Leadership as a key instrument to alleviate hegemonic relationships in organizations: A case from a public university

Abstract

Some groups may be oppressed by others in organizations and at this point, leaders are the most important actors able to balance the power inequalities within the organization. In this study, the exploitation of ambiguities in job descriptions of an administrative department in a public university is examined. Face-to-face and semi-structured interviews were conducted with 35 individuals and the related documents were examined to shed light on the phenomenon. According to technicians, those in higher positions use ambiguity in job descriptions to abdicate responsibility and increase their dominance. According to researchers, organizational leaders in particular should take responsibility to ease relationships of dominance in such cases.