According to our textbook, Max Weber characterized a bureaucracy as having a hierarchy of authority, a clear division of labor, explicit rules, and impersonality.
1. Hierarchy of Authority - a clear chain of command found in a bureaucracy. Example: as a student in college, your professor assigns you tasks. The professor answers to their manager, who must answer to their manager, and so on in a chain of command.
2. Clear Division of Labor - the fact that each individual in a bureaucracy has a specialized task to perform. Example: For example, the teaching assistants can assist professors with grading papers, but they do not attempt to teach the class.
3. Explicit Rules - the types of rules in a bureaucracy; rules that are outlined, recorded, and standardized. For example, at a college or university, the student guidelines are contained in the Student Handbook. Students are expected to abide by the handbook.
4. Impersonality - the removal of personal feelings from a professional situation. For example, large colleges and universities like WVU or OSU often establish themselves as bureaucracies. This allows them to efficiently and effectively serve a large variety of students quickly and with affordable tuition.