1. Why and under what conditions can conflict be good or bad for an organization? Would you expect a higher level of conflict in a mechanistic or an organic structure? Why?

2. You have been appointed to manage a large R&D laboratory. You find a high level of conflict between scientists in the unit. Why might this conflict be arising? How will you try to resolve it?

3. Why is it important to maintain a balance of power between different groups of organizational stakeholders?

4. What is unobtrusive power? Why is it so important?

5. How can the design of the organization's structure and culture give some subunits more power?

6. Discuss how you, as manager of the R&D function in a cosmetic products company, might try to increase your power and the power of your subunit to control more resources in a battle with marketing and manufacturing.

7. How will the change in structure affect the relative power of the different functions?

8. Is it ethical for CEOs to be able to appoint the directors who will be evaluating their performance and determining their compensation?

9. What kinds of ethical rules should be developed to ensure that abuses of power and political plays such as those that occurred at WorldCom can be prevented in the future?