A Study on Probable Individual Antecedents of Workplace Political Tactics

Abstract

In this study, the relationship between career objects of employees and their use of political tactics was analyzed with the participation of 130 employees, predominantly working in Istanbul, Turkey, in various sectors such as Finance, Information Technologies, Education and Consultancy. In addition, the role of power distance perceptions of employees about the organizations they work for and the uncertainty avoidance of the employees were investigated as moderators. Significant correlations were found between employees' career objects and political tactics they use to influence their managers. Status and effectiveness gaining as a career object was found to be affecting the use of ingratiation, persuasion through rationalization and, assertiveness tactics. Perceived power distance was found to be moderating the relationship between status and effectiveness gaining object and ingratiation through increasing its effect on the use of ingratiation tactic. Moreover perceived power distance intervened between autonomy development and ingratiation through decreasing autonomy development's effect on ingratiation. Conducted with a Turkish sample, this study contributes to the career objects and political behavior literature, because it includes the effects of perceived power distance of the employees in this relationship.