Page 221 - Sociology and You

Chapter 6 Groups and Formal Organizations
Major Characteristics of Bureaucracies
All bureaucracies possess certain characteristics. The most important of these are listed below.
❖ A division of labor based on the principle of specialization. Each person in a bureaucracy is responsible for certain functions or tasks. (See Figure 6.3 for an organizational chart outlining the division of labor in a public school district.) This specialization allows an individual to become an expert in a limited area.
❖ A hierarchy of authority. Before discussing authority, it is necessary to define power. Power refers to the ability to control the behavior of others, even against their will. Authority is the exercise of legitimate power—power that derives from a recognized or approved source.
School Board
Superintendent
School Principals
Elementary Schools
Middle Schools
High Schools
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power
the ability to control the behavior of others
authority
the legitimate or socially approved use of power
Assistant Superintendent for Operations
Business Services
Building Operations and Maintenance
Food Services
Construction Management
Transportation
Clerk of the Board
Executive for Student Services
Student Services
Special Education
Alternative Programs
Guidance
Public Information Officer
Executive for Human Resources
Professional Services
Classified Services
Benefit Services
Magnet Programs
Assistant Superintendent for Instructional Systems
Elementary School Services
Middle School Services
High School Services
Business and Technical Education
Federal Programs
Instructional Technology
Subject Area Coordination
Figure 6.3 Public School District Organization Chart. Each organizational position and department has certain tasks associated with it. The connecting lines indicate who reports to whom and who has organizational authority. Can you identify the type of leadership assumed to motivate members of any bureaucratic organization?
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