Going by the views and perceptions
of organizational politics by the available literatures, Organizational Politics
can be frustrating and demoralizing when it is not accepted as part of the
organization. The need for managers to be familiar with organizational politics
is as stated by Christine et al (2004).
To
exert influences: if you as a manager wants
to be considered for a company promotion, if you want to get the line
terms on your departmental budget
approved, one of the ways to influence
decision-makers is to get involved in campaign with the right people to
get the result you are looking for.
It helps you to stay informed.
Individual decision-makers involved in company politics often gather and create
committees to conduct research before taking important decisions. As a manager,
you need to be tuned into the politics of the company to stay up to date on any
committees being formed. The company may be considering making cuts in your
department or eliminating you department. Getting involved in company politics
can get you access to membership in committees that could help you to save your
job and the jobs of each employee in your department.
To Gain Approval: To get your ideas
implemented, you need to be part of the political process. This can mean
getting approval for new staff members to your department or getting your
department approved for increased in responsibility.
To
avoid problem: Managers need to
understand and learn to manipulate the company political system to get things
their department need. But sometime, in politics, part of knowing the system
means knowing when to stay out of something. If important change is coming up
you will know whether to get involved or not sometimes it pays to stay out of
some issues in the company.
Ezeigbo (2006), in his contribution,
attributed scarcity as the reason why unit managers should be familiar with
organizational politics. Here, when resources are scarce for example if there
is a slash in budgets, managers will rely on political tactics to safeguard
their resources and maintain the status quo.
Scholars, in organizational
behaviour identified changes as one of the reasons why managers must be
familiar with Organizational Politics. Change of any nature within an
organization introduces ambiguity, changes bring forth apprehension, and the
more the change and apprehension, the more political people become. Andrews
(2001) affirmed that uncertainty is largely responsible for political push in
organization and as you must be conversant with the political train in
organization to cope with the changes.