Max Weber - Bureaucracy
Describe the principles of organisation (sometimes known as the ‘classical organisations principles’) in a bureaucracy. What are the pros and cons of working in a bureaucracy? What was Max Weber’s contribution to the study of bureaucracy?
At the beginning of the 20th Century, after the industrial revolution began, theories of classical management began to emerge. The industrial revolution was a massive turning point in history and the economic market was transformed for the better. The world average capita increased over tenfold (Maddison, Angus. The World Economy: Historical statistics, 2003). With the increase in the average income, there was an increase in jobs. The downside to this was that managers had a bigger workforce to deal with and were unsure how to train them and deal with them professionally and effectively. Henri Faylor was considered to be the founder of the classical school of organisation. In 1916, he constructed 14 principles or organisation that could be applied worldwide and in all workplaces. His 14 principles are as follows:
1: Division of labour- allocate tasks to specific workers, and then they know their job
2: Authority- Management are in charge and give orders
3: Discipline- employees listen to these orders
4: Unity of command- only one superior gives orders
5: Unity of direction- One manager, one plan
6: Subordination of Individual Interests to the general interests- Business comes first and foremost
7: Remuneration- Fair wage to all workers
8: Centralisation- the allocated decision makers
9: Scalar chain- communication goes through the chain of command
10: Order- allocated place for employees and materials
11: Equity- kindness and fairness from employer to staff
12: Stability of tenure of personnel- keep staff turnover to a low
13: Imitative- praise and reward employees who carry out tasks without
At the beginning of the 20th Century, after the industrial revolution began, theories of classical management began to emerge. The industrial revolution was a massive turning point in history and the economic market was transformed for the better. The world average capita increased over tenfold (Maddison, Angus. The World Economy: Historical statistics, 2003). With the increase in the average income, there was an increase in jobs. The downside to this was that managers had a bigger workforce to deal with and were unsure how to train them and deal with them professionally and effectively. Henri Faylor was considered to be the founder of the classical school of organisation. In 1916, he constructed 14 principles or organisation that could be applied worldwide and in all workplaces. His 14 principles are as follows:
1: Division of labour- allocate tasks to specific workers, and then they know their job
2: Authority- Management are in charge and give orders
3: Discipline- employees listen to these orders
4: Unity of command- only one superior gives orders
5: Unity of direction- One manager, one plan
6: Subordination of Individual Interests to the general interests- Business comes first and foremost
7: Remuneration- Fair wage to all workers
8: Centralisation- the allocated decision makers
9: Scalar chain- communication goes through the chain of command
10: Order- allocated place for employees and materials
11: Equity- kindness and fairness from employer to staff
12: Stability of tenure of personnel- keep staff turnover to a low
13: Imitative- praise and reward employees who carry out tasks without
Bibliography: DuBrin, Andrew. Essentials of management, 2009. DuBrin, Andrew. Essentials of management, 2012. International Research Journal of finance and economics – issue 41, 2010 Maddison, Angus. The World Economy Historical statistics, 2003 www.corwin.com (visited site on 12/11/2012) www.HRM.guide.com (visited site on 12/11/2012 Word count including quotes and references-1722