Max Weber, a German scientist, defines bureaucracy as a highly structured, formalized, and also an impersonal organization.
He also instituted the belief that an organization must have a defined hierarchical structure and clear rules, regulations, and lines of authority which govern it. Max Weber bureaucracy ideally has the following characteristics:
- Specialization of labor
- A formal set of rules and regulations
- Well-defined hierarchy within the organization
- Impersonality in the application of rules
Max Weber’s Bureaucratic Form – 6 Major Principles
Max Weber listed six major principles of the bureaucratic form as follows:
- A formal hierarchical structure – In a bureaucratic organization, each level controls the level below it. Also, the level above it controls it. A formal hierarchy is the basis of central planning and centralized decision-making.
- Rules-based Management – The organization uses rules to exert control. Therefore, the lower levels seamlessly execute the decisions made at higher levels.
- Functional Specialty organization – Specialists do the work. Also, the organization divides employees into units based on the type of work they do or the skills they possess.
- Up-focused or In-focused Mission – If the mission of the organization is to serve the stockholders, board, or any other agency that empowered it, then it is up-focused. On the other hand, if the mission is to serve the organization itself and those within it (like generating profits, etc.), then it is in-focused.
- Impersonal – Bureaucratic organizations treat all employees equally. They also treat all customers equally and do not allow individual differences to influence them.
- Employment-based on Technical Qualifications – Selection as well as the promotion of employees is based on technical qualifications and skills.
Conclusion
Bureaucracy is rooted in controlling something with the use of power or authority; therefore, it is usually taken as a negative concept by many of us.
But, it is not so, the concept of bureaucratic management initiates the creation of a proper hierarchy in the organization. Here, the power or authority is distributed among the workers according to their position in the organization.
Every business operation is systematically penned down, and the employees follow the stated rules and regulations.
However, in the present scenario, it is tough to have a pure bureaucratic system in the organization. Still, a zest of it can be seen in the management of civil department, political and government organizations.