1. Formal Organizations Chapter 6 Section 4

2. Nature of Formal Organizations Formal Organizations: A group deliberately created to achieve one or more long term goals. Formal Organizations: A group deliberately created to achieve one or more long term goals. –Secondary groups where people spend much of there time. –Work, school, corporations. Bureaucracies: Formal organizations based on rationality and efficiency. Bureaucracies: Formal organizations based on rationality and efficiency.

3. Characteristics of Bureaucracies Division of labor based on the principle of specialization. Division of labor based on the principle of specialization. A hierarchy of authority A hierarchy of authority –Power: Ability to control the behavior of others. –Authority: The legitimate or socially approved use of power. A system of rules of procedures. A system of rules of procedures. Written records of work and activities. Written records of work and activities. Promotion of the basis of merit and qualifications. Promotion of the basis of merit and qualifications.

4. Max Weber and Bureaucracy Believed bureaucracies are characterized by: steadiness, precision, continuity, speed, and efficiency. Believed bureaucracies are characterized by: steadiness, precision, continuity, speed, and efficiency. Also looked at rationalization instead of superstition and tradition. Also looked at rationalization instead of superstition and tradition. Rationalization: the mind-set emphasizing knowledge, reason, and planning. Rationalization: the mind-set emphasizing knowledge, reason, and planning.

5. Informal Organizations Bureaucracies are designed to act as secondary groups. Bureaucracies are designed to act as secondary groups. Primary relationships emerge as part of informal organizations. Primary relationships emerge as part of informal organizations. Informal organizations: Groups within a formal organization in which personal relationship are guided by norms, rituals, and sentiments that are not part of the formal organizations. Informal organizations: Groups within a formal organization in which personal relationship are guided by norms, rituals, and sentiments that are not part of the formal organizations.

6. Iron Law of Oligarchy Theory that power increasingly becomes concentrated in the hands of a few members of any organizations. Theory that power increasingly becomes concentrated in the hands of a few members of any organizations. Reasons: Reasons: –Need a hierarchy of authority to delegate decision making. –Advantages held by those at top allow them to consolidate their powers. –Organizations defer to leaders-give in to those who take charge.