POWER, POLITICS, AND EMPOWERMENT

Power, Politics, and Empowerment in the workplace

Abstract

In this study we try to explore the concept of Power, politics and empowerment in the workplace in a holistic context. The main focus of the research is on power, politics and empowerment in the workplace and its relation with the organization's effectiveness and its performance. The research also analyzes many aspects of power, politics and empowerment in the workplace and tries to gauge its effect on the organization's effectiveness and its performance. Finally the research describes various factors which are responsible for power, politics and empowerment in the workplace and tries to describe the overall effect of power, politics and empowerment in the workplace on the organization's effectiveness and its performance.

Table of Contents

Abstract1

Introduction3

Statement of problem:3

Descriptive overview of the organization3

Problem background4

Literature review4

Symptoms:6

Low morale:6

High turnover:6

Excessive use of sick leave:7

Poor productivity:7

Frequent conflict:7

Problem analysis8

Recommendations9

Solution 1:10

Solution 2:11

Solution 3:11

Conclusion12

Power, Politics, and Empowerment

Introduction

In today's dynamic business environment where organizations are faced with adverse economic circumstances in post-recession period, the result has been high level of employee turnover and low level of employee commitment. This instable situation in organization has lead to immoral organizational politics. The manifestations of organizational problems are high turnover, low morale, poor productivity, frequent conflict and excessive use of sick leave.

Statement of problem:

In today's dynamic business environment where organizations are faced with adverse economic circumstances in post-recession period, the result has been high level of employee turnover and low level of employee commitment. This instable situation in organization has lead to immoral organizational politics. The manifestations of organizational problems are high turnover, low morale, poor productivity, frequent conflict and excessive use of sick leave.

Descriptive overview of the organization

The organization selected for this research paper is UPS, a logistics service providing company that has a business portfolio of providing e-commerce, transportation and business services. Its corporate strategy comprises of performance on three levels viz. compete collectively, operate independently and manage collaboratively. The company holds corporate values viz. people, service, innovation, integrity, responsibility and loyalty (www.fedex.com).

Problem background

The problem in UPS incepted from 2008 global recession that impacted the business by reduced volumes or order levels that resulted in employee layoffs. The redundancy of many employees within the company resulted in low level of employee commitment. Among the many symptoms of low level of employee commitment, a few to name were low morale, high turnover, and excessive use of sick leave, poor productivity and frequent conflict (Avolio, Zhu, Koh & Bhatia, 2004; Cropanzano, Howes, Grandey & Toth, 1997).

One of the managers at UPS recently faced a challenging decision. One of their truck drivers had to take a week off for attending an ailing family member. The company policy said the driver was not allowed to take a week off. The manager decided to allow him for one week leave at the cost of facing heat within organization for his decision against company policy. The manager's decision did violate company's policy but it created a loyal employee for the company as the truck driver's level of commitment with ...