Skip to content

ACCA Strategic Professional · Strategic Business Leader · Qualities of leadership

A hospital's chief of surgery, Dr Amara, is obeyed on clinical matters by administrators because of her unrivalled specialist knowledge, though she holds no authority over their budgets. Which statement best describes the basis of her influence?

Dr Amara's influence is expert power. Administrators defer to her on clinical matters because of her specialist knowledge, not because of formal control over budgets, fear of sanctions or tradition. The limitation of her influence to the clinical domain is typical of expert power.

  1. AExpert power, because compliance rests on her specialist knowledgeCorrect
  2. BLegitimate power, because she holds a senior title
  3. CCoercive power, because administrators fear her
  4. DCharismatic authority, because she was appointed by tradition

Explanation

Expert power derives from specialised knowledge or skill. Her influence is limited to clinical matters and not to formal control over budgets, which rules out legitimate power. No fear or tradition is described.

Did you get it right without looking?

One question tells you little. A timed set on Qualities of leadership shows your real accuracy, how long you take and where you lose marks.

Practise Qualities of leadershipFree diagnostic mock

More Qualities of leadership questions