Assignment
What would you say to your boss if there were no consequences?
In its most basic sense, power refers to the difference between who you can yell at and who can yell at you. Individuals at the bottom of a social hierarchy may face an increased level of stress because they have less control over their lives and more uncertainty in their day-to-day existence. In other words, if you are an entry level worker in a large corporation, you are completely beholden to the people above you -- they can tell you what to do, set your schedule, instruct you how to work, and generally treat you however they like. Being at the bottom may also affect your ability to speak out about potential issues that negatively affect the organization and/or yourself. For example, if you witness a fellow employee being harassed by a higher-ranking manager, you may be hesitant to tell someone about this abuse for fear of retaliation. This power imbalance depends of course on the specific culture of the organization, and some companies may actually try to ensure that all employees, from the top to the bottom, are respected and feel valued.
This assignment asks you to analyze the culture and power structure of an organization that you belong to. This could include a workplace, religious group, school or extracurricular club, fraternity/sorority, sports team, or other social organization.
Answer the following questions:
A. Analyze the organization. How does it function in terms of power? What is its culture like, Is there a strict hierarchy or is it more egalitarian? What kind of power do you have?
B. From your perspective, how does the organization's structure negatively or positively affect the stress of its members, including yourself?
C. Are there aspects of the organization that could be changed to make everyone's life easier and less stressful? In your opinion, is a change feasible or practical, especially considering the goals of the organization?
D. How much freedom do you have to speak your mind in the organization? What would you say to the people above you in the social hierarchy if there were no consequences?