Sources of Administrative Power

1) Authority. Authority is one source of power where in the one who has authority is
accepted by the people to have a right to command and direct others. No sanctions are
needed to be imposed for the one who has authority is voluntarily heard and obeyed by
others. Authority does not necessarily entail superiority, however, those who have
authority are almost always considered superior.
2) Human resources. Human resources is another source of power which refers to
the people who are willing to follow a person or a leader for that matter, cooperate with
him, or provide him help and support whenever necessary. The power from this source
depends upon the number of the persons, what size of the total population do they
compose and what kind of organization do they have.
3) Skills and knowledge. This source of power refers to the skills, knowledge and
abilities of the persons willing to be on ones side. The power from this source depends to
what extents do their skills, knowledge and abilities are related to what one needs.
4) Intangible factors. This source of power refers to psychological and ideological
factors such as habits and attitudes toward obedience and submission, the presence or
absence of common faith, principles and goals which affect the power of the ruler in
relation to the people.
5) Material resources. Material resources refers to the degree to which the ruler or a
person who wish to rule, controls property, natural and financial resources, the economic
systems and the means of communication and transportation which helps determine the
margins of his power.
6) Sanctions. This source of power refers to the type and extent of sanctions a ruler
has at his disposal. The ruler can use these sanctions against his own subjects or when he
is in conflicts with other rulers for sanctions are an enforcement of obedience.