Applying Power Theories to Project Management: Assignment Instructions

To have students gain and share knowledge on the theories around power and how students, as project managers, can apply these theories to improve their effectiveness and efficiency in becoming leaders in a project environment. 

This assignment is worth 10% of your final grade. Each group will select one base of power from the list below. Each theory will only be studied by the group and then presented to the other students in a live ZOOM session. This will be worth 5% of your final mark. There will be no duplicates. 

An additional 5% in-class exercise based upon what you learned from your peer’s presentations will also occur in class this week. This second component will be evaluated through group discussion and a final group submission, which may take the form of a discussion, presentation, document, slide or any other means (suggested by the student and deemed permissible by the professor). 

• Coercive Power
• Referent Power
• Expert Power
• Reward Power
• Legitimate Power
• Informational Power
• Charismatic Power
• Moral Power

For this assignment, complete the following activities:

1. Select base of power from the list above and sign up for your theory. Assignment will be done on a first-come-first-served basis.

2. Research using the internet, and the textbook, Organizational Behavior. You may also be creative and use additional research resources such as videos and media or journal articles. Please note that the expectation is that more sources than just your textbook will be required in order to meet the requirements of this assignment. Ensure that you properly cite any references you use. See ‘Citing References’ below for a link to an online citation builder.

3. Create a presentation to educate your group and your fellow classmates on your selected topic. You may use PowerPoint or another presentation tool, or record a video to be shown in class. If you have another method for communicating this information, please feel free to be creative, as long as you effectively communicate the required information to your classmates.

4. Presentations will occur in class, will be timed, and must be approximately 10 minutes in length.

5. Presentation slots will be assigned at random by the professor.

6. Ensure that your information addresses the following questions:

a. Describe the base of power your group has chosen.
b. What is the history and background of research into this power?
c. What are the pros and cons of using this power? What situations may these bases of power be the least and most effective in?
d. As a project manager, how can you apply this information to effectively manage projects?

7. Include information and examples as you deem relevant and interesting. Be creative with your format to help make the learning fun and effective.

8. Ensure you are ready at the start of class for your presentation, as in-class you will not have time to prepare, and will have to listen to other presentations in order to complete the in-class assignment. 

9. Have fun.