Bureaucracy (Weber)

Max Weber was a historian that wrote about the emergence of

bureaucracy from more traditional organizational forms (like
feudalism) and it's rising pre-eminance in modern society. Scott
defines bureaucracy it as "the existence of a specialized
administrative staff". According to Weber, beaucracy is a particular
type of administrative structure developed through rational-legal
authority. Bureaucratic structures evolved from traditional structures
with the following changes:
1. Jurisdictional areas are clearly specified, activities are distributed
as official duties (unlike traditional form where duties delegated by
leader and changed at any time).
2. Organization follows hierarchial principle -- subordinates follow
orders or superiors, but have right of appeal (in contrast to more
diffuse structure in traditional authority).
3. Intential, abstract rules govern decisions and actions. Rules are
stable, exhaustive, and can be learned. Decisions are recorded in
permanent files (in traditional forms few explicit rules or written
records).
4. Means of production or administration belong to office. Personal
property separated from office property.
5. Officials are selected on basis of technical qualifications,
appointed not elected, and compensated by salary.
6. Employement by the organization is a career. The official is a fulltime employee and looks forward to a life-long career. After a trial
period they get tenure of position and are protected from arbitrary
dismissal.

Weber said that bureaucracy resolves some of the shortcomings of

the traditional system. Described above was his ideal-type
construct, a simplified model (not a preferred model) that focuses on
the most important features.
Weber's view of bureaucracy was a system of power where leaders
exercise control over others -- a system based on discipline.
Weber stressed that the rational-legal form was the most stable of
systems for both superiors and subordinates -- it's more reliable and
clear, yet allows the subordinate more independence and discretion.
Subordinates ideally can challenge the decisions of their leaders by
referring to the stated rules -- charisma becomes less important. As
a result, bureaucratic systems can handle more complex operations
than traditional systems. (all above Scott p. 41-42).
Bureaucracy and Unresponsiveness
Often public service organizations are criticized for being
unresponsive to their customer's needs.
One of Weber's most serious concerns was how society would
maintain control over expanding state bureaucracies. He felt the
most serious problem was not inefficiency or mismanagement but
the increased power of public officials. A person in an important,
specialized position will become to realize how dependent their
bosses are on their expertise and begin to exercise their power in
that position. Furthermore, the staff also begin to associate with the
special social interests of their particular group or organization. Over
history this has caused the shift in power from the leaders of society
to the bureaucrats.

1. in sociology, the concept of rational-legal domination comes from Max Weber's tripartite
classification of authority (one of several classifications of government used by sociologists);

the other two forms being traditional authority and charismatic authority. All of those three
domination types represent an example of his ideal type concept. Weber noted that in history
those ideal types of domination are always found in combinations.In traditional authority, the
legitimacy of the authority comes from tradition. Charismatic authority is legitimized by the
personality and leadership qualities of the ruling individual. Finally, rational-legal authority
derives its powers from the system of bureaucracy andlegality

2. the Executive Body (EB) is responsible for the administration of HRI.

The tasks of the Executive Body involve providing :
reliable communication channels among HRGs and among HRGs and HRI
support mechanisms (e.g. financial, legal, administartive) for all HRI units
meeting dates, locations, and agendas for the meetings of the Board of Trustees
and the Advisory Assebly
The Executive Body consists of:
HRG coordinators
Board of Trustees and Advisory Assembly coordinators
legal advisor(s)
financial administrator(s) for fund-raising and accounting
communication supervisor(s) for mailing and electronic communication
recruiting administrator(s)
marketing administrator(s)
quality control supevisor(s)
The Executive Body can employ the assistance of all interested members of
HRI, but should consist of at least ten (10) members who are accountable for
the efficient functioning of the institution.

3.

The Executive Council is the highest formal instrument of government. It is the part of the executive
branch of government that carries out formal acts of government. By convention, the Executive
Council comprises all Ministers of the Crown, whether those Ministers are inside or outside Cabinet.
The Governor-General presides over, but is not a member of, the Executive Council. When a new
Cabinet is sworn in, Ministers are first appointed as Executive Councillors and then receive warrants
for their respective Ministerial portfolios. The principal function of the Executive Council is to advise
the Governor-General to make Orders in Council that are required to give effect to the
Governments decisions. Apart from Acts of parliament, Orders in Council are the main method by
which the government implements decisions that need legal force. The Executive Council also meets
from time to time to carry out formal acts of state.

4. Retirement is the point where a person stops employment completely.[1][2] A person may also
semi-retire by reducing work hours.An increasing number of individuals are choosing to put
off this point of total retirement, by selecting to exist in the emerging state ofPre-tirement.
[3]

Many people choose to retire when they are eligible for private or public pension benefits,

although some are forced to retire when physical conditions no longer allow the person to
work any longer (by illness or accident) or as a result of legislation concerning their position.
[4]

In most countries, the idea of retirement is of recent origin, being introduced during the late

19th and early 20th centuries. Previously, low life expectancy and the absence of pension
arrangements meant that most workers continued to work until death. Germany was the first
country to introduce retirement, in 1889.[5]Nowadays most developed countries have systems
to provide pensions on retirement in oldage, which may be sponsored by employers and/or
the state. In many poorer countries, support for the old is still mainly provided through the
family. Today, retirement with a pension is considered a right of the worker in many societies,
and hard ideological, social, cultural and political battles have been fought over whether this
is a right. In many western countries this right is mentioned in national constitutions
5. The Malaysian Budgeting System (MBS) also known as the Modified Budgeting System was
introduced in 1990 and implemented in phases to cover all government ministries and departments
by 1995. The MBS is a system of management designed to establish logical linkages on the
relationship between inputs, outputs and impacts.
Principles and Objectives of MBS
6.
7. 3.
The MBS is based on fundamental management principles of Letting managers manage i.e.
managers nearest to where outputs are produced should be given as much flexibility/authority as
practicable to manage their resources, however this authority must be matched with requisite
accountability at all levels of management.
8.
9. 4.
MBS was implemented with the explicit objectives of trying to improve resources allocation
by bringing about more efficient management of government programs by way of improved
accountability.

10.
11. Features of MBS
12.
13. 5.
The MBS has 4 main features namely:14.
15.
(i)
Expenditure Target;
16.
17.
(ii)
Program Agreements and Exceptions Reports;
18.
19.
(iii)
Cycle of Program Evaluations; and
20.
(iv)

A More Generalized Approach to Expenditure Control.