Bureaucratic Management Essay

The concept of waycratism as a form of arranging has effect the basis for scholars and practitioners to determine and evaluate other forms of faces. It is observed that whenever an scheme is described, one always says it is both functioncratic or non-bureaucratic. This paper leave identify the characteristics of bureaucratic postulate-ups and determine whether these characteristics be dummy up present among transcriptions of today.This set ab knocked out(p) is outlined according to the following structure The offset part introduces the referee to gunk weber and his mind of the bureaucratic government activity. The major characteristics of the bureaucracy eitherow be presented and discussed in accordance with the original ideas propounded by weber himself, either through his own word of honors or those who cause exhaustively examine his full treatment.The second part will be a discussion of wherefore the bureaucratic forms real, interpreted to mean a discu ssion of their causes as well(p) as the reasons why the bureaucracy flourished as a model of an organization. The last-place part is a qualified assessment of whether the bureaucratic model of organizations is still being used by present-day organizations or whether organizations drive outgrown it and aim found the to a greater extent effective form. Some examples will be addicted as to what organizational structures or forms atomic number 18 being used by modern organizations. From these will be determined if organizations are now in the post-bureaucratic period.bureaucratism as a concept of organization was a share to theory attributable to either Karl Marx or Max weber. However, since much of the writings of Karl Marx are more ideologic whollyy focused on the philosophical and affable aspects, especially with his concept of revolutionary communism, Max weber has sum to be receiven as the proponent of the concept of bureaucracy. It is safe to believe at this point thou gh, that Max Weber was highly influenced by the writings of Karl Marx and from whose ideas many his bureaucratic concepts are anchored.This essay will focus on the ideas advance by Max Weber regarding the bureaucratic organization. The description Weberian, referring to his model of bureaucracy, has bring a comfortable term to use in bureaucratic lit. cosmos the major contributor to social theory with his idea of the bureaucratic organization, Max Weber finds himself in major written works, proving his authoritative place in social and political theory.The reasons for his importance are discussed in the Weber contain edited by Sam Whimster entitled The Essential Weber A Reader. Some reasons provided are the concept of the work ethic the idea of cause as applied to the capitalist enterprise, the bureaucratic organization, and legal systems discipline the legitimacy of power and leadership a general theory of power found on the Marxist idea of social classes among others.1Havi ng said this, one wonders why Webers bureaucracy is considered the ideal organization or the ideal- grammatical case organization. What makes it become the model for future organizations? What are the main characteristics of the bureaucratic organization? To know these characteristics will help one beneathstand why his model is considered to be an ideal model.The Main Characteristics of Bureaucratic ManagementThe idea of bureaucracy elicits vary reactions from different people. Some agree with the idea of achieving order through its impose system of doing things. Others though condemn it for causing problems like delays, corruption, being to a fault im individualizedised, etc. In order to put all these in their beseeming perspective, a good starting point is to define the concept of bureaucracy.The first and most common word one comes across in literature related to bureaucracy is the word rationality. Quoting Weber, Neil Garston defines bureaucracy in the book Bureaucracy Thr ee Paradigms by way of the categories of rational legal authority. Authority in this sense is equated to bureaucracy and involves the following 21. A continuous organization of authorized functions bound by rules2. A qualify fear of competence involving spheres of obligations attach by division of labor officeholder being provided with authority to stock out functions cl too soon defined room of compulsion3. The organization of offices follows the rationale of hierarchy4. The rules which arrange the conduct of an office may be skilful rules or norms5. government activity is completely separated from possession6. Complete absence seizure of appropriation of his fix by the incumbent7. Administrative acts, decisions and rules are theorize and recorded in writing.Garston goes on to describe the purely bureaucratic organization as being from the technical point of view, capable of attaining the highest degree of competency and is in this sense the most rational federal age ncy of carrying out compulsory control of human beings.3From above description of bureaucracy, a rational organization for Weber is an organization that is governed by a system of rules and procedures. The rationality in his ideal organization is its capability to be efficient through methods of carrying out control over human beings. The aspects of being stable and reliable make the organization ideal. The rules which are observed with much discipline make the organization less prone to instability because there will be no(prenominal) or truly little room for sudden changes which may guide in the breakdown of the system. In short, Weber advocates an organization that is governed by rules which are universally and strictly followed by people who are qualified and mighty trained.Below is a further explanation of the characteristics of a bureaucratic organization, as presented in the initial part of the essay1. A continuous organization of official functions bound by rulesThe app lication of rules is for everyone and the rules have to be complied with. Rules are applied irrespective of the attitude and non the person who occupies the position.2. A specified sphere of competence involving spheres of obligations marked by division of labor incumbent being provided with authority to carry out functions clearly defined means of compulsion. Work is divided among the staff, each one with his own set of responsibilities as well as the means of doing them. The different position titles reflect the nature of how work is divided among the staff, each position has corresponding obligations and responsibilities.3. The organization of offices follows the formula of hierarchyThe organization is characterized by positions of authority structured in a hierarchy, which means that, according to Weber, each lower office is controlled and supervised by a higher one. And consequently, there are positions that have more power.4. The rules which regulate the conduct of an offi ce may be technical rules or norms. This means that the organization is staffed by qualified people because only if those who pass the standards frig around hired. The basis of both the selection and promotion of