AN EMPIRICAL-TEST OF A COMPREHENSIVE MODEL OF INTRAPERSONAL EMPOWERMENT IN THE WORKPLACE

A comprehensive model of intrapersonal empowerment in the workplace po sits that empowerment mediates the relationship between the social str uctural context and behavioral outcomes. The social structural context is operationalized as perceptions of role ambiguity, sociopolitical s upport, access to strategic information and resources, and work unit c ulture, whereas behavioral outcomes are operationalized as innovativen ess and effectiveness. The model is examined on a sample of 324 middle managers from different units of a Fortune 50 organization. Survey da ta are examined using a series of regression analyses to assess the me diating effect of intrapersonal. Results suggest that intrapersonal em powerment mediates the relationship between some elements of workplace social structure and innovativeness, but not effectiveness. Although not a mediating mechanism for effectiveness, intrapersonal empowerment is nonetheless directly related to effectiveness (as assessed by the respondent's subordinates). Implications of the results are discussed as are study limitations and directions for future research.