Bureaucracies - Max Weber's 'Iron Cage'
Discuss the functions and dysfunctions of bureaucracies that is the characteristics of bureaucracies as well as its derivation and intended goals - support the points with situations in America today Despite Max Weber's description of bureaucracies as "iron cages," bureaucracies are not necessarily a bad thing. Once upon a time, patronage, nepotism, or bribery secured an individual's advancement in government and in society. Today, in the modern civil service, performing well on an exam and showing merit in school and possessing technical qualifications can now secure an individual a high government position. Bureaucracy is characterized by a hierarchical organization having a strict division of labor into spheres of influence and clear norms and rules about behavior, promotion, salary and disciplinary procedures. The advantage to this can be seen in a corporation, where there are IT departments, human re
Finally, having certain exceptions to the rules, or places where the rules can be appealed is important. However, the downside is the 'not my job' mentality of a bureaucracy is that it can create laziness and intransigence. The hierarchical nature of bureaucracies may mean that the people who make the decisions about how the organization is run are isolated from the operations of other parts of the organization, and may keep inefficient procedures in place, resulting in unnecessary 'red tape. Also, 'going the extra mile' to do a better job is not rewarded, because rules about promotion are set in stone, and based more upon seniority and conformity than true excellence. in education and a period of apprenticeship, which may deter people switching careers from exploring this option. Strict adherence to rules may also discourage creativity. Impersonality can also mean coldness-a social worker may not follow up on a particularly troubling case, simply because the routine, specialized number of visits to the child's home was observed. source departments, and other departments where individuals are segmented according to their unique skills, and given clear duties to make things more efficient-there is no confusion as to 'what is my job' or 'how should I proceed if I have a complaint?' Bureaucracies were a vast improvement upon the system of courtly favoritism, where proximity to the ruler determined one's level of power, and also feudalism, where birth rather than merit determined one's place in life. Giving people rewards for making new suggestions and changing things, rather than obeying protocols is essential. Slavish following of the rules can create irrational responses-and that may include the way that people are promoted within the organization, leading to less, rather than more qualified people in charge. Encouraging people in charge to take a more flexible attitude towards protocols is important so an organization can change and grow. Rather than making the rules work for individuals, rules become an impediment to things happening, in the worst sorts of bureaucracies. The organization serves the rules and serves itself, rather than its initial function. Because the rules cannot be deviated from, people do not seek to improve things.
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