Page 223 - Sociology and You

Chapter 6 Groups and Formal Organizations 193
ganization. The fully developed bureaucratic mechanism compares with other organizations exactly as does the machine with the nonme- chanical modes of production (Gerth and Mills, 1958:214).
Earlier kinds of organizations, where the decision makers were chosen on the basis of family or wealth, were just not capable of dealing with an in- dustrial economy. The fast-moving industrial economy required steadiness, precision, continuity, speed, efficiency, and minimum cost—advantages bu- reaucracy could offer. Rationalization—the mindset emphasizing knowl- edge, reason, and planning rather than tradition and superstition—was on the rise. (See pages 17–18 for a review of this concept.)
Membership in Fraternal Orders
You may not realize it, but fraternal or- ders, such as Moose, Elk, Eagles, and Shriners, are bureaucracies. They have a division of labor, hierarchy of authority, system of rules and procedures, written records, and promotion based on merit within the organization. This map shows fraternal organization membership by re- gion in relation to the national average.
Fraternal Order Membership Compared to U.S. Average
High
Above average Below average Low
Interpreting the Map
Look back at the map of population densities in the United States on page 57. Do you see any patterns common to that map and this one? Explain.
Adapted from Latitudes and Attitudes: An Atlas of American Tastes, Trends, Politics, and Passions. Boston: Little Brown.
rationalization
the mind-set emphasizing knowledge, reason, and planning