To Dr. Clover (Unit 2 First Week Response Needed For Classmate)

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1.  What questions do you have about the overarching Unit 5 assignment? Although not due until the end of the class, it is important that you begin planning for this project early in the course. What are your initial thoughts about how you will approach this assignment? Explain.

My initial thoughts about planning for this assignment is to extract knowledge for each assignment, maintain notes and document relevant information.  Also, drawing from my own experiences in organizations with successful leaders and unsuccessful leaders.  Also, understanding that the misuse of influence is a major abuse of power and I understand how devastating this can be for the staff and the turnover within the organization.

2.  How do cross-cultural differences affect the use of or response to power in organizations?

Effective power in organization is connected to and dependent upon cultural uniqueness.  As we know, various cultures and ethnic group respond in different ways to power and influence structures.

According to Tagreed Issa Kawar, “culture is defined as the inherited values, concepts and ways of living which are shared by people of the same social group.”  Each of us acquire a better understanding of culture in the workplace because we witness or sometimes experience the conflicts which arise due to cultural differences.  Inequality in some cultures is the norm, while in other cultures, it is undesirable and gives cause to seek change.  Cultures of equality do not put emphasis on hierarchy but merely facilitating relationships within the organization. Therefore, managers will be more involved in the work that than the people.  Decisions are also made by employees as well, not just upper level management (Kawar, T., 2012).

3.  What are some examples of individual and organizational sources of power and their consequences for followers and organizations?

As stated in MUSE, “Power in an Organization”, Some examples of organizational sources of power are legitimate power, reward power, coercive power, expert power and referent power.

Depending on organizational culture, reward and coerceive power are likely to lead to compliance or resistance.  On the other hand, expert and referent power totally depends on the individual and will probably lead to a committed follower.

4.  What are some examples of the abuse of power in organizations and how might they have been prevented from occurring?

Poor decision making occurs when there is an abuse of power.  A corruption of power places distance between leaders and followers.  This next statement is amazing to me because we are seeing this play out in politics and I have seen it with Executive Director, and Mid-level management:  “Other causes include compliance of followers, flattery and compliments, and excessive access to resources, which all cause the leader to have an inflated view of him or herself.”  (https://class.aiu-online.com/_layouts/MUSEViewer/Asset.aspx?MID=10597810&aid=10597821).

I have worked for leaders of organization who were more focused on themselves, and staff “stroking their ego”, rather than making quality decisions that are advantageous to the overall organization.  If an employee did not show loyalty to “her”, she would retaliate and pressure the employee in to quitting.

Solutions include reducing barriers and utilizing transparency in dealing with issues.  Thereby, removing those things which separate leaders and followers.

Reference

Kawar, T. I. (2012).  Cross-cultural Differences in Management.  International Journal of Business and Social Science:  Vol. 3.  Retrieved fromhttp://ijbssnet.com/journals/Vol_3_No_6_Special_Issue_March_2012/13.pdf, on March 16, 2018.

MUSE.  (n.d.).  Power in an Organization.  Retrieved from https://class.aiu-online.com/_layouts/MUSEViewer/Asset.aspx?MID=10597810&aid=10597821 on March 16, 2018.

 

This Must Be Substantive To The Above Post. No Plagiarism. All References/Cited Where/When Necessary.

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