Question

Power relationships typically begin when both steward and supervisor are encouraged by their superiors to be attentive to problems in the department.

a. True
b. False

Answer 1

The statement is false. Power relationships are primarily determined by the organizational structure.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement is false.

Power relationships typically begin when one individual or office is placed in charge of another in a hierarchy of authority, as reflected in a bureaucratic structure. In this case, the steward and supervisor have a relationship based on the chain of command, with the steward being responsible to the supervisor. This authority is not necessarily influenced by encouragement from superiors, but rather by the organizational structure.

For example, in a workplace like Walmart, the shift manager assigns tasks to employees, and the shift manager is accountable to the store manager, who in turn answers to the regional manager, and so on. Everyone in this bureaucratic structure follows the chain of command set by the hierarchy of authority.

Therefore, power relationships are primarily determined by the organizational structure, and not by encouragement from superiors.