Definition of Organizational Politics

There is no shortage of definitions of organizational politics. Essentially, this type of politics focuses on the use of power to affect decision making in an organization, sometimes for self-serving and organizationally unsanctioned behaviors. Political behavior in organizations consists of activities that are not required as part of an individual’s formal role but that influence the distribution of advantages and disadvantages within the organization.

Political behavior is outside specified job requirements. It requires some attempt to use power bases. It includes efforts to influence the goals, criteria, or processes used for decision making. Our definition is broad enough to include varied political behaviors such as withholding key information from decision makers, whistle-blowing, spreading rumors, leaking confidential information to the media, or exchanging favors. In this way, political behavior is often negative, but not always.