In a short essay, discuss how Machiavellianism can help explain individual behavior in organizations

What will be an ideal response?

Answer: An individual who is high in Machiavellianism is pragmatic, maintains emotional distance, and believes that ends can justify means. High Mach individuals understand power and the way to get it. Believing that ends justify means for a high Mach individual can result in corners sometimes being cut and ethics given short shrift or even ignored in favor of the goal that the person is seeking.

In jobs that require bargaining skills or that have substantial rewards for winning, high Machs are productive. In jobs in which ends do not justify the means or that lack absolute measures of performance, high Machs can vary in performance. One can imagine that high Machs are good at manipulating others and acquiring power in very aggressive, highly competitive "dog eat dog" organizations and circumstances.