Power n Politics

Power and PoliticsThe Fall and Rise Of John Lasseter

Presented by: Sushmitha S. P Swaroop Desai Suhas R Suneeth S. R Sumit Supe Umasowjanya G

John Lasseter grew up in a family heavily involved in artistic expression.

The Art Of Animation, a book about Disney animated film the Sleeping Beauty.

He Started writing letters to Disney company studios.

The studio representatives told him to get a great art education, after which they would teach him animation.

Disney started a character animation program at the California Institute Of Arts film School.

Lasseter joined Disney Animation staff in 1979 after graduation.

He was disappointed because the Animation Studio was run more by business people.

He was told to work for 20 years and do what he is been told.

He wanted to take animation to the next level in its History.

Computer Graphics Technology For Animation in 1980.

Tom Willhite, allowed Lasseter and a colleague to develop a 30 second test film.

He Presented the test clip and feature movie idea to the Disney head.

He discovered that his idea was doomed even before presenting it to studio head.

He directly met the superiors and didn’t realise how many enemies he made.

By this time realised even if he makes a good movie, the Studio head would reject it.

Termination of his employment in Disney.

His personal admiration and respect for Walt Disney remained the same.

Lasseter was recruited to Lucas Film by Ed Catmull to work on cartoon animation project.

Steve Jobs bought the animation business from George Lucas for $10 million and Pixar animation studios was born .

Lasseter became the Chief Executive genius behind Pixar’s animated feature film.

In 2006, Disney CEO Robert Iger and Pixar CEO Steve jobs struck a deal for pixar to become wholly owned subsidiary of Disney.

Iger wanted to reinvent animation at Disney and Lasseter was viewed as a key figure to achieve this.

Lasseter is regarded by Hollywood executives as the modern Walt Himself.

He now oversees development of movies in Disney animation studio.

WHAT IS POWER? Interpersonal (or intergroup) relationship in which

one individual (or group) can cause another individual (or group) to take an action that it would not otherwise take.

POWER/LEADERSHIP/AUTHORITY RELATIONSHIP

Power is closely related to leadership and authority

Leadership

Authority Power

TYPES OF POWER

Reference PowerExpert Power Legitimate PowerReward PowerCoercive Power

POLITICS

Those activities taken within organizations to acquire, develop, and use power and other resources to obtain one’s preferred outcome in a situation where there is uncertainty of outcome.

WHY DO WE HAVE POLITICS?

Different ideas, values, interests and goals.

Limited resources (money etc.)

Outcome is not clearly defined.

MODELS OF POLITICS

Political Model: • Goals not clear • Disagreement & uncertainty • Poor information • Conflict & Bargaining • Power and influence needed • Winners and losers

Rational model: • Choices made in a logical way • Decisions are orderly, logical and rational • Outcome-maximizing • Reliable information systems • Efficiency

PROCESS FRAMEWORK

Uncertainty &Disagreement

Tactics for increasingPower Base

Gather Data,Reach Agreement

Political TacticsFor Using Power

PoliticalModel

RationalModel

THE DARK SIDE OF POWER AND POLITICS

Power and politics often have negative connotations because people associated with it attempts to use organizational resources for personal advantage and to achieve personal goals at the expense of other goals.

THE BRIGHT SIDE OF POWER AND POLITICS

Managers can use power to control people and other resources so that they cooperate and help to achieve an organization’s current goals.Managers can use power to engage in politics and influence the decision-making process to help promote new, more appropriate organizational goals.

Forms Of Interpersonal Power1.Dominance

The exercise of power over others that is typically associated with a negative view of power and is competitive and hierarchical.

2.Empowerment

Power derived from enhancing the capabilities and the influences of individuals and groups.

The two faces of power appear in this case very opposite to each other

Positive

Negative

Even though lasseter’s work was creative it was rejected on grounds that the cost of production was same.

His direct superiors were irked because of his creativeness and wanted to prevent his growth in the company.

So they convinced the studio head to reject his idea at any cost .

The studio head being the center of power used it in an unfair way to fire john lasseter which indicates a political behavior.

•The firing of John Lasseter from Disney studio demonstrates the unethical way of using power because:-

•Disney studio head had made up his mind to reject Lasseter’s creative idea i.e. feature film at all costs.

•Direct superiors had known about his idea and did not want him to grow the organizational ladder so they convinced the studio head to reject it.

•Superior who did not like Lasseter, got him fired from Disney Studio immediately.

CONCLUSION

•John Lasseter inspite of being fired had the same respect and admiration for Walt Disney.

•And today Lasseter oversees development of movies at both Disney and Pixar animation studios.

•Despite many obstacles posed due to power and politics from superiors and also his firing he rose back in his career of animation all because of his passion and talent.

•So, power and politics used negatively could not halt a talented and passionate person’s growth.

Questions……?