Power and Politics in Grievance Resolution: Managing Meaning of Due Process in an Organization

Abstract

This paper studies the relatively less explored issue of the actual process of grievance resolution from a political perspective. In a steel plant in India, six grievance cases were analyzed from the filing of a grievance to its final resolution. Cases were reconstructed through semistructured interviews and analyzed from a political perspective. The sources of power of the key actors and their influence tactics vis-A-vis one another were found to determine whether the case would be decided in favor of or against the grievant. The understanding of the dynamics in grievance resolution was enhanced when we analyzed cases as episodes nested in the ongoing political process of the organization. A comprehensive understanding of political behavior required analysis at two levels: the explicit-dealing with apparent behavior; and the implicit-exploring the underlying concerns and intents of the actors often manifested through symbols. Implications of multiple levels of political behavior for institutionalizing due process are discussed.