Bureaucracy as a Tool in School Administration, a Study of Max Weber's Approach to Bureaucracy.

Max Weber was a German sociologist who first described the concept of bureaucracy, an ideal form of organizational structure. He defines bureaucratic administration as the exercise of control on the

Max Weber’s study of bureaucracy look for develops a historical and sociological account of the rise of modern organizations. (Linstead et al.2004 p130). He used an ideal type to analysis appear of the bureaucracy form of organization. The ideal type, according to Weber, is a tool used to identify the characteristics of social phenomena such as bureaucracies. The ideal type is used by Weber to make a distinction from other forms of organization (Linstead et al.2004 p130). The Prussian Church, Army and Civil Services are the examples of this bureaucratic form. Also, Weber saw a power instrument of the first order, and the bureaucracy as embodying a powerful combination of

Political authority over the bureaucracy is not in one set of hands, but shared among several institutions

What is a bureaucracy? Tolbert and Hall (2009) describe in the text, a large formal organization with the characteristics of having, a division of labor, a hierarchy of authority, a set of written rules, resources that are clearly separated from home and the organization, and group of members who are appointed according to qualifications (P. 22). These were the key elements Max Weber, a German scholar described for an ideal type of bureaucracy.

Many organizations and institutions worldwide use a form of bureaucracy to an extent. Specifically, educational institutions or “schools” mimic bureaucracies. Lowood Institution from Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre and Hailsham from Kazuo Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go are prime examples of educational institutions using a bureaucratic arrangement. Although set in two different centuries, both Lowood and Hailsham prove that not only have schools been using bureaucratic structures for centuries, but also that bureaucracy in schools can help to achieve maximum efficiency and exude a negative demeanor.

The term bureaucracy was coined by a well-known sociologist named Max Weber in 1947. He used this term to describe corporations that held five main characteristics. These characteristics include, hierarchical authority structure, a division of labor, written rules, written communications and records, and impersonality and replaceability. In the modern day world, it is easy to see several bureaucracies in place, however, one bureaucracy that is personally close to all Grand Canyon University students is the institution of Grand Canyon University (GCU). This is a great example of a bureaucracy due to the fact that it embraces all five characteristics of a bureaucracy.

The most prominent model of bureaucracy was formulated by German Sociologist Max Weber during the nineteenth century. Webster’s model was formulated from the rampant patronage systems that existed during his time. Webster’s model proposed a solution for more professionally and efficiently managed merit-based organizations.Webster’s model however, represented a broad framework rather than an all encompassing model, complete in every detail.The central goal of Webster’s model was to make possible an optimum degree of control.Weber's bureaucratic theory emphasized the need for a hierarchical structure of power. It recognized the importance of division of labor and specialization. A formal set of rules was bound into the hierarchy structure to insure stability and uniformity. Weber also put forth the notion that organizational behavior is a network of human interactions, where all behavior could be understood by looking at cause and effect. He prescribed these five key elements(1) division of labor and functional specialization, (2) hierarchy, (3) maintenance of files and other records, and

The Biology Department would be classified as a bureaucracy because within the clear levels, the accountability increase going upward and the assignments flow downward. For example, the head of the department creates a curriculum for the Biology Department and he has the most accountability. As he passes down the assignments, such as what the teachers will be teaching, the assignments increase as the levels go down. If everything does not work out properly and the teachers are not capable of fulfilling what the head of the department has created, he will be held accountable because he is at the top.

Communication between administrative staffs and teaching staffs should be more regular, as students are getting different sources of information from different channels. This information is from the school management decision result.

“Once fully established, bureaucracy is among those social structures which are hardest to destroy. Bureaucracy is the means of transforming social action into rationally organized action. Therefore, as an instrument of rationally organizing authority relations, bureaucracy was and is a powerful instrument of the first order for one who controls the bureaucratic apparatus. Under otherwise equal conditions, rationally and directed action (Gesellschaftshandeln) is superior to every kind of collective behavior (Massenhandeln) and also social action (Gemeinschaftshandeln) opposing it. Where administration has been completely bureaucratized, the resulting system of domination is practically indestructible,” (Weber, 1922, p.336-337).

Some have seriously misinterpreted Weber and have claimed that he liked bureaucracy, that he believed that bureaucracy was an "ideal" organization. Others have pronounced Weber "wrong" because bureaucracies do not live up to his list of "ideals". Others have even claimed that Weber "invented" bureaucratic organization. But Weber described bureaucracy as an “ideal type” in order to more accurately describes their growth in power and scope in the modern world. His studies of bureaucracy still form the core of organizational sociology.

Bureaucracy is ahierarchical organization which follows strict rules and regulations in achieving desired goals and which has tendency to gain supremacy over other organizations. Famous German sociologist theorized ideal- type of bureaucracy. Max Weber thought bureaucracy is the highest efficient organization which falls under legal rational authority. Soon after the theory came out, like other theory, ideal-type bureaucracy theory encountered severe criticisms.Alvin Gouldner, Robert Merton, Phillip Selznick, Peter Blau are some of them who criticized the ideal-type of bureaucracy.

Weber states that organizations regulations are formed by few people and this people are the boss, administration employee who tends to have representation powers (Roth and Wittich, 1968). Weber states that the state tends to use bureaucracy on its people in order to establish authority. Bureaucracy is present in various areas in the environment and once bureaucracy is produced then it becomes difficult to

Abstract: The theory of bureaucracy was proposed and published by Marx Weber (1947). Although there are some studies on this perspective were discussed before him, those theories did not form as systematic theory. After Weber, the issue of bureaucracy becomes a hot topic in the field of social organization. Almost all well-known scholars such as Martin and Henri have published their views on it. Bureaucracy adapted as the traditional organizational model during industrial society, essentially, bureaucracy could exist rational. This essay firstly will review the principle of bureaucracy in organization based on organizational design perspective. Secondly, it will analyze the strengths and weakness of

“In public administration, good sense would seem to require that public expectation be kept at the lowest possible level in order to minimize the eventual disappointment. - John Kenneth Galbraith” Public administration has progressed and changed and revised itself throughout history. Although a lot has changed over time, some of those earlier ideals and thought processes have maintained throughout the years. People like Weber, Taylor, and Stivers have drastically shaped the way we view and operate within the boundaries of public administration.