Bureaucracy
A bureaucracy is a form of organization based on logic, order, and the legitimate use of formal authority. Bureaucracies are meant to be orderly, fair, and highly efficient. The Bureaucratic approach to management was developed around the start of twentieth century by an important writer, Max Weber, a German Sociologist. The bureaucratic approach depends on five principles that are; 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) Specialization of work Formal Rules & Procedures Impersonality Well-defined hierarchy Employee selection and promotion
1. Specialisation of work
Any piece of work must be broken down into a few clearly defined tasks. This describes the degree to which activities in an organisation are divided into separate jobs. An entire job is not done by one individual but instead is broken down into steps, and each step is completed by a different person. So that members of an organisation will know what is expected of them and will develop special skills for their own tasks. Managers saw other efficiency that could be achieved through work specialization. Employee skills of performing a task successfully increase through repetition. Less time is spent in changing tasks, in putting away one’s tools and equipment from a prior step in the work process, and in getting ready for another. Equally important, training for specialization is more efficient from the organization’s perspective. It’s easier and less costly to find and train workers to do specific and repetitive tasks
2. Formal Rules & Procedures
A comprehensive set of rules and procedures that provides the guidelines for performing all organizational duties is clearly stated. All administrative acts, functions and decisions are found by rules which are formulated and recorded in writing. Rules are designed to ensure uniformity of action and equality of treatment. They save time and effort by obviating the need for deriving a new solution for every problem or case. Written rules and work procedures