What Is Bureaucracy ?

Bureaucracy as a form of organization became more and more dominant from the 19th century onwards, based according to Weber on rational-legal authority and argued as the most efficient way to organize and run a large number of people and activities.

The principles of bureaucracy are embedded on rational-legal authority which is a transparent set of rules devised for rational reasons which allow a same treatment for everyone. The structure of the organization is pyramid shaped, based on hierarchy of graded responsibilities where the responsibilities and relationships are implemented vertically. The roles are clearly defined and specified as the division of the labour is precisely divided. The organization is shaped by multiples rules and regulations implemented by the senior managers that control and frame the work of the employees. Bureaucracy is also characterized by a centralised co-ordination and control over the workers and their activities. The written documents are also one of the basis of the management of the office and characteristic of bureaucracy.

Finally, as being part of a rational-legal authority, bureaucracy is based on "the ethic of disinterestedness" which means that this model will provide equal opportunities regardless of your social background, your ethnicity or other cultural factors.

Moreover, the employment relationship follow this ethic of disinterestedness : bureaucracy adopts a meritocratic way of selecting employees giving a primordial importance to performance, seniority… Indeed, the selection is made according to skills such as education or expertise for instance and will only take into account qualifications, ignoring other personal factors. The same logic apply to promotion that will be decide by seniority, as well as the career structure that will be provided based on the organizational hierarchy. Then, it is important to highlight that the position does not "belong" to the