Power in Tea Plantations

Power in Plantations ?

Power is the ability to make things happen according to one’s perspective by getting someone else to do it for you. It is mainly beneficial in company where the managers assign tasks to different employees and make them do those tasks. It is their role to guide on what employees should do to achieve company success. Power aids in providing a sense of direction towards the company goals.

In plantations, there are various sources of power. However, the primary source of power is the legitimate power, which means the power assigned based on job designation. It is allocated according to the rank level within the company (Kotter, 2008).

Power is responsible for ensuring employee commitment and compliance in the company. It aids in avoiding resistance among employees ensuring they coexist in harmony, which leads to increased productivity.

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The 5 Sources of Power in Plantations-

Legitimate Power-

Power that is given to a person based on their position or role is known as legitimate power (or positional power). It’s determined by the hierarchy of the company; estate workers report to junior managers, junior managers report to senior managers and senior managers report to directors. Other than being promoted, there’s not much you can do directly to get more legitimate power. 

Reward Power-

Reward power is the ability that one holds to dole out incentives and compensation in an company or the estates. This includes salary raises and bonuses, praise, recognition, and promotion. Reward power that is used fairly can be highly motivating to employees and also workers. They’ll do more and better things by going for the rewards with the knowledge that they are achievable. However, if the rewards are given out unfairly and favouritism is used, this will demotivate them and make reward power less legitimate.

Coercive Power-

It’s what sets in the fear of being punished for poor performance and keeps us maintaining the good standard of work.These actions might include demotion, employee turn over, firing, and reprimanding from the board of directors.It forces people to do something that ordinarily they would not choose to do.

Referent Power-

It comes from the personal characteristics of the person such as the degree to which we like, respect, and want to be like them.Referent power is the ability to influence workers because they respect, admire, or like you. Especially if you are new to an company, you can start building social capital right away by saying “yes” when people ask you to do things. Never say, “No, that’s not my job” – especially to your boss. It’s OK to say no when you really can’t do something – just say, “no, but…” and give another solution. Also, befriend others with referent power – find the influential people in your company, be part of the “in” crowd, and workers will respect you.

Expert Power-

It comes from experience and skills. Plantation companies are often characterized by well experienced people, rather than legitimate power.In Expert power, you have the ability to influence workers because of recognized talent, abilities, and knowledge.

Information power-

It comes from the ability to access to specific information. For example, knowing tea prices information gives a person information power during negotiations. In company, a person’s social network can either isolate them from information power or serve to create it.(Jozwiak,2017)

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References-

• Kotter, J. (2008). Power, success, and organizational effectiveness. Organizational Dynamics, 6(3), 27-40. doi:10.1016/90-2616(78)946-3
• source 01- January 3, 2013 by agilevietnam.
• Merchant, P., 5. Sources of Power in Organizations,” Chron., marzo 2013.
• source 02-Using Power in Organizations-https://youtu.be/eJ1lXEH4y8k