Ideal Type Bureaucracy

IDEAL TYPE BUREAUCRACY:-
Ideal type of bureaucracy was part of the bureaucratic theory propounded by one of the
greatest sociologists of modern period, Max Weber. The theory was contained in his book
‘the ideal type of Bureaucracy - economy and Society’ which was published in 1921 a year
after his death. The theory of bureaucracy of Max Weber was closely linked to his idea of
evolution of complex society in modern period; Bureaucracy denotes evolution of large
and complex organisation in modern society, which moved increasingly towards
rationality, secularization and meritocracy. Weber placed bureaucracy at the end of
history of evolution of organisation in human society. To him, the organisations in ancient
and mediaeval period were based on traditional and charismatic authority/leadership in
which kinship, relationship, customary and traditional entitlement, etc were the basis of
selection/appointment. Loyalty was to the leader as a person not to his position. With the
advent of capitalism, industrial society and liberal democratic nation-states, the
organisation of the government, factories, universities, and in many other fields started
moving towards rational-legal authority, selections based on merit, loyalty to post/position
not to the person, primacy to rules and regulation and not to traditional knowledge or rule
of thumbs, rational/logical not subjective attitude, etc. Weber termed such organisation as
bureaucratic organisation. in his view Bureaucracy represents the natural evolution of
most efficient structure of a large and complex organisation in modern period.
Essential features of weber's Ideal type of bureaucracy is: first, division of labour, high
degree of specialisation and expertise; second, hierarchical, command and control,
impersonal relationship between super-ordinate (boss) and subordinate; third, primacy of
objective rules and regulations; fifth, rational-legal authority; sixth, meritocracy; seventh,
career orientation. In sum, hierarchy, impersonality, specialisation, rule/regulations, and
meritocracy were the defining features of bureaucracy. It may be noted that ideal type of
bureaucracy was not the organisational structure found in real world situation. Rather, it
was an idea, conceptual construct, or a kind of measuring rod to compare organisational
structure in time and space. It may also be noted that the bureaucratic theory of Weber is
linked to economic aspects of capitalism, religious/spiritual aspects of ‘Protestant ethics’,
normative values (Rights, Liberty, equality) of liberal democracy. Thus, in a nutshell, the
bureaucratic theory of Weber was the organisational dimension of Liberalism -liberal
democracy and capitalism – promoted by the ideologies of Christian or Protestant ethics of
the Western world. Therefore, high degree of eurocentrism and ethnocentrism are evident
in this theory.
Despite such criticism, bureaucratic theory of Weber along with the scientific theory of
Taylor became the twin pillars of the classical theories and principles of Administration in
in its early phase of evolution as a self-standing academic discipline. The bureaucratic
theory was so robust and timeless that it is still the most visible face of public
administration anywhere in world. In fact, the term bureaucracy is used synonymously
with public administration. However, it may be noted that Bureaucracy is a specific form of
organisational structure which any large and complex organisation shall attain in modern
times. It may also be noted that bureaucracy is not only limited to public administration;
complex organisations in academics such as universities, in industrial sector, such as big
factories, in business, such as multinational corporations, International organisations,
such as United Nation, even in Non-governmental organisation, such as Amnesty
International, and of course in public administration bureaucratic organisational structure
can be found. But the word bureaucracy acquired a kind of negative
connotation( meanings) and was linked with the negative aspects of public administration
such as Red-tape (purposely delaying decisions), nepotism( favourtism), insensitiveness
(towards people’s problems), and corruption.
Ideal type of Bureaucracy: Essential Features

1. Division of labour:
• This entails expertise and high degree of specialization. • Thus, in bureaucratic structure
workers are encouraged to do same type of job for a long period of time. Hence, they
become expert and specialist in their job. • Division of labour removes overlapping of
responsibilities. Each worker is supposed to do different job, for which he is expert. • Both
expertise and division of labour increases efficiency, and reduces cost of producing good &
services
2. Rational-Legal Authority’ :
• One gets a post or position due to his knowledge, expertise, achievements. Hence, each
position draws its authority and legitimacy on rational ground. • Also, each position has
some legal authority, sanctioned by laws, rules & regulations. This is very different from
non-bureaucratic organisation, in which the basis of authority may be traditions,
conventions, or personal charisma of the post or position holder.
3. Hierarchical authority structure:
• Top down structure • Command and control relationship between super-ordinate(boss)

and subordinate. According to weber, every office and official is a part of a hierarcdy.
Under this system the lower office functions under the control of higher office. He attached
greater principle of hierarchy in the organisation of office.
4. • Impersonal relationship among bureaucrats and bureaucracy and citizen/client
• Official should perform their duties in an impersonal manner. Personal relationship does
not come into the way of selection, reward and punishment. Decisions should be neutral.
Official views are free from any personal involvement , emotions and feelings.
5. Primacy of rules and regulations:
• Decisions are taken based on rules & regulations and NOT based on personal
relationship or equations. • Primacy of rules & regulations curb the tendency for nepotism
and corruption. It also increases transparency and certainty of decisions.
6 • Meritocracy:
• Recruitment and promotions based on merit: skill, ability, knowledge, expertise,

achievements. • This minimize nepotism, corruption, and favouritism.
7. Development of a career service: career bureaucrat, protection of tenure:
• Bureaucrats have long tenure. This help them become experts in their domain. • Gives
stability and increases efficiency.
POSITIVE DIMENSION OF THIS THEORY:

It is the First and foremost theory of organization along with the scientific management
theory, twin pillars of the classical administrative theories. It has a Vision of rational,
efficient, merit and rulebased organization: modern thought. It has Wide applicability :
adopted by all kinds of organizations- private and public. Professional, permanent, stable
administration on face of unstable and volatile politics. Its principles, positively affected
other aspects of society/life in modern era.
CRITICISM:
It is a Mechanistic, de-humanistic and closed model of organisation .It is a Rigid, static,
and inflexible organisational structure. ROBERT PRESTHUS believes that It is Part of the
western package of ideologies and world view, not suitable for 3 rd world developing
countries and Suffers from both ethnocentrism and eurocentrism. According to SIMON
and MARCH , Weber ignored the human aspect of the organisation by emphasising so
much on formal aspects like rules. Bureaucracy manifest itself as self-seeking interest
group which wants to protect its turf by any means. This harms public interest. It has
curbed individualism and innovation.
CONCLUSION:
From the above discussion it is obvious that Max Weber’s theory of Bureaucracy and his
conceptual construct of Ideal type of Bureaucracy should be understood along with his
sociological and historical construct of the development of modern society led by the
western ideologies of liberal democracy, capitalism, and Protestant ethics. He traced the
evolution of complex organisation throughout the historical time and reached to the
conclusion that organisations have evolved from charismatic and traditional based
authority to rational- legal authority. This gave rise to most efficient and effective
organisational structure which he called bureaucracy. Essential features of bureaucracy
are rational legal authority, specialisation, hierarchy, impersonality, rules/regulation,
meritocracy, and career orientation.

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IDEAL TYPE BUREAUCRACY:-

Ideal type of Bureaucracy: Essential Features

3. Hierarchical authority structure:

• Top down structure • Command and control relationship between super-ordinate(boss)

4. • Impersonal relationship among bureaucrats and bureaucracy and citizen/client

5. Primacy of rules and regulations:

• Recruitment and promotions based on merit: skill, ability, knowledge, expertise,

7. Development of a career service: career bureaucrat, protection of tenure:

POSITIVE DIMENSION OF THIS THEORY:

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