This question has two parts; be sure to answer both. First, explain the five positive bureaucratic features that Max Weber believed contributed to a better-performing organization. Second, imagine that you are the manager of a small catering company that specializes in catering outdoor events, such as weddings and graduation parties. Apply each of Weber's five bureaucratic features to your business, explaining how you will use each to your advantage.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

The five positive bureaucratic features that Max Weber believed contributed to a better-performing organization are (1) a well-defined hierarchy of authority; (2) formal rules and procedures; (3) a clear division of labor, with parts of a complex job being handled by specialists; (4) impersonality, without reference or connection to a particular person; and (5) careers based on merit.

As the manager of the catering company, you might apply these features as follows: You will make sure that there is a very clear hierarchy of managers. You are the manager, and you are the top dog. You set the goals and expect your employees to meet them. You also establish formal rules and procedures. For example, because your employees prepare and serve food, you may set strict policies that all food preparers must wear hair nets and plastic gloves. You might also have rules of how your employees look whenever they are catering an affair; perhaps they must wear a clean, well-pressed uniform and keep their hair neat and tidy so that they look professional.

As you set up each outdoor party, you will make sure that each worker's job is clearly specified—for example, some people will be in charge of setting up tents, tables, and chairs; others will be in charge of entertaining the crowd (for example, a clown at a child's birthday party); and others will be responsible for working on the buffet line to serve the meals. Here, impersonality doesn't mean that you treat your employees or customers in an impersonal way; rather, it means that the tasks of each job, and the responsibilities of each employee, exist outside that person. Regardless of the worker's age, gender, or any other characteristic, he or she must perform all the job functions to be considered a good worker.

Finally, you will want to make sure that you give raises and promotions based on merit. Because you will be present at some of the parties, you will see which workers go the extra mile and which do not. You will make it clear to all of your hires that all promotion decisions at the company are based on merit and not on any other quality.