Discuss the major shortcomings of bureaucracies and their effects on workers, clients or customers, and levels of productivity

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Three of the major problems of bureaucracies are (1) inefficiency and

rigidity, (2) resistance to change, and (3) perpetuation of race, class, and

gender inequalities. The self-protective behavior of officials at the top

may render the organization inefficient. Meanwhile, those at the bottom of

the structure hide their mistakes from supervisors, a practice that may

ultimately result in disaster for the organization. Policies and procedures

also contribute to inefficiency and rigidity. Bureaucratic regulations are

written in far greater detail than is necessary to ensure that almost all

conceivable situations are covered. Once bureaucratic organizations are

created, they tend to resist change. Resistance to change contributes to

bureaucratic enlargement. Some bureaucracies perpetuate inequalities

of race, class, and gender because this form of organizational structure

creates a specific type of work or learning environment. This structure

was typically created for middle- and upper-middle class white men, who

for many years were the predominant organizational participants.