Political Skill Research Articles

Factors Influencing the Perceived Employability among University Students

The global economic turmoil and the employability gap among university students have created a challenging job market for graduates. It is crucial to understand the factors that shape students' perceived employability and to implement effective measures to address this serious issue. A literature review was conducted to provide a comprehensive understanding of the factors influencing perceived employability among university students, focusing on research findings published since 2021. The present study indicates that numerous factors, including individual, behavioural, and environmental variables, significantly influence perceived employability among university students. Besides, previous research has diverged on specific factors such as demographics, partial components of personality traits, career engagement, political skills, and labour market situation, which need to be further investigated in the future. Furthermore, this study underscores the crucial significance of perceived employability among university students in a challenging job market. It validates the relevance of Career Construction Theory in interpreting perceived employability among university students and improves researchers' understanding of how perceived employability has evolved before and after the pandemic. Most importantly, this study develops an integrated model of the factors influencing the perceived employability among university students, which can serve as a guide for future researchers to study university students' employment issues and navigate the career practices of stakeholders such as the Ministry of Education, universities, university students, employers, and career practitioners.

Online Political Participation of Refugees in Germany: Analysis of a Survey in Bavaria

New media are an important resource for the political participation of marginalized groups. However, there is still a lack of knowledge about the factors that influence whether this opportunity is used. Influencing factors emerge from both the Civic Voluntarism Model and previous research on migrants’ political activity. Using data collected in 2019/2020 from 486 refugees living in Bavaria, we estimate linear probability models to investigate facilitating factors for the use of new media for political participation. The analysis shows that refugees in Germany who inform themselves about politics online tend to be predominantly male, higher educated, and politically involved. Language skills and the duration of stay also appear to be important. For the expression of one’s political opinion online, gender and language skills have an impact, but informing oneself about German politics, political interest, and offline political activity in Germany are the most relevant factors. This indicates that there is a close link between on- und offline activity. However, using the internet requires particular resources, so that people with lower language skills, for example, are particularly disadvantaged.

Leader prohibitive voice behavior and its effects on followers through leader identification and political skill

Prohibitive voice behavior plays a crucial role in organizational effectiveness by signaling previously undetected issues. However, individuals paradoxically perceive this behavior as difficult due to its emphasis on identifying harmful factors, which may lead to misinterpretation and other undesirable social consequences. Based on social learning theory, this study aims to identify how the leader’s prohibitive voice behavior affects the follower’s prohibitive voice behavior. We employed a quantitative research design, collecting and analyzing questionnaires from 317 leader-follower dyads in 59 Chinese companies. To test our hypotheses, we used mediation and moderation analyses, hierarchical regression analysis, and the PROCESS macro. The results partially supported the research hypothesis, indicating that leader prohibitive voice behavior positively influenced follower prohibitive voice behavior. Additionally, leader identification mediated this relationship, whereas follower political skill moderated the mediated relationship. Notably, the mediation’s direction contradicted our hypothesis; the mediated effect through leader identification was pronounced when follower political skill was at lower levels. This study proposes that the leader’s role as a role model is crucial in motivating followers’ prohibitive voice behavior. It highlights the significance of considering followers’ political skills when they emulate their leader’s behavior. From both theoretical and practical perspectives, we discussed these findings and highlighted their implications for organizational behavior and leadership development.

The moderating effect of collectivistic workplace culture on the link between political skill and knowledge sharing among faculty members

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of political skills of faculty members in Chinese universities on their tendency to obtain knowledge shared by their colleagues, as well as their tendency to share knowledge with their colleagues. Moreover, this study investigated the role of collectivistic culture in a workplace as the moderating variable that may influence the effect of political skill on knowledge sharing. Design/methodology/approach Survey data were obtained from 387 faculty members across six universities located in the northern and the central cities of China. Partial least squares structural equation modeling was used as the statistical method for data analysis. Findings The results provided significant evidence that supported the positive effect of political skill on knowledge sharing. Furthermore, the moderating effect analysis showed that in the workplaces that had strong collectivist culture, the degree to which employees obtained knowledge shared by others, as well as the willingness of employees to share their knowledge to others, was more likely to happen as compared to that in the workplaces that had a weak collectivist culture. Practical implications As part of human capital development policies, political skill training could be an intervention to promote knowledge sharing among faculty members. The training may be particularly helpful to promote knowledge sharing in a workplace that adopts individualistic culture more than in a workplace that adopts collectivistic culture. Originality/value This study provided new evidence that extended previous studies by unveiling the moderating effect of collectivist culture in a workplace that was found to reduce the effect of political skill on knowledge sharing.

