Kanter (1977, 1993) maintains that characteristics of a situation can either constrain or encourage optimal job performance, regardless of personal tendencies or pre dispositions. She conceptualizes power as the ‘ability to mobilize resources to get things done and uses the analogy of an electrical circuit to describe how productive power is achieved and maintained in the work setting.
Power is ‘on’ when employees have access to lines of information, support, resources, and opportunities to learn and grow. When theses ‘lines’ or sources of power are unavailable, power is off and effective work is impossible. These lines of power are sources of ‘structural’ empowerment within the organization.
According to Kanter, these lines of power emanate from formal and informal systems within organizations.
Jobs that are highly visible, permit discretion or flexibility in how work is accomplished, and
are central to the overall purpose of the organization, describe positions that are high in formal power.
When positive relationships among superiors, peers, and subordinates are encouraged, the resulting
alliances confer informal power. High levels of formal and informal power facilitate access to the lines
of power and opportunity that enable employees to accomplish their work in meaningful ways.
According to Kanter, the mandate of management should be to create conditions for work effectiveness
by ensuring employees have access to the information, support, and resources necessary to
accomplish work and that they are provided ongoing opportunities for development. Employees
who believe their work environment provides access to these factors are empowered. The focus of
Kanter’s theory is on the employees’ perception of the actual conditions in the work environment,
and not on how they interpret this information psychologically.