Final answer:
The correct answer is option c. Rosabeth Moss Kanter's symbols of power represent informal yet persuasive elements that establish authority, rather than tools for coercion or budget cutting. They include titles, office size, and dress formality, reflecting status within an organization.
Step-by-step explanation:
When discussing Rosabeth Moss Kanter's symbols of power, it is recognized that such symbols serve a range of functions in an organizational setting. Kanter identified that certain behaviors, possessions, and attributes could act as powerful symbols within a business environment. These might include one's title, the size of one's office, or the formality of one's dress, each serving as a representation of authority and status within the company.
Steven Zucker mentions that physical symbols such as swords can signify power due to their association with force and the capability to command. Similarly, within a business context, Kanter's symbols could include the corner office or an executive parking spot, subtly indicating the power and authority of their possessor without overt coercion.
Elizabeth Macaulay-Lewis reinforces the importance of symbols by noting that adopting a symbol of authority can be a significant act, signifying control and recognition within any given space. These symbols can be universally recognized markers of status that communicate one's role and power to others within the organization.
In response to the question posed, the correct option is that Rosabeth Moss Kanter's symbols of power are useful in exercising authority over employees (option c). Unlike coercion or budget-cutting measures, these symbols represent the informal yet persuasive elements of power that aid in establishing and maintaining authority within a workplace.