Positive Organizational Politics : A Grounded Theory Study

When presented with the term “organizational politics,” most people immediately think of a negative connotation. However, some scholars believe that organizational politics can have a positive impact in the workplace. Positive organizational politics is a relatively underdeveloped field when compared to research on the negative aspects of workplace politics. Using Grounded Theory methodology, we present a model of positive workplace politics that illuminates the features of political behaviors that can be seen as positive. The primary construct that influenced perception was the number of beneficiaries. If a group benefited, the action is most likely perceived in a positive light whereas if an individual benefited, the action is most likely perceived negatively. Anomalies noted during our research led to the discovery that transparency and emotional intelligence moderate positive perception. The relationship between number of beneficiaries and perceptions of positivity is weakened when the process is hidden as opposed to transparent. Actors use various skill sets including emotional intelligence and political skill to achieve positive outcomes for an organization. We also found that higher quality results can be achieved more quickly when the actor has high political skill and social capital