Building Power from Nothing

Catalog description

This is a course about power and influence. We will discuss how to map power and interest patterns in organizations, how to understand various groups' interests and objectives, and how to operate effectively in organizational environments. Organizational actors differ in the power and resources that they bring to bear in order to advance their perspectives. Students will learn how to advance personal interests, even from positions of little structural advantage. This class will develop frameworks as well as a range of practical tools to address these goals. The course will take a macro approach to studying power and influence, focusing on organizational culture, politics, influence, and leadership. Students will learn how to build power from nothing, as well as how to become successful agents of lasting organizational change.We will draw from a wide range of material drawn from the business and public sector. Class preparation will range from watching classic movies to reading magazine articles to prepping case studies.