Legitimate power
Legitimate power is influence arising from an accepted right to direct others within a particular role or framework. In organisations it commonly comes from formal position and recognised authority, with limits on subject matter and scope. Acceptance of a role does not make every instruction lawful or appropriate, nor eliminate the need to exercise professional judgement.
Worked example
A line manager allocates tasks within an employee’s role under the organisation’s approved reporting structure. The employee recognises the manager’s authority for that allocation, while an instruction to falsify records would still be improper.
Common mistake
Do not assume the person with the most senior title has unlimited power over every decision or confuse accepted authority with personal popularity.
Where it appears in your exams
| Qualification | Exam | Relationship | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACCA | BT | Supporting | September 2026–June 2027 |
| FIA | FBT | Supporting | September 2026–June 2027 |