LHA 1040: Analyzing Bureaucratic Patrimony & Symbolism in Leadership

This essay analyzes bureaucratic patrimony and cryptic symbolism in leadership, drawing upon Jackall's Moral Mazes and Weber's theory of bureaucracy. It uses the example of Smith and Brown to illustrate how patrimony manifests in corporate settings, where power is concentrated among a few individuals. The essay also explores the use of cryptic symbolism and specialized language within organizations, highlighting the differences between managerial and educational communication styles. It examines how these symbols can be used to convey meaning, often lacking emotional sentiment, and how managerial language can sometimes be confusing due to the use of euphemisms. The essay concludes by contrasting managerial and educational speaking styles, noting the greater predictability and simplicity of language used in educational contexts.

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Introduction to Leadership
Based on Jackalls example of Smith and Brown, bureaucratic patrimony is evident that
Smith is the president of the chemical company while Brown is the executive vice president of
the chemical company. During the times of economic crisis, the CEO is under intense pressure
from the president, and in the process, a high number of employees lost their jobs due to poor
performance and politics within the organizational culture. Smith as the president decided to fire
the executive vice president Brown. Smith did this to create a vacancy for his people for that
particular position (Jackall, 1988).
From the above example, Max Weber’s theory (Economy and Society) on bureaucracy
within the organization is brought to light. It brought in a perspective whereby the formal rules
provide clear guidelines and procedures which should be followed when a particular issue needs
an addressed or attention of the higher authority is required (Crane, 2000). Considering the
dynamics of these rules, they do change over time but with potential consequences due to
decision making which might sometimes be delayed due to proper channels which need to be
followed. This brings in patrimony whereby powers are invested in some few individuals in the
high political hierarchy while the authority is bestowed in high offices. This was well
exemplifying when Brown was appointed to hold the office of Executive vice president.
Such patrimony due exist in the educational organization, teachers at the lower ranked
and highest ranked being the president. Normal bureaucracy in the educational organization is
that teachers are answerable the deputy and principals and it follows the same procedure unto to
the ministry level, then to the president. Patrimony comes in during appointments to various
positions or during promotions to such positions (Lopez‐de‐Silanes, & Shleifer, 1999). This

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might be due to the poor performance of students or general poor management of resources. This
is when appointments are made based on how well you are known by the top officials.
In Jackall’s discussion, dexterity with symbol was highlighted in many circumstances in
various ways. For instance, in most Major Corporation, there exists a variety of vocabulary or
words used to explain certain things which could not have been said directly in public space.
Such words are used by managers to try and solve the organizational problems, and they are
sometimes used provide a rational of what supposed to be done and the ideological views of
different groups of people in public domain. The skill and symbol used by managers relay a
meaning that one might wish to convey the meaning, but they might lack emotional sentiments
regardless of whether the attitude or social relationship has changed.
Some of this dexterity with symbols used by these managers are; exceptionally well
qualified to mean commitment with no sign of carelessness and blunders. At times they used a
word such as, slightly below average to mean stupidity, a word which is not socially acceptable
to tell somebody in public. There others which are descriptive to people's behavior such as,
Tactful in dealing with superiors. This phrase is used to describe someone who knows when to
talk and when to keep the secret. Such phrases are also used to describe clever people who can
be entrusted with the secrets of the organization.
Such managerial talks can sometimes bring confusion when euphemism is used, such as
talk in circles. This phrase can juxtapose several meanings and at the same time contradictory. It
all depends on the setup or the environment where the phrase is used. And in my opinion, I can
say the most probable meaning is lack affirmativeness or no stand, may be concerning a
particular issue.

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In contrast, there do exist differences between the managerial talks and the education speaking in
that; the educational speaking are times more predictable, and the phrases used in educational
sectors are not complex as compared to the ones used managerial organizations. For example, in
education speaking, we have a phrase such as, book warmer to mean someone who loves
reading.

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References
Crane, A. (2000). Corporate greening as amoralization. Organization Studies, 21(4), 673-696.
Jackall, R. (1988). Moral mazes: The world of corporate managers. International Journal of
Politics, Culture, and Society, 1(4), 598-614.
La Porta, R., Lopez‐de‐Silanes, F., & Shleifer, A. (1999). Corporate ownership around the
world. The journal of finance, 54(2), 471-517.
Werness, H. B. (Ed.). (2004). The Continuum encyclopedia of animal symbolism in art. A&C
Black.