Bureaucracy in an Organization Its Pros N Cons

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Sociology Of Oraganization Bureaucracy in an organization – Its pros and cons A bureaucratic organization is a form of management that has a pyramidal command structure. The bureaucratic organization is very organized with a high degree of formality in the way it operates. Organizational charts generally exist for every department, and decisions are made through an organized process. A strict command and control structure is present at all times. Bureaucracies are meant to be orderly, fair and highly efficient. Bureaucratic organizational structures have many layers of management, cascading down from senior executives to regional managers to departmental managers - all the way down to shift supervisors who work alongside frontline employees. So, authority is cantered at the top, and information generally flows from the top down. For example, a senior executive may implement a new policy stating that employees must have all overtime approved by management before actually working the overtime. The new policy will go from the desk of the senior executive all the way down to the frontline employees. The basic characteristics of a bureaucracy are: * Rules and job responsibilities are written down and clearly stated * Clear hierarchy of power is concentrated among a few high-ranking managers * Appointments and promotions of officers are formal because these officers will be held accountable * Employees are hired based on their skills and knowledge, not because of favouritism or luck * Salaries are tied to a pay-grade system * Bureaucracies are unable or unwilling to adapt to changing conditions quickly * Micro-managing is common There are many advantages to this type or organization. Senior-level managers in bureaucratic organizations have a great deal of control over how the business is run. This control allows them to service many customers within a

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