Power, politics, and organizations

Abstract

Organizations have traditionally been considered rational systems where individual interests are subordinated to organizational goals. This view is now being challenged, and organizations are increasingly seen as political arenas where each actor pursues roles that best satisfy personal interests. From this perspective, an exciting panorama emerges in which struggles for power trigger countless political behaviors and tactics. Individuals with the greatest skill and intuition in political maneuvering are more likely to succeed in organizational situations.