The idea of bureaucracy can be linked to the rational management of an entity or matter.
The term bureaucracy comes from the French bureaucratie , whose root is bureau ( "office" ). The concept allows naming the organization that is regulated by rules that seek a rational order in the management and distribution of its affairs.
In addition to the above, it is interesting to establish that there is a Theory of Bureaucracy . It is a theory that began with the clear objective and need to ensure that the organization of different companies, especially those that had many employees and a large volume of activity, were “ordered” in a rational manner.
Bureaucracy according to Weber
From there emerged ideas and proposals such as that of the German economist Max Weber who, between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century , became one of the greatest exponents of said theory. In his case, he considered that bureaucracy was a rational way of organizing an entity to ensure that it functioned with precision, clarity, speed and efficiency .
In this sense, for him when establishing said bureaucracy it was essential that it be based on issues such as the division of labor, the hierarchy of authority, rules and norms, professional commitment, rationality, impersonality in regarding the application of procedures and rules or written records.
The concept of bureaucracy is often used to refer to the inefficient and excessively formal administration of public affairs.
Negative connotation
Bureaucracy is also the group of public servants , although the term has a negative connotation: bureaucracy is understood as inefficient administration due to paperwork and formalities, and the excessive influence of officials on public affairs. For example: “Because of the bureaucracy I have to look for pay stubs from the last thirty years; Otherwise, I cannot access the benefit” , “The bureaucracy at the time of the procedures made me leave the public university” .
Within this negative meaning of the term bureaucracy that we are analyzing, it is interesting to verify it through what are practical cases. Thus, for example, it is established that one of the reasons why many people are reluctant to opt for self-employment at some point in their lives is precisely the amount of paperwork that has to be done and also the great loss of time that that brings with him.
Other considerations about bureaucracy
Despite this negative use of the term, sociology and administrative sciences understand bureaucracy as the structure that is characterized by regularized and explicit procedures . Bureaucracy implies hierarchical and impersonal relationships, specialization of work and division of responsibilities.
On a theoretical level, bureaucracy allows the rules dictated by the authorities to be executed precisely and in accordance with already stipulated procedures . In this way, human error is reduced and the process of actions is transparent.
The negative view of bureaucracy arises from the rigidity of these same processes, which can make any type of procedure excessively slow. On the other hand, bureaucracy does not take into account the alterations that may arise with everyday life and that require new solutions to unprecedented problems.