Hasso-Plattner-Institut25 Jahre HPI
Hasso-Plattner-Institut25 Jahre HPI
 

Power and Power Misuse in Organizations (Wintersemester 2023/2024)

Lecturer: Karsten Drath

General Information

  • Weekly Hours: 2
  • Credits: 3
  • Graded: yes
  • Enrolment Deadline: 01.10.2023 - 22.10.2023
  • Examination time §9 (4) BAMA-O: 26.03.2024
  • Teaching Form: Block seminar
  • Enrolment Type: Compulsory Module
  • Course Language: English
  • Maximum number of participants: 32

Programs, Module Groups & Modules

IT-Systems Engineering MA
  • IT-Systems Engineering
    • HPI-MK Management-Kompetenzen
  • Professional Skills
    • HPI-PSK-KO Kommunikation
  • Professional Skills
    • HPI-PSK-ML Management und Leitung
Data Engineering MA
Digital Health MA
Cybersecurity MA
Software Systems Engineering MA

Description

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Part 1: Power in Organizations. What is it? (0.75 days)

 
  • What is Power?
 
 
  • Definition
  • Why is it important?
  • How does it work?
  • Key takeaways
 
 
  • Input
  • Class discussion
  • Group work with class presentation
 
 
  • Forms of Power
 
 
  • From top down to outside in
  • Key takeaways
 
 
  • Input
  • Class discussion
  • Group work with class presentation
 
 
  • Sources of Power
 
 
  • From positional to transcendent power
  • Key takeaways
 
 
  • Input
  • Class discussion
  • Group work with class presentation
 
 
  • How can Power be achieved?
 
 
  • The Seven Rules of Power
  • Key takeaways
 
 
  • Video
  • Class discussion
 
 
  • Interview “Leaders Talk”
 
 
  • How do real managers deal with power?
 
 
  • Interview with guest via zoom followed by Q&A
 
 
  • My Learnings
 
 
  • Takeaway for Start-Up challenge
 
 
  • Reflection
  • Application of concept
 

Part 2: Destructive Leaders – Born or made? (0.75 days)

 
  • Power and Personality

 

 
  • Traits, Habits, State
  • Big Five Model
  • Your Traits
  • Key takeaways
 
 
  • Input
  • Self-Reflection
  • Debriefing self-assessment
  • Class discussion
 
 
  • Personality: The Dark Triade

 

 
  • Narcissism
  • Machiavellianism
  • Psychopathy
  • How do you score?
  • Key takeaways
 
 
  • Input
  • Self-Reflection
  • Debriefing self-assessment
  • Class discussion
 
 
  • Dark Personalities and Power

 

 
  • What are Disagreeable Personalities?
  • Paths to Power
  • Key takeaways
 
 
  • Input
  • Class discussion
  • Group work with class presentation
 
 
  • Systems: The Toxic Triangle
 
 
  • Destructive leaders
  • Susceptible followers
  • Conducive environments
  • Key takeaways
 
 
  • Input
  • Class discussion
  • Group work with class presentation
 
 
  • Interview “Leaders Talk”
 
 
  • How do real managers deal with destructive leaders?
 
 
  • Interview with guest via zoom followed by Q&A
  • Group work with class presentation
 
 
  • My Learnings
 
 
  • Takeaway for Start-Up challenge
 
 
  • Reflection
  • Application of concept
 

Part 3: Power Misuse in Organizations (0.75 days)

 
  • Types of Power Misuse
 
 
  • How can power be misused in organizations?
 
 
  • Input
  • Class discussion
 
 
  • Case: The Milgram Experiment
 
 
  • Historical context
  • Experiment setup
  • Public perception
  • Conclusions
 
 
  • Input
  • Class discussion
  • Group work with class presentation
 
 
  • Case: A Higher Loyalty
 
 
  • Historical context
  • Course of events
  • Public perception
  • Conclusions
 
 
  • Input
  • Class discussion
  • Group work with class presentation
 
 
  • Case: Axel Springer and Julian Reichelt
 
 
  • Context
  • Course of events
  • Public perception
  • Conclusions
 
 
  • Input
  • Class discussion
  • Group work with class presentation
 
 
  • Interview “Leaders Talk”
 
 
  • How do real managers deal with power misuse?
 
 
  • Interview with guest via zoom followed by Q&A
  • Group work with class presentation
 
 
  • My Learnings
 
 
  • Takeaway for Start-Up challenge
 
 
  • Reflection
  • Application of concept
 

Part 4: Managing Power in Organizations (0.75 day)

 
  • Reactive Approaches to Avoid Power Misuse
 
 
  • Recap: Forms of Power Misuse
  • How to address them?
 
 
  • Input
  • Class discussion
 
 
  • Proactive Approaches to Avoid Power Misuse
 
 
  • Vertical Development
  • Flat organizations
  • Self-Organization
  • Unlearning hierarchy
  • Inner Development Goals
  • B-Corp Movement
  • Takeaways
 
 
  • Input
  • Class discussion
 
 
  • Challenge: Designing your own approach to Power in Organizations
 
 
  • Design your own way how to manage power in organizations
 
 
  • Group work with class presentation
 
 
  • How to prepare for the exam
 
 
  • Useful hints
 
 
  • Input
  • Q&A
 

Literature

Course Prework

Part 1: Power in Organizations. What is it?

  • Readings
    • Pfeffer, Jeffrey: The 7 Rules of Power
    • One-pager Sources of Power
  • Videos

Part 2: Destructive Leaders – Born or made?

  • Complete your Big Five Assessment
  • Readings:
    • The Dark Triad of Personality: Narcissism, Machiavellianism, and Psychopathy
    • People with disagreeable personalities (selfish, combative, and manipulative) do not have an advantage in pursuing power at work
    • The toxic triangle: Destructive leaders, susceptible followers, and conducive environments

Part 3: Power Misuse in Organizations

  • Videos:
  • Readings:
    • The Milgram experiment - impact and interpretation
    • The Comey Rule Summary
    • 50% of Employees Don’t Report Workplace Misconduct
    • Bilds Reichelt Axel Springer under pressure
    • Editor of German tabloid Bild sacked after sexual misconduct claims

Part 4: Managing Power in Organizations

  • Website:
  • Podcasts:
  • Readings:
    • How to Reduce the Misuse of Power in a Workplace
    • HBR Seven Transformations of Leadership
    • HBR How to Successfully Scale a Flat Organization
    • HBR Don’t let power corrupt you
    • Managing Yourself Don't let power corrupt you
    • How to Help Prevent the Powerful

Learning

  • Input
  • Class discussion
  • Group work with class presentation
  • Interview with guest via zoom followed by Q&A
  • Application of concept
  • Self-Reflection
  • Debriefing self-assessment

Examination

GRADING:

  • Class presentation (50%)
  • Written exam (50%)

Dates

26.03. and 27.03.24, 9.00 am to 6.30 pm each

28.03.2024, 9.00 am to 5.00 pm

Room: H-2.57/58

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