This paper examines Amitai Etzioni's concept of power, defined as "an actor's ability to induce or influence another actor to carry out his directives or any other norms he supports" that exist within
organizations and are designed to ensure that people in the organizations comply with
Organization needs. The author points out Etzioni's three power types: Coercive systems, which occur when non-compliance with
organizational objectives result in restraint and force;
calculative (remunerative) systems, which provide material and non-material rewards for complying with the organization and
normative systems, also called manipulative, persuasive or suggestive power, which are based upon shared values. The paper contends that organizations, which are the most effective in creating successful organizational changes, tend to rely on the normative system of power, and to create a cooperative effort to service the organization's purpose and its values.
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