#weick

[sinetos]

Chaotic action is preferable to orderly inaction. #CarlWeick #Carl #Weick #quote #sinetos #quotes

[carriiieee]

I have always been quick to say that I hate politics. I’ve always associated it negatively and seen it as a manipulation of reality and excessive embellishment of the truths to achieve power and status. Media has repeatedly shown that politics is a dirty game, full of ploys, infighting and backstabs.

Despite these artifacts, politics in its purest form is defined as “the process, the actions, the behaviors through which potential power is utilized and realized” (Pfeffer, 1994). Another interpretation that I have taken a liking to is that politics is the process of “responding to conflicts with dialogue” which turns into formalized decrees and norms. With this broader interpretation, it is then evident that we are involved in political affairs in our everyday life. Whenever you are squabbling with your labmates for the right to use the centrifuge first or trying to convince your coworkers to cover your shift for one of theirs in return, politics is in motion. So, in this way, I shouldn’t be hating politics at all, which is comparable to saying I hate talking to people.

Do my examples sound like workplace politics? That is no coincidence. The government is just another social organization, and like any other organizations there are organizing processes that form, sustain and dissolve this social contract between the state and the individuals (Weick, 1979). By understanding these processes and their implications, it will be easier to understand the stance we, as the majority, are at. And no, I’m not talking about the impeaching processes (though we would love to bypass everything and go straight there), I’m talking something much more fundamental than that.

I want to highlight that while our institutional processes did place certain individuals in state of power, it does not necessarily mean that they have absolute power. It doesn’t mean that our system is irrevocably flawed – we still have checks and balances in place. We the majority, the people who voted, ultimately determine the amount of control exerted by those who lead and we often underestimate the amount of power we actually hold as individuals. At the same time, control and power are not accomplished by the traits of the person or the person himself, but the relationships that the person influences. Political party affiliation distribution is just one of the many parameters that shape the pattern of relationships and alliances that facilitate concentration of power from us to the president in our country.

Thus, the person at the top is actually in a vulnerable position. Many authorities faultily believe in the absolute power that they hold. Organizations with this mindset often lead to destruction or at least the collapse of leadership because the leaders will impose regulations inconsiderately or out of self interests. The serving individuals under the leaders will judge and accept these regulations based upon their own self interests. If a sufficient number of individuals reject the governing rules which they see as infringing on their own rights, they will withdraw their own irreplaceable patronage. If the hierarchy is to be maintained, the leader needs to continuously oblige to the social contract and govern and direct the whole organization, the nation, in an acceptable manner. When relationships go sour, many are severed, support from the public wanes, and the leader falls down from his power pyramid. Which begs the question, how is Trump performing thus far?

After the election last year, I felt powerless and emotionally overwhelmed and confused. Was there a point in pointing fingers and placing blames? I didn’t think I could make a change or guide other people’s opinions. I dealt it – no let me rephrase that, I avoided this transition period altogether. I thought that when I am older and have more influence, I’ll do something. But that just might be too late. “Danger exists when any substantial body of opinion is not involved in the dialogue” (Berle 1969). Don’t be like the past me and tune out politics or forgo any smallest contributions that will change our current state for the better. You need to have your dissatisfactions heard.

Please place more trust in our system and don’t let the hate cloud your judgments. All these news, significant or not, of people speaking out against the inhumane is encouraging. And I hope what I pointed out helped you gain back a sense of ownership to this country, as I become more positive of our will to fight the social evils as one.

Disclaimer: I only started studying organization management last term so I may or may not be a bit shaky on digging out and easing into the deeper implications. Also, the writing was getting a bit too long. I wish I had thought of that all on my own but good old Weick shaped my foundation of organizational theory.

[finanzmarktwelt-blog]

Matthias Weik und Marc Friedrich, die Autoren vom Bestseller „Der Crash ist die Lösung“, werden in ihren Interviews häufig danach gefragt, weshalb und wann der … Weiterlesen →

[flammableforest-blog-blog]

It never stops and therefore never starts.