Max Weber's Theory Of Bureaucracy In A Bureaucratic Organization

Max Weber, a German sociologist believed bureaucracy to be the ideal organisation. Bureaucratic organisations have existed for hundreds of years. Dynastic China and ancient Rome are two empires that incorporated bureaucracy into their core structure. Much of their success and expansion can be attributed to the use of effective bureaucracy. As great as these empires were at their peak, ultimately they collapsed and fell into ruin. While it may be seen as the logical approach to controlling and ruling a large amount of people, at the end of the day bureaucratic organisations will not succeed.

Max Weber believed there to be six major principles in a bureaucratic organisation. The first was that there was to be a formal hierarchical structure which would centralise decision making as each level would control the level beneath them. Another principle was that each employee would specialise in the area they had the tactical advantage in and that promotion as well employment would be based solely on their abilities and merit. Supervisors had to have an impersonal and formal relationship when dealing with their subordinates. There were to be official rules, to ensure the consistency of work performance. The regulations

While bureaucracy’s sounds like the most rational and logical way even Max Weber himself, believed it to be an ‘iron cage’ which traps individuals in systems based simply on teleological efficiency and control. Technological advances have created new forms of organisations leaving the traditional bureaucratic organisations out of date and obsolete. The control and predictability that bureaucracies bring have no place in the 21st century. Flexibility and creativity is essential in our ever changing environment. Firms confined by strict controls are less able to adapt to the ever changing