machinations (plural of machination)
noun

- complicated and secret plans to gain power or control

Cambridge Dictionary

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ORIGIN

Machination - which is usually expressed in the plural - stems from the Latin machinatio (device, contrivance), the past participle stem of machinari (to skilfully plot or contrive), by way of the Old French machinacion (plot, conspiracy).

These ultimately derive from the Middle French "machine" and Latin "machina" (machine, device, trick, instrument), which are also the source of the Spanish "maquina" and Italian "macchina."

The French and Latin roots in turn are tied back to the Greek "makhana," meaning a device or means, and the Proto-Indo-European "maghana," which referred to something that enables or that which has power, but not in the technical sense of course.

The main modern sense of machine as in a "device made of moving parts for applying mechanical power" (1670s) probably grew out of the mid 17th century senses of "apparatus, appliance" and "military siege-tower."

The political sense of machine, as in a political organization headed by a single boss or small autocratic group, is U.S. slang and was first recorded 1876.

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SYNONYMS

schemes, plotting, plots, intrigues, conspiracies, designs, plans, devices, ploys, ruses, tricks, wiles, stratagems, tactics, manoeuvres, manoeuvring, contrivances, expedients, complots

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Practice OWAD in a conversation, say something like:

"Behind-the-scene MACHINATIONS seem to be a fact of life in all organizations."