Authority and status always go together. Though individuals exercise authority, it is always related to statuses and not to individuals, in normal cases. The exercise of authority is a function of norms that are themselves attached to statuses.
An individual exercises the authority of a status as long as he occupies that status. He ceases to exercise it when he resigns, or when he is removed, or when his tenure of office is over. Authority is created in associations. -Hence, the exercise of authority is wholly a function of associational status.
Authority comes to be well established in associations when they become more and more organised. Associations create authority where initially there was only leadership. Unless the roles are institutionalised into statuses associations suffer from the problem of instability and discontinuity. When once the roles are institutionalised no leader becomes indispensable for the association. Further, the leader may even be deposed from his position of authority.
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The formal organisation of an association is constituted of norms and statuses. “The norms are attached to the statuses and not to the persons who occupy them. The norms involve rights, duties, obligations, responsibilities, privileges as they are attached to particular statuses. The right to exercise authority is now attached to certain statuses.
This right receives the support of all those who belong to the association and who conform to its norms. The exercise of authority, however, is not only a right but also a duty:-Robert Bierstedt
Authority is never exercised except in a status relationship. Sometimes a person without having an appropriate status may try to influence or control the action of another. In this case, what actually influences is the leadership of the person and not his authority.
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Authority does not make its appearance in the informal organisation. It is completely a function of the formal organisation of an association. Still the personal factors do enter into status relationships.