THEORIES OF BUREUCRACY ACCORDING TO MAX WEMBER
GROUP 3 PRESENTATION
Introduction
Max weber was a German sociologist.He was the first to use and describe the term
bureaucracy.He believed bureaucracy was the most efficient way to set up an organization
Definition
Bureaucracy is an organizational structure that is characterized by
many rules,standardized processes,procedures and requirements,number
of desks,meticulous division of labour and responsibility,clear
hierarchies and professional,almost impersonal interactions between
employees.
Below is a more detailed explanation of the theories of bureaucracy according to Max Weber;
1.Task specialization(specialization and division of labour)
2.Hierarchial layers of authority.
3.Formal selection
4.Rules and requirements
5.Impersonal(impersonality and personal indifference)
6.Career orientation.
1.Task specialization
Tasks are divided into simple,routine categories on the basis of competencies and functional
specializations.Every employee is responsible for what he/she does best and knows exactly what
is expected for him/her.By dividing work on the basis of specialization,the organization directly
benefits.Each department has specific powers.As a result,there is a delineation of tasks and
managers can approach their employees more easily when they do not stick to their tasks.Every
employee knows exactly him/her and what his/her powers are within the organization.Every
employee has a specific place within the organization and is expected to solely focus on his/her
area of expertise.
2.Hierarchial layers of authority.
Managers are organized into hierarchial layers,where layer of management is responsible for its
staff and overall performance.In bureaucratic organizational structures.there are many hierarchial
positions.This is essentially the trademark and foundation of a bureaucracy.The hierarchy of
authority is a system in which different positions are related in order of precedence and in which
the highest rank on the ladder has the greatest power.The bottom layers of bureaucratic
organizational structures are always subject to supervision and control of higher layers.
3.Formal selection.
All employees are selected on the basis of technical skills and competences,which have been
acquired through training,education and experience.One of the basic principles is that employees
are paid for their services and that level of their salary is dependent on their position.Their
contract terms are determined by organizational rules and requirements and the employee has no
ownership interest in the company.
4.Rules and requirements.
Formal rules and requirements are required to ensure uniformity,so that employees know exactly
what is expected of them.In this sense,the rules and requirements can be considered
predictable.All administrative processes are defined in the official rules.By enforcing strict
rules,the organization can more easily achieve uniformity and all employee efforts can be better
coordinated.The rules and requirements are more or less stable and always formalized in so-
called official reports.
5.Impersonal.
Regulations and clear requirements creat distant and impersonal relationships between
employees,with the additional advantage of preventing nepotism or involvement from outsiders
or politics.These impersonal relationships are a prominent feature of bureaucracies.Interpersonal
relationships are solely characterized by a system of public law and rules and requirements.
6.Career orientation
Employees of a bureaucratic organization are selected on the basis of their expertise.This helps
in deployment of the right people in the right positions and thereby optimally utilizing human
capital.In a bureaucracy,it is possible to build a career on the basis of experience and
expertise.As a result,it offers lifetime employment.The right division of labour within a
bureaucratic organization also allows employees to specialize themselves further,so that they
may become experts in their own field and significantly improve their performance
STRENGTHS OF BUREAUCRACY THEORY
1.It centralizes duties and roles within a team that have defined roles.Each member has a specific
tasks.
2.It promotes higher levels of creativity.
3.It creates a stronger level of job security.Bureacratic leaders work towards rules and
regulations which reinforce the need to keep teams around
4.It is a predictable form of leadership.They create rules which are intended to help their teams
create consistent results
5.It always seek to create best practices.
6.It is a style of leadership which encourages familiarity.
CRITICISM OF BUREAUCRATIC ORGANIZATION
1. The emphasis is only on rules and regulations.
2. There will be unnecessary delays in decision making due to formalities and rules of
bureaucratic organization.
3. Coordination and communication hampered because of too much formality and rules.
4. Bureaucracy involves a lot of paperwork and has just too much level of authority which results
in a lot of wastage of time, effort and money.Not ideal for efficiency.
GROUP MEMBERS
1. KAKAI SIMITI SAMMY D193/16994/2019
2. HARON MAINA D193/16904/2019
3. CYRUS MWANIKI D193/16936/2019
4. JOSHUA KALUI MUTHAMI D193/18043/2019
5. WOTHAYA SIMON MACHARIA D193/16881/2019
6. NJENGA JOEL KAMAU D193/16988/2019
7. NJAGI MERCYJOY KARENDI D193/18147/2019
8. OLLO ELIZABETH ATIENO D193/17012/2019
9. GERALD BAHATI WYCLIFF D193/18202/2019
