Twenty Mile Coal Mine Company
Kelley Wiley
University of Phoenix
BCOM/230
May 21, 2010
Neil Fischer

Twenty Mile Coal Company is in Oak Creek, Colorado.   After interviewing three separate individuals, at different levels of management within the organization the results reflected many phases of power are used.   They have many sub-divisions that exercise the different sources of power.
The bases or sources of power are put into two main categories.   The two main categories are formal power and personal power.   These two types of power are then broke down into five sub-categories; coercive, reward, legitimate, expert, and referent powers.
Determining what gives groups or individuals influence over others and figuring in which the power comes from several factors.   Formal power is on an individual’s position within an organization.   Individuals with this type of power can coerce or reward others.   Coercive power is achieved by placing fear in other people.   Twenty Mile Coal Company uses this power in safety precautions.   Safety for this organization is top priority.   If miners are not following safety guidelines they are sent home, suspended, or demoted.   This is an example of coercive power.   Another example is withholding important information.   Within this organization many supervisors do not teach or provide aspects of their knowledge in fear of losing control or their power over others and this makes everyone dependent on the individual.
The opposite of coercive power is reward power.   This, too, is a form of formal power.   The information received during the interviews claims the president of the mine can offer rewards and individuals in management positions can also.   One example Twenty Mile Coal Mine provides a bonus of monetary value if there are not injuries for a designated period.   An individual is put on a shift, schedule, or team.   This organization does not offer non-financial rewards.   After two years of intense training, including a... [continues]

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