Discussion

profileArod229
ReadingMaterial2.docx
Home>Business & Finance homework help>Operations Management homework help>Discussion

Examining the Evidence Political Behavior: A Viable Coping Strategy for Organizational Politics?

Research suggests that political behavior often results in negative outcomes for individuals and organizations. But in certain situations it may have positive outcomes. Researchers Shuhua Sun of Tulane University and Huaizhong Chen of West Virginia University found that when employees choose to “play the political game” and engage in political behavior, it can serve as a coping mechanism that reduces the negative effects of perceived organizational politics on employee psychological empowerment and ultimately on employee task performance. However, it appears that these positive benefits may come with an associated cost. Their findings also suggest that political behavior also increases the negative effects of perceived organizational politics on employee emotional exhaustion, thereby reducing task performance. These researchers suggest that employees should be aware of both the positive and negative effects of political behavior as a coping strategy, while managers should attempt to minimize employee perceptions of organizational politics. As long as employees perceive organizational politics, they are likely to suffer one way or the other. If they actively “play the political game,” they may gain a sense of greater control, but at the cost of more emotional exhaustion. On the other hand, if they choose not to politick, they will likely experience lower levels of psychological empowerment.

Critical-Thinking Questions

1. How can managers most effectively leverage the positive effects of organizational politics?

2. In what ways can managers minimize employee perceptions of organizational politics?•

Source: Sun, S., & Chen, H. (2017, May 22). Is Political Behavior a Viable Coping Strategy to Perceived Organizational Politics? Unveiling the Underlying Resource Dynamics. Journal of Applied Psychology. Advance online publication.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/apl0000239 .