What is bureaucracy?
German sociologist Max Weber, in *Economy and Society* (1922), described bureaucracy as the ideal type of organisation based on legal-rational authority: power grounded in rules and procedures rather than tradition or charisma.
📌 At a glance
- Key thinker
- Max Weber
- Work
- Economy and Society (1922)
- Authority
- Legal-rational
- Status
- An ideal type for comparison
Characteristics
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Hierarchy | Clear chain of command |
| Rules | Work governed by written regulations |
| Files | Decisions recorded in documents |
| Impersonality | Equal treatment by rule |
| Specialisation | Division of labour, hiring by expertise |
| Career officials | Appointment by merit, salary, promotion |
Dysfunctions
Robert Merton (1940) highlighted goal displacement (rules become ends in themselves) and trained incapacity. Red tape, buck-passing and resistance to change are other common criticisms. Alternatives include the human relations approach and new public management.
Frequently asked questions
- What is bureaucracy?
- An organisational form run by rules, hierarchy and specialised offices, theorised by Max Weber.
- What are its main dysfunctions?
- Goal displacement, red tape, trained incapacity and avoidance of responsibility.
References
- Weber, M. (1922). Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft [Economy and society]. Mohr (Siebeck).
- Merton, R. K. (1940). Bureaucratic structure and personality. Social Forces, 18(4), 560–568.