by dzulfazli

1. THEORY OF
BUREAUCRACY
BY DZULFAZLI BIN MD ZAWAWI

2. History about Theory of
Bureaucracy.

3. The Theory of Bureaucracy – based on
ancient bureaucracy
 Term of “bureaucracy” already
till the end mid – 1700s was
idea of organized and
consistent administrative
system.
 Development of writing (3500
BCE). It was use for document
was critical to the
administrative of this system.
 In ancient china, bureaucracy
were position within the
“graded civil services” and
competitive exam were held to
determine who held position.

4. The Theory of Bureaucracy – based on
modern bureaucracy
 By mid – 19th century,
bureaucratic form of
administrative were firmly in
place across the industrialized
world.
 Thinker like John Stuart Mill
and Karl Marx began the
theories. Max Weber was the
first to endorse bureaucracy as
a necessary feature of
modernity.

5. What does the theory of
bureaucracy was explained
it.

6. The Theory of Bureaucracy – developed by Max
Weber (1864 – 1920 ), a German professor of sociology.

7.  Max Webber was German Sociologist and political economic (1864 –
1920). According to him, bureaucracy is the most efficient form of
organization that has a well defined line of authority and clear and
regulation which are strictly followed.
 Type of characteristics of Bureaucratic in organization:
There is high degree of division of labour and specialization.
Follow the principle of rationality, objective and consistency.
Interpersonal relation based on position and not on personalities.
Selection and promotion is based on technical qualification.
Only bureaucratic or legal power is given important.

8.  Criticism of bureaucratic organization:
 Too much emphasis on rules and regulation. The rules and regulation are rigid and inflexible.
 No importance is given ti informal group play an important role in all business organization.
 Bureaucracy involves a lot of paperwork. This result in lot of wastage of time, effort and money
 There will be unnecessary delay in decision making due to formation and rules
 Too much importance is given to the technical qualification of the employee for promotion and
transfer. Dedication and commitment of the employee is not considered.

9. Advantage and
disadvantage of using
theory of bureaucracy.

10. The Theory of Bureaucracy – developed by Max
Weber (1864 – 1920 ), a German professor of sociology.
 Advantage of theory bureaucracy using in organization:
Specification: A bureaucratic organization provided the
advantage of specialization because every member is assigned a
specialized that to perform.
Structure: A structure of form is created by specifying the duties
and responsibilities and reporting relationship within a
command hierarchy structure sets the pace and framework for
the functioning of the organization.
Rationality: A measure of objective is ensured in advanced the
criteria for decision making in routine situation.

11.  Top level managers in bureaucratic organization structure
give a great deal of control over organization strategy
decision, which is deal for business owner with a command
and control style. Strategic decision making time can be
should in a tall organization structure since less individual are
involved in the process.
 Standardization and best practice are often highlight in
companies with tall organization structure ensuring that work
consistently efficiently and effectively.

12. The Theory of Bureaucracy – developed by Max
Weber (1864 – 1920 ), a German professor of sociology.
 Disadvantages of theory bureaucracy using in organization:
Rigidity: rules and regulation in a bureaucracy are often rigid
and inflexible. Rigid compliance with rules and regulation
discourage initiative and creativity. It may also provided the
cause to avoid responsibility for failure.
Goal displacement: rules framed to achieve organization
objective at each level become an end to themselves. When
individual at lower pursue personal objective the overall may be
rejected
Impersonality: a bureaucratic organization stresses a mechanical
way of doing thing. Organization rules and regulation are given
priority or an individual’s needs and emotional

13. The Theory of Bureaucracy – developed by Max
Weber (1864 – 1920 ), a German professor of sociology.
Compartmentalization of activities: jobs are divided into
categories which restrict people from performing tasks that they
are capable of performing. It also encourage preservation of
jobs when they becomes redundant.
Paperwork: bureaucracy involves excessive paperwork as every
decision must be put into writing. All document have to be
maintain in their draft and original form. This leads to great
wastage of time, stationary and space.
Empire building: people in bureaucracy tend to use their
position and resources to perpetuate self interest. Every superior
as if this number is considered a symbol of power and prestige.

