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.