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Reding questions

6 important questions on Reding questions

Power generally has negative connotations when it comes to understanding organizational life → it signifies coercion, the maintenance of hierarchies and subordinated positions
Alternative research proposes the positive aspects of power (Clegg et al., 2006): “Power need not always be regarded as something to be avoided. (...) Power can achieve great things.”

Coercion and manipulation are ‘episodic’ expressions of power → direct exercise of power

Episodic modes of influence because they rely upon identifiable acts that shape the behavior of others

Domination and subjectification are ‘systemic’ expressions of power → power that takes shape in more enduring institutional structures

Systemic faces of power because they mobilize institutional, ideological and discursive resources to influence organizational activity; often less visible than overt and explicit acts of power

Coercion: Direct exercise of power by individuals to achieve certain political ends; involves someone getting another person to something that they would not have done otherwise. They are simply told what to do ‘or else’.
Manipulation: Concerned with agenda setting. Actors seek to either limit the issues that are discussed or fit issues within (what are perceived to be) acceptable boundaries. There is no direct exercise of coercion here, instead, there is an implicit shaping of issues considered important or relevant.

Resistance by organizational members is one of the main reasons gender interventions lack success
The authors argue that although resistance is often perceived as “a negative to overcome”, there might be a positive role of resistance in organizational change
Resistance might be used for organizational change

It can both change and reproduce power relations - even simultaneously
Resistance is not always intentional or conscious
Resisters may not consider themselves to be resisting, but feeling that they are acting in line with the organization’s goals and beliefs
People may express resistance and consent simultaneously

The openness to understand mechanisms in a different light than previous literature suggests and in dealing with possible ‘negatives’ in a way that allows using these negatives for a positive outcome, makes the research better able to understand underlying processes and the way they shape the outcomes of the study

The question on the page originate from the summary of the following study material:

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