Assingments % - Using the Political Theories Lens to Understand Power Dynamics in Organizations

Discussion Thread: Using the Political Theories Lens Discuss how the following Guiding Questions—which are based on the political theories lens—help you better understand your organization. Include in your discussion thread the strengths and weaknesses of this lens for gaining that understanding. You do not have to share your views on each of the guiding questions. Guiding Questions Who has power in this organization? What type of power? (Reward, coercive, legitimate, expert, referent) Who has access to agendas, control over information, knowledge of procedures, ability to cope with uncertainty, etc.? Describe the power coalitions and alliances affecting your unit. How does your unit attempt to influence other units and create upward influence in the organization? Please note, this assignment should not be a reiteration of the answers you use in your case study, rather, for the discussion, you are being asked to discuss how answering the questions help you to better understand your organization. Explain how the questions have helped you understand your organization better. For example, when discussing your views on the structural theories lens, you might say “viewing the chain of command helped me to realize…” or “after considering the span of control, it is clear that…”

Struggling with where to start this assignment? Follow this guide to tackle your assignment easily!

Step-by-Step Guide for Understanding Your Organization Through a Political Theories Lens

Step 1: Understand the Political Theories Lens

The Political Theories Lens helps us analyze organizations by focusing on power dynamics, conflict, and how influence is distributed and exercised. This lens highlights how different individuals or groups wield power, control information, form coalitions, and influence decision-making within an organization. By considering power as a central element, we can better understand how various forces shape organizational behavior and outcomes.

Step 2: Review the Guiding Questions

The guiding questions are designed to explore how power operates in your organization. Let’s break them down and think about what insights they could offer:

Who has power in this organization? What type of power?
- This question is key to identifying the power structures in your organization. Understanding who has power (managers, executives, teams, or external stakeholders) and what type of power they hold (reward, coercive, legitimate, expert, or referent) helps clarify the dynamics and decision-making processes in the organization.
Who has access to agendas, control over information, knowledge of procedures, ability to cope with uncertainty, etc.?
- This question sheds light on who controls critical organizational resources such as information, decision-making processes, and the strategies for handling uncertainty. It highlights power imbalances and potential barriers to communication or access.
Describe the power coalitions and alliances affecting your unit.
- Organizations are often shaped by alliances or coalitions—groups of people who collaborate to influence decisions. This question explores how such coalitions form, who is aligned with whom, and how power is distributed within them.
How does your unit attempt to influence other units and create upward influence in the organization?
- This question addresses how power flows in the opposite direction—how lower-level units or individuals attempt to influence higher levels of the organization. It explores the mechanisms your unit uses to have its voice heard in decision-making processes, such as lobbying, strategic alliances, or presenting compelling arguments.

Step 3: Reflect on How These Questions Help You Better Understand Your Organization

Now, take each of these guiding questions and reflect on how answering them deepens your understanding of your organization.

Example reflection using the first question: “Who has power in this organization? What type of power?”
- “Answering this question helped me realize that power in our organization is primarily held by senior management (legitimate power), but also by specific subject-matter experts who have expert power. It made me see that expert power plays a more significant role in decision-making than I initially thought, as these experts are often consulted for key decisions.”
Example reflection using the second question: “Who has access to agendas, control over information, knowledge of procedures, ability to cope with uncertainty?”
- “This question showed me that there is an unequal distribution of information and access to decision-making processes. Senior leadership has immediate access to the agenda and knowledge about organizational changes, while frontline staff often has limited access. This can create tension and feelings of disconnect among teams.”

Step 4: Analyze the Strengths and Weaknesses of the Political Lens

Reflect on how the political lens helps (or limits) your understanding of the organization:

Strengths:
- This lens provides insight into the hidden dynamics of power, especially when power is exercised through subtle means (e.g., control of information or alliances). It helps uncover how influence operates behind the scenes.
- It allows you to analyze organizational conflicts, showing you why certain decisions are made and by whom, helping you understand the conflicting interests at play.
- It can highlight how power can be used to create change or resistance within the organization.
Weaknesses:
- The political lens tends to focus heavily on power and conflict, which can lead to a narrow view of organizational dynamics, neglecting other important factors like culture, collaboration, and shared goals.
- It might overemphasize power struggles and may cause you to focus too much on individuals or groups in conflict, rather than looking at broader, systemic issues that also influence the organization.

Step 5: Write Your Discussion Thread

Now that you’ve reflected on the guiding questions and evaluated the strengths and weaknesses of the political lens, you can start drafting your discussion thread.

Introduction:
- Briefly introduce the Political Theories Lens and mention how you’ll be using the guiding questions to understand the organization better.
Body:
- Discuss how answering the guiding questions helped you gain a deeper understanding of the organization. Reflect on each question and describe the insights they provided.
- Analyze the strengths and weaknesses of the political lens as you apply it to your understanding of the organization.
Conclusion:
- Summarize how the political theories lens shaped your understanding of power and influence in your organization. Reflect on the usefulness of this perspective and any limitations you encountered.

Step 6: Final Review and Submission

Before submitting your discussion:

Review for clarity and completeness: Ensure you have answered the guiding questions thoughtfully and explained the strengths and weaknesses of the political lens.
Check for APA formatting: If required, ensure that your response is properly formatted according to APA style.
Ensure your response is well-organized and within the word limit.