The purpose of this paper is to apply Max Weber’s bureaucratic management theory to the film Antz. First, an overview of the Weberian model of bureaucracy is provided. Second, a brief description of Antz and the hierarchical structure of the society depicted throughout the movie. Lastly, the bureaucratic management theory is applied to the film Antz to demonstrate the beneficial and potentially detrimental aspects of a bureaucracy.
First, Max Weber’s model of bureaucracy states that establishing a bureaucracy is fundamental in regards to a complex and intricate organization. These are hierarchical organization where each level has different assigned tasks and duties. Assigning different tasks and duties to each level helps increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the entire organization (Goodsell 2). The tasks assigned to the members of the organization are ranked from the highest level to the lowest level and include a formal set of rules and regulations for members at each level to follow. Bureaucracy becomes a way to manage a complex and large organization and Weber stated that it is …show more content…
The main character, Z, a worker ant wants to establish his own individuality in a society that primarily focuses on and rewards collective work. Each ant is assigned a task at birth and they are trained in how to complete this specific task. This can be beneficial because it establishes a clear line of responsibilities for each level of the hierarchy. However, as depicted in the film it can be harmful to the individual identity of the participants, and in the worst case scenario is can be harmful because of the abuse of power by the bureaucratic class. To explore how he can reach his goals of establishing individuality Z decides to trade places with Weaver, a soldier ant. This leads to a set of events that demonstrate how the power that is wielded by bureaucrats can be