MG214 ASSIGNMENT 1

Bureaucracy in the Oxford dictionary is defined as “a system for contributing or managing a

country, company or organization that is operated by a large number of officials employed to
follow rules carefully”. Bureaucracy theory was developed by Weber it was designed to solve
pretty big problems with way in which organisation were being run. This essay will discuss
more on Max Weber’s Theory and its relevance to the public sector and the six principles
about Max Weber regarding examples to our local Pacific Islands.
To begin with, at the of the 19th Century there was a German Sociologist and Political
economist and an author of the Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism in (1905) which
is Max Weber. Max Weber “born in (April 21, 1864) and died on (June 14, 1920). He was
the first to use and describe the term bureaucracy. This is also known as the bureaucratic
theory of management or Max Weber theory. He grew up to be a professor at University
whereby he entered adulthood at a time when industrialisation meant how employees were
organised was becoming increasingly important so societies was moving towards larger and
larger organisation where farms employing dozens of people compare to factory employing
thousands of people. He has contributed to the areas of organizational studies, management,
and organizational communication. The main one is his contribution to the concept of
bureaucracy. We use his concept in organizational communication and organizational studies
in our organization.
Moreover, there are six principles of Max Weber Theories. First is the “Formal Hierarchy
Structure”. This is one principle that was describe by Max Weber in the 19th century. This
principle says where each person has been supervised by someone in a higher position until it
gets to the very top. For example, for us Fijian, we have a hierarchical system in the village
whereby, the “Turaga” (Chief) is the head of the village community followed by the “Sau
Turaga” (Steward Chief). The “Steward Chief” are the ones that make the Chief in the village
and they have an important role to play for the Chief. Followed by the “Matanivanua”
(Herald) whereby they are the ones that speak on behalf of the people and the Chief. Next is
the “Bete” (Priest). In the olden days, the Bete (Priest) is the one that speaks to the Ancestor-
Gods (Kalou-Vu). Followed by the Bati. There are two types of “Bati” (Warrior man). Due
to the hierarchy system. The “Bati” are the one that look after the Chief during wars. One is
called the “Bati Levu “which look after the chief and the other one is the “Bati Leka” which
look after the people. The last people in the hierarchy system Fijian culture is the “Mataisau”
(Carpenters). This people that they are responsible in building houses, canoes, carving and
many other things.
Secondly, “rules-based management” is another principle about Max Weber. There are rules
in the organization which people have to follow and they are all formal rules which people
have to make up everything as they go because they living in an organisation whereby they
have rules that people living in an organisation should follow. For example, in our
organisation the manager has to make command or make rules so that people working inside
the organisation has to follow and also to make the organisation achieve their goals. Living in
an organisation it is important to follow the rules that has been address by the manager so that
it make the work easier and faster.
Thirdly, “Functional Specialty organization” is another principle theory about Max Weber.
This is where the organization employees are divided into specific jobs that suit their skills
and talent they have. For instance, in various workplace people have different types of skills
in different people. For us people when we grow up we have different skills and knowledge
so for the benefit for our future we have to use that talent wisely in the workplace.
Fourthly, “Up-focused or In- focused mission” is another principle about Max Weber. It says
where the mission is served the stakeholders outside the organization it is called “up-focused”
whereas on the other hand says that if their mission is to serve within the organization then it
is called “in-focused”. For example, “in up-focused mission” if they served outside the
organization they will lose profit because they served other organizations whereas if their
mission is to serve within the organization they will gain more profit because they just
focused on their organization.
Also, “impersonal” is another principle about Max Weber. This principle are governed
through the systems of official authority and rules. Thus, the decision is governed by rational
factors rather than personal factors like emotions and sentiments. This organization the
Bureaucratic organization says that we should treat all the employees and customs equally.
For example, here in Fiji, all people that are citizens in Fiji are known as Fijian. Even Indian
people are not allowed to call them Indo-Fijian because it sound like discriminating against
other people. Discerning other people in the workplace in the workplace is not a good thing
because it is like you discriminate others with their look, types of culture, and their skills of
working in the workplace.
Lastly, “Employment-based on Technical Qualification” is also one important principle that
was discussed by Max Weber. This principle deals with the talent and skills that people have
based on their promotion to another level on which organization they work for. For example,
in an organization, if your manager sees that you have achieved all the objectives that have
been given to you, I am sure that you will be promoted to the next level. In order for you to
be promoted in the next level you should be able to achieve the goals of the organisation so
that the manager can promote you in the next level.

In conclusion, bureaucracy, therefore, applies to an organization that is rigid and formally

structured and has characteristics needed to run successfully in an organization. We can says
that bureaucratic theory can is a theory that treats people equally in an organisation.