Revisiting Weber's Theory of Bureaucracy and its Usefulness for Analyzing Organizational Structures and Issues.

Abstract

Organizations that are designed and operated as if they were machines are commonly referred to as bureaucracies. The development of this idea relating to organizational structure was originated by the German sociologist Max Weber, who observed the parallels between the mechanization of industry and the proliferation of bureaucratic forms of organization. Bureaucratic approaches to organization have proved incredibly popular, partly because of their efficiency in the performance of certain tasks, but also because of their ability to reinforce and sustain particular patterns of power and control. The aim of this paper is thus twofold; first, to provide a greater understanding of Weber's theory of bureaucratic organization and, second critically discuss its usefulness for analyzing organizational structures and issues. Hence, this objective will be achieved by elucidating the origins and the rise of bureaucratic organization and examining key characteristics of Weber's bureaucracy. In this paper, both arguments for and against his proposition will also be critically evaluated in detail, giving the experience of numerous academic scholar, social science researchers, business and public practitioners. Finally, the concluding section then summarizes the arguments and presents the author's personal viewpoint.