Introduction

Dean William TJOSVOLD, Barbara WISSE

Research output: Book Chapters | Papers in Conference ProceedingsForeword / Postscript

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

Power pervades everyday life in organizations and society and can be highly constructive but also very destructive. The powerful overcome adversities to unite and liberate countries; the powerful also suppress and demoralize. Power can mobilize us to rescue people from tragedies but also to bring havoc. Power helps us get things done that we cannot do alone, for good and for evil. It affects our dealing with crises but also our everyday activities. Power is inevitable in our organizations: the issue we confront is to understand when it is constructive and when it is destructive. Power plays a key role in organizations and groups, indeed in all social contexts. Organizations – with their hierarchical structure, interdependent relationships, and the potential goal incompatibilities of the parties – are major arenas where power processes occur. Chapters in this book explore the positive and negative faces of power and interdependence in organizations; they identify opportunities and threats. Together the chapters advocate the need to manage power in order to take advantage of it and guard against its destructiveness. The need to manage power crosses all boundaries; we need knowledge developed worldwide to help us manage power constructively.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationPower and interdependence in organizations
PublisherCambridge University Press
Pages1-13
Number of pages13
ISBN (Print)9780511626562
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2009

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