COURSE NUMBER: MBA 254.1A
COURSE TITLE: Power & Politics
UNITS OF CREDIT: 2
INSTRUCTOR: Sameer Srivastava
EMAIL: srivastava@haas.berkeley.edu
MEETINGS DATES: Spring A only, 1/19-3/3
PREREQUISITE(S): MBA205
CLASS FORMAT: Cases, simulations, group exercises,
lectures, guest speakers, peer and executive coaching
REQUIRED READINGS: Course reader and two required books: John Neffinger and Matthew Kohut’s
COMPELLING PEOPLE: THE HIDDEN QUALITIES THAT MAKE US INFLUENTIAL and
Jeffrey Pfeffer’s POWER: WHY SOME PEOPLE
HAVE IT AND OTHERS DON’T.
BASIS FOR FINAL GRADE: You will be evaluated on
three dimensions: (a) the quality of your contributions to class discussions
(40%); (b) a brief memo (10%); and (c) a final paper (50%).
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 tools for getting things get done. For those
considering careers in management, the ability to diagnose and navigate
organizational politics is crucial for achieving personal and organizational
success. The other side of the coin is that managers are usually on the
receiving end of political actions as well. An astute manager knows how to
anticipate moves that others will make, how to block or avoid moves that have
undesirable consequences, and how to support others’ moves when they 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. The course is
designed to be highly interactive in nature, including a wide range of case
studies, simulations, group exercises, and coaching. This year, for the first
time, we have contracted with an executive coaching firm to provide students
one-on-one feedback on their communication and influence style.
CAREER FIELD: This
course is useful for all aspiring leaders who anticipate having to secure the
cooperation and support of others to achieve their personal and professional
goals.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH: Sameer
Srivastava received his PhD in Organizational Behavior from Harvard
Business School. His research examines how people build successful careers
within organizations—for example, by mobilizing social networks, occupying
advantaged structural positions, and influencing others to support their policies
and initiatives. He joined the Haas faculty in 2012 and teaches in the
Full-time MBA program, the Evening MBA program, and various Executive Education
programs. He has been a member of “Club 6” in each of his years at Haas and
was recently named a Schwabacher Fellow
(the highest honor for Assistant Professors at Haas) and a Barbara and Gerson
Bakar Faculty Fellow (recognition for faculty members “with a record of
accomplishment and a very bright future”). His work has been published in
scholarly journals such as: American Journal of Sociology, American
Sociological Review, Organization Science, and Psychological
Science. It has been covered in media outlets such as: Fortune, Fast
Company, Business Insider, Mashable, and Canadian Business. In a prior career,
Sameer was a partner at Monitor Group, a global management consultancy, where
he co-founded the firm’s Organizational Strategy practice. Sameer also holds an
MBA from Harvard Business School, an AM in Sociology from Harvard’s Graduate
School of Arts and Sciences, and an AB magna cum laude in Economics
from Harvard College.