ipl-logo

Dysfunctions In Bureaucracy

877 Words4 Pages

Knott and Miller present a number of dysfunctions that are present within bureaucracies. A few types of dysfunction are goal displacement, trained incapacity and dual systems of authority (Knott & Miller, 1987, p. 110-1). According to Knott and Miller, goal displacement occurs when a rigidity cycle starts to produce greater and greater emphasis is put on the rules, rather than the actual purpose of the organization as a whole (Knott & Miller, 1987, p. 110). In consequence, goal displacement means that employees replace a concern for organizational rules and procedures in the place of organizational goals. In turn, rules and procedures loose their effectiveness and constructive purpose (Knott & Miller, 1987, p. 110) A rigidity cycle is a type …show more content…

The intent of this criticism is not to point the many flaws of bureaucracy, rather to better improve upon it. I believe its important to first establish that not all public bureaucracies can be seen as dysfunctional just because one is. An example of this provided by Knott and Miller is that when the New York City Police Department found corruption in its vice department, it didn’t mean that all police officials were a suspect of the case (Knott & Miller, 1987, p. 118). Furthermore, in the United States, most interactions with local bureaucracies are fairly present. A study presented by Knott and Miller from 1963 presents that Americans feel much more equal treatment from bureaucracy in comparison to other parts in the world. 83% of Americans felt their bureaucrats tried to give equal treatment, where West German reported 63%, 53% in Italy, and 42% in Mexico. Granted this study is outdated, but it still gives a temperature as to how Americans felt about our bureaucracy (Knott & Miller, 1987, p. 118). In addition, its important to note that within reason, we should expect particular bureaucratic dysfunctions to appear. As an example, some bureaucrats experience trained capacity, where some do not experience it at all. Similarly, some organizations experience increasing rigidity, but some do not (Knott & Miller, 1987, p. 119). With this, bureaucracy experiences a ton of criticism because almost all that they do is public, meaning a lot of light is shed on anything irrational, dysfunctional and/or counter-productive that takes

Show More
Related

Comparing Federal Bureaucracy And Congress

698 Words | 3 Pages

On the onset, it might appear as though the federal bureaucracy and Congress are two completely separate entities, with no relation to each other. However, upon a further look into the situation, it is obvious that the two work closely together, Congress makes and passes the laws, and the federal bureaucracy institutes and enforces those laws into action. Even though these two separate entities have their own specific functions, Congress is truly in control over the federal bureaucracy. Among the several different methods of control Congress employees, there are two specific measures Congress takes that standout among the rest. The measure of control is Congress institutes is Congressional investigations.

Read More

Bureaucratic Politics: The 1972-1975 Whitlam Government

314 Words | 2 Pages

National security is currently closer to the focus of public administration than any other time since the beginning of World War II. Bureaucratic politics has arguably been in place in Australia since Federation in 1901. The public service had in fact been a part of government until the 1890s, however as the Labor Party was considered a threat that challenged, and was capable of changing, the status quo. This thus prompted the public service to be placed outside of politics, with senior public servants in control of the service. This fostered the idea that power was not in hands of politician’s but in anonymous public servants.

Read More

Goodsell's Argument Against Bureaucracy

245 Words | 1 Pages

In Goodsell’s “A Case for Bureaucracy” Goodsell makes several valid points about the argument for and against Bureaucracy. Before reading I too would have assumed bureaucracy is a waste of time and that most bureaucrats are just lazy, rude and tend to hate their job. But now I've realized that Bureaucracy does succeed. People, Americans, tend to expect bureaucrats to be able to do anything. Even when the tasks seems impossible they expect the problem to be solved immediately which ultimately sets the bureaucrats up for failure from the beginning.

Read More

Senate Filibusters

979 Words | 4 Pages

One of these methods is “power of the purse”, or Congress’s ability to control the flow of money to a federal bureau. This allows Congress to control the productivity of specific branches of the federal bureaucracy, as well as its existence. If Congress does not approve of a bureau’s management, it can cut its funding, effectively causing the bureau to adhere more to Congress’s will. Just like Congress can cut funding to a branch of the federal bureaucracy, it can also increase funding, if it approves of what the bureau is achieving. This power illustrates Congress’s ability to control how individual bureaus conduct their

Read More

The Federal Bureaucracy Implementing Policy

398 Words | 2 Pages

The most important thing that the bureaucracy does is implement policy. Congress and the President make the policies and laws, but they have someone else (the bureaucracy) to implement them. However, they also make policy by rule-making (process of defining rules or standards that apply uniformly to classes of individuals, events, and activities). Also, according to Jillson (2016), "Congress passes laws that authorize government programs, the bureaucracy then writes specific rules that define how the program will be administered." So, when the bureaucracy makes rules you have to obey them because they have the force of law.

