The Bridge On The River Kwai - Essay Example

The concept ity and power over a leader takes place with specific traits and beliefs. When looking at the movie and book “The Bridge on theKwai” by Pierre Boulle, it can be seen that specific styles of leadership are used. This creates responses from those who are associated with the leadership powers and the distribution which occurs. The leadership is based on Colonel Saito, specifically which is in charge of a British army moving into a prison camp. The leadership style which he uses is able to control and interchange the soldiers and those that are in the prison camp in the same way and alters the responses because of the attitude which he carries.

The dependent groups of Colonel Saito and Colonel Nicholson are the soldiers and the prisoners of the camp. There are also personal roles which are played with Colonel Saito. Each individual that is a part of the orders of Colonel Saito take place under the legitimate power style. Those who are under Colonel Nicholson are under the use of referent power. Each individual falls under Colonel Saito, despite what their power is, has to follow specific orders, directions and expectations. This is based on Saito regulating and controlling everything in his power.

This is opposed to Colonel Nicholson, who tries to use the institutions and the regulations that are a part of the camp as his basis for power. His identity is based on him moving in with the different soldiers and going through the same suffering, specifically to serve the army and to continue to follow the desired regulations. The influence tactics that Colonel Saito uses with others that are considered as his peers are based on using the institution regulations and orders that are associated with the camp and the army.

Acting on these regulations and representing the institution, rather than himself, allows the specific tactics to be used. This is seen from the beginning of both the film and the book as Colonel Satio conducts authority over Colonel Nicholson and Major Clipton, both which are trying to change the amount of work which is expected of the army and those in the prison camp. The Colonel, while dealing with those of higher rank and his peers, stops this by using authority and control over the others.

This is done by placing the men in a punishment hut and ignoring the orders and regulations which take place. Colonel Nicholson tries to oppose this with the referent power, such as showing the Geneva Conventions for punishment and the army orders to stop the work in the camp. However, the power of Satio takes over this because he holds the same level of authority and can regulate the environment. The authority which takes place with the dependent groups is similar between both. The leadership of Colonel Satio is based on controlling the work flow, prisoner expectations and by taking away rights from those beneath his authority.

This doesn’t allow any of those dependent on him to question what is done. Colonel Nicholson uses referent power by trying to work with the workers. For example, when building a bridge, Nicholson combines the forces of the British Army with the prisoners of the camp for faster completion. His orders are based on achieving goals and working with those dependent on him, as opposed to the punishment that Satio has regulated. The opposing leadership ideals lead to the end tragedy of death from the Colonel’s and the sabotage which occurs because of the inability to use the proper authority and leadership levels of other peers.

Works Cited Boulle, Pierre. The Bridge on the River Kwai. Presidio Press: New York, 2007.