...The Bureaucracy This report is based upon the topic bureaucracy being compared to the course textbook. This book breaks down what is a bureaucracy, the federal bureaucracy, becoming a bureaucrat, the bureaucracy and policymaking, and also reforming the bureaucracy. A bureaucracy is a way of administratively organizing large numbers of people who need to work together. As the textbook goes more in depth defining bureaucracy as a form of organization that operates through impersonal, uniform rules and procedures. Also, stating that bureaucracy actually at one time in history meant fast, effective, and rational administration. Organizations in the public and private sector, including universities and governments, rely on bureaucracies to function. The term bureaucracy literally means “rule by desks or offices,” a definition that highlights the often impersonal character of bureaucracies. Even though bureaucracies sometimes seem inefficient or wasteful, setting up a bureaucracy helps ensure that thousands of people work together in compatible ways by defining everyone’s roles within a hierarchy. Government bureaucrats perform a wide variety of tasks. We often think of bureaucrats as paper-pushing desk clerks, but bureaucrats fight fires, teach, and monitor how federal candidates raise money, among other activities. The job of a bureaucrat is to implement government policy, to take the laws and decisions made by elected officials and put them into practice. Some bureaucrats implement...
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...A bureaucracy is defined as a form of organisation that centres on precision, speed, reliability, and efficiency achieved through the creation of job specialisation, hierarchical structure and detailed rules and regulations. (Visitchaichan, n.d. p.5) Bureaucratic organisations have been around for a very long time. They began as primarily the structure for just a few political and religious organisations (e.g. the US Government and the Roman Catholic Church). But by the second half of the 19th century, businesses were becoming larger and more complicated, and there was a move from small, primarily family run organisations to huge companies with hundreds or even thousands of employees. It became clear that a new form of organisation was required to deal with the increasing administrative problems of these larger companies. (Volti, 2008, p.80) Max Weber created the idea of bureaucratic structure of organisation that he believed would counteract these issues. His theory, however, is permeated by scepticism. He describes the bureaucracy as the most dominant form of modern control, both positively and negatively. Although he describes bureaucracies as the fairest and most efficient method of control, he was alarmed by their rapid spread through state, business and institutions and concerned about the effect that they would have on the people within the bureaucratic structure. He argued that due to their technical superiority, bureaucracies would come to dominate all forms of human...
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...UREAUCRACY: WEBER’S THEORY The literal meaning of bureaucracy is “rule by desks or offices, or government with a small desk.” A bureaucracy comprises of a great number of non-elected government officials that are concerned with administrative work and policy-making. Many big organizations and governments depend on bureaucracies to operate; they need consistent rules and procedures. Governmental agencies such as homeland security demonstrate best how bureaucrats function and what they do. (Blau, 1956) During the time of the great German sociologist Max Weber (1864-1920), organizations were run in a casual manner. Max Weber searched for means to create a more official structure in organizations. According to him, organizations that were run like families were less successful because authority was misplaced. He believed that workers were loyal to their superiors as opposed to organizations. Organizations that are more structured, authoritative, and rigid were Max Weber’s ideal of a fully rational bureaucracy; he imagined them to be that way. His ideal organizations were those that were able to turn regular workers into coherent decision makers that will serve clients with fairness and competence. According to Weber, the following are characteristics of a fully rational bureaucracy: (Weber, 2009) Hierarchy: a clear-cut chain of command characterizes the level of power within organizations. People who occupy positions of authority will oversee and guide those who hold lower...
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...ABSTRACT Bureaucracy is all about the rules and regulations to manage a particular activity in the organization. This paper is about how bureaucracy used in old organizations and how it affected the processes of new organizations. It explains how bureaucracy is not applicable in today’s business environment because of many facts. As years went through there was a drastic change in the operations of the organisation. The concern moved from organization to customer service, so the bureaucratic organizations changed their strategy from bureaucracy to customer service, this include government organizations also. Different authors thought about issue the issue different and this is explained in a very lucid language in this paper. INTRODUCTION TO BUREACRACY In the 18th century, officials of the French government demoted bureaucracy as desk cloth cover. Bureau means the official body which is engaged in the office which is public. This body uses the required implemental material and files. The term bureaucracy derived from the word bureau. (Reinhard Bendix,1968) According to Blau(1965), bureaucracy is defined as “The type of organization designed to accomplish large scale administrative tasks by systematically coordinating the work of many individuals.” However, Weber(1958) defined bureaucracy in a very scientific and systematic way. This means that technology became an important reason for the growth of organizations where bureaucracy is used. In the strict bureaucratic...
