Note: this is a course description from a previous semester. The Spring 2014 description will be updated as soon as it is available.

COURSE NUMBER: EWMBA 254-11

COURSE TITLE: Power & Politics

UNITS OF CREDIT: 3 units

INSTRUCTOR: Gary Katzenstein

EMAIL: katzenstein@haas.berkeley.edu

MEETINGS DAY(S)/TIME: Saturdays, 9:00AM-12:00PM

PREREQUISITE(S): EWMBA205

CLASS FORMAT: Cases, exercises, lectures, guest speakers, films

REQUIRED READINGS:   TBD

BASIS FOR FINAL GRADE: TBD

ABSTRACT OF COURSE'S CONTENT AND OBJECTIVES: This course is about the art and science of influence in organizations. Many people are ambivalent, if not disdainful, of those who seek to wield power and influence at work. But organizations are fundamentally political entities, and power and influence are key mechanisms by which things get done. For those considering careers in management, it is important to be able to diagnose organizational politics in order to form and implement new strategies. The other side of the coin is that managers are usually on the receiving end of these processes as well. An astute manager knows how to anticipate moves that others will make, how to block or avoid them when they have consequences that are undesirable, and how to help these moves succeed when their consequences are beneficial. After taking this course, you will be able to: (1) diagnose the distribution of power in organizations, (2) identify strategies for building sources of power, (3) develop techniques for influencing others, and (4) understand the role of power in building cooperation and leading change in an organization. These skills will be invaluable to you throughout your career.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH:

http://www.gjkconsulting.com/

As a consultant, Professor Katzenstein helps clients to strategically manage cultural differences in business, improve cross-cultural communication, and gain better perspective and cohesion when working together with people from different cultures.  Consulting clients include JP Morgan Chase, DaimlerChrysler, ExxonMobil, Cathay Pacific Airways, Carnegie-Bosch Institute, the Conference Board, Walt Disney, Panasonic, W.L. Gore, Underwriters Laboratories, the Princeton Review, Smart Communications and Mars. He is the author of Funny Business: An Outsider's Year in Japan, as well as numerous articles about Japanese business. With languages as a hobby, he speaks some Japanese, Cantonese, Mandarin, and Spanish. He has traveled for business and pleasure to over 30 countries.

Education

Dr. Katzenstein earned his Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior from Carnegie Mellon, and his M.B.A. from the UCLA Anderson School of Management.  He also received a Master's degree in Computer Science from UCLA, and his Sc.B. in Computer Science from Brown University. 

Awards and Commendations

Dr. Katzenstein has consistently delivered.  His awards include being voted "Professor of the Year" for the MBA program at NYU Stern, and "Best MBA Professor" at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.