2. Rational organisational design and bureaucracy

Question 1

Max Weber

Answer 1

A sociologist who observed the increasing dominance of bureaucracy within society, noting both technical achievement but also negative impacts on people

Question 2

Henri Fayol

Answer 2

Known for outlining a rational, structured approach to bureaucratic organisational design and administration

Question 3

Bureaucracy

Answer 3

Official aspects of an organisation such as the hierarchical structure, rules, procedures and paperwork. A sense of impersonal control

Question 4

Rational organisational design

Answer 4

As championed by Fayol, the design of bureaucratic features in the most technically efficient way to achieve goals, logical and systematic

Question 5

Iron cage of bureaucracy

Answer 5

Weber’s critique of bureaucracy, suggesting it leads to monotonous dull routines and traps people in routines and procedures

Question 6

Direct control

Answer 6

Face to face control of workers by a manager or owner

Question 7

Impersonal control

Answer 7

Control that is not face to face, e.g. through rules and procedures

Question 8

Span of control

Answer 8

The number of workers controlled by a manager at any one particular level in a hierarchy

Question 9

Vertical differentiation

Answer 9

The process whereby a hierarchy creates a number of different layers of management

Question 10

Horizontal differentiation

Answer 10

The process whereby different parts of the hierarchy are groups according to criteria e.g. the service or product provided

Question 11

Classical management school

Answer 11

A set of theories of management which draws upon rational methods of managing and organising, advocated ‘one best way’ of management

Question 12

Rational- legal authority

Answer 12

Max Weber. The power that is legitimated by rules and procedures associated with an office rather than by traditional means

Question 13

Formal rationality

Answer 13

Technically efficient means of achieving goals without thinking of the human or ethical consequences

Question 14

Substantive rationality

Answer 14

Rationality from a human and ethical perspective

Question 15

Disenchantment

Answer 15

Max Weber. A loss of magical elements in society, suggests some of the dehumanising effects of bureaucracy

Question 16

Red tape

Answer 16

Where rules and paperwork get in the way of work and activities, rather than helping tasks to be performed efficiently

Question 17

Bureaucratic personality

Answer 17

A tendency to follow the rules rather than making more common sense judgements

Question 18

Trained incapacity

Answer 18

Where peoples are so used to bureaucratic rules that they become unable to think for themselves

Question 19

Work to rule

Answer 19

Where workers follow rules, regulations and instructions precisely

Question 20

Mock bureaucracy

Answer 20

Where rules and policies exist, but are ignored

Question 21

Impersonal fairness

Answer 21

Bureaucratic procedures treat people equally and avoid the personal prejudice that managers may have