Why Bureaucracy Is The Most Efficient Form Of Organisation

As defined a bureaucratic organization is a type of management with a pyramid command structure. A couple bureaucratic agencies that everyone has used at least once in a lifetime is UPS or Federal Express. UPS and Federal Express being two very fast paced and competitive environments in the package delivery market they must strive to keep their customers satisfied with their service. Another comparison would be at Walmart, and Kmart is enlarged discount retailers that use different customer service

In today’s society, similar principles emerge in most of the areas of social world, including entities like religious bodies, administration units, business corporations and universities etc. There are organizations that are designed and operated in such a manner that their functioning can relate to the idea of bureaucracy as elucidated by the renowned sociologist, Max Weber. All large scale modern organizations, according to Weber, tend to be bureaucratic in nature. Weber was clear that bureaucratic organization was an important contributor to the continuing rationalization of society. Bureaucracy as Weber’s work has become virtually the foundation stone to manage the rational legal organizations. Certain organizations have become truly global in scale. George Ritzer replaced bureaucracy by ultimate example of the fast food restaurant chain and named the process as ‘McDonaldization’.

Weber identified the significance of bureaucracy within organizations. Within the bureaucratic organization there is a stratification of hierarchy where the legal legitimate authority is invested in individuals who exercise command on the basis of rules and not on the basis of personal authority (Morrison, 2006). Legitimate authority within a bureaucratic organization aims to remove the subjectivity and unpredictability of human action thus decisions are made and behaviours implemented in a

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

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.

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

“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.

When it comes to Bureaucracies we may think of something that deals with business. The meaning to this term is, a formal organization with a hierarchy of authority and a clear division of labor. Bureaucracies shows that the relationships are not what is important, rather than just wanting to get to the bottom line. Different characteristics makes bureaucracy how it is today. These characteristics includes separate levels, with assignments flowing downward and accountability flowing upward, a division of labor, written rules, written communication of records, and impersonality or replaceability. The separate levels are responsible for the level beneath it. Each level is accountable to the level above it for fulfilling those specific assignments. For example, the board of the America oversees the president. The president oversees the vice president of administration which includes vice president for academic affairs, personnel, development, and public affairs. The vice president for administration oversees the next level, known as the college of social sciences and so

Working in a University is the perfect example of bureaucracy as most of the bureaucracy characteristics are anticipated to be present. Universities are under government policies in which they must follow rules and regulations. Max Weber presented to us the ideal type of bureaucratic administration that displayed the characteristics of hierarchy, specialization, division of labor, and standard operating procedure. Bureaucracy in a society like ours is seen as efficient, precision, and fairness where

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

In sociological theories, bureaucracy denotes either a means of management, or a particular kind of organization. Such organizations tend to have homogenous characteristics, including regularized procedure, the existence of a discretionary budget, a tendency to expand their resources continuously and progressively, and impersonal relationships with much competition for political position within the organization. 'Bureau', is a French word meaning desk; thus, 'Bureaucracy' in literal sense is to manage through a desk or office, so a form of organization heavily involved with written documents or in these days their electronic equivalent. Most economic theories of bureaucracy

In some ways the usefulness of the so called “bureaucratic paradigm” has for the most part been superseded by the need for organizations that are more flexible. These organizations need the ability to operate in a

Based on this right, the bureaucracy designed by Weber has clear division of labor; thoroughly indicated hierarchical relationship and pointed out impersonal relationship (Crozier, 1964). In the course of history, there have been various more perfect organizational systems, therefore, bureaucratic theory was questioned and criticized by many scholar. However, there are still certain organizations that use bureaucracy theory to design the corporate structure despite many critical views.