SOCIAL STRUCTURAL CHARACTERISTICS OF PSYCHOLOGICAL EMPOWERMENT

A set of hypotheses based on emerging theory on high-involvement syste ms describes expected relationships between social structural characte ristics at the level of the work unit (perceptions of role ambiguity, span of control, sociopolitical support, access to information and res ources, and work unit climate) and feelings of empowerment. The hypoth eses are examined with data on a sample of middle managers from divers e units of a Fortune 50 organization, A work unit with little role amb iguity, strong sociopolitical support, access to information, and a pa rticipative unit climate is found to be associated with managerial per ceptions of empowerment, as is working for a boss who has a wide span of control.