Learning Unit 5
COLLAPSE
As the world around us has become more complex, large formal organizations have become more powerful and universal. A formal organization is a group designed for a special purpose and structured for maximum efficiency. Sociologist argue that bureaucratic formal organizations are necessary for the functioning of modern society. A bureaucracy is a component of a formal organization; it uses rules and hierarchical ranking to achieve efficiency. Max Weber and George Ritzer both believed in concepts founded by the same principles, they were Bureaucratization (Weber) and McDonaldization (Ritzer). Bureaucratization is the process by which a group, organization or any form of social movement becomes bureaucratic. McDonaldization
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In Max Weber’s idea of bureaucratization he developed an ‘ideal type’ (or model) of bureaucracy that could reflect most of the characteristics in human organizations. He believed in a more formal structure of organization. In his model were 5 characteristics: [1] Division of labor; specialized experts preform specific tasks. For example, a barista at Starbucks doesn’t perform the same task as the person behind the register. This helps produce efficiency in the workplace, but also leads to trained incapacity in some individuals. Meaning that some workers became so good at what they were doing that they developed blind spots and failed to notice simple and obvious mistakes. [2] Hierarchy of authority; each position is under the supervision of a higher authority. In the Roman Catholic Church, the pope is the supreme authority; under him are cardinals, bishops, and so forth (Chapter 5, Page 115, 10th …show more content…
They are: [1] Efficiency; look for the best route to whatever the goal is that you have in mind. For example, when you order food at McDonalds chances are that your food is already made and it’s just there being kept warm. [2] Predictability; things are the same from one time to another time or one place to another place. For example, everything is uniformed at McDonald’s. Everywhere you go, you’ll find the same menu, the same prices, the same burgers, the same decorations etc. [3] Calculability; emphasis on quantity rather than quality. For example, the same burger you buy is going to be the same size in weight as another person who orders that same burger. [4] Non-human for human technology, taking skills away from people and building them into robots. For example, everything comes with instructions on how you can do it and in what way it has to be done and it must always be completed in that way alone. Everything in McDonalds is pre-made and pre-packaged with specific instructions on how it has to be
In his video, Ritzer identifies four main principles of McDonaldization: predictability, calculability, efficiency, and control.
Often, when the discussion of American bureaucracy is broached in conversation, those holding these conversations often think of the many men and women who operate behind the scenes within the government. This same cross section of Americans is looked upon as the real power within the federal government and unlike the other branches of government, has little to no oversight. A search of EBSCO resulted in the following definition, an organization “structure with a rigid hierarchy of personnel, regulated by set rules and procedures” (Bureaucracy, 2007). Max Weber believed that a bureaucracy was technically the most efficient form of organization, one structured around official functions that are bound by rules, each function having its own specified competence (2007). This wide ranging group of Americans has operated within the gaps, behind the scenes, all under the three core branches of government: the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. The division of government into three branches and separate powers gives each branch both exclusive powers and some additional power...
Though the bureaucracy began simply, with George Washington’s creation of the Department of Foreign Affairs, over the last 226 years, its size and power have increased exponentially. From homeland security to the delivery of mail, this “fourth branch of government” possesses a wide scope of responsibilities. However, the necessity for such a structure often comes into question. According to Max Weber, who believed that “the bureaucracy was likely to acquire an ‘overpowering’ power position, the bureaucracy is an “inevitable consequence” of modern day life (“The Rise of the Bureaucratic State”, Wilson). A specialized bureaucracy provides valuable expertise, an asset which the Founders did not take for granted, as they had suffered a committee
Bureaucracy has been the main form of organisation for over a century and can be characterised by the following: functional specialisation, employees carrying out one function of activity as their primary role; hierarchy of authority, those in superior positions having authority based solely on the virtue of the position itself; a system of rules, the tasks of the organisation following a formal set of procedures and practices; and impersonality, individuals being treated on the basis of the rules rather than emotions and personality (Knights & Willmott, 2012). The mainstream perspective states that a bureaucratic organisation’s central aim is to maximise efficiency, objectivity and fairness and can be thought of as a ‘machine’ with the people making up the components (Knights & Willmott, 2012). This view attributes three problems to this rule-centred organisation: poor motivation, poor customer service and a resistance to innovation and change (Knights & Willmott, 2012). Employees in bureaucratic organisations tend not to be committed to their
Meyer , J. W. , and Rowan , B. “ Institutionalized Organizations: Formal Structure as Myth
