Max Weber

Six Key Characteristics of Bureaucracy

The following is a list (in alphabetical order) of writing links (and perhaps others) that you may find useful (these are all outside links):

An historical perspective.

1. Fixed and official jurisdictional areas which are ordered by rules, that is laws and administrative regulations.
2. Hierarchy and levels of graded authority where the lower offices are supervised by the higher ones.
3. Management is based on official documents (the files).
4. The officials have thorough and expert training.
5. It requires the full time work of the official.
6. Management follows rules.

Bureaucracies were a paradigm shift...efficient, rational and honest, a big improvement over practices dating back to the Middle Ages owing loyalty to the king, dukes and the church.

Bureaucrats require a prescribed course of training for a long period of time and having examinations which are a prerequisite for employment. A bureaucrat is to be loyal to the office, not to a patron. The official is appointed by a superior official; he is not elected.

Normally he works for the agency for life; he does not fear being fired for failing to please a patron.  He receives a salary and a pension when he retires.  The official pursues a career within the bureaucracy, moving up to more responsible positions according to his experience and ability.

On the other hand, many have found negative features about bureaucracy. It can over conform to its rules and procedures, treating an individual like a number and generating red tape.  It can ignore the wishes of elected leaders.  It can displace goals, perhaps advancing the interests of the employees rather than the people it is supposed to serve.

As with other paradigms, we are so entrenched in the bureaucratic tradition that we can't see alternatives.

Ultimately, even this bureaucratic paradigm will be supplanted by another—contenders are already appearing to replace compliance based thinking, among them collaboration, commitment, and partnering alternatives.