EXPLORING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TEACHERS' POLITICAL SKILLS AND CREDIBILITY

Objective: This study investigates the significance of the relationship between teachers' political skills and credibility. It aims to present data-driven evidence that enhancing political skills can boost credibility so educational outcomes and student-teacher relationships will strengthen. Theoretical Framework: The theoretical underpinning of this study is the Source Credibility Theory, which describes the effect of perceived credibility on the source. Method: This descriptive-correlational study used primary data from 278 hospitality and tourism management students via questionnaires. Pearson R determined the strength and direction of the relationship. Regression analysis modeled the relationship and influence of political skills on credibility. Results and Discussion: The mean and standard deviation indicated very high political skills and credibility. The correlation test revealed a significant positive relationship between variables. The regression model showed a 74.7% influence of political skills on credibility, with sincerity as the best predictor. Research Implications: These findings suggest that teacher training should focus on developing political skills and sincerity to enhance credibility and effectiveness. Researchers in this field can explore ways to nurture these traits among educators and evaluate their effect on student outcomes for policymakers to apply across educational contexts. Originality/Value: This study provides evidence of a significant positive relationship between teachers' political skills and credibility. It highlights the importance of developing political skills and credibility among educators to earn trust. It extends the Source Credibility Theory to the educational domain, providing a foundation for future research in various contexts.

The Role of Political Skill in Bigg Boss: Strategies for Survival and Behavioral Competencies in Reality Show

This study investigates how political skill turns into success on Bigg Boss, an Indian reality TV show. Political skill, involving adaptability and influence, is known to be valuable in organizations, but its reach beyond business is unexplored. This study analyzes Bigg Boss Season 14 to address this gap. A purposive and convenience sampling method was utilized. Housemates’ behaviors were analyzed through content analysis with a summative approach, identifying five key aspects of political skill: influencing, sincerity, deceitfulness, social astuteness, and networking. Housemate statements were translated and analyzed to identify recurring themes and patterns. Correlations between these behaviors and success in the game were examined. Results showed a link between all five behaviors and success, suggesting housemates who exhibited them more often lasted longer. The winner displayed the most social astuteness, followed by sincerity, networking, influencing, and lastly, deceitfulness. These findings highlight that political skill, characterized by a strategic combination of social behaviors, is key to winning Bigg Boss. The study offers a broader understanding of political skill by demonstrating its applicability beyond business and emphasizing the importance of using these behaviors skillfully and adaptively. It also suggests connections to other academic fields, opening doors for future research.

Use of Political Skills by Leaders to Establish Successful Organizational Change

This study examines how leaders' political skills affect employee commitment and job ambiguity during organizational change, particularly when leader-employee interaction time is limited. We found that interpersonal influence and networking ability consistently benefit employees, regardless of how often leaders interact with them. Apparent sincerity is effective when leaders maintain regular contact, while high levels of social astuteness can backfire, causing more job ambiguity and less commitment. The research underscores the importance of these political skills in supporting employees and ensuring successful organizational change, even when leaders have limited interaction time with their employees.

Parental Involvement in School and Teachers’ Affective Commitment: The Role of Political Skills

ABSTRACT This study explored how two types of parental involvement, collaboration and conflict, related to teachers’ commitment to their school. As political skills involve understanding others at work and using that knowledge to influence in ways that serve personal or organizational objectives, we proposed that these skills act as a resilience factor for teachers in challenging interactions with parents. The research involved a questionnaire administered to 296 teachers. The results support the hypothesis of a connection between parental involvement and teachers’ commitment. Moreover, teachers with strong political skills experienced less impact on their commitment when facing problematic relationships with parents.

Could Positive Political Skills Work to the Benefit of Work Performance? Is it Possible?

Could Positive Political Skills Work to the Benefit of Work Performance? Is it Possible?

Grandiose Narcissism Can be Good for Leadership Effectiveness: Political Skill as Game Changer (WITHDRAWN)

Grandiose Narcissism Can be Good for Leadership Effectiveness: Political Skill as Game Changer (WITHDRAWN)

Determinants of internal and external networking behaviours: insights into gender, education, political skills and mentoring

ABSTRACT Employee internal and external networking behaviours may drive different employee and organisational outcomes, which has implications for Human Resource Development professionals. However, little is known about how to develop internal and external networking behaviours. Using social role theory, social capital theory, and personal initiative theory, this study examines the impact of employee gender, education, political skills, and mentoring on internal and external networking behaviours. We utilised a mixed-method sequential research design comprising two studies. Study 1 survey data were collected from 372 middle managers from 10 Sri Lankan manufacturing and service organisations. The results indicate the higher external networking behaviours of men; the elevated internal and external networking behaviours of managers with a master’s degree; a positive relationship between political skills and both internal and external networking behaviours; and a positive relationship between mentoring and internal networking behaviours. Study 2 comprised 12 interviews of middle managers who had participated in Study 1. Thematic and content analyses explain, refine, and extend the results of Study 1. The findings have several implications for developing the networking behaviours of middle managers. Theoretical and research contributions are discussed.

