Discuss the Applicability of Tha Bureaucratic Theory in Todays Organizations

GREAT ZIMBABWE UNIVERSITY

FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

NAME Caroline Magadza

PROGRAMME SPECIAL HONORS HR

COURSE MANAGEMENT AND ORGANISATIONAL BEHAVIOR

COURSE CODE SHRM 403

LECTURER MR MASHAVIRA

ASSIGNMENT QUESTION

DISCUSS THE APPLICABILITY OF BUERACRATIC MANAGEMENT THEORY IN TODAY’S ORGANISATIONS

Bureaucratic management may be described as a formal system of organization based on clearly defined hierarchical levels and roles in Oder to maintain efficiency and effectiveness. Max Weber embellished the scientific management theory with his bureaucratic management theory which is mainly focused on dividing organizations into hierarchies, establishing strong lines of authority and control. Weber suggested that those organizations develop comprehensive and detailed standard operating procedures for all routinised task. The bureaucratic theory is still applicable in today’s organizations; this can be witnessed in organizations such as Olivine, National foods, Army, Police services to name but a few.

Scott (1994) defines bureaucracy as the existence of a specialized administrative staff. According to Weber, bureaucracy is a particular type of administrative structure developed through rational legal authority. The literal meaning of bureaucracy is rule by office or by officials.

The first characteristic of bureaucratic management theory is job specialization (Armstrong, 1998). This is whereby jobs are broken down into simple...