Understanding Power Dynamics in Organizations for Change
Explore the hidden power structures within organizations and the importance of transforming them for organizational change. Dive into deep structure dynamics, uncovering hidden power dynamics, and strategies to address them for a healthier work environment.
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BUILD WEBINAR: UNDERSTANDING POWER FOR ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE PART II Srilatha Batliwala Senior advisor, knowledge building, CREA November 19, 2020
Organizations contain three forms Organizations contain three forms or faces of power: or faces of power: VISIBLE POWER: formal leadership & decision-making structures, policies, rules HIDDEN POWER: INVISIBLE POWER: power under deep structures
Why understanding Why understanding and transforming structure of organizations is important: structure of organizations is important: Deep structures are hidden sites and processes of power, privilege and influence in an organisation that construct its actual culture The deep structure is where the hidden and invisible power in organizations is located it is what produces the actual organizational atmosphere or culture It is a set of unspoken codes and norms of behaviour that construct privileges, biases and discrimination e.g., informal or unstated values, unequal rewards and opportunities, painful or harmful interactions, subtle abuses of power The deep structure is the shadow organization - the one that is not openly acknowledged, but everyone knows is very real, where organizational values and mission are often contradicted, and social biases based on gender identity, sexual expression, class, age, race, ethnicity, ability, etc., are reproduced! Example: an organisation dedicated to peace-building that is internally full of conflict, where both leadership and staff may be quite poor at relating to each other in truly peaceful ways and transforming - - the deep the deep
Informal groups have hidden power / influence Some examples of deep Some examples of deep structure dynamics in structure dynamics in organizations organizations Power under practices SBatliwala-WaterAid-Sep2020 4
Deep structure breakout discussion Deep structure breakout discussion (focusing on the breakout group s specific deep structure dynamic): In your group s experience, what are some specific ways in which this deep structure dynamic plays out in organizations that you know? How are different forms of power and privilege operating in these dynamics ? (E.g.: positional authority, formal or informal control over resources or people, race, class, nationality, ethnicity, caste, gender, gender identity / sexual expression, ability, religion, etc.) Now, identify: a. Key organizational strategies organizational strategies and mechanisms for tackling this dynamic who needs to take the lead, who else needs to be part of the solution? b. Key Individual strategies Individual strategies for tackling this dynamic, reducing your own or others power under practices, and building a healthier work environment?
