Power and Policy in Future Organizations
Chapter from the book: Ağraş, S. (ed.) 2025. Power Struggles and Political Behaviours in Organizations.

Zarovshan Babayeva
Nakhchivan State University

Synopsis

Globalization, digital transformation, and the advancement of artificial intelligence technologies are fundamentally reshaping the structure, culture, and management practices of organizations. This transformation redefines the role of “power” and “politics” within organizations and challenges the boundaries of traditional management models. In the past, power was regarded as a tool based on hierarchical position, status, and authority; however, in the organizations of the future, power is defined by factors such as access to information, the ability to innovate, digital awareness, network management, and adaptability to change. This understanding reinterprets power not merely as managerial authority but as the ability to transform knowledge, build a collective vision, and manage collaborative processes. Organizational politics, in turn, is no longer a reflection of conflicting interests but rather an indicator of strategic interaction, value-based communication, and cultural alignment. In future organizations, politics will not represent power struggles among individuals and groups, but the ability to build harmonious relationships and foster sustainable communication in pursuit of shared goals. Within this process, the concept of leadership is also undergoing a fundamental transformation. Ethical, inclusive, and participatory leadership approaches that reject the manipulative use of power are gaining prominence. Instead of centralizing the flow of information, leaders now promote a participatory decision-making culture. As a result, organizations are evolving toward a new management culture grounded in trust, transparency, and solidarity. The phenomena of “algorithmic power” and “data-driven governance,” which have emerged in the digital age, present both opportunities and risks for organizational structures. While artificial intelligence and big data analytics enhance objectivity in decision-making processes, they also introduce new problem areas, such as the blurring of ethical boundaries, data privacy, and the erosion of confidentiality. Therefore, in the organizations of the future, managers will need to develop not only strategic competence but also ethical awareness, digital responsibility, and social empathy. This section focuses on the factors influencing power distribution and the conditions shaping policy in future organizations.

How to cite this book

Babayeva, Z. (2025). Power and Policy in Future Organizations. In: Ağraş, S. (ed.), Power Struggles and Political Behaviours in Organizations. Özgür Publications. DOI: https://doi.org/10.58830/ozgur.pub892.c3686

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Published

October 21, 2025

DOI