Max Webers Model of Bureaucracy - Essay Example

Bureaucracy is also characterized by offices being hierarchically structured (Krahn, Graham & Karen, 225). The line of authority is formal and rules and regulations are designed to enhance obedience and cooperation from employees. According to Weber, workers abide by the rules and accept existing authority because they believe such authority is impartial and fair (Krahn, Graham & Karen, 226).

As it would seem easy for bureaucratic organizations to achieve productivity, most sociologists have identified weaknesses and criticized Weber’s bureaucratic system. They have indicated that this system is complex in structure and difficult to manage (Krahn, Graham & Karen, 225). It lacks flexibility and hence is not adaptable to the changing business environment. The sociologists point that bureaucracy creates inefficiencies unintentionally and further associate it with the global economic crisis experienced in 2008 (Krahn, Graham & Karen, 226).

Robert Merton argues that employees who adhere to rules and regulations implicate bureaucracy since the rules became ends in themselves, and hence, undermining the achievement of organization goals (Krahn, Graham & Karen, 226). Peter Blau agrees to this when he reveals that workers behave in accordance with their own unofficial rule, he recognizes the tension between workers, unofficial rules, and official rules of the bureaucracy by stating that it leads to inefficiencies (Krahn, Graham & Karen, 226).

Alvin Gouldner dismisses Weber’s model on the basis that the life of an organization cannot be predicted due to events such as promotions, dismissals, and layoffs. According to Gouldner, these events are unpredictable (Krahn, Graham & Karen, 226). He further disputes the bureaucratization process by arguing that it exists because of a power struggle between managers and workers and not as an explanation for greater productivity. In addition, Robert Reich criticizes the use of bureaucracy in fordism by comparing its success to today’s global market.

He points out that the reason for its rise was its domination of the market through large voluminous productions. This is different in today’s market, which requires production and service to work together efficiently (Krahn, Graham & Karen, 227). The weakness in Weber’s model has led to the development of alternative theories of organizations. These theories comprise the contingency theory, the organic models, sociotechnical systems, and the strategic choice perspective. The contingency theory proposes that organizational structure and processes are contingent upon the immediate problems posed in the environment (Krahn, Graham & Karen, 230).

It explains that there is no single best way to organize or manage work. The organic models suggest that there is a need for more open and flexible structures and management styles in organizations with rapid changes in technology and changing market conditions (Krahn, Graham & Karen, 230). The sociotechnical system emphasizes the use of technology as an important variable in the analysis of the organization. Technology has a direct impact on the organization of work, skills of workers, the performance of the organization, and quality of the working life (Krahn, Graham & Karen, 231).

The strategic choice perspective provides managers with appropriate decision-making given the limitation of technology, markets, labor legislations, and government regulations. The concept of strategic perspective provides guidelines on how to select various strategies regarding the structuring of an organization, establishment of work standards, and manipulation of the environment (Krahn, Graham & Karen, 231).