• Research Paper on:
    Organizational Communication and Personal Power

    Number of Pages: 12

     

    Summary of the research paper:

    This 12 page paper considers aspects of power, including power in organizations; the relationship of power to ideology and culture, symbolism and truth; the location of formal authority within a communication network; and what individual attributes can be considered sources of power. Bibliography lists 11 sources.

    Name of Research Paper File: D0_HVPrsPwr.rtf

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    within organizations. This paper considers aspects of power, including power in organizations; the relationship of power to ideology and culture, symbolism and truth; the location of formal authority within a  communication network; and what individual attributes can be considered sources of power. Concepts of Power and Power in Organizations There are many concepts of power. There is the power we  willingly give others over us (police, fire); there is the power we give to others via elections; there is the power others have because of their knowledge (doctors, scientists); there  is power due to position (corporate officers, the President); the list goes on and on. There is also concern about the abuse of power, which is very real. Any time  one person has power over another, the potential for abuse exists, particularly if the relationship is very unequal. The exercise of power within organizations is necessary if things are to  get done. There has to be someone in charge; this person had to make certain that everyone is working toward the same goal and inspire them to do their best.  He or she is also the person others look to for guidance, as well being what we might call the "contact person" for those outside the company. That is, others  have to know whos in charge. Max Weber, the German sociologist, "defined power as the ability to get things done your way in spite of the resistance of others" (Phua,  2003). This means that the more powerful a person is within their organization, the more likely it is that they will get things done their way (Phua, 2003). In  addition to these observations, "Weber also defined authority as legitimate power, i.e., power and the exercise of power that is recognized as being legitimate and proper by subordinates" (Phua, 2003). 

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