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If we want to strengthen communities, families or organizations, how can we know when we have succeeded, or to what extent?  As scientists engaged in social research, how do we measure the strengthening of them, when they are increasing their capacities, or becoming more empowered? Unfortunately, we do not have a little electronic metre that, when it moves from 62 to 79, we can say that strength has increased by 17 points.

We can analyse the concept of "strength," "power" or "capacity," as applied to organisations, families or communities, look at its various components, and identify a set of observations that will indicate to us that some empowerment or increase in capacity has taken place.

The sixteen elements are: altruism; common values; communal services; confidence; communications; context; information; intervention; leadership; networking; organisation; political power; skills; trust; unity; and wealth.  These are somewhat more comprehensive than Weber’s five elements of bureaucratic strength, but identifying them is based on the same sociological principles used by Weber.

Descriptions of the Sixteen Elements:
 

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	Political Power: The power of a community or organisation is the degree to which it can participate in national and district decision making.  This relates to the political dimension of culture. Just as individuals have varying power within a community, so communities and organisations have varying power and influence within the district and nation.  The more political power and influence that a community or organisation can exercise, the higher level of capacity it has.
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. ้. .   . . 2007.05.09.