COURSE NUMBER: MBA 254.2A
COURSE TITLE: Power & Politics
UNITS OF CREDIT: 2
INSTRUCTOR: Sameer Srivastava
EMAIL: srivastava@haas.berkeley.edu
MEETINGS DATES: Fall A only, 8/23-10/6
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.