Leader Member Exchange as a Mediator of the Relationship Between Schools’ Openness to Change and Political Skills of School Principals

In today’s competitive and complex environment, school leaders require social influencing skills to mobilize schools to enable them to adapt to change. The schools’ openness to change (SOC) is affected by the direction and strength of relationships between teachers and principals in the school. In particular, the political skills of school principals can play a prominent role in mobilizing employees for change. This research investigates the impact of school principals’ political skills on schools’ openness to change, with a focus on the mediating role of leader member exchange (LMX) quality. The sample group was obtained by simple random sampling from 613 state teachers working in the Kocaeli province in Turkey in the 2019 to 2020 academic year. This study is based on quantitative data collected through the “Leader-Member Exchange Scale,”“Schools’ Openness to Change Scale,” and “Political Skill Inventory.” The measurement models of the latent variables (political skill, LMX, and SOC) were confirmed via running Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). Afterward, Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was used to test the structural model. The results reveal that the political skills of school principals significantly predict the SOC and the LMX. Political skills of school principals affect schools’ openness to change positively, and leader-member exchange positively effects the relationship between political skills and openness to change. It’s recommended that activities supporting the quality of leader member interactions in schools be carried out.

The contingent nature of the political skill-employee performance relationship.

The prevailing perspective in the organizational politics literature is that political skill facilitates heightened employee performance. Indeed, meta-analytic results have consistently found a positive relationship between political skill and both task and contextual performance. However, the literature has neglected the possibility of a contingent relationship between political skill and employee performance, despite arguments that organizations are political arenas in which employees also need political will. This is problematic because although politics are described as an ever-present facet of organizations, the extent to which work environments are politicized varies (Pfeffer, 1981), and such contexts can either constrain or enhance organizational behavior (Johns, 2006, 2018). Therefore, underpinned by the multiplicative framework of performance (i.e., P = f(M × A × C); Hirschfeld et al., 2004), we argue that the effects of political skill on employee task and contextual performance are contingent upon employee political will and the degree to which the work context is politicized. Results from a sample of working adults and their supervisors provided support for our hypothesis. Namely, political skill and political will interacted to predict heightened levels of task performance and citizenship behavior within more political contexts, but not within less political contexts. The contributions of this study to the politics literature are discussed commensurate with this study's associated strengths and limitations. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Pengaruh Kemahiran Literasi Media dalam Konteks Pengundi Muda Baharu di Malaysia

The Influence of Political Information Processing Skills among New Young Voters in Malaysia ABSTRACT: The eligible voters age limit from 21 years to 18 years and triggered the issue of political participation readiness among new young voters in Malaysia. This study claims that media literacy skills from political information process dimension influence the political participation readiness. This study aims to evaluate the influence of media literacy skills from political information process dimension towards political participation readiness. There are seven political information process skills that are verified such as analysis, evaluation, grouping, induction, deduction, synthesis and abstract. By using survey and simple random sampling towards 547 respondents aged 18 to 26 years, this study, strategize data collection to represent the population of new young voters in Malaysia. The map of Malaysia is divided into North, South, East, West and Borneo Zones covering urban and rural areas. This study reported that the skills of induction, deduction and synthesis have positive influence towards political participation readiness among new young voters in Malaysia. However, the skills of analysis, evaluation, grouping and abstracting do not have any significant influence. This study suggests a strategic collaboration between the Ministry of Youth and Sports with the Malaysian Election Commission, the Ministry of Communications and the Ministry of Digital in the National Service Training Program (PLKN). This initiative is expected increase the level of political participation readiness among new young voters in Malaysia. Keywords: Media literacy, new young voters, political information processing skills, political participation, voting.

