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The Four Main Characteristics Of Bureaucracy In Public Administration

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1. Introduction
The purpose of this paper is to discuss the importance of bureaucracy in public administration.
The paper first defines what bureaucracy and public administration are. Further looks at the characteristics of bureaucracy, according to Max Weber (1864-1920) and the functions of bureaucracy in public policy and government and lastly the dysfunctional of bureaucracy.
2. Definition of terms
2.1 What is Bureaucracy
There is no single common definition of what bureaucracy really is. However, there is a general agreement on the characteristics of bureaucracy. For the purpose of this paper, it will define bureaucracy as the set of regulations placed by governments to control activity in government or private organizations. Bureaucrats …show more content…

According to Webber (1922: 129), bureaucracy is an abstract system for rational solutions of management problems without the friction caused by human errors and emotions. Hence bureaucratic organizations carry out ‘imperative control’ over humans. For the purposes of this paper, it will focus on the four main characteristics of bureaucracy. Hierarchy of authority, bureaucracies has a steady link of command, per se. Every worker has their own place within the link, therefore, everyone 's work is overseen by someone on the next level, up. Power flows down from the top of the hierarchy and becomes less as it approaches the bottom of the link. Division of labour, According to Heywood (2002:359), bureaucracy is the administrative machinery of the government. Nearly every task is broken down into its ‘component’ parts, and different people work on different parts of the task. All together they get the job done systematically. They divide their labour for maximum efficiency. A set of formal rules, these are specific to the operation that describes the activities necessary to complete tasks in accordance with the rules of the institute at every hierarchical level. These are the sophisticated system of communication that keeps their job running smoothly. And lastly, Specialization, everyone well within the bureaucracy has a specific duty to perform them then become experts …show more content…

Neither of them can work without each other. The government is responsible for the governance and administration, it sets the ‘target’ and the bureaucracy fulfilled these targets. According to Heywood (2002:362), Government is responsible for the formulation, implementation, evaluation and monitoring its projects and programs .while bureaucracy has more knowledge, experience, time and intergovernmental ties then the government. Hence, both are related to each other they. According to Du Toit, et al. (2006: page), the main function or goal of the government is to promote the general welfare. Looking at the rapid growth of the population, the government, therefore, needs to render more goods and services to promote the general welfare. As government sometimes do not work honestly and accordingly, there are so many cases of corruption and crimes. Expectations of people are increasing day by day. Hence, Bureaucracy is the only options for the welfare of people and people trust it more than the

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