Bureaucracy Basics
This model is based on a legitimate and formal system of authority.
What is Bureaucracy?
The "U" in U-form stands for this.
What is Unitary?
This view assumes the optimal design depends on unique circumstances.
What is the Situational (or Contingency) View?
Woodward’s term for custom-made products in small quantities.
What is Unit (or Small-Batch) Technology?
A strategy requiring strong commitment to efficiency and control.
What is Cost Leadership?
Weber argued positions in an ideal bureaucracy should be filled based on this.
What is Expertise?
The "H" in H-form stands for this type of company.
What is a Holding Company?
The Aston studies found that as size increases, this design link breaks down.
What is the Technology-Design link?
Cereal and automobiles are examples of this type of technology.
What is Large-Batch (or Mass-Production)?
An organization pursuing this strategy is likely to be tall and centralized.
What is a Defender Strategy?
A primary strength of bureaucracy is the prevention of this.
What is Favoritism (or Bias)?
This form's basic objective is to optimize internal competition. In this System, information flows freely—upward, downward, and laterally.
What is the M-Form (or Multidivisional)?
Burns and Stalker’s term for organizations in stable environments.
What are Mechanistic Organizations?
Continuous-process technology is most effective with this System design.
What is System 4?
A firm using this strategy may design itself around location or customers.
What is a Focus Strategy?
This is a major disadvantage of the bureaucratic model.
What is Inflexibility (or Rigidity)?
This design results from a strategy of unrelated diversification.
What is the H-Form (or Conglomerate)?
Organic organizations are characterized by a high level of this.
What is Fluidity (or Flexibility)?
Woodward found the technology-design link is most central to these firms.
What are Small-Batch and Continuous-Process firms?
A firm using a single-product strategy likely uses this design.
What is a Mechanistic Design?
Bureaucracies often neglect these specific processes.
What are Human and Social Processes?
This form results from a strategy of related diversification.
What is the M-Form (or multidivisional)?
Lawrence and Lorsch used integration and this other primary dimension.
What is Differentiation?
This is the conversion process used to transform inputs into outputs.
What is Technology?
If a firm uses related diversification, it needs high levels of this.
What is Coordination?