An organisation in which people are expected to operate within a defined role, not being swayed by or showing any emotion. Developed in the late nineteenth century by sociologists as the ideal organisational machine free from the paternalism and nepotism that characterised many organisations at the time. Bureaucracies only operate successfully where they allow emotions to play some part in actions, for example, the development of a mission statement, apologising with feeling to a complainant.
A form of organization marked by division of labor, hierarchy, rules and regulations and impersonal relationships.
Organizations that implement government policies.
(byoo-ROK-ruh-see) A fundamental office culture or sect with absolute ethics or 'religion' characterized by 3 R's: 1) Rules with exceptions, i.s.o. creativity and intelligence 2) Responsibility at level 'boss', 3) 'Rule by the Boss'.
a form of organization in which officeholders have defined positions and (usually) titles
an organization that has raised stupidity to the status of a religeon
a rationally organized hierarchy of positions designed without reference to the individuals who occupy the positions
An organisation typified by formal processes, standardisation, hierarchic procedures, and written communication. Business: An organisation that operates in order to make a profit; also the collective word for the activities in which they engage. Business Continuity Planning: Identifies an organisation's exposure to internal and external threats and synthesises hard and soft assets to provide effective prevention and recovery for the organisation, whilst maintaining competitive advantage and value system integrity.
a form of organization based on logic, order, and legitimate use of formal authority.
Weber's focus on a particular type of organization that he felt was increasingly dominant in modern society. Bureaucracy is the embodiment of formal rationality and processes of subtle control.
An organizational model characterized by a hierarchy of authority, a clear division of labour, explicit rules and procedures, and impersonality in personnel matters.
A pyramidal model of government administration in which tasks are grouped into separate bureaus or departments and information flows up and down according to the hierarchical structure. Marked by diffuse authority, visible divisions of labor, and inflexible rules of operation, each employee answers to one supervisor, creating a uniform and clear chain of command.
Originally from the French: bureau = desk and later = office. Popular use is for cumbersome procedures (‘red tape’) and self-serving administration. Organizational theory follows Max Weber: administrative staff members have clearly defined duties and powers, separate from their personal lives, in a strict hierarchy, and following carefully-defined rules, which enable decentralization. Weber also stresses professionalism of bureaucrats (Weber 1920/1964) Sections 3.2, 6.2
Although often used as a synonym for administration, bureaucracy has been defined, especially by Max Weber (1956), as a particular structure and style through which administration can operate. Structurally, bureaucracy is characterized by hierarchical organization and a highly specialized division of labor. Members of the bureaucracy behave according to the specific rules of action so that treatment of each case is relatively predictable and non-discriminatory. (See also Administration)
A form of organization characterized by specialization, hierarchy, detailed rules and procedures and impersonality.
A Belgian art form. The process of making an apparently simple task rather less straightforward than it first appeared by positioning carefully drafted bits of paper between the subject and their desired object. Can often be circumvented by discovering an appropriate shortcut (citing the name of an appropriately eminent Belgian, ignoring the rules, obstinacy, etc.)