Professionalization and Bureaucratization

Abstract

Analysis of structural and attitudinal aspects of professionalization, and of the organizational settings in which many professional occupations exist, suggests that there is generally an inverse relationship between professionalization and bureaucratization, although there is considerable variation within the relationship. The data further suggest that the structural and attitudinal aspects of professionalization do not necessarily vary together. The organizations in which professionals work also differ in their degrees of bureaucratization. It is suggested that the presence of professionals in an organization affects the structure of the organization, while at the same time, the organizational structure can affect the professionalization process.