Abstract. Few concepts have such an important significance, both for individuals and for organizations, as it happens with the concept of power. To be in power, to have full powers, to obey power, to gain power are expressions that translate the individuals’ conscious or unconscious concerns, obsessions or relations that allow the functioning of the social groups. In their turn, the organizations are the theatre of numerous power games and conflicts. These are not connected only by personal ambitions, but also by the fact that the individuals and the groups, diverse as structure and functions, have objectives that do not coincide entirely. Moreover, each individual has a different vision regarding the means, methods or strategies necessary to get a good functioning of the entire organization. Everyone tries, more or less, to defend the own interests, which do not necessarily correspond to those of other persons and groups. It is thus natural to emerge conflicts. All these observations require a careful investigation of the power sources and the effects in an economic organization, so that we could prepare mechanisms able to diminish the risks of the destructive conflicts.

Keywords: power; authority; power sources; power games; power relations.