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...A bureaucracy is an organization made up of many departments and divisions that are administered by lots of people. The administrative structure of any large organization, public or private. Ideally bureaucracy is characterized by hierarchical authority relations, defined spheres of competence subject to impersonal rules, recruitment by competence, and fixed salaries. Its goal is to be rational, efficient, and professional. Max Weber, the most important student of bureaucracy, described it as technically superior to all other forms of organization and hence indispensable to large, complex enterprises. However, because of the shortcomings that have in practice afflicted large administrative structures, the terms bureaucracy and bureaucrat in popular usage usually carry a suggestion of disapproval and imply incompetence, a narrow outlook, duplication of effort, and application of a rigid rule without due consideration of specific cases. Bureaucracy existed in imperial Rome and China and in the national monarchies, but in modern states complex industrial and social legislation has called forth a vast growth of administrative functions of government. The power of permanent and nonelective officials to apply and even initiate measures of control over national administration and economy has made the bureaucracy central to the life of the state; critics object that it is largely impervious to control by the people or their elected representatives. The institution of the ombudsman has...
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...MGMT 610 Professor Scanlan Feb 3, 2014 Originality score: 5% Bureaucracy According to the term, “Bureaucracy”, as coined by Max Weber, initially he felt it was a threat to personal liberties, but then realized this type of systematic structure was the most effective form of organizational functioning within the government and businesses. Weber spoke about six characteristics that determine success within a bureaucracy. The first characteristic is called rules and procedures. Every business has a standard code of conduct which is a guide on the do’s and don’ts of the work place. The second characteristic is specialization and division of labor, which means that each employee will have their own individual tasks they are responsible for completing within the allowed time. The third characteristic is hierarchy of authority. This gives each department an authoritative figure to maintain productivity and control. Characteristics of Bureaucracy The next characteristic is technically qualified personnel, which means being hired based on who best meets the criteria, not through favoritism or because you know that person. This gives all applicants an equal chance. Separate position from position holder is the fifth characteristic meaning that no employee is above another within a department. All employees were treated as equal, forcing them to work harder for promotions. The last characteristic is written communication and records. This gives the organization a written record...
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...Max Weber on Bureaucracy I. Merriam Webster’s Definition of Bureaucracy: 1 a : a body of nonelective government officials b : an administrative policy-making group 2 : government characterized by specialization of functions, adherence to fixed rules, and a hierarchy of authority 3 : a system of administration marked by officialism, red tape, and proliferation II. Background and Description Max Weber was born 1864 and died 1920. Weber asks how is it a leader can give a command and have actions carried out? He answers the question by classifying claims to the "legitimacy" in the exercise of authority. His observations on bureaucracy were heavily influenced by his experiences in the United States. While traveling there, Weber was struck by the role of bureaucracy in a democratic society. The problem, as he saw it, was that modern democracy required bureaucratic structures of all kinds in the administration of government and even in the conduct of professional party politics. Handing over the reins to a class of unelected "experts," however, threatened to undermine the very basis of democracy itself. In particular, Weber stressed two problems: the unaccountability of unelected civil servants and the bureaucratic tendency toward inflexibility in the application of rules. Weber's interest in the nature of power and authority, as well as his pervasive preoccupation with modern trends of rationalization, led him to concern himself with the operation of modern large-scale...
