Public Policy and Administration

Public Policy and Administration Name Institution Course Code and Title Instructor Date Question one Max Weber’s analysis of authority provides a basis in the fields of sociology and organizational theory. According to him, there are three types of legitimate authority, namely, traditional, charismatic, and rational-legal authorities. Traditional authority entails long-standing customs, traditions, and inherited positions of power and exists because it has always been that way. The charismatic authority defines the personal appeal and charisma of an individual leader. Thus, people follow them due to their extraordinary qualities and abilities (Howlett et al., 1995). The rational-legal authority revolves around a system of laws and rules that are enforced for adherence within a bureaucratic structure. Authority is the most prevalent form of authority in modern societies.  Weber thought the rational-legal authority to be ideal for large organizations and societies. His argument provided bureaucracy as the most rational form of organizational structure to achieve efficient functioning under rational-legal authority. The key characteristics of the ideal type of bureaucratic organization, according to him, were; 1 Division of labor should be according to the specialized positions. The approach's main goal is to ensure efficiency by allowing each member of the organization to concentrate on their specific areas of expertise. 2 The hierarchy of authority follows a clear chain of command from top to bottom. Every level of hierarchy has authority over the level below it; thus, decision-making flows from the highest hierarchy, with every member reporting and receiving orders from their superiors. 3 Standardized rules and procedures are written to govern behavior and decision-making. Also, they are established and formalized in written documentation besides being applied consistently and uniformly across the organization. Therefore, it is easier to predict and promote fairness in operations. 4 Employment is based on merit as bureaucratic organizations look at the qualifications, skills, and performance before hiring and promoting. Decision-making follows an objective approach rather than personal favoritism (Howlett et al., 1995). The strategy ensures the most qualified persons match specific positions, thus promoting organizational effectiveness and efficiency. 5 Bureaucratic organizations focus on the specialization of roles by providing training and expertise to their members. Roles and responsibilities are assigned based on the employees' skills and qualifications, and training programs are provided to ensure that employees have the necessary knowledge and capabilities to perform effectively. Nevertheless, recently, the trend towards control in organizations has changed into a broader span. The trend has been influenced by various factors, such as advances in...