Alysspower And Politics Within A Workplace Is A Problem

Alysspower And Politics Within A Workplace Is A Problem That A Lot of

Alyss: Power and politics within a workplace is a problem that a lot of organizations seem to have in the present day. For some, the ability to use their power to succeed is beneficial. For others, it is unfair and political. According to an article, “People leverage these power dynamics to further their own interests or that of a group they are affiliated with," Chancey told Business News Daily. "Such behavior is inevitable, given that human beings are naturally political and will do whatever it takes to protect their own interests” (Schooley, 2019).

When I hear “politics” I instantly think of the government. I think of the two major parties; democrats and republicans. However, politics does not refer solely to government institutions. It also refers to workplaces and organizations. In my beliefs, politics and power should not be used in an organization.

In many cases, a leader uses power too much and causes the organization to slowly fail. Management, board members, etc. should be allowed to use their powers to limit the politics and power of others. However, they risk losing their jobs, or their lives in several cases, in doing so. My reflections aligned very similarly with the video that was provided. As the video stated, people with too much power in the workplace often try to make changes to the organization structure, without the consultation of others.

This is not right as it is purely a power trip. Again, in most cases, this eventually leads to complete failure of the organization. As I am just entering the workforce, I have not personally experienced political behavior. However, I certainly have seen it among several people. In these cases, it was a negative experience.

As stated in the video, the x-factor is the ability to build a productive relationship. I would say that this is political behavior that I have used. At my job, I have been there the longest. So, I am able to use my political behavior in taking charge of the things I know how to do, while creating good relationships with my coworkers. I do not want my coworkers to think that since I have been there the longest that I am more superior.

So, I create good relationships and balance out the duties of the job. For example, I do what I know how to do, and they do the same. References Schooley, S. (2019, October 4). How to Break Down Workplace Politics: Leadership. Retrieved May 18, 2020, from Respond: Yazz: When I hear the word politics, I think of negative malicious behavior and selfish tactics as used by politicians in government.

After watching the video, I now understand the real meaning of politics. Politics refers to activities that are aimed at improving one’s status by gaining power. According to the video, politics does not always have to be negative (LinkedIn Learning, 2014). A group or an individual can gain power in a more sincere way by great performance and building productive relationships. These are the only ways of using positive power politics without contributing to the negative stereotypes associated with politics.

In my previous part-time job, I experienced political behavior, as described in the group. I was in the sales department, which is highly competitive. Thus, workers would use all means to ensure that they remain on top of the game, which included negative politics such as spreading rumors and sharing secret information about a person. These behaviors created a negative experience for me because there was no trust between co-workers. Also, there was a lot of tension in the workplace.

Thus, preventing people from working together through teamwork requires loyalty and trust. I would rate my political skills as wanting because I am a very introverted person. I find it hard to socialize and create alliances with people who might help me in the future. However, now that I am aware of my weakness, I am constantly working towards improving. I tend to use networking most because it involves developing relationships with individuals for the purpose of politicking and socializing (Lussier & Achua, 2015).

I also plan to increase the use of coalitions and reciprocity because these two behaviors also offer numerous behaviors. References LinkedIn Learning. (2014). Leadership tutorial: Using positive power and politics | lynda.com. Retrieved from Lussier, R. N., & Achua, C. F. (2015). Leadership: Theory, application, & skill development. Nelson Education. Respond: Chapter 3 Key Concepts and Steps in Qualitative and Quantitative Research * Question Tell whether the following statement is true or false: A variable is a characteristic or quality that takes on different values. Answer True A variable is a characteristic or quality that takes on different values.

