The power potential of the less-powerful within networks. A political sensemaking process (PSP) model of rapid network development and dissolution. Discourse as deus ex-machina

The paper commences by introducing the preliminary research question, which broadly asks about the nature and role of power and political process in relationship/network development in general, and within multinational corporations (MNCs) more specifically. The paper then presents perspectives on power drawn broadly from the management and sociology literature before summarising some of the key orientations to relationships and change within the industrial network literature, and more specifically, the role within these of power and political process. It appears that the historically prevailing view has been that relationships within networks develop gradually and cumulatively over time, with power playing what might be termed a ‘concrete’ role in such a process, based primarily on identifiable resource dependencies. The concept of ‘system power’, beginning to emerge in the management and organisation literature, is not explicitly articulated. In short, the less-powerful are seen as facing formidable obstacles in seeking to achieve enhanced network positions and control and it is not clear under what circumstances rapid network change can be induced, let alone how the less-powerful might be able to induce it.