Bureaucratic organization

Bureaucratic organization
See also
Importance of teamwork Knowledge management Organizational progress Human resources management Leadership models Team development Adaptation process Knowledge management system Hersey and Blanchard model

Bureaucratic organization as opposed to learning organization is strictly formalized type of organization. Every action of the employee has been defined and described, and often innovation and changes in the processes are blocked by the management (due to resistance to change). In these organizations there is no atmosphere conducive to innovation and development of staff, often such companies can not flexibly adapt to changing conditions of environment. Basic features of the intelligent (learning, innovative) opposed to the bureaucratic (operational) organization is shown in the table below.

Comparison of bureaucratic and intelligent organization

Aspect of the comparisons	Bureaucratic organization	Intelligent Organization
Type of work activities	Only a small fraction of workers are fully using their knowledge Absurd repetition of steps Individual or group Work Performing various duties	Work based on knowledge of all employees Work based on innovation Teamwork Projects
Organization	Division of labor Departmentization Hierarchy The strong position of managers - manager autocrat Top-down coordination	No typical job positions - manager as coach and inspirer Managerial roles: the sponsor, the generator of ideas, the leader Differentiation Coordination by team members
Processes	Provide information and communication Planning and budgeting Measurement of results Departments linking Orientation to the inside of the company - in order to maintain internal balance	Planning and resource sharing Getting ideas Combine ideas Transfer of projects to manufacturing Management of programs Customer Orientation
Incentive System	Compensation Promotion Style of leadership Valuing the job position	Opportunities / autonomy Promotion - recognition Special compensation
People	Selection / Recruitment Promotion / transfer Training / Development The use of individual abilities	Selection Training / Development Team capacity utilization

See also:

• Characteristics of bureaucracy
• Disadvantages of team work
• Jacob Mincer

References

• Blau, P. M. (1956). Bureaucracy in modern society.
• Downs, A., & Rand Corporation. (1967). Inside bureaucracy (p. 264). Boston: Little, Brown.
• Thompson, V. A. (1965). Bureaucracy and innovation. Administrative science quarterly, 1-20.
• Weber, M. (1946). Bureaucracy. From Max Weber: essays in sociology, 196-244.
• Wozniak K., Management information system as an instrument of strategic management in the company, PhD Thesis, Cracow University of Economics, Cracow 2005

Author: Krzysztof Wozniak