Using Features And Principles Of Bureaucracy As Stated By Weber (Coursework Sample)

UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AND EXTERNAL STUDIES
COURSE CODE: TKG 201
COURSE TITLE: INTRODUCTION TO KENYAN BUREAUCRACY
NAME : OBUNYU NATHAN LUKAYO
REG NO. : E35/3641/2014
LECTURER : ONYANGO GIDEON
QUESTION : 1.(a) Using the features or principles of bureaucracy as stated by Weber, discuss the nature of Kenya’s national bureaucracy .
(b) Why is the Kenyan bureaucracy the way it is?
DATE : 31/10/2017
SIGNATURE :
CONTENTS
1 Introduction
2 Features of Weberian bureaucracy
3 Nature of kenya’s national bureaucracy
4 Kenya’s bureaucracy
5 Why kenya’s bureaucracy is the way it is
6 Conclusion
7 References
1. INTRODUCTION
Modern bureaucracies arose as the governments of states grew larger during the modern period and especially following the industrial revolution. Tax collectors become necessary as states began to take in more and more revenue, while the role of administrators increased as the functions of government multiplied. In managing complex societies, various organizations have been developed to: protect to public interest; to provide specific services; to resolve specific problem areas. Such large institutions range from government ministries, military organizations, educational institutions, hospitals correctional facilities, non governmental organizations and professional associations. These are known as bureaucracies.
Although defined variously by different authors, basically a bureaucracy is a type of organizational structure and management style that is found in many large scale organizations. It appears in both public and private organizations. Bureaucracies rely on a set of rules and procedures , separation of functions and a hierarchical structure in implementing controls over an organization, government or social system. Large administrative staffs are most common in large organizations that needs standardized rules and procedures or consistency across a wide range of business activities.
2. FEATURES OF WEBERIAN BUREAUCRACY
(a) Division of labor
On this he says that for efficient work to be done within an organization, there should be division of labour. Each member should have a specific task to fulfill, and all the tasks are then co-ordinated to accomplish the purpose of the organization. Tasks are normally distributed among people who have been trained to do them. People are organized into units based on the type of work they do , or skills they have. In a university for example, the lecturers will concentrate on teaching, administrators on administrative work etc. we do not expect each to do the others job. Dividing up the tasks allows workers to develop specialized skills.
(b) Hierarchy of authority
Each level has clearly defined authority and responsibilities. Each level assigns responsibilities to the level beneath it, while each lower level is accountable to the level above for fulfilling those assignments. For instance, the bureaucratic structure of a public university in Kenya from the top-down will be as follows: the vice chancellor-deputy vice chancellors- college principal-dean of faculty/school-chairman of department-member of staff or student.
(c) Written rules and regulations
In their attempt to become efficient, bureaucracies stress written procedures. These procedures state how all tasks in the organization, or in particular tier of the hierarchy, are to be performed. The rules are often called standard operating procedures and are formalized in procedures manuals. The rules cover just about every imaginable situation. These rules may come in staff handbooks, students handbooks, circulars etc. By following the rules, bureaucrats waste no time in making appropriate decisions. Controlling by rules allows decisions to be made at high levels, which are executed consistently by all levels. Records are kept of much of what occurs in a bureaucracy.
(d) Duties and authority should be attached to positions not persons
According to bureaucracy, it is the office that is important, not the individual who holds the office. Employees work for the organization, not the replaceable persons who heads some post in the organization. Consequently members of a bureaucracy owe allegiance to the office, not to particular people. If you work in a bureaucracy, you become a small cog in a large machine. Each worker is just a replaceable unit, for many others are available to fulfill each particular function. For example, when a professor retires or dies, someone else appointed to take his or her place. The idea is to treat all employees and customers equally, and not be influenced by individual differences. Race, gender, ethnicity and other ascribed characteristics should have no bearing on one’s interaction with a bureaucracy and the outcomes it produces.
(e) Recruitment into offices are based on specialization and expertise
Recruitment into various offices are based on qualification and experience. There should be no any misconducts like appointing people to these various positions basing on ethnicity, friendship etc.
(f) Efficiency
According to Weber bureaucracies arise out of the need for efficiency in organizations where there exist: growth in space and population, complexity of administrative tasks and presence of a monetary economy. Given the economic and political condition of both the developed and developing societies today it is expected that bureaucracy will continue to exist. In the contemporary world, bureaucracy has been looked at with a pinch of salt; there is the good kind of bureaucracy and the bad one. The good kind makes sure that there is organization, there is smooth running of affairs smoothly, people get what they have paid for and can enforce business deals.
3. NATURE OF KENYA’S NATIONAL BUREAUCRACY
The government of Kenya is headed by the president. Under the president is the government ministries; military; the police; educational institutions; hospitals; prisons etc. Also there are independent boards that are established by the parliament and public corporations.
The national bureaucracy refers to all organizations that exist as part of the government machinery for executing policy decisions and delivering services that are of value to the people of Kenya. These bureaucracies are established to;
* Protect public interest
* Provide specific services
* Resolve specific problem areas.
*
5. WHY KENYA’S BUREAUCRACY IS THE WAY IT IS
During colonial period, such institutions and administrative structures were normally repressive and were used as instruments to favor one group against others. After independence, Kenya inherited institutions and various structures which were not appropriate to its political and administrative philosophy , the institutions were not in tune with the political thinking of the time hence not very helpful in the development process
For instance, in order to discourage a feeling of unity among Africans the colonialists seized every opportunity to spread the myth that Africans were different from one another and used several techniques to keep them apart.
The economic systems were often geared to promote the interest of a very small group to the disadvantage of the majority; and the economic opportunities for the majority was severely limited. Also social stratification was very rigid, acces to education limited and degrees of justice were meted out in direct proportion to the colour of skin.
For instance upto late fifties and early sixties, the classification in the public service was based on a hierarchy that:
* Reserved all senior positions
* The intermediate positions were earmarks for Asians, while
* The new African leaders were expected by African peoples, especially those who had been marginalized by colonialism, to provide more effective governance structures and resource allocation systems that guaranteed individuals the right to freely engage in exchange and contract; in other words, resource allocation systems that guaranteed economic freedom.
* Clerical and subordinate positions belonged to the natives.
Bureaucracy in Kenya has been greatly influenced by its colonial heritage. It
is a reflection of the British administrative legacy. The continuance of the colonial legacy resulted from the fact that many of the post colonial ruling elites were a product of the colonial education and orientation. The colonial legacy was further promoted through;
* Arrangement of foreign study programmes, establishment of administrative study institutions
* Employment of foreign experts
* Adoption of bureaucratic reforms based on technical assistance from the west
* In the 1950s and early 1960s the minister for constitutional affairs organized for air lifts for students o study in the USA
* They later become prominent members of Kenyan society
* At independence, the Kenya government virtually inherited the colonial structure politically, economically and socially.
* Indeed it has b...