Max Weber “Bureaucracy”

1. Max Weber“Bureaucracy” Chip Sawyer PA 302 February 6, 2006

2. Max Weber, 1864-1920 His Work • German political economist and sociologist • Rationalism in the sociology of religion and government • Vast majority of works not translated into English until after his death Source: Wikipedia.org, retrieved Feb. 2006

3. Max Weber His Worldview • A social liberal • nationalism based on classical republicanism • capitalism where workers are educated and given political responsibility • Disliked nobility and monarchy • Generally supportive of German Imperialism in WWI Source: Wikipedia.org, retrieved Feb. 2006

4. Weber on Bureaucracy • An objective description • or is it...? • Discusses basic elements and principles

5. Bureaucracy • Hierarchy • Division of Labor • Consistency • Qualification • Professional–Private Separation • Devotion to Purpose • Advancement / Seniority

6. Hierarchy • Authority and its flow • subordination • “Such a system offers the governed the possibility of appealing the decision of a lower office to its higher authority” (p. 50). Highest Office High Office High Office Low Office Low Office Low Office Lowest Office Lowest Office Lowest Office Lowest Office

7. Division of Labor • Specialization • Separation of roles and duties • “’higher’ authority [is not] authorized to take over the business of the ‘lower’” (p. 50). Executive Policy & Planning Operations Strategic Planning Policy Development Regional Management Special Projects Legislative Relations Office Staffing Maintenance

8. Consistency • Rules regulate all matters “abstractly.” • i.e. no one is special • Management • Duties • The “Governed” Not Special Not Special Not Special Not Special Not Special Not Special Not Special Not Special Not Special Not Special

9. Qualification • Training and qualification is the number one requisite. • How to manage • How to carry out duties • Knowledge of the rules PhD Master’s Master’s Bachelor’s Bachelor’s Bachelor’s Associate’s Associate’s Associate’s Associate’s

10. Separation of Professional & Private • The bureau is separate from the “private domicile of the official” (p. 51). • resources • time Orders filtering of web surfing Always makes personal calls on personal cell phone Loves work as a break from the family I certainly DID NOT use my office’s copier to print these notes for you Loves being able to leave work at home Wouldn’t even THINK of stealing pens Never uses photocopier for own tax forms Glad s/he doesn’t have to live in this cubicle Treats company car much better than personal POS Wouldn’t even THINK of stealing rubber cleaning gloves

11. Devotion to Purpose/Duty • Devotion is to your work and role, not to person above you. • “[official] is not considered the personal servant of a ruler” (p. 52). Devoted to Bureau Management Devoted to Division Management Devoted to Division Management Devoted to Planning Devoted to Policy Devoted to Region Devoted to Project Devoted to Schmoozing Devoted to Office Devoted to Toilets

12. Advancement and Seniority • The unspoken agreement... • you hang around • you climb the ladder • you get taken care of • Salary and Pension Promoted here 6 months ago (and don’t know what the Hell I’m doing) Promoted here 7 years ago Promoted here 17 years ago Started here 25 years ago

13. The Contribution of Max Weber • Championed antipositivism in sociology and study of public administration. • ...but we won’t get into that. • Laid the descriptive groundwork for bureaucracy • and the position/role of the state in government, politics and people’s lives • Ever since then, public administration has studied what actually happens when you stick human beings into a bureaucracy.

14. So what’s wrong with this picture? Political Appointee I’m WAY too qualified for this YOU’RE FIRING ME?! I’m in love with my manager I’m Being Micro-Managed I REALLY like this pen I work at home I’m having a bad day. The next client who calls me is dead meat. Who do you think REALLY runs this office? I REALLY like these rubber cleaning gloves