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ABSTRACT
This study examined perceived political behaviors as a critical, yet largely overlooked, component in the traditional organizational politics perceptions model. Further, this study developed an expanded version of the traditional antecedents to politics perceptions and examined the mediating effect of perceptions of politics in the model. Results from 260 full-time employees suggested that the use of reactive/defensive political behaviors exacerbated the already negative effects of perceived organizational politics on outcomes. Further, the set of variables that come from the job/work environment were found to explain more variance in perceptions of organizational politics than the set of organizational or individual variables. Finally, perceptions of politics demonstrated mediation effects between the antecedent variables and job satisfaction, job anxiety and intent to turnover Discussion centers around the expanded model and the need to conceptually and empirically link politics perceptions with political behaviors.
KEYWORDS organizational politics perceptions, political behaviors
The topic of organizational politics is, and has been, the subject of much casual conversation in the work place (Gandz & Murray, 1980), and it is increasingly becoming the focus of empirical research (Drory & Romm, 1990; Ferris & Kacmar, 1992; Ferris et al., 1996; Ferris et al., 1994b; Harrell-- Cook et al., in press; Parker et al., 1995). Much of the research in the field of organizational politics has taken a decidedly top-down approach, emphasizing environmental and structural variables to explain politics in organizations (Gandz & Murray, 1980; Madison et al., 1980; Pfeffer, 1981). These studies have approached the topic of politics from a macro perspective. This perspective derives from a broader, systems approach (Cyert & March, 1963) which emphasizes interdependence and the exercise of departmental power (Bacharach & Lawler, 1980; Kipnis, 1976; Lawler & Bacharach, 1983; Pettigrew, 1973; Tushman, 1977).
Others have suggested studying political actions from the point of view of the individual - a micro perspective (Burns, 1961; Farrell & Petersen, 1982; Porter et al., 1981; Vredenburgh & Maurer, 1984). While researchers have for years recognized the importance of individual political behaviors in organizations (Burns, 1961; Frost & Hayes, 1977; Pettigrew, 1973; Tushman, 1977), understanding of the conceptual underpinnings as well as the consequences of individual political behavior, are, to paraphrase Schein (1977), inadequately explored realities. This research examines individual political behavior...