BUREAUCRATIC MANAGEMENT

This is the third arm of the classical approach. The most important personality associated with bureaucracy is Max Weber [1864-1920]. As a German sociologist, psychologist and a practising manager, he was the key innovator of the concept of bureaucracy. His views on bureaucracy were published in his book “The Theory of Social and Economic Organization” He used bureaucracy to describe a form of organization that exists in almost every organization.

The concept of bureaucracy often referred to as “red tapeism” i.e. too many rules, regulations and paperwork which often lead to inefficiency. It is referred to as officialdom i.e. all the apparatus of central and local government.

The concern of Weber was on bureaucracy as a form of organization with hierarchy of authority regulated by rules and regulations. He saw the development of bureaucracy as a means of introducing order and rationality into social life.

He identified the characteristics/features of bureaucracy as follows:

• Every organization functions continuously through rules and regulations.
• Need for competence, division of labour and specialization.
• Allocation of authority regulated by rule.
• Appointment to positions/offices made on the basis of technical competence
• A hierarchical arrangement of offices/jobs i.e. work should be arranged in hierarchical order with control systems.
• The need to separate working staff from the ownership of the organization.
• Rules, decisions and actions are formulated and recorded in writing.
• Official positions exist in their own right and the job holder has no right to a particular position except through promotion or initial occupation based on merit.

According to Weber, the above characteristics make bureaucratic organizations capable of attaining the highest degree of efficiency since to him, it is the most rational means of controlling workers or members in organizations. He believed that bureaucracy is indispensable for the needs of large-scale organizations. The size [large] and complex nature of organizations make bureaucracy inevitable in such organizations.

Weber’s Legitimate Authority

Max Weber identified three types of legitimate authority:

Traditional Authority

This is where acceptance of authority is based on tradition and custom.

Charismatic Authority

The acceptance of authority is based on loyalty to, and confidence in the personal qualities of a person in authority.

Rational-Legal Authority 

This is also based on the office or the position a person legitimately occupies; regulated by rules and procedures of the organization.

Contributions/Benefits from Weber’s Bureaucracy

• The need for fairness and uniformity of treatment of workers demands bureaucracy.
• Adherence to rules and procedures does not make room for arbitrariness.
• The element of hierarchy of authority creates orderliness and respect for higher authority.
• The elements of division of labour and specialization put the worker on the right job/task.

Limitations/drawbacks of Weber’s Bureaucracy

• Too much emphasis on rules, procedures, record-keeping and paperwork may lead to delay and inefficiency.
• There is the tendency of workers to place too much reliance on rules and procedures to the detriment of initiative and discretion.
• Bureaucracy does not make room for flexibility and adaptation
• This theory disregards informal organization and the development of groups with their own goals.

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