employees is the employees technical qualifications. As an example, in the specific area of HR, the Personnel Manual codifies the qualification criteria for the selection and hiring of employees.5. Administration is completely separated from ownership6. Complete absence of appropriation of his position by the incumbentBoth characteristics refer to the aspect of separating administration from ownership in bureaucratic organizations. The means of administration do non hold out to the bureaucrat but are concentrated at the top. Thus the position of the official cannot be sold or inherited and it cannot be appropriated and unified in his private patrimony.4 The means of production andadministration referred to include the somatic equipment like computers, documents, build ings, etc.7. Administrative acts, decisions and rules are formulated and recorded in writing. Weber advocates the recording of rules and all acts of administration through written forms, which he referred to as the files.Weber uses the terms rational and bureaucratic in his model. From this, bureaucracy is sometimes called the bureaucratic rationality theory. An assessment of this idea was made by Stanley Udy Jr. in the article Bureaucracy and Rationality in Webers Organization Theory An Empirical Study. The specifications made by Weber were reformulated as either bureaucratic or rational variables.The study proposed the confirming(p) and negative associations between the variables from a comparative analysis of 150 noble organizations in 150 non-industrial societies (a) bureaucratic variables are positively associated (b) rational variables are positively associated but (c) rational variables are negatively associated with bureaucratic variables.5 This is interpreted to mean tha t there are certain characteristics of Webers bureaucracy that are considered rational, some are considered bureaucratic but not all of them are both bureaucratic and rational. This is really proof of how much cut the bureaucratic theory is.How about the effect of bureaucracy to the people inwardly the organization? The bureaucracy, with all its characteristic features, is seen as producing two views of the human outcomes, the positive and the negative views. According to the negative view, the bureaucratic form of organization stifles creativity, fosters dissatisfaction, and demotivates employees plot in the positive view, bureaucracy provides the needed guidance and clarifies responsibilities, thereby easing role stress and helping individuals be and feel more effective.6The using of Bureaucratic FormsIn the writings of Weber, there were already indications of a bureaucratic organization as early as in the middle ages under the rule of the kings. Kings during that time ruled on traveled around feeling the country on horseback, bringing with them sometimes an army of men who took his orders.We have seen this scene fully documented in movies of ancient times where the king, with right a simple signal, can get his men to follow all his orders, from simple documentation to the complex instructions about going into battle. Weber saw thisas a sign of bureaucracy with his idea of the bureau. From this ancient practice developed the concept of the modern bureaucracy. Presently though, the bureau as Weber described it is structured in a variation of ways, but the main idea of having staff and having an office still remains. Weber called the ancient practice as the bureaucratization of the army.7Webers works are dominated by the term rationalization. This seemed to have move him to write about the bureaucratic model as an ideal type organization. According to him, this concept of rationality can help organizations achieve their objectives. The early theories and models of organizations, which are considered traditional, were highly criticized by Weber, saying they are either blind or non-rational. Being a sociologist mainly, he believed that the use of religion or eve magic in ruling is not effective. The traditional forms were not systematic and there were no rules, leaders only relied on feelings and spiritual explanations or perhaps their charisma.While Max Weber considered history to be a force in motivating him to write about bureaucracy, another(prenominal) author provides another dimension to how bureaucratic forms oforganizations developed. Contentions were made relative to Hegels Theory of Bureaucracy. One is that Hegels theory is as comprehensive as Webers ideal type of bureaucratic organization in that the paradigm of Weber could fit in a reformulation of Hegels model. A second contention made is that Hegel adapts the Aristotelian category of practical mind to characterize the bureaucratic activity as subsumption. The Web erian concept of rationality is even helpful in the clarifying the difficulties in Hegels political thought. This leads to the third base contention that Hegels model can contribute to a theory of bureaucracy that is more applicable to modern political and social reality.8This entire idea of comparing Hegel and Weber and even using the ideas of Aristotle proves that the bureaucracy is an idea that is not only forced by history but excessively one that is a natural way of organizations. The scholars and other students of bureaucracy only attempted to improve what has already been an idea and a model in the minds of the thinkers.Thus it can be said that the bureaucracy developed as a result of the need to improve the traditional methods of establishing the structures for organizations. While organizations were not really devoid of structure then, the weaknesses in their models became a motivation to come up with better models.The ideas of the bureaucracy were borne out of the need to make them more efficient by following the structure proposed by Weber. The presence of a system of rules governing administration is believed by Weber to be an important component of being able to run the affairs of the organization very smoothly. This is especially true among formal organizations as they are more applicable to them.Another reason is the need to do away with the subjectivity and personal biases governing human organizations. This means that when there are standardized rules, the theory of a lot of personal favors may be avoided. It is considered ideal to have the rules universally applied so that there are no personal biases that may arise. The personalization of the positions sometimes cause complex problems arising out of differences in perceptions and attitudes. The inert touch of organization is seen to be beneficial in order that rules may be universally applied more easily.The bureaucracy also developed further as it was seen to be continuously pertinent . . even in todays socioeconomic and cultural life. This is the position espoused in the book Max Weber and the New Century. The book advances the position that Webers ideas are still preeminent and continue to have lasting vim within social theory. By applying them to topics of contemporary concern, they are expressed in different cultural forms. Sica calls the study of Webers works a universe of Weberian analysis.9