Bureaucracy is an organizational model rationally designed to perform complex tasks efficiently. In a
bureaucratic business or government agency, officials deliberately enact and revise policy to make the
organization as efficient as possible.
Characteristics of Ideal-Typical Bureaucracy
1. Specialization.There is division of labor in the bureaucracy and each member has a specific task
to fulfill. All the tasks are coordinated toaccomplish the purpose of the organization.
2. Hierarchy of offices.Bureaucracies arrange the personnel in a vertical ranking. Each person is
supervised by ‘higher ups’ and in turn supervising others in lower positions. Usually with fewer
people in higher positions, the structure takes the form of a bureaucratic ‘pyramid’. In this
hierarchy assignments flow downward and accountability flowing upward. Each level assigns
responsibilities to the level beneath it, while eachlower level is responsible to the level above for
fulfilling these assignments.
3. Written rules and regulations.Rationally enacted rules and regulations control not only the
organization’s own functioning but also its larger environment. In general, the longer a
bureaucracy exists and the larger it grows, the more written rules it has.
4. Technical competence.A bureaucratic organization expects its officials and staff to have the
technical competence to carry out their duties, and regularly monitors worker performance.
Evaluation is based on performance and not on favoritism.
5. Impersonality.Rules take precedence over personal whims. Members of a bureaucracy owe
allegiance to the office, not to a particular person. The impersonality ensures that the clients as
well as workers are all treated uniformly. Each worker in bureaucracy becomes a small cog in a
large machine. Each worker is a replaceable unit, for many others are available to fulfill each
particular function. From this detached approach stems the notion of the “faceless bureaucrat”.
6. Formal, written communication.Heart of bureaucracy is not people but paperwork.
Rather than casual, verbal communication, bureaucracy relies on formal, written memos
and reports. Over time, this correspondence accumulates into vast files.
Problems of Bureaucracy
Bureaucracy can dehumanize and manipulate individuals, and it poses a threat to personal privacy and
political democracy.
Bureaucratic Alienation
Efficiency vs. potential to dehumanize the people it is supposed to serve. The very same impersonality that
fosters efficiency keeps officials and clients from responding to each other’s unique, personal needs. Follow
bureaucratic procedure. Bureaucratic environment gives rise to alienation where a human being is reduced
to a part (cog) of big bureaucratic machinery.
Bureaucratic Inefficiency and Ritualism
Red tape: The tedious preoccupation with organizational routine and procedures. Rule is a rule.
Bureaucratic ritualism (Merton): Preoccupation with rules and regulations to the point of thwarting an
organization’s goals.
Ritualism stifles individual’s creativity and strangles organizational performance.Modest salary – no stake to perform efficiently – no incentive – all ritualism – and the resultant corruption.
Bureaucratic Inertia
Bureaucratic inertia refers to the tendency of the bureaucratic organizations to perpetuate them.
If bureaucrats have little motivation to be efficient,they certainly have every reason to protect their jobs.
Thus the officials typically strive to perpetuate their organization even when its purpose has been fulfilled.
bureaucratic business or government agency, officials deliberately enact and revise policy to make the
organization as efficient as possible.
Characteristics of Ideal-Typical Bureaucracy
1. Specialization.There is division of labor in the bureaucracy and each member has a specific task
to fulfill. All the tasks are coordinated toaccomplish the purpose of the organization.
2. Hierarchy of offices.Bureaucracies arrange the personnel in a vertical ranking. Each person is
supervised by ‘higher ups’ and in turn supervising others in lower positions. Usually with fewer
people in higher positions, the structure takes the form of a bureaucratic ‘pyramid’. In this
hierarchy assignments flow downward and accountability flowing upward. Each level assigns
responsibilities to the level beneath it, while eachlower level is responsible to the level above for
fulfilling these assignments.
3. Written rules and regulations.Rationally enacted rules and regulations control not only the
organization’s own functioning but also its larger environment. In general, the longer a
bureaucracy exists and the larger it grows, the more written rules it has.
4. Technical competence.A bureaucratic organization expects its officials and staff to have the
technical competence to carry out their duties, and regularly monitors worker performance.
Evaluation is based on performance and not on favoritism.
5. Impersonality.Rules take precedence over personal whims. Members of a bureaucracy owe
allegiance to the office, not to a particular person. The impersonality ensures that the clients as
well as workers are all treated uniformly. Each worker in bureaucracy becomes a small cog in a
large machine. Each worker is a replaceable unit, for many others are available to fulfill each
particular function. From this detached approach stems the notion of the “faceless bureaucrat”.
6. Formal, written communication.Heart of bureaucracy is not people but paperwork.
Rather than casual, verbal communication, bureaucracy relies on formal, written memos
and reports. Over time, this correspondence accumulates into vast files.
Problems of Bureaucracy
Bureaucracy can dehumanize and manipulate individuals, and it poses a threat to personal privacy and
political democracy.
Bureaucratic Alienation
Efficiency vs. potential to dehumanize the people it is supposed to serve. The very same impersonality that
fosters efficiency keeps officials and clients from responding to each other’s unique, personal needs. Follow
bureaucratic procedure. Bureaucratic environment gives rise to alienation where a human being is reduced
to a part (cog) of big bureaucratic machinery.
Bureaucratic Inefficiency and Ritualism
Red tape: The tedious preoccupation with organizational routine and procedures. Rule is a rule.
Bureaucratic ritualism (Merton): Preoccupation with rules and regulations to the point of thwarting an
organization’s goals.
Ritualism stifles individual’s creativity and strangles organizational performance.Modest salary – no stake to perform efficiently – no incentive – all ritualism – and the resultant corruption.
Bureaucratic Inertia
Bureaucratic inertia refers to the tendency of the bureaucratic organizations to perpetuate them.
If bureaucrats have little motivation to be efficient,they certainly have every reason to protect their jobs.
Thus the officials typically strive to perpetuate their organization even when its purpose has been fulfilled.
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