Max Weber’s Bureaucratic Theory | Notion

📘 Also known as the Legal-Rational Model of Bureaucracy

📍 ✅ Overview

Max Weber was among the first to study bureaucracy as a formal organizational model.
Linked bureaucracy with his concept of legitimacy of authority—particularly legal-rational authority.
He emphasized ethical conduct, where bureaucratic morality should override personal conscience for effective and impartial service delivery.

🧠 Ethical Foundation

Bureaucracy should act on the basis of legal norms, rules, and procedures, not personal values.
Encouraged neutrality, objectivity, and predictability in administration.
The model is not merely structural but also an ethical vision of disciplined governance.

🏛️ Max Weber’s Six Characteristics of Bureaucracy

Characteristic	Description
✅ Task Specialization	Division of labour based on technical expertise and defined duties
✅ Hierarchical Structure	Clear chain of command from top to bottom
✅ Formal Selection	Recruitment based on merit and qualification
✅ Rule-Based Operation	Governed by codified rules, SOPs, and guidelines
✅ Impersonality	No personal bias or favouritism in decision-making
✅ Career Orientation	Promotion based on achievement and seniority, not favoritism

🔁 Relevance in Contemporary Governance

Promotes:
- Transparency
- Accountability
- Ethical neutrality
However, it is also critiqued for:
- Red-tapism
- Inflexibility
- Lack of innovation