| Revision as of 20:16, 16 July 2004 edit68.73.54.139 (talk)No edit summary← Previous edit | Revision as of 18:43, 17 July 2004 edit undoPiotrus (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Event coordinators, Extended confirmed users, File movers, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers285,882 edits expanded entry with special attention to Max Weber conceptsNext edit → | ||
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| In ] theories, '''bureaucracy''' is an organizational structure characterized by regularized procedure, division of responsibility, hierarchy, and impersonal relationships. The term can characterize either governmental or nongovernmental organizations. | In ] theories, '''bureaucracy''' is an ] characterized by ], ], ], and ]. The term can characterize either governmental or nongovernmental organizations. | ||
| ⚫ | In ], bureaucracy often equates with inefficiency, laziness, and waste. It is oftentimes characterized in the popular imagination as existing solely for itself and only achieving results which end up in enlarging the size of the bureaucracy. It is thus generally used as a ]. See also: ]. | ||
| A hypothetical bureaucracy would consist of many levels of management which require many signature approvals to make any decision. | A hypothetical bureaucracy would consist of many levels of management which require many signature approvals to make any decision. | ||
| A second characteristic of many bureaucracies, especially government ones with ] rules, is extreme difficulty in firing or laying off employees. | |||
| Examples of everyday bureaucracies could include the ], ], ], ], or ]. | Examples of everyday bureaucracies could include the ], ], ], ], or ]. | ||
| ==Max Weber on bureaucracy== | |||
| ] has probably been the most influential user of the word in this Social Science sense. | |||
| ⚫ | However, contrary to popular belief, "bureaucracy" was an English word before Weber; the Oxford English Dictionary cites usage in several different years between ] and ], prior to Weber's birth in 1864. | ||
| ] has probably been the most influential user of the word in its ] sense. He is well-known for his study of bureaucratization of society; many aspects of modern ] go back to him; a classic, hierarchically organized ] of the ] type is - if basically mistakenly - called "Weberian civil service". | |||
| ⚫ | However, contrary to popular belief, "bureaucracy" was an ] word before Weber; the ] cites usage in several different years between ] and ], prior to Weber's birth in ]. | ||
| Weber described the concept in positive terms, considering it to be a more rational and efficient form of organization the alternatives that preceded it, which he characterized as '']'' and '']''. According to his terminology, bureaucracy is part of ]. However, he also emphasized that bureaucracy also becomes inefficieent when a decision must be adopted to an individual case. | |||
| A modern bureaucracy attributes according to Weber are its impersonality, concentration the means of administration, a leveling effect on social and economic differences and implementation of a system of authority that is practically indestructible. | |||
| Weber's analysis of bureaucracy concern: | |||
| * the historical and administrative reasons for the process of bureaucratization (especially in the ] | |||
| * the impact of ] upon functioning of bureaucratic organisations | |||
| * the typical ] and ] of a bureaucratic officials as a ] | |||
| * the most important attributes and consequences of bureaucracy in the modern world | |||
| A bureaucratic organisation is governed by following principles: | |||
| * official business is conducted on a continuous basis | |||
| * official business is conducted with strict accordance to following rules: | |||
| : * the duty of each official to do certain types of work is delimited in terms of impersonal criteria | |||
| : * the official is given the authority necessary to carry out his assigned functions | |||
| : * the means of coercion at his disposal are stictly limited and conditions of their use strictly defined | |||
| * every official's responsibilities and authority are part of a hierarchy of authority, with respective rights of supervision and appeal | |||
| * officials do not own the resources necessary for the performance of their asigned funtions but are acountable for their use of these resources | |||
| * official and private business and income are strictly separated | |||
| * offices cannot be appropriated by their incumbents (inherited, sold, etc.). | |||
| * official business is conducted on the basis of written documents | |||
| A bureocratic official: | |||
| ⚫ | In modern usage, bureaucracy often equates with inefficiency, laziness, and waste. It is oftentimes characterized in the popular imagination as existing solely for itself and only achieving results which end up in enlarging the size of the bureaucracy. | ||
| * is persinally free and appointed to his position on the basis of conduct | |||
| It is thus generally used as a pejorative word. | |||
| * he excercises the authority delegated to him in accordance with impersonal rles, and his loyalty is enlisted on behalf of the faithful execution of his official duties | |||
| However, Weber originally described the concept in more positive terms, considering it to be a more rational form of organization than those that preceded it, which he characterized as ''charismatic'' and ''traditional''. | |||
| * his appointment and job placement are dependent upon his technical qualifications | |||
| * his administrative work is a full-time occupation | |||
| * his work is rewarded by a regular salary and prospects of advancement in a lifetime career | |||
Revision as of 18:43, 17 July 2004
In sociological theories, bureaucracy is an organizational structure characterized by regularized procedure, division of responsibility, hierarchy, and impersonal relationships. The term can characterize either governmental or nongovernmental organizations.
In modern usage, bureaucracy often equates with inefficiency, laziness, and waste. It is oftentimes characterized in the popular imagination as existing solely for itself and only achieving results which end up in enlarging the size of the bureaucracy. It is thus generally used as a pejorative word. See also: red tape.
A hypothetical bureaucracy would consist of many levels of management which require many signature approvals to make any decision.
Examples of everyday bureaucracies could include the corporation, hospital, court, ministry, or school.
Max Weber on bureaucracy
Max Weber has probably been the most influential user of the word in its social science sense. He is well-known for his study of bureaucratization of society; many aspects of modern public administration go back to him; a classic, hierarchically organized civil service of the Continental type is - if basically mistakenly - called "Weberian civil service".
However, contrary to popular belief, "bureaucracy" was an English word before Weber; the Oxford English Dictionary cites usage in several different years between 1818 and 1860, prior to Weber's birth in 1864.
Weber described the concept in positive terms, considering it to be a more rational and efficient form of organization the alternatives that preceded it, which he characterized as charismatic domination and traditional domination. According to his terminology, bureaucracy is part of legal domination. However, he also emphasized that bureaucracy also becomes inefficieent when a decision must be adopted to an individual case.
A modern bureaucracy attributes according to Weber are its impersonality, concentration the means of administration, a leveling effect on social and economic differences and implementation of a system of authority that is practically indestructible.
Weber's analysis of bureaucracy concern:
- the historical and administrative reasons for the process of bureaucratization (especially in the Western civilisation
- the impact of rule of law upon functioning of bureaucratic organisations
- the typical personal orientation and occupational position of a bureaucratic officials as a status group
- the most important attributes and consequences of bureaucracy in the modern world
A bureaucratic organisation is governed by following principles:
- official business is conducted on a continuous basis
- official business is conducted with strict accordance to following rules:
- * the duty of each official to do certain types of work is delimited in terms of impersonal criteria
- * the official is given the authority necessary to carry out his assigned functions
- * the means of coercion at his disposal are stictly limited and conditions of their use strictly defined
- every official's responsibilities and authority are part of a hierarchy of authority, with respective rights of supervision and appeal
- officials do not own the resources necessary for the performance of their asigned funtions but are acountable for their use of these resources
- official and private business and income are strictly separated
- offices cannot be appropriated by their incumbents (inherited, sold, etc.).
- official business is conducted on the basis of written documents
A bureocratic official:
- is persinally free and appointed to his position on the basis of conduct
- he excercises the authority delegated to him in accordance with impersonal rles, and his loyalty is enlisted on behalf of the faithful execution of his official duties
- his appointment and job placement are dependent upon his technical qualifications
- his administrative work is a full-time occupation
- his work is rewarded by a regular salary and prospects of advancement in a lifetime career