Even in movies. In the world’s fastest Indian we see that the status of Burt being just an old mechanic from New Zeland, plays a part in what he does in the movie. What I mean by this is that he may not have power in the upper levels of administration he uses his status in society to better himself, such as when he fixes the cars to get a cheaper price and a free buggy to lug his Indian to Bonneville. To add on to this Burt also has a role in the movie as the old man mechanic. His behavior and his actions make him the old man with motorcycle. Having this role allows Burt to have many supporters when he is off to set the land speed record. As the movie progresses he seems to attract more and more supporters behind him due to his status and role in the movie. There are people in the movie that seem to stick together as a group. The group that I am speaking of is the Biker gang in the beginning of the movie. These guys all seem to stick together through the thick and thin of the movie, and seem to have the same hatred of Burt in the beginning of the movie, but this is not the same as an institution. The biker gang was just a group. An institution in the movie is the Bonneville Speedway. This institution was founded on on the concept of going fast. This is why it was founded and kept its belief through and through. I would also label this a bureaucracy. The reason I do this is because the institution has a way to make sure everyone is working together to make sure the show is running smoothly. The examples would be the systems check, the announcer, the sign in sheet, and the crew that starts each
The McDonaldization of Society The McDonaldization of society may sound somewhat misleading but the term actually refers to the rationalization of society. The use of the word "McDonaldization" just simply indicates that the fast food restaurant is one of many great examples of rationality. Ritzer discusses five dimensions that characterize rationality or a rationalized society: efficiency, predictability, calculability, the use and preference of non-human technology, and the control over uncertainty. The five characteristics can be noticed in various aspects of society which exemplifies the extent that rationality affects our society and societies worldwide. In this paper I will summarize Ritzer's discussion of these five characteristics and give possible examples of each dimension.
...eet customer demands thus flexibility is key. However there are criticism of post-bureaucracy for example if a company decides to subcontract due to insufficient supply of workers, this would decrease the workers production which would mean that the company is not flexible thus not agreeing with a feature of post-bureaucracy as well as there would be a key difference between pay. There are many factors encourage companies to move from bureaucracy to post-bureaucracy. For example technology requires companies to work together because they are innovative, a company can be skilled but there is always something the company cannot develop thus networking and sharing information is important. Bureaucracy could not cope with the pace of change; information technology meant that there was more external control allowing informal relationships and a minimal division of labor.
Organizations in today’s world need to adapt and overcome many obstacles that are predictable as well as unpredictable. Max Weber outlines the five basic principles of bureaucracy which are as follows: The Division of Labor, Hierarchy of Authority, Written Rules and Regulations, Impersonality Principal, and Technical Qualifications. These basic principals were designed to maximize productivity and assert authority over subordinates in the workforce. (Weber, 1968) In present day the basic principles of Weber’s bureaucratic design are still visible in just about every organization. The only variable is to what extent they are applied.
Weber’s uses his theory of Bureaucracy to point out that it is what society is becoming and how it creates social older in society. This theory is
Similarly in Weber’s bureaucratic approach, organizations are divided into different echelons with each varying in its degrees of influence. Each unit being commanded by the one above it, a system that promotes stability and has a predictable line of communication. Both approaches of management rely heavily on regulated control. Whether governing task scientifically of people authoritatively. A solid form of control is mus...
‘Weber emphasized on top-down control in the form of monocratic hierarchy that is a system of control in which policy is set at the top and carried out through a series of offices, whereby every manager and employee are to report to one person in top management and held accountable by that manager’ (Pfiffner, 2004, p. 1).
According to Sapru R.K. (2008) p370-371 the traditional ideal of public administration which inclined to be firm and bureaucratic was based on processes instead of outcomes and on setting procedures to follow instead of focusing on results. This paradigm can be regarded as an administration under formal control of the political control, constructed on a firmly ranked model of bureaucracy, run by permanent and neutral public servants, driven only by public concern. In emerging nations the administration was true bureaucracy meaning government by officers. In this perspective Smith (1996) p235-6 perceived that“the bureaucracy controls and manages the means of production through the government. It increases chances for bureaucratic careers by the creation of public figures,demanding public managers, marketing boards.
A German sociologist Max Weber was the first person who describe about the term bureaucracy. Bureaucracy is a means to create efficient institution staffed with trained experts who work permanently, whose jurisdiction is prearranged by laws and regulations, and whose responsibility comprises of applying plain broad rules to specific circumstances (Weber, 1946).
Bureaucracy is an organizational design based on the concept of standardization. “It is characterized by highly routine operating tasks achieved through specialization, very formalized rules and regulations, tasks that are grouped into functional departments, centralized authority, narrow spans of control, and decision making that follows the chain of command” (Judge & Robbins, 2007, p.