Max Weber

Maximillian Carl Emil Weber(1864-1920)

“The fate of our times is characterized by rationalization and intellectualization and, above all, by the disenchantment of the world''.
Max Weber
Max Weber was a political economist and sociologist who is regarded widely as one of the most profound thinkers of modern times. Today, his contributions continue to be cited by scholars in many fields, from jurisprudence to economics, from sociology to religion, from political science to business. In the management, leadership and organizational literature, Weber has been most associated with his understanding of bureaucracy, hierarchy of authority, and types of leadership - the most attention given to charismatic leadership.
In the field of bureaucracy, Max Weber has made the single most outstanding contribution. David Beetham, professor of politics at Leeds University and presently a leading exponent of Weber's political theory, dwells on 3 different aspects of his concept of bureaucracy. First, Weber's theory holds that bureaucracy is a technically efficient instrument of administration. Indeed, Weber believes that bureaucracy is technically the most perfectly adapted for achieving the highest level of performance. Second, Weber's theory holds that bureaucracy has an inherent tendency to exceed its instrumental function and emerge as a separate force within society, capable of influencing the goals and character of that society. Third, Weber's theory holds that bureacucracy reflects the class structure of the society. That is, bureaucracy is unable to free itself from the outlook of the social classes from which it is recruited and to which it is allied. In summary, bureaucracy is not merely a technical instrument. It is also a social force with interests and values of its own. As such, it has social consequences beyond its instrumental achievements.
Weber’ criterias of bureaucracy are in the below on table;
Weiss, Richard M. “Weber on Bureaucracy: Management Consultant or Political Theorist?”. The Academy of Management Review. Vol 8(2), 1983.
Gajduschek, Gyorgy. Bureaucracy: “Is It Efficient? Is It Not? Is That The Question? Uncertainty Reduction: An Ignored Element of Bureaucratic Rationality”. Administration&Society. Vol 34(6), 2003.