Sociology

Sociology Study Guide

Bureaucracies A bureaucracy is a hierarchical authority structure with strict rules and procedures. Thoughthey are often thought to be negative, bureaucracies can be very efficient because of their structure. KarlMarx disliked them, calling them an unnecessary evil. Max Weber analyzed bureaucracies and provided a demonstration of their efficiency. He realized that they were a form of rationalization; traditional, spontaneous methods were replaced by carefully selected codes and procedures. Weber provided ideal types, descriptions based on several cases that illustrate the essential features. The six essential features he defined were: • Division of labor: Clearly defined and determined; each member has a specialized job. • Hierarchy: Pyramid-shaped; greater authority at the top; top-down chain of command. • Regulations & formal rules: Specific, official, and written; used to govern all daily functions. • Impersonality & universalism: Evaluation and reward based on performance; no special favors. • Record keeping: Comprehensive; standardized. • Managerial or administrative staff: Specialized staff to keep the organization running smoothly. • Lifelong careers: Possible to climb the ladder to higher positions; senioritypromoted. With all the positives of the bureaucracy states thus far, it must be noted that there are two specific criticisms: • Parkinson’s Law: In a bureaucracy, work tends to expand to fill the time allotted for it. • Peter Principle: In a hierarchy, every employee tends to rise (or fall) to his/her level of incompetence. Other, less specific, complaints with bureaucracies include their inefficiency when dealing with abnormal problems. They are created to deal with the usual, not the unusual. Another major complaint is called bureaucratic enlargement, the tendency for all bureaucracies to grow. It is also argued that the pressureto conform stifles creativity, greatly reducing the overall effectiveness. Oligarchy Oligarchy refers to an organization that is ruled by a hierarchy with a few powerful individualsat the top. In general, it is thought that bureaucracies lead to oligarchies. Robert Michel’s Iron Law of Oligarchy states that no matter how democratic and organization attempts to be, it ultimately is the leaders that are running the organization. In main problem faced by oligarchic organizations is that decision making cannot be left to the masses. Leaders tend to be persuasive and powerful and have access to knowledge. This allows them to control information flow, possibly keeping lower-level members out of the loop. Members tend to look up to the leaders; they also have less commitment to their job and are usually more than willing to leave the big decisions to their leader. Because leaders want to keep their positions (and the associated power), they tend to promote those who are loyal to them. These factors lead to oligarchy.

©2018

Achieve Test Prep

Page 71

of 172