Characteristics of an Ideal Bureaucracy

Hierarchy of Organization

- each position is under supervision of higher authority. *Pro - clarify who's in command *Con - deprive people of voice in decision making, and shirk responsibility, especially in unethical tasks. Also allows them to hide mistakes.

Impersonality

- how individuals and officials conduct activities in unbiased manner *Pro - equal treatment *Con - alienation, discourage loyalty to the group

Written Rules and regulations

-Pro - clear expectations, uniform performance, equal treatment of all employees, and sense of unity/continuity to organization. -Con - stiffens creativity, and if too much structure discourage employees from taking initiative. Goal displacement (rules become more important than goals)

Employment based on technical qualifications

-hiring in bureaucracy is based on qualifications on person has and not favouritism *Pro - decrease discrimination *Con - decrease ambition (only secure job and do nothing more). Peter Principle, where every employee in hierarchy keeps getting promoted until they reach level of incompetence.

Division of Labor

-people are trained to do specific tasks. *Pro - people are better at tasks, and increased efficiency. *Con - increase alienation in workers, separating them from other works, and they don't see work from beginning to end. Also trained incapacity, where workers are so specialized lose touch with overall picture.

5 main characteristics of an ideal bureaucracy

1. Division of Labor 2. Hierarchy of Organization 3. Written Rules and regulations 4. Impersonality 5. Employment based on technical qualifications