14. The Theory of Bureaucracy – developed by Max
Weber (1864 – 1920 ), a German professor of sociology.
Bureaucratic structure can discourage creativity and innovation
throughout the organization. No matter how ingenious a
business owner is. It is virtually impossible for a single individual
to generate the range of strategic ideas possible in a large,
interdisciplinary group.
Front line employee may receive less satisfaction from their jobs
in a rigidly bureaucratic organization increasing employee
turnover rates. Organization bound by rigid control can also find
themselves less able to adapt to changing condition in the
market places, industry or legal environment.

15. How manager can use these
motivation theory to
motivate their employee in
an organization?

16. The Theory of Bureaucracy – developed by Max
Weber (1864 – 1920 ), a German professor of sociology.
 Principle1:
In bureaucracy, a manager’s formal authority drives from
the position he or she hold in the organization.
Authority: the power to hold people accountable for their
action and to make decision in references to the use of
organization resources.
 In today’s business model, this type of theory is not very
common. Nowadays we see more of an informal authority
approach in which there is personal expertise, technical
knowledge, moral worth and from one individual.

17. The Theory of Bureaucracy – developed by Max
Weber (1864 – 1920 ), a German professor of sociology.
 Principle2:
In bureaucracy, people should occupy position because of their
performance not because of their social standing.
Some organization and industries are still effected by social
network in which personal contact and relation not job related
skills influence hiring and promotion decision.
 The old way of not what you know are still around in today society
but it can only get you so far. In today’s business world what you
know and education knowledge play a very important part in
moving up the cooperate latter and bring able to maintain a
managerial position requires the utilization current on up to date
technique and information.

18. The Theory of Bureaucracy – developed by Max
Weber (1864 – 1920 ), a German professor of sociology.
 Principle3:
 The extent of each position’s formal authority and task responsibility
and the relationship to other position in the organization should be
clearly specified.
 When the task and authority associated with various position in the
organization are clearly specific, manager and workers know what is
expected of them and what to expect from each other.
 Most organization should and are clearly defining task and position
responsibility. Job description should include all facts of an employee held
position. Clarification of one’s job expectation is essential for all five
business function in order to manage and maintain a high level and
measurable level of success for all organization.

19. The Theory of Bureaucracy – developed by Max
Weber (1864 – 1920 ), a German professor of sociology.
 Principle4:
 Authority can be exercised effectively in an organization when
position are arranged hierarchically, so employee know whom to
report to and who report to them.
 Manager must create an organization hierarchy of authority that makes
it clear who repeat to whom and to whom manager’s and workers
should go if conflicts or problem arise.
 Today’s business model utilize the initiative factor in which employee are
given the ability to act on their own without direction from a superior. This
empowerment of employee relieves the stress of consists supervision and
allows supervision and managers to concentred more on other
administrative duties. The balance between a vertical and horizontal
organization structure is more widely used in today’s business model.

20. The Theory of Bureaucracy – developed by Max
Weber (1864 – 1920 ), a German professor of sociology.
 Principle5:
 Managers must create a well defined system of rules and standard
operation system so that they can effectively control behaviour within
an organizational.
 Standard Operating Procedure ( SOPs ) are specific set of written
instruction about how to perform a certain aspect of a task.
 Most companies have SOP and require employee to learn and follow
them. We have seen how in addition to following rules and regulation and
many organization have allowed for creativity and innovation to the
common way of conducting business where it was once said: “rules are
rules and they could never be broken”. Guidelines are needed and
common sense is always important but have an open line of
communication to new ideas and thought is essential in today’s business
society.

21. The End
“Bureaucratic administration means fundamentally
domination through knowledge” – Max Weber.