Teaching Power in Ways That Influence Students’ Career Success: Some Fundamental Ideas

Forty-five years ago, power as a topic was mostly absent from management textbooks and courses, including executive education teaching, in the fields of business and public administration. This was the case notwithstanding the fact that power dynamics are invariably present in most public and private sector workplaces. Research demonstrates that power affects resource allocations among departments and other subunits as well as decisions on strategic direction in organizations of all types. Research also shows that power affects people’s career trajectories, including their salaries and the hierarchical levels they attain.