Which term describes power defined by the role within the organization, including legitimate, reward, or coercive forms?

• A. Expert Power
• B. Referent Power
• C. Positional Power
• D. Informational Power

Answer: (C)

Power tied to a person’s role in the organization—positional power—encompasses legitimate authority, the ability to reward performance, and the power to coerce or discipline. This comes from the job title and responsibilities attached to the position, not from who the individual is. It’s what gives a supervisor the formal right to issue orders, approve resources, and enforce rules. In contrast, expert power comes from having specialized knowledge, referent power from personal charisma or respect, and informational power from control of specific information. In a fire department, a captain’s authority to assign tasks, regulate operations, and apply disciplinary actions illustrates positional power in action. Therefore, the term described is positional power.