Marion Chemical Co - Base of Power - Essay Example

Joyce Roberts protects and supports Conrad King because she also is doing the same thing - politicking. The team members in Marion Chemical are into this “art” - politicking, that each one is trying to outsmart the other to get what he or she wants. Joyce supports and exchanges favors with Conrad, and is being promoted to a higher position.

c. What is Sarah Thomson’s base of power?

Sarah’s entrance as the new Team Leader is not a welcome move to many. But is trying to use his supervisory power and charisma to get what she wants, and since she is still new, all she wants is for everybody to be fair. She expects valuable information so she can work straight, but many (of the teams) seemed to be secretive. Politicking is not yet in her fold. She is not involved in what everyone seems to be doing. Not yet. She is an intelligent and well-respected chemist and could push her way and Marion’s policies, which seem to be blurred at the moment, for the company’s progress. Somehow, she discovers she is falling into a trap, and she has to get hold of something to also force her will. What could this be? Marion is falling. Politics is in every corner.

d. What is Ron’s base of power?
Ron is considered a loser. He was a Sales Representative for six years, but now he is promoted to the new Manager of New Research. It seems he’s into the game of politicking, finally, though he’s got this promotion after such a long time. The culture, the unwritten norm, states that anyone who is not promoted for two years is considered a loser. This one has got Sarah irked. He’s got little of the so-called base of power. Why? He’s falling into Conrad’s spell, the latter’s way of forcing his wishes and desires. Conrad’s dictating to him.

1. Do you see politics in this case? Discuss.
Surely there is so much politics involved. All the elements of the “art of politics” are present here. Conrad withholds information, and exchanges favors with Joyce, and Joyce plays the game too, after all, she earns her promotion. So she tells Sarah, who is so new in Marion, to just follow Conrad. Sarah gets confused. She must be. She thought they are one big team, but everybody was working for his advancement. There is a power struggle and no clear management. If someone wants to get hold of or buy equipment, he/she has to call some influential personality like Conrad to be successful with it. Management seems to condone it. Somebody has to move to save the company.
2. What are the negative outcomes resulting from the use of power and politics at Mario? Positive?

Marion is falling. Politics is in every corner. You can expect that this would be going on – exchange of favors, withholding of information, trying to get some leverage for some deal, instead of promoting Marion policies. But there are no clear policies here. Conrad has his policies. Sarah comments that Conrad seems to be building his empire. Company advancement would be stalled, perhaps, this could even result in its downfall. If everybody is competing against everybody, this is going to be the company’s collapse, or it will remain as mediocre as ever. They are not working as a team but as competitors against everybody. There is nothing positive in this setup. That’s why Marion has become the mediocre chemical company that it is.

4. What do you recommend Sarah do now? Be specific.
Sarah must be able to persuade everyone that if they care for Marion, they must take aside politics now. Marion is going nowhere, maybe behind in the competition, because of the attitude of management. Everyone is trying to outsmart the other, pursuing or enforcing their policies to the detriment of the company.
Sarah’s skill and experience, plus her determination to help Marion, can be the determining factor for Marion’s success, and maybe rehab. Yes, the entire company needs rehab. Perhaps, this was one of the goals of the Board to hire Sarah. She can be the catalyzer, a newbie with clear motives, who is not yet immersed into the system that is beginning to be rotten. Politicking rots the system. Sarah can be the much-awaited “messiah”. She can start convincing everybody, so Marion, from a mediocre company can become a prime marketing company.

The discovery of a new super plastic by Paul Johnson can be the much-awaited break for New Research and Marion, and since Sarah is the Team Leader where Paul belongs, she must take hold of the investigating team. But why is Conrad sequestering Paul now? Conrad exerts pressure on the new manager, Ron to transfer Paul to his team.
Sarah must be able to persuade Ron Summers to withdraw his reassignment of Paul into Conrad’s team. Conrad seems to be able to get everything. He is building his own empire. Read More