Principles of Management CLEP Practice Exam 2025 – Your Comprehensive All-in-One Guide to Exam Success!

The type of power derived from advanced knowledge or experience in a specific area is known as expert power. This form of power emphasizes the influence that comes from possessing specialized skills or expertise that others may lack. When individuals are recognized for their proficiency or deep understanding of a particular subject, they can exert influence over others who seek that knowledge. For example, a highly skilled engineer in a tech company may guide project decisions based on their technical expertise, thereby shaping outcomes and motivating others to follow their lead.

In contrast, legitimate power is based on a person's formal position within an organization, reward power arises from the ability to provide rewards for desired behavior, and coercive power stems from the ability to impose penalties or sanctions. Each of these forms operates on different principles of influence, but expert power is uniquely tied to an individual's knowledge and skills, making it particularly valuable in contexts that demand specialized insight or guidance.