Bureaucratic organizations are known to have a very strict hierarchy. Interacting with organizations of this type can be challenging for the customers because of the kind of management and structure these organizations employ. Every procedure there comes along with a great deal of formalities, rules and regulations. Bureaucratic organizations often take a long time to accomplish their tasks because their system is filled with tight procedures, and every worker or department there has very clear set of duties and obligations. The working process of bureaucratic organizations with very stable, precise and well organized. The procedures held in organizations of this kind are controlled at every stage of the working process. In the United States the examples of bureaucratic organizations are the police, the prison system, the Department of Motor Vehicles, and Military commands.
One of the main characteristics of bureaucratic organizations is their very complex management system that includes many layers, stages and procedures. The order within such organizations is maintained by means of reports and summaries that the employees need to compile in order to allow the managers to keep an eye on the working process. For example, in the police offices, all of the clients have to come through the procedure of registration, file their complaints, sign various documents. Besides, bureaucratic organizations possess large archives. The police offices have access to folders with cases they already worked with, every person and every situation the organization works with is strictly documented according to many parameters. Bureaucratic organizations are also characterized by impersonal attitude towards the employees and customers. This means that the workers there are allowed very little creativity, their tasks are strictly regulated and precise. All of the customers also have to go through the identical and impersonal procedures; special circumstances and situations of various clients are rarely taken into consideration. Since the working process of bureaucratic organizations is complicated by the high level of control, multiple reports and regulations, it may take a long time for the employees to finish working with one customer.
Bureaucratic organizations function according to the principle of a pyramid. They have a centralized control system with one boss on the top and a complicated but strict hierarchy, where every worker is given precise and homogenous tasks. It is very noticeable in the example with the Department of Motor Vehicles. For example, a receptionist’s job is to hand out forms to the clients and give short and precise directions. These are basically the only duties of a holder of this position through the whole day. This is why the work of an employee of such company can be characterized as highly monotonous. The amount of duties and responsibilities is clearly divided between the workers, and each professional is to perform a certain number of tasks specific to their position only. One more principle of bureaucratic organizations is intended impersonality. Due to the fact that these organizations work with a large number of people, they have to limit their duties and treat all the issues and clients by means of standard and impersonalized procedures. The hiring process for bureaucratic organizations is also regulated; such institutions evaluate the workers based on their professional skills and performance only. Personal differences are not taken into consideration and do not affect the organization’s attitude towards its employees or its clients.