Information power is defined as which of the following?

• A. Control over information
• B. Control over the physical environment, technology, or organization of work
• C. The ongoing activity of assessing what is going on around you during a fire incident
• D. Delegation allows subordinates to complete tasks they are capable of performing

Answer: (A)

Information power comes from having control over information that others need to perform their duties. It rests on deciding who gets data, what data is shared, when it’s shared, and how it’s used. In a fireground context, this means that the person who controls updates, maps, incident status, and other critical details holds influence because others rely on that information to make decisions and act effectively.

This differs from control over the physical environment, technology, or the way work is organized, which is about managing resources and processes rather than information itself. It also isn’t the ongoing activity of assessing what’s going on at the scene (that’s situational awareness, a skill, not a form of power). And it isn’t about delegation to subordinates (empowerment through assignment), which shifts tasks rather than information ownership.