Identify and describe the five bases of power. What are the likely reactions people have to each type of power? Give an example of each basis of power, using the power a professor might have over a student.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Five common forms or bases of power are: legitimate, reward, coercive, expert, and referent. (See Figure 12.2.) 
Legitimate power is the base of power that most people think of as authority and is anchored to one's formal position. Managers who obtain compliance primarily because of their formal authority to make decisions have legitimate power. Positive legitimate power tends to foster commitment. 
Individuals or organizations have reward power if they can obtain compliance by promising or granting rewards. Pay-for-performance plans and positive reinforcement practices attempt to exploit reward power. Reward power tends to produce compliance. 
The ability to make threats of punishment and deliver actual punishment give an individual coercive power. Coercive power tends to produce compliance. 
Valued knowledge or information gives an individual expert power over those who need such knowledge or information. The power of supervisors is enhanced because they know about work assignments and schedules before their employees do. Expert power tends to foster commitment. 
Referent power comes into play when one's personal characteristics and social relationships become the reason for compliance. Charisma is commonly associated with referent power, but one does not need to be the life of the party to possess referent power, In Asian cultures, for instance, characteristics such as age, gender, or family name are sources of social status and referent power. One often overlooked and underestimated source of referent power is your network of relationships. One's reputation is another example of referent power. Referent power tends to foster commitment. 
Students should give an example of each basis of power, using the power a professor might have over a student.