Final answer:
Rational-legal authority applies across different levels of management, mandating procedures like making purchases from specified vendors. It is entrenched in formal rules and regulations, and aligns with the hierarchy of authority where each person answers to their superior in the chain of command.
Step-by-step explanation:
The type of authority that applies across different levels of management, where employees at all levels may be required to make purchases from specific vendors, can be described as rational-legal authority. This concept is based on the power made legitimate by laws, written rules, and regulations. In such an authority structure, power is vested in a particular rationale, system, or ideology and not necessarily in the person who implements the specifics of that doctrine.
For instance, a company may have a policy detailed in its employee handbook requiring purchases from select vendors to maintain consistency, quality, or to benefit from a corporate agreement. This policy would apply to all employees, regardless of their position in the hierarchy of authority, because it is part of the formal procedures and rules of the organization.
A chain of command within an organization aligns with the structure of rational-legal authority by ensuring orders flow through the levels of management orderly. Each individual within the hierarchy is accountable to the next higher echelon, from the frontline managers up to the CEO, and ultimately the board members and stockholders.