Bureaucratic Management in a Changing Environment: A Detailed Report

This report delves into bureaucratic management, a structured approach characterized by clear rules and regulations, and its relevance in a dynamic business environment. It outlines the strengths of bureaucratic structures, such as defined work processes and clear hierarchies, while also highlighting weaknesses like limited creativity and adaptability. The report uses Tata Motors as a case study to illustrate how rigid adherence to bureaucratic principles can hinder growth in a rapidly changing market. It emphasizes the importance of adapting management styles to meet evolving consumer needs and foster employee engagement. The conclusion reinforces that while bureaucratic management offers certain benefits, its inflexibility can be detrimental in environments that demand innovation, responsiveness, and strong employee relationships. The report also stresses the significance of informal communication and employee empowerment for organizational success.

MANAGEMENT THEORY
AND PRACTICE

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
1.1 Bureaucratic management in dynamic business environment..........................................1
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................2
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................4

INTRODUCTION
Management theories are enforced to increase company's productivity and quality of
services. It happens within an organized enterprise setting with proper rules and regulations.
Management theories help organisation to achieve predetermined aim and objectives by
influencing the efforts of every employee in company. It also helps in motivating the workers to
increase their efficiency and enhance leadership quality in them (Dyck, 2014). These theories
emphasise their focus on structure and tell them about the benefits of adopting management
theories. It also includes set of general rules and regulations which show the way to manage a
business or company. Report will include bureaucratic management that holds relevance in
environment which keeps changing with suitable examples.
MAIN BODY
1.1 Bureaucratic management in dynamic business environment
Bureaucratic organisational structure contains a clear set of rules and regulations and is
often centralised. They have proper and well defined vertical power structure of command,
power and chain of control. This management structure is suitable for environment which is
stable in nature and only involves routine tasks and less technological changes (Farazmand,
2014). Bureaucratic management consists of strict rules and regulations. This management
structure has various strengths like proper sets of rulesfor doing work, sphere of competence is
specific, consistency in operation, rational allotment of work, educational qualification of
employees testes periodically, division of workforce based on many specialised functions,
promotions based on experience and technical knowledge of workers, chain of authority are
prescribed.
This management also has certain weaknesses like this management structure consist of
low scope in creativeness and innovativeness, decision making system is strict, lack of emotional
support and empathy, low productivity and efficiency of employees, unable to adapt changing
environment, ignorance of group initiatives and thinking, rigidly define work, business and
technological application, limited participation by workers, not suitable for organisations who
are in great pressure to grow or compete (Weber’s Bureaucracy Theory: Features, Significance
and Limitations, 2017). These companies also ignore the role of informal communication which
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helps in building relationship in between employees and increase their efficiency and
productivity towards work.
Bureaucratic management cannot hold relevance in environment which is continuously
changing. For example: bureaucratic theory which was once followed by Tata motors has
affected their growth in dynamic environment negatively. fstrict rules and regulations for
performing task can lead to reduced in efficiency of employees and also makes them restless
during work and this management do not allow employees to share their creative and innovative
ideas with senior management of company which has affected in retaining workers of
organisation. Slowly employees tend to leave such company where there is no scope of growth
(Micheli and Mari, 2014). Consumer demands and needs are to be understood by the
organisation. Bureaucratic management does not allow employees to build relationship with
public which has led to decrease in sale of products of company. But this structure has helped
company in keeping employees disciplined and enhance leadership qualities in them. Tata
motors was bounded by rules and hierarchical structure of office which has made company
rigidly following rules and regulations and reduce efficiency in achieving goals.
Also, this structure does not focus on informal communication which is necessary for
employee’s growth and building healthy friendship among them which would result in better
quality of work, enhance team work and make organisation a better place to work. It will also
help them in understanding the changing needs, demands, likes and preferences of consumer as
well as developing products according to them. Strict rules and regulations also force senior
management to behave rigidly with employees which results in decreasing the motivation level
and low self-esteem of employees.
Bureaucratic management also leads to create conflict in between organisational structure
and individuals which can result in hampering the growth of both. Employees want to work in
environment which is open and interactive and which also allows them in taking decision related
to organisation which helps in improving their motivation level. Division of specific jobs in an
organisation make employees specialised in their project that they are not able to do any other
task which has been assigned to them, it limits growth of employees (Pitsis and et.al., 2014). So,
this structure is not relevant to the changing environment.
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CONCLUSION
Report summarises about bureaucratic management which consists of a clear set of rules
and regulations. In this type of structure, there is no scope of sharing of innovative and creative
ideas of employees to the senior management. Bureaucratic management does not improve the
informal communication between workers and senior administration which helps in building
relationship in between them. Also, it shows an example of Tata motors and their management
practices which include rigid rules and regulations along with specific division of jobs which
affected the growth of company.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Dyck, B., 2014. God on management: The world’s largest religions, the “theological turn,” and
organization and management theory and practice. In Religion and organization
theory (pp. 23-62). Emerald Group Publishing Limited.
Farazmand, A., 2014. Crisis and emergency management: Theory and practice. In Crisis and
Emergency Management (pp. 25-34). Routledge.
Micheli, P. and Mari, L., 2014. The theory and practice of performance
measurement. Management accounting research. 25(2). pp.147-156.
Pitsis, T.S. and et.al., 2014. Governing projects under complexity: theory and practice in project
management. International Journal of Project Management. 32(8). pp.1285-1290.
Online
Weber’s Bureaucracy Theory: Features, Significance and Limitations. 2017. [ONLINE]
Available through: <http://www.businessmanagementideas.com/management/webers-
bureaucracy-theory-features-significance-and-limitations/4705>.
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