Discussion Thread: Using the Political Theories Lens
Discuss how the following Guiding Questions—which are based on the political theories lens—help you better understand your organization. Include in your discussion thread the strengths and weaknesses of this lens for gaining that understanding. You do not have to share your views on each of the guiding questions.
Guiding Questions
Who has power in this organization? What type of power? (Reward, coercive, legitimate, expert, referent)
Who has access to agendas, control over information, knowledge of procedures, ability to cope with uncertainty, etc.?
Describe the power coalitions and alliances affecting your unit.
How does your unit attempt to influence other units and create upward influence in the organization?
Please note, this assignment should not be a reiteration of the answers you use in your case study, rather, for the discussion, you are being asked to discuss how answering the questions help you to better understand your organization. Explain how the questions have helped you understand your organization better. For example, when discussing your views on the structural theories lens, you might say “viewing the chain of command helped me to realize…” or “after considering the span of control, it is clear that…” About my organization Organizational Structure and Chain of Command Formal authority and span of control As a one-member LLC owner and director, I have management rights and economic, legal, and contractual power. Again, I currently have a relatively flat organizational structure, which means that the span of control is relatively small, and I am the ultimate decision-maker. Moreover, my only direct report is to my supervisor, allowing me to oversee and control the operations of the two facilities closely: the preschool and the camp/afterschool program. Departmentalization and centralization My organization demonstrates functional departmentalization, where the preschool and camp/afterschool programs act as the primary organizational divisions. However, due to my legal structure as the company′s only director, I still hold much-centralized authority over the decisions made in both departments (Dewi & Fitriana, 2022). The supervisor oversees a team of approximately eight staff members responsible for each facility′s day-to-day activities. Therefore, I have direct oversight over nine employees (the supervisor and the eight staff members). Delegation and decentralization Although I directly manage only a small team of about eight people, the power is highly consolidated, and most of the choices and directions are taken personally by me as the company director. This is mainly so because there is little delegation of authority or decentralization since I have direct supervisory and managerial control over the operations of this organization (Dewi & Fitriana, 2022). This way, I can maintain order and control between the two facilities, which may decrease the ability to adapt and accommodate new changes or needs. Again, the staff/line distinctions are not upheld. After all, I am actively involved in both departments and organizational activities since I am the sole owner and director of the LLC.
TextbookReframing Organizations : Artistry, Choice, and Leadership
Book Cover Image
by Lee G. Bolman , and Terrence E. Deal
PUBLISHER
John Wiley & Sons, Incorporated
DATE
2021-08-31 chps 10.11 and 15
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