The Politics of Management

Abstract

Having asserted that management embodies a political element, it may well be asked, ‘What is political in this context?’ For our purpose politics is a many-sided activity; it arises from fundamental differences of interests, structures, opinions, power and resources. These differences lead to disagreement and conflict which have to be managed. Politics aims to bring about change or to resist it. It includes both a struggle for power and resistance to it. Politics is one of the mechanisms by which people seek, through the exploitation of both human and physical resources, to achieve control over others. Political behaviour is central to competition for scarce resources. Political activity involves the deployment of strategies and tactics through bargaining and negotiating, aimed at the protection of personal and departmental in terests.