- 10 Mar, 2021
- 0 Comments
- 2 Mins Read
Application Of Power
Use the Essay on Word document provided to create a new piece of work by using the example provided (SUPPORTED LIVING) and avoid PLAGIARISING IT.
Use references provided.
1200 words
Discuss the way that POWER is applied in your organisation. The discussion should link to reading and theory. You should apply one or two theories of power to a particular event, process or activity at your chosen organisation
The concept of how power is applied in an organisation is useful for understanding how people influence each other in organisations. Power is a way of one party, usually management or leaders to have influence the behaviour and attitudes over another party who may be team members employees or other associated parties. A leader can influence co-workers or team members towards the desired outcomes of the organisation.
Choices organisation is small organisation which consist of the founder, a media and marketing volunteer and general volunteers to help with the running of the centre. The organisation primarily helps residents with benefit applications and immigration matters. (USE SUPPORTED LIVING ACCOMODATION)
The organisation aimed to increase its services through beginning a homeless awareness project which in the next 5 years aimed to buy housing units across London and make them into affordable housing. The job role of new volunteers was to help with project management and help with the crowd funding ideas, social media and to run workshops as the project increases in awareness.
French and Raven 1959 is a theory of power and influence and states compliance can be influenced by a leader through the following five forms of power:
Legitimate – Commanding compliance and obedience from having a formal right to do so with the expectation that others will abide by the demands.
Reward – The ability to compensate others for being compliant.
Coercive – The ability to punish for non-compliance.
Referent – Being worthy of respect through perceived attractiveness.
Expert- Having high level knowledge and skills.
French and Raven (1959) mentions, for projects to be a success the managerial team or person would be advised to use the power of influence within the team dynamics as a pathway to successful outcomes.
The founder and leader of the housing project displayed a laissez faire approach to leadership and can be best described as having referent power. The ability to influence came from having a perceived likeable character which the team found to be attractive and in return held a level of respect to follow the commands set towards the running of the project.
French and Raven points out the use of one source of power can affect then using another of the sources of power. Should team members observe the referent power in the first instance and then the leader moves to use coercive power of punishment for non-compliance the dynamics change towards the members perceived power of the leader. This concept can also be complex as leaders may need to use different sources of power dependent on the situation. French and Raven acknowledges the powers can also be interrelated. Some sort of power will be assumed by a leader and their team on commencing a project.