Everything in the world has a price. Whether it's a taxi ride to the airport, a new tattoo at the local salon, or a stick of gum at the corner store, it comes at a price. The purchase of goods or services involves the conclusion of a social contract. Without formally putting the terms in writing, an agreement is made that the seller will be paid for the goods or services they provide to the consumer. The scenario creates a mutual dependency/power issue for both. The consumer has a need or dependence on the seller for everything he buys. The consumer relies on the seller to meet this need. In order to maintain the profitability of his business, the seller needs money; preferably enough to respect the price margins of the goods or services provided. The seller's need for money creates dependence on the consumer. The seller's goods or services and the consumer's money simultaneously give the seller and the consumer a certain amount of power. This scenario may change if the supplier offers a product or service that no one else can provide. Consumer purchasing power is greatly reduced. However, if the same product or service is readily available in many other locations, the consumer's purchasing power increases significantly. Since the two are interdependent, there is a sort of symbiotic relationship. Even though the consumer and seller depend on each other, the most important determining factor is market availability, which is the indicator of power in their relationship. The business world has many similarities with the seller/consumer relationship. Employees and employers are interdependent on each other, just like sellers and consumers. One cannot exist without the other. Who has the upper hand, or the basic power, in the relationship...... middle of paper ......he is dependent. If a resource is not easily accessible, the person who controls that resource demonstrates enormous power. In the case of the Accounting Manager and Employee 2, Employee 2 is the sole accountant in the organization. The company's financial statements must be prepared by a certified public accountant. Employee 2's status as a CPA gives him the ability to make absurd demands, such as working four days a week. Even if a four-day job is out of the norm, the accounting manager must comply with the request or risk losing a very valuable resource for the company. Due to the Accounting Manager's dependence on Employee 2 for key financial tasks, Employee 2 holds expert power over the Accounting Manager. If the accounting manager makes employee 2 see red, the financial statements could end up in the red.