Bess and Dee Volume 2 Chapter 3

Organizational Determinants of Power 

Horizontal power  refers to the relationship between peer groups or departments of similar levels. Vertical power is the relationship related to the hierarchy within the institution. Power can be one dimensional, where people are made to do something they would not normally do, two dimensional, similar to one dimensional but also controlling of agendas and discussions to prevent differing viewpoints that may be raised, and three dimensional, where individuals are manipulated into believing that their needs are being met (Bess & Dee, 2012b).

Strategic Contingency Theory  refers to the power one unit gains because others are dependent on them. There are four contingencies that predict the subunits that will become the most powerful.

 1.       Scarcity:  when one subunit is able to acquire scarce resources that other subunits need. This power compounds because as the subunit gains power by acquiring the resources and then because of the power it commands can gain additional benefits. Bess and Dee (2012b) compare this to a “rich get richer” scheme.



 2.<span style="font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;">       <span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Uncertainty <span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">: when a subunit can provide stability in an uncertain environment, those subunits will have more power than the ones they are assisting. Organizations are divided into subsystems, creating an interdependency among them (Hickson, et al, 1971).

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<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> 3.<span style="font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;">       <span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Workflow <span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">: how subunits are connected is known as pervasiveness. When a process is sequential, they first subunit will hold power, because the second is waiting for the first’s completion before they can begin their work (Bess & Dee, 2012). A subunit that can respond quickly to an emergency will have more power than one who cannot.

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<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> 4.<span style="font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;">       <span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Nonsuitability <span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">: A subunit that performs a function that cannot be replaced or replicated by another subunit will have more power. <span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">William Gamson, a political and social scientist, created his own theory concerning institutional power. Gamson identifies potential partisans as the group affected by the authorities. Groups can be formally formed or informal. Partisans are influenced by the trust they feel towards the authorities. While trust can influence the work environment of an organization, it does not directly impact the organization’s effectiveness (Bess & Dee, 2012).

<span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">References

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; line-height: normal; text-indent: -0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Bess, J. L., & Dee, J. R. (2012). Understanding college and university organization: Volume II-the state of the system.   Sterling, VA: Stylus Publishing, LLC.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Hickson, D. J., Hinnings, C. R., Lee, C. A., Schneck, R. E., and Pennings, J. M. (1971). A strategic contingencies’ theory of intraorganizational power.    Administrative Science Quarterly, 16(2), 216-229.