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Max Weber

Max Weber was a German sociologist who is known for his theories on bureaucracy and rationalization. He characterized modern society as disenchanted and dominated by rational-legal thinking. Weber believed that bureaucracy was the most efficient form of organization, but that it also placed rigid constraints on individual freedom and created an "iron cage" of rules and hierarchy. He outlined key aspects of bureaucracies, including hierarchical structures, standardized rules and procedures, and impersonal relationships based on authority rather than personal ties. While efficient, Weber noted bureaucracies could also deny care and engage in abuse.

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61 views32 pages

Max Weber

Max Weber was a German sociologist who is known for his theories on bureaucracy and rationalization. He characterized modern society as disenchanted and dominated by rational-legal thinking. Weber believed that bureaucracy was the most efficient form of organization, but that it also placed rigid constraints on individual freedom and created an "iron cage" of rules and hierarchy. He outlined key aspects of bureaucracies, including hierarchical structures, standardized rules and procedures, and impersonal relationships based on authority rather than personal ties. While efficient, Weber noted bureaucracies could also deny care and engage in abuse.

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Levi Posadas
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We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Max Weber

Max Weber who?


“The fate of our times is characterized by
rationalization and intellectualization
and, above all, by the disenchantment of
the world.” 

a philosopher, political scientist, anti-war activist,


journalist, educator, scholar, sociologist, economist,
& literary critic
QUICK
About this FACTS
template

FULL NAME Maximilian Karl Emil


Weber
BIRTH DATE April 21, 1864
PLACE OF BIRTH Erfurt (Prussia),
Germany
EDUCATION Gottingen, University of
Berlin, Heidelberg University
DEATH DATE June 14, 1920
PLACE OF DEATH Munich, Germany
Published Works
“
“The process of sanctifying life
could thus almost take on the
character of a
business enterprise.”
- From The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism
PUBLISHED WORKS

◉The Protestant Ethic and the


Spirit of Capitalism (1905)
◉The Religion of China (1916)
◉The Religion of India (1916)
◉Ancient Judaism (1917-1918)
◉Economy and Society (1922)
Bureaucracy
a rational-legal authority in which legitimacy
is seen as coming from a legal order
BUREAUCRACY

◉Max Weber criticized how business were ran


like a family – the employees were loyal to
their bosses, and not to the organization.
◉Weber believed in a more formalized, rigid
structure also known as a bureaucracy.
◉This is contrasted with traditional forms of
authority, which arose from phenomena like
kinship or monarchy.
IRON CAGE

◉Bureaucracy puts us
in an iron cage,
which limits
individual human
freedom and
potential instead of
a “technological
utopia” that should
set us free.
Theory of Impersonal
Management
CHARACTERISTICS

1. Subject to authority, with respect to


their official obligation
2. A hierarchy of authority/offices
3. Spheres of competence
4. Free contractual relationship
5. Officers are selected through technical
qualification
CHARACTERISTICS

6. Fixed salaries
7. The office is the primary occupation
8. Achievement-based promotion
9. The official works entirely separated
from ownership of the means of
administration
10. Standardized, meticulous procedures
FEATURES
(elaboration on characteristics)
FEATURES

1. ADMINISTRATIVE CLASS
Bureaucratic organizations generally have administrative class
responsible for maintaining coordinative activities of the members.
◉ People are paid and are whole time employees,
◉ They receive salary and other perquisites normally based on
their positions,
◉ Their tenure in the organization is determined by the rules and
regulations of the organization,
◉ They do not have any proprietary interest in the organization.
◉ They are selected for the purpose of employment based on their
competence.
FEATURES

2. HIERARCHY
◉ In bureaucratic organization,
offices also follow the principle of
hierarchy that is each lower office
is subject to control and
supervision by higher office.
FEATURES

3. DIVISION OF LABOR
◉ Division of labor ensures that each office has a
clearly-defined area of competence within the
organization and each official knows the areas in
which he operates and the areas in which he must
abstain from action so that he does not overstep the
boundary between his role and those of others.
◉ Further, division of labor also tries to ensure that no
work is left uncovered.
FEATURES
FEATURES

4. OFFICIAL RULES
◉ A rational approach to organization calls for a system
of maintaining rules to ensure twin requirements of
uniformity and coordination of efforts by individual
members in the organization.
◉ Rules provide the benefits of stability, continuity, and
predictability and each official knows precisely the
outcome of his behavior in a particular matter.
FEATURES
FEATURES

5. IMPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS
◉ Relationships among individuals are governed
through the system of official authority and rules.
◉ Official positions are free from personal
involvement, emotions and sentiments.
Thus, decisions are
governed by rational
factors rather than personal factors.
FEATURES

6. OFFICIAL RECORD
◉ The decisions and activities of the organization are
formally recorded and preserved for future reference.
There exists:
◉ Extensive use
of filling
system
◉ Encyclopedia
of various
activities
WHAT IS THE COST?
CHARACTERISTICS

◉ Loss of individuality
◉ Loss of autonomy
◉ Obsession with determining the
value of achievements
◉ Conformity/Lack of individual
freedom
◉ Specialization; society has a
less common purpose; loss of
sense in community
◉ Competition
In relation to
Caregiving/
Health Care
Services
APPLICATION

◉Hospitals are ran like any other organization.

Department
Patient Care Service
Executives Administrator
Managers Providers
s
EXECUTIVES

◉ The chief executive officer is the top boss


responsible for everything that goes on in a
hospital. However, hospitals usually have chief
nursing officers, chief medical officers, chief
information officers, chief financial officers and
sometimes chief operating officers, who also
carry a lot of weight.
◉ This group of top executives forms the central core
management.
DEPARTMENT ADMINISTRATORS

◉ These people are responsible for one type


of medical or operational service.
◉ Most departments are areas of patient care
such as orthopedics, labor and delivery or
the emergency department. There also are
non-patient-care departments such as food
services and billing.
PATIENT CARE & SERVICE

◉ Patient Care Managers directly oversee patient


care. They also usually oversee schedules and basic
human resource functions for their employees.
◉ Service Providers: From nurses and physical
therapists to line cooks and laundry workers, it takes
a lot of hands-on staff to make everything happen.
APPLICATION

◉“…service bureaucracies like health care are set to


help the sick and elderly, but then they deny care
based on specific criteria.”
◉Service bureaucracies designed to care for and
protect the elderly, that routinely deny service and
actually engage in abuse.
◉The irrationality of bureaucratic institutions is a
major factor in understanding contemporary society.
Thanks!

ANY QUESTIONS?
SOURCES

◉ http://www.biography.com/people/max-weber-9526066#later-work
◉ Boundless. “Weber's Model for Bureaucracy.” Boundless Sociology.
Boundless, 08 Aug. 2016. Retrieved 09 Oct. 2016 from
https://www.boundless.com/sociology/textbooks/boundless-sociology-textbook/s
ocial-groups-and-organization-6/bureaucracy-56/weber-s-model-for-bureaucracy
-352-10202/
◉ http://www.faculty.rsu.edu/~felwell/Theorists/Four/Presentations/Weber/Weber.p
pt
.
◉ http://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/management/webers-bureaucracy-definition-f
eatures-benefits-disadvantages-and-problems/27893
/
◉ http://smallbusiness.chron.com/organizational-structure-hospitals-3811.html
◉ http://www.bustingbureaucracy.com/excerpts/weber.htm

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