LOC 211 Chapter 9: Chapter 9 Power, Conflict, and Coalition

• School: Northwestern University
• Department: Learning and Organizational Change
• Course: LOC 211
• Professor: Douthit

Document Summary

Political frame: interdependence, divergent interests, scarcity, and power relations inevitably spawn political activity. Organizations are coalitions of different individuals and interest groups. Coalition members have enduring differences in values, beliefs, information, interests, and perceptions of reality. Hunger for funding vs. public"s interest in lower taxes; concerns about safety vs. ambitious flight schedule. Most important decisions involve allocating scarce resources - deciding who gets what. Scarce resources and enduring differences put conflict at the center of day-to-day dynamics and make power the most important asset. Goals and decisions emerge from bargaining and negotiation among competing stakeholders jockeying for their own interests. Coalition forms because its members need each other. Political activity is more visible and dominant under conditions of diversity than of homogeneity. Structural - managers make decisions, implement them, and assess how well they are carried out. Hr - empowerment; emphasize limits of authority and focus on influence that ^ collaboration.