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...Introduction Bureaucracy today is an integral part of most modern organizations. Whether public or private, organizations all across the world implement systems and regulations in their daily procedures which are enforced by appointed employees. Although bureaucracy has existed in some form or another for hundreds of years in human society, our point of departure will be the definition presented by Max Weber. In short, Weber defined bureaucracy as an organizational system with a clearly defined chain of command, where employees set aside their own personal opinions in favor of neutrality and impartialness. Rules are clearly defined and followed, to ensure the elimination of nepotism and the employee is required to adhere to the orders of their superiors who in turn have to operate under the structure and rules of the organization (Weber, 1946). When looking at how bureaucracy is used and implemented across the globe, it is clear that there are huge differences in how efficiently organizations and governments are being run, despite the fact that they are all working within a bureaucratic structure. In this paper we will look at public administration and question whether or not the bureaucratic ideal of the impersonal worker is still valid today. Is the strict adherence to regulations and formalities a concept which is no longer needed in our modern society? Traditional bureaucracy To many, bureaucracy is seen as a very stringent and almost soulless system, which does...
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...| A bureaucracy is the most effective organisational structure The bureaucracy consist of a suffix cracy which derives from Greek word kratis, means power or rule which is exercised by bureaucrats who sit behind their bureaux, or desks making and administering the rules that are to guide organisation activity. In bureaucrats organisation the highest position has ultimate power to running the organisation (Morgan, 2006). Weber a German sociologist, studies the bureaucracy structure and mainly on power and authority. He pointed out definitions of tasks and responsibilities within the structure of management gives rise to a permanent administration, regulation of work procedures and change in the actual holders of office. The term of bureaucracy has been criticised as official rules and processes that seem unnecessary (red tape) and cause delays although, it only applies to certain structural features of formal organisations. Weber analysed it as idea type which is the most characteristic feature of all known organisations. He saw the development of bureaucracies as a very important part in human social life. In bureaucratic organisation the tasks are allocated as official duties among the various positions. A hierarchical authority applies to the organisation of offices and positions. Uniformity of decisions and action is achieved through formally established systems of rules and regulations. Together with a structure of authority, this enables the co-ordination of various...
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...Introduction: Structure of an organisation can impact on effectiveness and efficiency of the company, also it will influence on employee’s motivation and productivity. This will directly connect to the loss or profit of a firm. That is the difference between a company which achieves success through its appropriate systems and the other company that struggles with unwanted severe time during its activity. Organization structure is the way that a firm carry out its activities and the levels of hierarchy that people within an organization report, receive orders and the level of autonomy among the organisation’s workers. This essay will look at the case study’s primary structure, the matter of transition from that structure to a new structure after sold out, influence of the later structure and finally advantages of the recent structure. With an attention to the ICY Foods’ start-up plan and its activity during 1999 to 2005 and then from 2005 to 2010, it is clearly identified that the ICY Foods which was a commercial family company managed by an organic structure. (Theory of Burns and Stalker 1961) An organic structure is an informal organisation with a flat structure in which there are few level of management, not much rules and procedures, very flexible to changes, and large number of employees work under span of control of few managers, as can be seen in ICY Foods. In such organisation information is shared quickly between workers because of horizontal interaction among workers...
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...Federal Bureaucracy – to what Extent does the President have Control of it? When the framers of the Constitution developed our government, they gave Congress the authority to create the departments necessary to carry out the day-to-day responsibilities of governing - the federal bureaucracy. The vast majority of the departments, agencies, and commissions that make up the federal bureaucracy today were created by Congress through legislative acts. Congress is unable to act in a bubble though, due to the nature of the system’s built-in checks and balances, Congress must first get the president’s “buy off” which is represented by his signature. Although Congress has the authority to create these agencies (with the president’s agreement of course), the Constitution designated the president as the person responsible for implementing and administering the decisions and actions of the bureaucracy. “As chief executive, the president is constitutionally charged with ensuring that the laws be faithfully executed” (Harrison, Harris, and Deardorff 391). The resulting tension between Congress, as the creators of the bureaucracy, and the president, as the executive in charge of the bureaucracy, is just one of the tugs-of-war that the bureaucracy is subjected to that affect their behavior and ultimately the amount of control the president is able to wield over them. Originally, the federal bureaucracy had a modest role. In 1789, George Washington headed a federal bureaucracy of three...
