TOPIC : POWER

3.1 Nature
3.2 Dimensions
3.3 Types
3.4 Consequences

Power

Meaning:

a.The ability to achieve a desired outcome and, in politics, is usually thought of as a

relationship
b. The capacity of a person, team or organization to influence others.

Nature:

1. Latent – Power is something that people have and may or may not choose to use. It is a
weapon pr tool; it may never be used, and just having it may makes its use unnecessary.
2. Relative – The power one person has over another depends largely on thing such as the
expertise of one person to another and the hierarchical level of one relative to the other.
3. Perceived –power is based on one person’s belief that another has certain characteristics.
4. Dynamic –power relationships evolve over time as individuals gain or lose certain types of
power relative to others.

Types:

1. Legitimate – the power a person receives as a result of his or her position n the formal
hierarchy of an organization
- Acts as a formalized way of ensuring that there is someone to make a
decision and that someone is responsible.
2. Reward - power that achieves compliance based on the ability to distributes rewards that
others view as valuable
- It is the concept of do this and get that. if you do this, you will receive
something in return.
3. Coercive – The power is based on fear of negative results.
- It relies on threats, bullying, and “or-else” language to “motivate” those that
are beneath them.
4. Expert – the influence is based on special skills or knowledge.
- It is power that comes from having insight or information that others don’t
have access to.
5. Referent – Influence is based on possession by an individual of desirable resources or
personal traits.. The desire to please.
- This is the power and ability for an individual to attract others and to build
loyalty within them.

Dimensions

1. Physical Power - power derived from material or physical advantage. Individually, it can
come from strength or skill, such as the power of a wrestler. It can also come from having
weapons, which can be the ultimate power of groups and governments
- It also comes from having things that are not designed to hurt people.
Owning a building or a machine or even a sewing needle are forms of
physical power.
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2. Information Power - This is derived from knowledge. For example if I know your
weaknesses I could leverage this knowledge when trying to persuade you, or maybe help
you learn and shore up those weaknesses.
- Power often comes from the control of access to information, where you
can permit or offer access to others.
3. Emotional Power - This is the social power of affect, using emotion to get what you want.
Charisma is a form of emotional power, including the power of oratory and the use of
subtle body language.
- Threats are often emotional in the effect they have. In fact most
interactions between people include some form of emotional power
.

Consequences:

1. Compliance – It is the state of being too willing to conform with the request is more likely
if it is perceived to be within the leader’s scope of authority. An illegitimate request is likely
to be ignored, or otherwise resisted, especially if the requested activity is tedious ,
dangerous or unpleasant. It is also the state of being too willing to do what other people
want
- Reward and Legitimate powers are most likely to produce compliance.
2. Commitment –it is an even more desirable outcome because of the trust and emotional
pledge that it engenders. Commitment is most likely when the powers used are expert and
referential
3. Resistance - is the most likely outcome when coercive power is used by a leader. “It is best
to avoid using coercion except when absolutely necessary, because it is difficult to use and it
is likely to result in undesirable side effects such as anxiety and resentment.

Jt sotto –materials for ppgov