Organizations as Political Systems - Essay Example

The two articles have in their ways brought out the various points of how individuals can manage their position in the offices without getting into the bad books of either their colleagues or the bosses. The main difference between the two articles however is that Kennedy provides insights on how to effectively lead a team and more importantly how to manage teams in the current times. She explains how leadership was different in earlier times and how people now prefer to be led than managed. This is clear from the statement in the article, ‘Old style management is out. Younger workers, especially, don't want to be managed. They want to follow someone who knows where he or she is going. They want to be taught, not directed. Labor shortages intensify when physician executives don't adapt their styles’(Kennedy).

Both the authors have presented very similar topics however have explained them in very different manners. Kennedy explains the politics and leadership in a manner that is more as a solution and advice to be good leaders in the current times, while Sun has given a clear-cut explanation of the politics and ways to avoid them in a very diplomatic manner. This is clear from the statement made in the article, ‘Suppose your co-workers start complaining about the boss. If you join in, it makes you look disloyal to the boss’, he advises the individuals to reply as, ‘Come on, aren't we exaggerating? [name of boss] isn't THAT bad’ (Sun). Hence as seen it is clear that the two authors have in their ways shown how to deal with politics in a company.

Considering the topic of managing power in social relationships, it is important to note that this requires a high deal of skill and experience. To gain power in a social relationship, the individual needs to be able to make the other person do what he/she wants them to do.  This is very different in the case of managers and the official use of authority. The managers can influence and can use their powers at any time based on the hierarchy of the organization. However, considering this in a social and personal sense it is very different is based completely on the capabilities of the individual and the expertise that they possess. The managers however can take on both personal as well as professional roles and can use various techniques like reasoning, friendliness, bargaining-to influence superiors, peers, and subordinates, and also ingratiation (Schermerhorn, Hunt, and Osborn).

It is essential to realize that the power that a person is endowed within an organization is very different and cannot be considered to be the same in social life. The organizations provide individuals with a chance to empower others and this is simply to help the manager help others acquire and use the power needed to make decisions that affect themselves and their work. The main emphasis of empowerment is the ability to get others to do what you want them to do(Schermerhorn, Hunt, and Osborn). Managers and leaders within the organizations need to be able to balance the personal and organizational responsibilities and base the use of power on the circumstances, roles, and relationships. Hence creating and maintaining this balance is the most essential for the success of the organization and the managers as well. A good manager can strike a balance between both personal as well as organizational responsibilities and can use the power in a manner where the circumstances, relations, and situations are well calculated.
Considering the organizations as a political system, there is a possibility to focus on how the organizations are governed and how the conflicts of interest are reconciled and the basic politics within the organization is mitigated. The ability to also obtain power and use it within the organization is also a major part of this system. This is a very refreshing and logical perspective for the people who are normally stuck between the power struggle of the managers and the confusion chaos of different departments.

According to Jackson (2000), there are three frames of describing the relationship between the individuals and the organizations. These can be explained as, a) Unitary, where the organization is considered and there is a common goal and objective which every person within the organization aims at reaching, b) Pluralist emphasizes the diversity of individual and group interests and views the organization as a loose coalition and c) the radical picture is one where the organization is considered to be a source where a part of the groups uses other groups to benefit and gain (Jackson).

In conclusion, the way an organization is referred to is very different and can be different for each person. It is however an essential thing to note that organizational responsibilities vs. personal responsibilities are a balance that needs to be struck by the managers and the leaders.