The purpose of this article is to examine the theoretical model of bureaucracydysfunctional model. There is no doubt that bureaucratic predominance is perhaps the outstanding feature of dern society. Max Weber can be considered to be the mentor of tho...
The purpose of this article is to examine the theoretical model of bureaucracydysfunctional model. There is no doubt that bureaucratic predominance is perhaps the outstanding feature of dern society. Max Weber can be considered to be the mentor of those scholars who subsequently became interested and contributed to the understanding and clarifcation of the term “bureauctacy.”He established a theoretical model of bureaucracy as a ideal type. He explained the pure bureaucratic organization as a rational and functional one.
There is, however, a decided tendency to take the view that bureaucracy has a lot of dysfunction and that the study cannot afford to ignore the facts. Robert K. Merton is the first to challenge the Weberian concept of bureaucracy. Merton, in his famous article “Bureaucratic Structure and Personality”, points out how the structural arrangements and behavioral requirements of a bureaucratic organization produce while talking about the unintended consequences of a bureaucracy. He shows how the same kind of vicious circle can develop with hierarchical control and stand ardization. Alvin W. Gouldner takes it upon himself to investigate and identify some of the variables relating to bureaucratization in an effort to provide answers to some amine the nature and functions of rules and how they vary from one circumstance to another and realizes that Weber's hypothesis regarding effectiveness of bureaucracy, based on uniform and rigid rules with little scope for variability, may not be the best thing to look for. In the process of analysis, Gouldner distinguishes three patterns of bureauctatic behavior: mock, representative and punishment-centered each with its characteristic values and conflicts.