The Concept of Bureaucracy: An Empirical Assessment

Abstract

The concept of bureaucracy is viewed as a series of dimensions, each in the form of a continuum. When each continuum is measured, no concomitant variation is found among the dimensions. It is suggested that the bureaucratic concept is more empirically valid when approached in this manner, rather than assuming that organizations are totally bureaucratic or non-bureaucratic. The suggested approach is demonstrated through the application of the model to ten organizations.