Linking Organizational Characteristics to Psychological Empowerment

Abstract

ABSTRACT An important contextual issue in empowerment theory is the distinction between ecological commonality (i.e., whether and to what extent organizational characteristics are generally important for members' empowerment across different settings) and ecological specificity (i.e., whether and to what extent organizational characteristics are uniquely important for members' empowerment within specific settings). This study addressed the issue by assessing perceived organizational characteristics within three community-based organizations, including a service-agency collaborative, an electoral association, and a multi-issue pressure group, and examining relationships with empowerment. Results revealed that perceived organizational characteristics combined with dimensions of empowerment to differentiate community-based organizations; however, organizational characteristics were not related with empowerment in expected ways across groups. Findings of the study highlight the importance of ecological specificity in empowerment theory. Implications for social work administration are discussed.