Question Tell whether the following statement is true or false: The dependent variable is the presumed cause of the problem. Answer False The independent variable is the presumed cause (of a dependent variable). The dependent variable is the presumed effect (of an independent variable). Variable A characteristic or quality that takes on different values, that is, something that varies from one person to the next Examples: Blood type Weight Length of stay in hospital Types of Variables Continuous (e.g., height) Discrete (e.g., number of children) Categorical (e.g., marital status) Dichotomous (e.g., gender) Attribute variable versus active variable Types of Variables (cont.) Independent variable—the presumed cause (of a dependent variable) Dependent variable—the presumed effect (of an independent variable) Example: Smoking (IV) → Lung cancer (DV) Question Tell whether the following statement is true or false: Conceptual definition is the operations a researcher must perform to collect the desired information. Answer False Conceptual definition: the abstract or theoretical meaning of a concept being studied Operational definition: the operations (measurements) a researcher must perform to collect the desired information. Definitions of Concepts and Variables Conceptual definition: the abstract or theoretical meaning of a concept being studied Operational definition: the operations (measurements) a researcher must perform to collect the desired information Relationships Relationship: a bond or connection between variables Cause-and-effect (causal) relationship (e.g., cigarette smoking and lung cancer) Functional (associative) relationship (e.g., gender and life expectancy) Major Classes of Quantitative Research Experimental research Researchers actively introduce an intervention or treatment. Nonexperimental research Researchers collect data without intervening or introducing treatments. Major Research Traditions in Qualitative Research Grounded theory research Phenomenological research Ethnographic research Question What is the first phase in a quantitative study? A. Conceptual phase B. Design and planning phase C. Empirical phase D. Analytic phase Answer A The phases in a quantitative study are: Phase 1: Conceptual phase Phase 2: Design and planning phase Phase 3: Empirical phase Phase 4: Analytic phase Phase 5: Dissemination phase Phases in a Quantitative Study Phase 1: Conceptual phase Phase 2: Design and planning phase Phase 3: Empirical phase Phase 4: Analytic phase Phase 5: Dissemination phase Major Steps in a Quantitative Study Phase 1: Conceptual phase Formulating the problem Reviewing related literature Undertaking clinical fieldwork Defining the framework and developing conceptual definitions Formulating hypotheses Major Steps in a Quantitative Study (cont.) Phase 2: Design and planning phase Major Steps in a Quantitative Study (cont.) Phase 2: Design and planning phase (cont.) Specifying methods to measure research variables and collect data Developing methods to protect human/animal rights Finalizing and reviewing the research plan Major Steps in a Quantitative Study (cont.) Phase 3: Empirical phase Collecting data Preparing data for analysis Major Steps in a Quantitative Study (cont.) Phase 4: Analytic phase Analyzing the data Interpreting results Major Steps in a Quantitative Study (cont.) Phase 5: Dissemination phase Communicating the findings Utilizing findings in practice Activities in a Qualitative Study Conceptualizing and planning the study Conducting the study Disseminating the findings Research Journal Articles Summarize the context, design, and results of a study; the primary method of disseminating research evidence Content of Journal Articles Abstract Introduction Methodology Results Discussion Chapter 4 Research Problems, Research Questions, and Hypothese Question Tell whether the following statement is true or false: A research problem is perplexing or enigmatic situation that a researcher wants to address through disciplined inquiry. Answer True A research problem is perplexing or enigmatic situation that a researcher wants to address through disciplined inquiry. Question What is a hypothesis? A. An enigmatic, perplexing, or troubling condition A statement articulating the research problem and indicating the need for a study The specific queries the researcher wants to answer in addressing the research problem The researcher’s predictions about relationships among variables Answer D Research problem: an enigmatic, perplexing, or troubling condition Problem statement: a statement articulating the research problem and indicating the need for a study Research questions: the specific queries the researcher wants to answer in addressing the research problem Hypotheses: the researcher’s predictions about relationships among variables Basic Terminology Research problem An enigmatic, perplexing, or troubling condition Problem statement A statement articulating the research problem and indicating the need for a study Basic Terminology (cont.) Research questions The specific queries the researcher wants to answer in addressing the research problem Hypotheses The researcher’s predictions about relationships among variables Basic Terminology (cont.) Statement of purpose The researcher’s summary of the overall study goal Research aims or objectives The specific accomplishments to be achieved by conducting the study Sources of Research Problems Experience and clinical fieldwork Nursing literature Quality improvement initiatives Social issues Theory External suggestions Developing and Refining Research Problems Selecting a broad topic area (e.g., patient compliance, caregiver stress) Narrowing the topic—asking questions to help focus the inquiry Examples: What is going on with . . .? What factors contribute to . . .? Evaluating Research Problems Significance of the problem Researchability of the problem Feasibility of addressing the problem (e.g., time, resources, ethics, cooperation of others) Interest to the researcher Problem Statements Should identify the nature, context, and significance of the problem being addressed Should be broad enough to include central concerns Should be narrow enough to serve as a guide to study design Statement of Purpose—Quantitative Studies Identifies key study variables Identifies possible relationships among variables Indicates the population of interest Suggests, through use of verbs, the nature of the inquiry (e.g., to test…, to compare…, to evaluate…) Statement of Purpose—Qualitative Studies Identifies the central phenomenon Indicates the research tradition (e.g., grounded theory, ethnography) Indicates the group, community, or setting of interest Suggests, through use of verbs, the nature of the inquiry (e.g., to describe . . ., to discover . . ., to explore . . .) * Question Statements of purpose in qualitative studies may “encode" the tradition of inquiry, not only through the researcher’s choice of verbs but also through the use of “buzzwords" associated with those traditions.

What is a grounded theory? Process questions Meaning questions Cultural description questions Experience questions Answer A Grounded theory: process questions Phenomenology: meaning questions Ethnography: cultural description questions Research Questions Are sometimes direct rewordings of statements of purpose, worded as questions Are sometimes used to clarify or lend specificity to the purpose statement In quantitative studies, pose queries about the relationships among variables Research Questions (cont.) In qualitative studies, pose queries linked to the research tradition: Grounded theory: process questions Phenomenology: meaning questions Ethnography: cultural description questions Question Tell whether the statement is true or false: A simple hypothesis expresses a predicted relationship between one independent variable and one dependent variable. Answer True A simple hypothesis expresses a predicted relationship between one independent variable and one dependent variable. Hypothesis States a prediction Must always involve at least two variables Must suggest a predicted relationship between the independent variable and the dependent variable Must contain terms that indicate a relationship (e.g., more than, different from, associated with) Simple versus Complex Hypotheses Simple hypothesis Expresses a predicted relationship between one independent variable and one dependent variable Complex hypothesis States a predicted relationship between two or more independent variables and/or two or more dependent variables Directional versus Nondirectional Hypotheses Directional hypothesis Predicts the direction of a relationship Nondirectional hypothesis Predicts the existence of a relationship, not its direction * Research versus Null Hypotheses Research hypothesis States the actual prediction of a relationship Statistical or null hypothesis Expresses the absence of a relationship (used only in statistical testing)