. Resource control (ability to control resources others need).
a. relative degree of dependency of each party
b. in asymmetrical relations, power is
(1) directly related to essentiality of the resource(s)
(2) inversely related to substitutability of the resource(s)
(3) directly related to uncertainty reduction afforded by the resources

27. Power 2. Resource control (ability to control resources others need).
II. SOURCES OF POWER
A. Authority: Positional power (affecting others through the force of one’s office)
B. Influence: Individual power (ability to affect others without authority)
1. Individual characteristics (e.g., expert power, referent power)
2. Resource control (ability to control resources others need).
a. relative degree of dependency of each party
b. in asymmetrical relations, power is
(1) directly related to essentiality of the resource(s)
(2) inversely related to substitutability of the resource(s)
(3) directly related to uncertainty reduction by the resources
Power goes to those who can
1. cope w/ uncertainty themselves
2. reduce others’ uncertainty

28. Power Summary of key concepts -- dependency essentiality
II. SOURCES OF POWER
A. Authority: Positional power (affecting others through the force of one’s office)
B. Influence: Individual power (ability to affect others without authority)
1. Individual characteristics (e.g., expert power, referent power)
2. Resource control (ability to control resources others need)
Summary of key concepts --
dependency
essentiality
substitutability
uncertainty (reduction)

29. Power 2. Resource control (ability to control resources others need)
II. SOURCES OF POWER
A. Authority: Positional power (affecting others through the force of one’s office)
B. Influence: Individual power (ability to affect others without authority)
1. Individual characteristics (e.g., expert power, referent power)
2. Resource control (ability to control resources others need)
a. relative degree of dependency of each party
b. in asymmetrical relations, power is
(1) directly related to essentiality of the resource(s)
(2) inversely related to substitutability of the resource(s)
(3) directly related to uncertainty reduction of resources
3. Network centrality
Centrality = f (work flow)
Centrality = f (information flow)

30. Power 2. Resource control (ability to control resources others need)
II. SOURCES OF POWER
A. Authority: Positional power (affecting others through the force of one’s office)
B. Influence: Individual power (ability to affect others without authority)
1. Individual characteristics (e.g., expert power, referent power)
2. Resource control (ability to control resources others need)
a. relative degree of dependency of each party
b. in asymmetrical relations, power is
(1) directly related to essentiality of the resource(s)
(2) inversely related to substitutability of the resource(s)
(3) directly related to uncertainty reduction of resources
3. Network centrality
Centrality = f (work flow)
Centrality = f (info flow)
Power = centrality in network! (e.g )

31. Power Gaining Power A. Create Perception of Possessing
Valued Personal Characteristics

32. Power Gaining Power A. Create Perception of Possessing
Valued Personal Characteristics
(1) Have expertise that is
scare, significant, irreplaceable

33. Power
IV. Gaining Power
A. Create Perception of Possessing Valued Personal Characteristics
(1) 3 Aspects of Expertise
(a) Demonstrate real knowledge of job
(b) Articulate arguments for action
(b) Assess power relationships accurately,
and adapt to them appropriately

34. Power
IV. Gaining Power
A. Create Perception of Possessing Valued Personal Characteristics
(2) Have useful interpersonal relationships
(a) to secure compliance
(b) to gain information

35. Power 3. Have access to symbols of power IV. Gaining Power
A. Create Perception of Possessing Valued Personal Characteristics
1. Have expertise
2. Have useful interpersonal relationships
3. Have access to symbols of power
Examples?

36. Power B. Control Key Resources IV. Gaining Power
A. Create Perception of Possessing Valued Personal Characteristics
1. Have expertise
2. Have useful interpersonal relationships
3. Have access to symbols of power
B. Control Key Resources

37. Power B. Control Key Resources IV. Gaining Power
A. Create Perception of Possessing Valued Personal Characteristics
1. Have expertise
2. Have useful interpersonal relationships
3. Have access to symbols of power
B. Control Key Resources
1. Information
2. Rewards
3. Coalitions

38. Power IV. Gaining Power (Summary)
A. Create Perception of Possessing Valued Personal Characteristics
1. Expertise
2. Useful Interpersonal Relationships
3. Symbols of Power
B. Control Key Resources
1. Information
2. Rewards
3. Coalitions