Read More

Characteristics Of The Federal Bureaucracy

804 Words | 4 Pages

The federal bureaucracy as part of the executive branch exercises substantial independence in implementing governmental policies and programs. Most workers in the federal bureaucracy are civil-service employees who are organized under a merit system. The merit system is defined as the process of promoting and hiring government employees based on their ability to perform a job, rather than on their political connections. This system uses educational and occupational qualifications, testing, and job performance as criteria for electing, hiring and promoting civil servants. Beginning in the federal government in 1888, it was established to improve parts of the governmental work force that had previously been staffed by the political patronage

Read More

Bureaucracy In The 1800's

897 Words | 4 Pages

An agency could also be “bogged-down” in Red-Tape (Standard Operating Procedures), and it requires a lot of time to change things. Administrators can use their discretion differently when the standard operating procedures don’t properly address implementation. When several departments are involved, confusion arises as the departments overlap. Trying to reorganize the Bureaucracies is unlikely because of the Iron

Read More

Does The Presidency Become Too Powerful

953 Words | 4 Pages

One would think that one way to remedy this problem would be to concentration more power in the executive branch. This struggle of power is a problem that is found in many countries. Where do you draw the line for executive powers? When does a system become tyrannical? These two questioned were explored by the Framers, and continue to be the point of contentious debate among

Read More

Bureaucracy: The Pros And Cons Of A Bureaucratic Government

1717 Words | 7 Pages

They are in a generation where they accept the logic of organizational power in short being a conformist. Even though a bureaucratic system is obvious in our government today we are still not made aware of it specially its complications and its consequences. Up to this date we still experience complications in a bureaucratic government also in a bureaucracy mandated business. A bureaucratic government isn’t all negative it has its pro’s specially being a well-organized government as well as a well-organized business organization. but in this paper were going to talk moreover on the negative or the cons of a bureaucratic government.

Read More

The Forest Ranger: Book Review

700 Words | 3 Pages

A Study in Administrative Behavior, is a study of bureaucracy, in particular, the United States Forest Service (USFS) during the late 1950s. Kaufman 's analyses are through a political science lens, in researching the leadership and organizational theory of the USFS. He discovers this government agency consistently achieves the cooperation of officers and administrators within its organization. Kaufman’s states his argument, “The Forest Service has enjoyed a substantial degree of success

Read More

Lipsky Street-Level Bureaucracy Summary

2492 Words | 10 Pages

In Street-Level Bureaucracy: Dilemmas of the Individual in Public Services, Lipsky defines street-level bureaucrats as the “teachers, police officers and other law enforcement personnel, social workers, judges, public lawyers and other court officers, health workers, and many other public employees who grant access to government programs and provide services within them” (1980, 3). The book provides us with an insight into the everyday life of a street-level bureaucrat and shows their unmistakable role in delivering social services. Lipsky believes policy is best understood when looking at the people at the forefront of the implementation process; those that have to deal with both the government and the public. Overall, I found this book extremely

Read More

Blackbucks Organizational Change

1454 Words | 6 Pages

In this argument, I will be assessing the need for a change within the corporation of the Black Berry, Inc. I will also project a strategic methodological change plan, to accomplish the vision of the corporation. Also, a strategic change process, through the implementation of a change plan that will align itself with the vision of the BlackBerry, Inc. An analysis, to the role of the change agent and barriers to change; such as a lack of time, and, the fear of change in employees to the resistance of organizational change will also be examined. Assessing the need for a Change in the BlackBerry, Inc. Corporation. The BlackBerry, Inc. organization is in peril, losing its competitive advantage against the Apple, Inc.

Read More

Examples Of Autocratic Leadership

712 Words | 3 Pages

Autocratic style of leadership which is also known to many as authoritarian leadership places focus on one individual in charge of a group is run, this individual makes all the necessary decision with little or no input from the other member of the group. An authoritarian leader is very useful especially if this individual in charge of a group that is not enthusiastic or interested in getting the work done, this allows this leader to take control of this group and make the appropriate decisions in getting the work done, this leader work based on his or her judgement and do not give what he or she considers to be important duties to the other member of the group. There are a lot of downsides to an autocratic leadership style due to the fact the autocratic leaders makes al the decisions in the group it can cause the other group members to resent them or to feel inferior to them.

Read More

Importance Of One-On-One Mentoring

934 Words | 4 Pages

NIRMA UNIVERSITY MENTORING ASSIGNMENT 2 ETHICS AND VALUES 10/5/2015 MADE BY: PREET SARAIYA(14BCH057) ETHICAL VALUES : MENTORING Mentoring is the act of providing resources to encourage healthy and proper growth. Mentoring can involve relationships ranging from a casual offer of advice up to an apprentice relationship. Mentoring implicitly involves participation of both the mentor and the mentee.

Read More

Difference Between Bureaucratic And Scientific Management

730 Words | 3 Pages

1. Define and distinguish scientific management and bureaucratic management. Theoretical models are used to identify the management of different organizations and how they are structured. The early classical school entailed the bureaucratic and scientific management models of management. Both of these models focuses on the improvement of the managerial effectiveness by providing tools and suggesting organizational structures.

Read More

More about Dysfunctions In Bureaucracy

Related Topics

Open Document