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...The Development of Bureaucracy Congress has no authority to exercise any power beyond the constitution. The 10th Amendment states, "The powers not delegated to the United States (congress) by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people." Article 1 Section 8 specifically names the powers that have been granted to Congress. If it's not on the list, it's not constitutional. Congress has the power to create, organize, and disband all federal agencies. The bureaucracy has two masters — Congress and the President. Bureaucracy is an inevitable consequence of complexity and scale. Modern government could not function without a large bureaucracy. Through authority, specialization, and rules, bureaucracy provides a means of managing thousands of tasks and employees. In truth, one hand does not always know what the other hand is doing. Congress, and the judiciary, bureaucrats exercise considerable power in their own right. Department of State was the first executive department in 1781, department of Treasury 1789, Department of War, Office of Attorney General, and Office of Postmaster General. The Great Depression was a disaster that did not have to happen. The New Deal interventions were bad for the economy and played favorites with the rich over the average families. The required acreage farm reduction really hurt the poor sharecroppers. There was mass destruction of feed even though millions of families were hungry...
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...Victoria Typpi SOC-102 October 2, 2014 Dulce Medina Bureaucracy “Groups, people who think of themselves as belonging together and who interact with one another, are the essence of life in society,” (Henslin, 2013, p. 126). Groups are an important part of everyone’s well-being because they provide people with a sense of belonging. They also help shape who we are and there are two main types of groups. The first group, primary groups, include family and friends who provide intimate, face-to-face interaction, which give us an identity, a feeling of who we are (Henslin, 2013). After primary groups come secondary groups, which are much larger and more anonymous while being formal and impersonal (Henslin, 2013). An example of secondary groups are students and professors at a school. Since secondary are so impersonal, they usually break down into primary groups like how students form friendships within schools. Within society is a specialized group called a Bureaucracy, which is an organization which has become dominate in social life. There are five main characteristics of a bureaucracy and one organization that contains bureaucracy is the military. The first characteristic of a bureaucracy contains “clear levels, with assignments flowing downward and accountability flowing upward,” (Henslin, 2013, p. 133). Within each level the level above will assign responsibilities to the level below it and the level below are accountable for fulfilling those assignments assigned to them...
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...Week 7-POS/110 American National Government Assignment Bureaucracy and You By Timothy R Cole Throughout our daily lives there are so many different bureaucrats that run our days it is completely amazing. I believe the one branch of bureaucrats that amazed me the most was the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). I never realized how much these individuals actually do within my daily life whenever it comes to inspecting, approving, or running some facet of our lives. The agency which surprises me the least would be the Bureau of Tobacco, Alcohol, and Firearms as their entire purpose is to collect taxes whenever these items are sold. So when and why was the FDA formed? Was it in response to some national emergency or event? The “FDA is a branch of government housed within the department of Health and Human Services” (FDA,2010). The onset of the FDA was in direct correlation with the instituting of the Federal Food and Drug Act in 1906. The history of the FDA however can be traced all the way back to the latter part of the 19th Century under the US department of Agricultural Chemistry. Under the direction of chief chemist Harvey Washington Wiley in 1883 this branch of government began to investigate the adulteration and misbranding of food and drugs within the American government. (FDA, 2010) I do believe this was in direct response to an emergency as such drugs as cocaine, opium and heroin were consistently being added to medicinal elixirs and...
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...Bureaucracy Observed (An Experience-Based Analysis) (An Experience-Based Analysis) Joshua A Ward University of Maryland University College Author’s Note This paper was prepared for MGMT 610 9045 Organizational Theory (2615), taught by Professor Matthews. According to German sociologist, political economist, administrative scholar, and historian Max Weber, bureaucracy is “a particular type of administrative structure developed through rational legal authority.” (Swanson, 2013) His six major principles have formed the foundation for understanding bureaucracy since their inception. They include the idea that a bureaucracy must consist of a formal hierarchical structure, i.e., each level controls the level below it and is controlled by the level above. Organization by functional specialty is key, work must be performed by specialists, and those specialists are organized into units based on the type of work they do of the skills they possess. Bureaucracy is purposely impersonal, with the major idea being that all employees and customers must and should be treated equally, with no organizational decision influenced or based on individual differences. Also, employment in a bureaucracy should be based primarily on technical qualifications, with the most consideration given to a potential employee who is most qualified, once again, without any consideration given to personal preference. From personal experience, the United States military is a prime example of bureaucracy...
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