Imagine learning that your boss is trying unsuccessfully to influence a peer of yours to organize the company picnic again this year. When you are asked to try to influence the stubborn subordinate to agree to plan the picnic, what do you say or do? Go to this chapter's "Now What?" video, watch the challenge video, and choose a response. Be sure to also view the outcomes of the two responses you didn't choose.
OB Concepts Applied: legitimate power; coercive power; reward power; referent power; rational persuasion; ingratiation; inspirational appeals; coalition tactics; exchange influence tactic; personal appeals; pressure; commitment; compliance; passive resistance; active resistance.
1. Which influence tactics do you think were the most effective and why would they work?
2. If you were to use power to try to get the subordinate to do the task, which forms of power would work best and why? Which would be ineffective and why?
3. Did you detect any organizational politics, and if so, what types?
4. How else might you persuade your coworker to organize the picnic using power and influence?