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Project Management & Agile · Intermediate

Power Types

Sources of influence a project manager can use: formal (legitimate), reward, coercive (penalty), expert, and referent.

Definition

Based on French and Raven; PMI adds others such as informational and situational. Expert and referent power are generally the most effective; coercive is least.

Example

Team members follow the PM's recommendations because of her deep technical knowledge (expert power).

Exam tip

Best forms of power: expert and reward; worst: coercive/penalty.

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