Organizational Politicking: An Empirical Study on its Application to Communication Practitioners

Sammanfattning: Organizational politicking (OP), otherwise known as workplace politics has for many decades been a deeply subverted topic in the management literature due to its widely negative credo. This study aims to investigate OP and its uncharted utilization within the communication profession drawing upon the empirical foundation of 15 qualitative in-depth interviews with communication practitioners in varying roles. More specifically, it aims to investigate how communication practitioners situate themselves in the management of others over which they have limited formal authority, which tactics they use, and what values and assets are derived from the employment of these tactics to shape strategic ends. The study is guided by the theoretical framework of a tactic typology of influence tactics, communication as a second-order management function, and impression management. The findings reveal organizational politicking to be a frequent and ongoing process among practitioners’ line of work, characterized by subtler and softer shades of tactical enactments to maintain synergistic relationships within and across departments. The analysis also finds that in order for the tactics to produce their intended outcomes, communication practitioners leverage the use of (i.a): tactical timing, boundary spanning, institutional memory, fait accomplis and interpersonal acumen. The study concludes by suggesting that a key function of the communicator role, involves practitioners attuning themselves to the various processes of OP. Further emphasis on incorporating OP into mainstream discussions on the work of communication professionals will provide us with a more robust understanding of how interactions unfold in the workspace.