POLITICAL SKILLS OF SCHOOL HEADS: BASIS FOR COMPETENCY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR COMMUNITY LEADERS

This study sought to determine the political skills of school heads as basis for competency development of community leaders. This study made use of a descriptive survey research method. It is descriptive because the data are presented in quantitative descriptions on the “Political skills of school heads: basis for Competency Development of Community Leaders”. This study was conducted to the school heads of Matanao 2 district. The respondents assessed the level of political skills of school heads. Universal sampling procedure was used in determining the respondents considering the small number of teacher-respondents in the research locale. Through a comprehensive analysis of the political competencies exhibited by school heads, this research aims to establish a correlation between these skills and effective community leadership. By examining the strengths and areas of improvement in the political skill set of school heads, this study seeks to provide insights into how enhancing these skills can contribute to the overall development of community leaders. The findings offer valuable recommendations for tailored training programs and resources to boost the political acumen of school heads, thereby fostering improved community leadership and societal advancement. This study revealed that political skills of school heads is high although there are still areas that they need competency development to be more effective in managing schools. KEYWORDS: Political skills, development for community leaders

How corruption affects entrepreneurial exit: Micro-evidence from Chinese entrepreneurs

The relationship between public corruption and entrepreneurship has gained increasing attention among researchers, yet we know little about how corruption affects entrepreneurial exit, especially at the micro level. Drawing on institutional theory and conservation of resources (COR) theory, we propose a moderated-mediation model that explores mechanisms and conditions through which corruption influences entrepreneurial exit. We conducted a longitudinal survey and a scenario-based experiment. Our empirical results demonstrate that corruption has a positive effect on entrepreneurial exit intention. Consistent with our hypothesis, this relationship is mediated by entrepreneurial stress. The moderated path analysis further indicates that political skills weaken the effect of corruption on entrepreneurial stress and entrepreneurial exit intention. Our findings extend the scope of public management research and provide some practical suggestions for government and entrepreneurs.

Political skill amplifies the beneficial effects of leader humor on actors’ work engagement via psychological capital

Existing research provides substantial evidence of the positive effects of leader humour on followers and their teams. However, less attention has been given to understanding how such behaviour benefits leaders. This study, grounded in the Conservation of Resources theory, introduces and tests a model that clarifies the mechanisms and conditions under which leader humour benefits these individuals. The study findings, derived from data collected from 137 supervisors in an experience sampling study and 134 supervisors in a three-wave field study, consistently show a positive correlation between leader humour and leader psychological capital, which subsequently enhances leader work engagement. Moreover, the magnitude of this positive effect depends on the leader’s political skill level, with those possessing high political skill reaping greater benefits from leader humour. The results suggest that leader humour is an effective method for supervisors to gain psychological resources.

Young blood: Needed or discarded? Untangling party strategies for the selection of young candidates

Young people are three times more present in the population than in elected assemblies. Their critical underrepresentation has so far received much less scholarly attention than other well-studied social groups, despite, for instance, women being underrepresented in parliaments to a smaller extent. This research investigates the reasons why parties, usually pointed as those who can sway group representation in politics, do (not) select young people for parliamentary elections. In-depth interviews have been conducted with 32 key informants from 6 Belgian parties (CD&V, Ecolo, Groen, MR, PS, and Vlaams Belang) responsible for candidate selection in the Belgian PR electoral system. Our interviewees’ insights allow us to assess young candidates’ assets and flaws in terms of their electoral popularity, political skills, and ticket-balancing value. This study also sheds light on parties’ strategic candidate selection decisions regarding long-term people’s management and openness to youth wings’ lobbying efforts.

Dark triad and knowledge hiding in firms: Mediating role of perceived organizational politics

Negative behaviors at the workplace always disturb the management of the firms. This research investigates the link between the dark triad and various types of Knowledge hiding (Evasive hiding, Playing dumb, and Rationalized hiding) in firms. In addition, this study explores perceived organizational politics as a mediator. The design of this study is quantitative and positivist. The data were collected in three waves (45 days gap) with a random sampling approach from 383 personnel/staff working in Chinese commercial banking firms. The data were analyzed using the partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) technique and Smartpls-4 software. This study confirms that dark-triad has a positive relation with knowledge hiding, except psychopathy and Machiavellianism, which have no significant correlation with playing dumb and evasive hiding, respectively. Perceived organizational politics significantly mediate the association between dark triad personality traits and the types of knowledge hiding. Employees with political skills and a trust-based culture can counter the dark-triad personalities and discourage the knowledge-hiding culture. For effective management of knowledge-hiding issues in firms, codifying implicit and explicit Knowledge and developing knowledge repositories can discourage a knowledge-hiding culture.

Political skill and personal reputation: an analysis of workplace and entrepreneurial outcomes

Political skill and personal reputation: an analysis of workplace and entrepreneurial outcomes