Question

Nan has extensive experience in ergonomic product design. Though she is not a manager, she is often called on by product managers to offer advice on ergonomic features for new products. It can be said that Nan has _______ power.

Answer 1

Answer: Expert power

Explanation: Expert power is the personal power based on expert knowledge whereby the associates or another member of the company clearly have the awareness that the individual's skill and extensive experience will help in solving a particular problem or in decision-making. The person with such power is not necessarily a manager, it could be an employee who has the specialist abilities and proficiency that the others do not have.

However, this type of power gives the person holding it a high reputation and he or she gains some level of trust and respect from the managers, coworkers and the company as a whole.