Legitimate authority in a clan organization : an organizational case study.

• Main Author: Ho, Chin Wah.
• Other Authors: Tan Joo Ean
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2012
• Subjects: DRNTU::Social sciences::Sociology
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/48221
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

This research takes on a case study approach in examining the legitimate authority of the structural position of the youth wing in-charge in Kwong Wai Siew Peck San Theng, a federation of 16 clan associations which manages a columbarium, from an organizational perspective. Using the concept of Kanter’s lines of power, I argue that the weak lines attached to the position of the youth wing in-charge have caused the endorsement and the authorization of the position to be weakened. This in turn affects the stability of the legitimate authority of the position. The sole thread of legitimacy to this position is observed to be in the constitution of the federation. In addition to this finding, I contend that the sole recognition of the position’s legitimacy through the constitution will not hold in the long-term due to the absence of the lines of power.